Star Wars Galaxies

"Gambling is legal under US federal law, but the states are free to regulate or prohibit it. If state-run lotteries are included, almost every state can be said to allow some form of gambling. However, casino-style gambling is much less widespread.

Nevada is the only state where casino-style gambling is legal statewide, although the state and local governments both impose licensing and zoning restrictions. All other states that allow casino-style gambling restrict it to small geographic areas (e.g., Atlantic City, New Jersey or Tunica, Mississippi) or to Native American reservations (some of which are conveniently located in or near large cities). As sovereign nations, Native American tribes have used legal protection to open casinos, which has been a contentious political issue in California and other states. In some states, casinos are restricted to "riverboats", large multistory barges that more often than not are permanently moored in a body of water.

One notable exception to US policy is in the area of online gambling. The Federal Wire Act of 1961 outlawed interstate wagering on sports but did not address other forms of gambling and has been the subject of court challenges. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (part of the SAFE Port Act) did not specifically prohibit online gambling; instead, it outlawed financial transactions involving online gambling service providers. Offshore gambling providers reacted by shutting down their services for US customers."

good luck on your crusade, you will have to prove kids are buying these cards (didn't know small children had jobs) and if its parents buying them the cards then its the parents responsibility and if adults are blowing their cash on this then its their own dumbass fault.  Should the government protect allt he stupid people from themselves nah i don't think so.

When these agencies talk to these companies high priced lawyers then they will pretty much just sweep it up under the rug and forget about it. 

Originally posted by Obraik

Originally posted by Sharkypal

Originally posted by Obraik

Originally posted by ArcAngel3

For those that have tried to compare SOE's loot card lottery system to product promotionals, I've copied the link to Tim Horton's well-known "roll up the rim to win" campaign. 

In SOE's game, you pay money for a chance to win loot cards that will enhance your SWG gameplay experience.

In contrast to this, please note the conditions of an actual product promotional:

http://www.rolluptherimtowin.com/en/prizes.php

The first thing you'll notice is that the exact odds of winning each prize are provided.

The second thing you'll notice if you click on the rules and redemption tab is that there is no purchase necessary to participate in the promotional.  You can participate without giving Tim Horton's any money whatsoever.

This is a product promotional.  SOE's game of giving money to them online for the chance of winning a loot card that will enhance your gameplay is not at all similar in the way it is run.

Failure to acknowledge this is very simply ignorance or a refusal to acknowledge reality.

For those that claim product promotionals have different regulations in their country, it would be to your credit to acknowledge that in many North American jurisdictions, what SOE is doing is not a product promotional; it is quite simply an unregulated game of chance.

 

And here's a promotion for a recent Weet-Bix promotion here in NZ, http://www.weetbix.co.nz/Terms.aspx

Note that a) There are no odds of winning each prize and b) you get a free card set to start with (just like the SWG TCG) but if you want more you must get new cards from other Weet-Bix packs, "6.Entry to this Promotion is via the website www.weet-bix.co.nz. Enter your unique codes from Stat Attack II collectable cards. Collectable cards can be found in specially marked Weet-Bix 1kg and 750g packs, and specially marked Weet-Bix Fruity and Weet-Bix Crunch packs, at participating stores. Follow the website prompts to play Stat Attack II."

 

All you've really proved is that NZ needs a major overhaul when it comes to gambling laws. Further, you are buying Cereal (an actual physical product and you are getting actual physical cards).

There is no point in any debate with you. You are the definition of the word "Fanboi" when it comes to SWG and despite the fact that every aspect of your defense has been completely eviscerated, you continue to try and advocate the illegal activities of SOE. The fact that this could potentially exploit children should be enough for you to see sense, but not at the expense of your mindless SOE fanboism apparently.

The good news is that I have received replies from two seperate lottery commissions who are not happy about this and and are investigating further. I dont want to give out specific details at this point but I will as I receive the results of their investigations.

Apparently enabling illegal, underage gambling doesnt sit well with the powers that be in the US and Canada.

S

Why does NZ need a major overhaul of our gambling laws?  There is no public outcry over competitions such as the Weet-Bix example I provided and they're not seen as gambling.  As for getting physical cards, those cards are simply vouchers you use to redeem your card on the website which you can use to play against others within the online card game.
 

It amuses me that you keep reverting to your "you're a fanboi" defense.  Mostly because you were calling such arguments as weak a few days ago when you were being called that by others here and yet here you are, doing the exact same thing you were critiscing them for. 

