A Minor IRK

Something that would be banned if I WAS IN CHARGE: those radio and TV quizzes where there are three answers and two are obviously wrong, because there’s some law preventing people from just doing prize draws on TVs. Either change the law or bring proper quizzes back. Bah.

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Top Of The Pops: (probably not the) final word

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byebyepride

3 Aug 2006 13:07

I always assumed this was to encourage as many people as possible to text in because they all think ‘that’s easy’. Actually, I see what you mean, they can’t just say ‘text in and pay 50p to be entered in a draw’.

katstevens

3 Aug 2006 13:37

I used to ring in all the time for the early morning GMTV quizzes when I was small (small enough not to understand phone charges but large enough for it not to be TV-AM); I thought I was dead clever cos I always knew the answers.

Pete Baran

3 Aug 2006 15:34

I’d be interested on the psychological differences between “winning a raffle” and “winning a competition” no matter how low the level of skill is. I bet one gets people texting more.

(Grumpy Old Tom!!! Its just a miniscule bit of fun).

Mark M

3 Aug 2006 17:14

I remember hearing (a year or two ago) that there was going to be a change in the law on this, coming into effect in 2007, but I can’t find any evidence of one. – Mark M

Martin Skidmore

4 Aug 2006 18:54

Yes, there has to be an element of skill in these damn things.

Is the writer of the post:
A) Tom Ewing?
B) Batman?
C) Jesus Christ?

Mark M

5 Aug 2006 09:31

Found it. It’s covered in the 2005 Gambling Act, which comes into force in 2007. It’s mentioned in this piece (http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,1739038,00.html) and the act itself is at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2005/20050019.htm but I can’t say I’ve got the patience to find what it really says… – Mark M (one day I’ll learn how to do nice links)

Pete Baran

12 Sep 2006 21:48

Key part of the act boils down to the following:

(5) A process which requires persons to exercise skill or judgment or to display knowledge shall be treated for the purposes of this section as relying wholly on chance if-

(a) the requirement cannot reasonably be expected to prevent a significant proportion of persons who participate in the arrangement of which the process forms part from receiving a prize, and

(b) the requirement cannot reasonably be expected to prevent a significant proportion of persons who wish to participate in that arrangement from doing so.

If it relies on chance it is a lottery, which comes under gambling rules.

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A Minor IRK

The Morning / Lunchtime / Evening Guardian

Top Of The Pops: (probably not the) final word

Latest comments on FT