Forum Idea

WestHamFan · Mar 17, 2011

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 · Mar 18, 2011

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

Admin

KarlM · Mar 18, 2011

Nice idea i like it

AssetDomains · Mar 18, 2011

Great Idea I'd definately be interested

Retired_member41 · Mar 18, 2011

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 · Mar 18, 2011

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 · Mar 19, 2011

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 · Mar 19, 2011

WestHamFan said:
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 · Mar 19, 2011

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 · Mar 19, 2011

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?

newguy · Mar 19, 2011

Sounds like a great idea. I think plenty of people would be interested in taking part.

springer · Mar 19, 2011

Excellent idea.

Information on running prize competitions: http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.u... of the gambling act 2005 - december 2009.pdf

domainseller200 · Mar 20, 2011

It is easy to get around the legalities

You just 'Buy' a picture of something / a pen / other pointless low value item for £x and you get a FREE entry into the draw for the domain name with every purchase

Would be nice to see a premium £5k name being offered for 100 tickets @ £50 each

chrisduggan · Mar 20, 2011

100 pens for £50?

Admin · Mar 30, 2011

Looks like another forum got in trouble doing a competition, interesting reading:
http://asa.org.uk/ASA-action/Adjudications/2011/2/Naughty-Nights-UK/TF_ADJ_49792.aspx

Blossom · Mar 30, 2011

The ASA has no power other than naming & shaming as far as I'm aware (pity the name & shame page doesn't have a higher PR

)

Aaron Clifford · Apr 3, 2011

admin said:
Looks like another forum got in trouble doing a competition, interesting reading:
http://asa.org.uk/ASA-action/Adjudications/2011/2/Naughty-Nights-UK/TF_ADJ_49792.aspx

That just looks like someone complained because they didn't win, probably didn't PIMP there profile enough!

AssetDomains · Apr 3, 2011

Think this would fall under different guidelines as whats proposed is a lottery / raffle rather than a competition that the forum got in trouble for

bensd · Apr 3, 2011

I'm pretty sure someone ran a similar competition a couple of years ago. Lots of people bought a number and whoever matched the 'bonus ball' of the national lottery got the domain.

When the owner of the domain looked into the laws involved he had to give the money to charity because he didn't have the correct licence(s).

IIRC Dale (aZooZa) won the domain and it was something like britishtechnology / britishinventions.