You're right in a way though, this is a pointless argument.  It seems unlikely you're going to understand that these kind of promotions are quite normal, quite legal and quite accepted in other countries around the world.  Don't bother trying to convince me that my country and others like it are "worse off" for it because it's just as unlikely that I'll take any notice of that too ;)

The TCG is not a promotion. You just keep dancing around the obvious because you are incapable of seeing SOE/SWG in a bad light. Everyone knows that about you, here and on the official forums (where SOE are continuously deleting any thread that makes light of this in short order), why could that be I wonder?

Im glad you're amused, because I can assure you that the powers that be are not. Oh, and I could care less what you "take notice of". While I applaud you for helping new players (and returning players), I disregard about 80% of what you say as mindless "fanboism" (which it is).

I think its best if we leave it there as until I get clarification, there isn't much else to say.

Regards,

S

Originally posted by Scalebane

"Gambling is legal under US federal law, but the states are free to regulate or prohibit it. If state-run lotteries are included, almost every state can be said to allow some form of gambling. However, casino-style gambling is much less widespread.

Nevada is the only state where casino-style gambling is legal statewide, although the state and local governments both impose licensing and zoning restrictions. All other states that allow casino-style gambling restrict it to small geographic areas (e.g., Atlantic City, New Jersey or Tunica, Mississippi) or to Native American reservations (some of which are conveniently located in or near large cities). As sovereign nations, Native American tribes have used legal protection to open casinos, which has been a contentious political issue in California and other states. In some states, casinos are restricted to "riverboats", large multistory barges that more often than not are permanently moored in a body of water.

One notable exception to US policy is in the area of online gambling. The Federal Wire Act of 1961 outlawed interstate wagering on sports but did not address other forms of gambling and has been the subject of court challenges. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (part of the SAFE Port Act) did not specifically prohibit online gambling; instead, it outlawed financial transactions involving online gambling service providers. Offshore gambling providers reacted by shutting down their services for US customers."

 

good luck on your crusade, you will have to prove kids are buying these cards (didn't know small children had jobs) and if its parents buying them the cards then its the parents responsibility and if adults are blowing their cash on this then its their own dumbass fault.  Should the government protect allt he stupid people from themselves nah i don't think so.

When these agencies talk to these companies high priced lawyers then they will pretty much just sweep it up under the rug and forget about it. 

Its not a crusade, and if they tell me its legal, I won't pursue it (JFYI, that's not the feedback I am getting at the moment, especially not from the US/Canada).

Conversely, just because you have learned how to copy and paste, you'll forgive me if I don't take your word for anything.

S

Am i missing something about these SWG cards?

Whats the difference between these cards and WoW, Star Trek, Magic the Gathering and all those cards games where you buy loads of packs hoping to get that rare one? Or is there something different with this SWG type?

I understand the 'gambling problem' but I also think that responsiblity for oneself is fading fast in this world. It's always someone else fault and that is creating a very cynical society.

Originally posted by Rubakai

Am i missing something about these SWG cards?

 

Whats the difference between these cards and WoW, Star Trek, Magic the Gathering and all those cards games where you buy loads of packs hoping to get that rare one? Or is there something different with this SWG type?

 

I understand the 'gambling problem' but I also think that responsiblity for oneself is fading fast in this world. It's always someone else fault and that is creating a very cynical society.

The differences have been elaborated on several times within this thread.

S

Originally posted by Sharkypal

Originally posted by Scalebane

"Gambling is legal under US federal law, but the states are free to regulate or prohibit it. If state-run lotteries are included, almost every state can be said to allow some form of gambling. However, casino-style gambling is much less widespread.

Nevada is the only state where casino-style gambling is legal statewide, although the state and local governments both impose licensing and zoning restrictions. All other states that allow casino-style gambling restrict it to small geographic areas (e.g., Atlantic City, New Jersey or Tunica, Mississippi) or to Native American reservations (some of which are conveniently located in or near large cities). As sovereign nations, Native American tribes have used legal protection to open casinos, which has been a contentious political issue in California and other states. In some states, casinos are restricted to "riverboats", large multistory barges that more often than not are permanently moored in a body of water.

One notable exception to US policy is in the area of online gambling. The Federal Wire Act of 1961 outlawed interstate wagering on sports but did not address other forms of gambling and has been the subject of court challenges. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (part of the