Forum Idea

[WestHamFan]

I'm not too clued up about the legal issues surrounding lotteries or prize competitions but wonder if AD could run such an event each month as an added bit of spice for us?

How many of us would be willing to buy a "ticket" once a month to win a decent domain name? If the competition was run on a minimal profit basis (say 10% to AD funds) and the remainder to the member who donates the domain?

I'm ready to be told it's a hopeless idea or been done before but just thinking out loud!

[admin]

Nice idea as long as it's manageable and legal.

Admin

[karlm]

Nice idea i like it

[newpbc]

Great Idea I'd definately be interested

[Caz]

Would there be a minimum amount of tickets a seller could ask for, like a reserve? If not it's unlikely someone is going to offer a decent domain up incase they only sell a few tickets.

If so, and the amount of tickets needed to meet a reserve are not sold. How is the money dispersed?

Good idea though.

[WestHamFan]

Looking in to the legal issue it seems anyone can run a "prize competition" where people buy an entry/entries provided there is a degree of skill involved.

Football pools, spot the ball and those multiple choice premium rate telephone quizzes are examples of the skill levels required.

As to the cost of entry I would think the domain on offer will largely dictate things. If you had a 1 in 250 chance to get a really good generic.co.uk name would you pay a fiver, tenner per entry? If you had a chance to get a good name worth low £xxx would you pay £2 to enter?

Of course there is nuts and bolts about the "procedures and transparency" to sort out and that must depend largely on Admins input and enthusiasm toward the idea. In addition to that the whole idea will initially depend on the enthusiasm shown to particpate and, once running, the actual entries we all buy.

Seems like a way Admin can get a few quid each month, a way to generate publicity, a bit of fun for the members and a guaranteed domain transfer each month!

[chrisduggan]

Worth a trial run. I am not a gambler, only ever bought a couple of lotto tickets. However playing for a domain name would be good fun. I love the concept. Happy to donate a few quid each month to keep the forum breathing.

[Systreg]

Originally Posted by WestHamFan

Of course there is nuts and bolts about the "procedures and transparency" to sort out and that must depend largely on Admins input and enthusiasm toward the idea.

To add a bit more fun, any draw could be done live by admin via webcam on MSN or Yahoo messenger so everyone can watch, he could have loads of numbered balls emptied in to a transparent plastic box, gives it a good shake and one ball comes out of a hole in the box is the winner, nearly as good as watching the lottery

[chrisduggan]

Just use USTREAM or YouTube. This could take off, given some planning and imagination.

domainnamelottery.co.uk! haha.

I like the concept of blocks of tickets, for added competition. The domain would have to be worth enough to bother, in which case the registrant would expect a decent enough return. Minimum no. of tickets rather than a high reserve.

Assume a PayPal payment system would do.

It would be nice to see the occasional charity auction with a % of proceeds going to help Japan and New Zealand etc..

[WestHamFan]

You could also have a system similar to the lotto where the domain rolls over for another week if nobody has the winning number. More tickets, more cash hopefully = better quality prize?

Can we get sex.com lined up for the Xmas Draw?