Why is Australia left out of the million dollar MillionReasonsToPlay

Glaiceana

Yeah its not ZOS' fault. The countries that are not eligible for the contest have specific rules and laws pertaining to contests and giveaways. You cannot expect ZOS or Bethesda to go and change these laws. It is sad, but players shouldn't blame a random company for the laws of their country.

AngryNord

Glaiceana wrote: »

Yeah its not ZOS' fault. The countries that are not eligible for the contest have specific rules and laws pertaining to contests and giveaways. You cannot expect ZOS or Bethesda to go and change these laws. It is sad, but players shouldn't blame a random company for the laws of their country.

Yup, as I said, contrary to popular belief on the political left, the president of the USA does not have the ability to dictate the laws of other countries (at least not without the help of large numbers of US Marines, drones and B-52s...)

hamgatan

well given that Zenimax has a legal presence in Australia

ABN 94 500 182 607 - Zenimax Europe Limited

ABN 30 165 946 690 - ZENIMAX AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

there's really no valid reason as to why we can't be included.

bit of a rude slap in the face to those of us who've been paying you monthly since day one..

yvesfouquet4

Its only the VS that's allowed to participate.. alle European players also cannot participate...

Sad story..

Glaiceana

yvesfouquet4 wrote: »

Its only the VS that's allowed to participate.. alle European players also cannot participate...

Sad story..

That's incorrect. Pasted from the official page: (ii) Canada, excluding the Province of Quebec, (iii) Finland, (iv) France, (v) Germany, (vi) Mexico, (vii) Norway, (viii) Russia, (ix) Switzerland, or (x) the United Kingdom

So as you can see, some European and other countries are allowed to participate, it is not US only.

nine9six

You should try to sign-up using Florida as your state.

...wait for it.

makeyurself

...or New York. I have never been denied entering a contest, it is strange. But nothing I can do about it so good luck to everyone else!

tom5330

SkylarkAU wrote: »

I thought it was obvious, it's because they can't convert USD to dollerydoos

hahaha

Curragraigue

Not aware of any laws in Australia prohibiting an Australian resident from taking part in or winning a foreign lottery. Not that this is a lottery since no one is purchasing entry into the competition.

There may be tax implications because it is an ongoing payment scheme rather than a one off payment.

Tankqull

because you have no reasons to play?
you should be busy trying to survive...



[edit]
forgot the /sarcasm tag

Curragraigue

AngryNord wrote: »

Aussies would only spend it all on Foster's anyway :P

Nah we spend dollarydoos on Australian beers not UK made flavoured water

TX12001rwb17_ESO

Seriously can we get an option to turn off these adds that mention the 1 million dollar reward? for us who are not eligible to enter, its kind of insulting to be forced to see it as its mocking and spitting in the face of us that have no chance of winning it.

Yes Zenimax by posting this reward everywhere your also insulting those of us who cannot enter and many of us don't take being insulted lightly.

Reverb

Aus, NZ and several other countries are almost always excluded from contests like this, due to local laws preventing/restricting payout from international lotteries and raffles. This isn't anything new, and is no fault of zeni. Similar laws prevent people in a handful of US states and Quebec from participating, though the rest of US and Canada are eligible. Again, no fault of zeni.

TequilaFire

nine9six wrote: »

You should try to sign-up using Florida as your state.

...wait for it.

Be sure to sign up in Spanish (Cuban) for authenticity.

kolrethrwb17_ESO

It's crap that local laws keep stop up from entering international comps, just like the US there are different rules for each state but somehow they can make it work for them but not us.

Specifically where I live :

Trade Promotion Permit in Victoria:

From 20 June 2015, businesses, charities and community organisations no longer need to apply to the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) for a permit to conduct a trade promotion lottery.
More information can be found at the VCGLR


http://www.andmine.com/do-i-need-a-competition-permit-in-australia/

Remember aussies, your money is good enough for them but you're not good enough for their money.

NovaShadow

Since you can't enter the 1 mill part couldn't they have at least allowed you to enter the crowns part, knowing full well you aren't in the running for 1 mill but you at least had a chance at getting some crowns.

Seems fair to me, since crowns is an in game thing and 3k crowns is about $30, surely that's low enough for international laws.

Paulineau

Australian laws DO NOT prohibit Australians from entering nor winning overseas competitions - Up front should be stated in competition advertisement restrictions apply - weak move ZOS - don't have bloody competitions if you can't offer them to a players - worldwide game should be fair to all

Slurg

In the American state where I live, the law prohibits sweepstakes that require you to make a purchase in order to enter the contest. To play this game, which is one of the entry requirements, you have to purchase it. It's very simple, even though it does not make me happy in this situation. Does Australia have this requirement by chance?

Nyghthowler

Yasha wrote: »

I would love to know why Australia isn't included as well. Some posters have said "because of Australian laws", but they haven't provided any links etc to actually support that claim. Has anyone got any more info about this?

http://www.andmine.com/do-i-need-a-competition-permit-in-australia/


Running a competition in Australia can be a daunting task – especially when you consider that Australian states tend to operate independently of each other when it comes to permits. Well, we’re here to clear the air a little!

When searching the web for rules regarding running a trade promotion in Australia, there seem to be few sources that aggregate State’s positions on trade promotions and applying for a permit so we went called and emailed each state (August 2012) and put together this handy guide.

Competition/Trade Promotions

Competitions aimed at promoting a brand or business are classified in most Australian States as trade promotions. For instance – if you’re a marketing manager or an advertiser and you’re looking to promote a brand through a competition, you need to be assessing how you’re going to be running your competition as it impacts on whether or not you’ll be needing to apply for a trade promotion permit.

Raffles, club competitions or charitable competitions may be subject to different rules.

Game of Skill vs. Game of Chance

As a rule of thumb, Games of Skill – competitions that require a user to answer a question or submit something (Showing ‘Skill’ in order to win) – don’t require Trade Permits within Australia. These competitions are selected by a judge through a selection process where the best or most skillful entry decides the winner.

Games of Chance are competitions where chance or probability is taken into account following an entry will require a trade permit pending what State the promotion is open to and the total value of the prize. These trade promotions have an element of chance – like a lottery.

Ravalox

Slurg wrote: »

In the American state where I live, the law prohibits sweepstakes that require you to make a purchase in order to enter the contest. To play this game, which is one of the entry requirements, you have to purchase it. It's very simple, even though it does not make me happy in this situation. Does Australia have this requirement by chance?

This contest does not require a purchase. You can submit an entry form by mail for free (see section (ii)) Note that the second method does not require you to have an account or log in to play during the window.

OFFICIAL SWEEPSTAKES RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. #ESO #MillionReasonsToPlay US$1,000,000 Giveaway (the “Sweepstakes”) is sponsored by Bethesda Softworks LLC (the “Sponsor”) and administered by Midnight Oil Agency, Inc. (the “Administrator”). For the purposes of the Sweepstakes, the “Sweepstakes Group” is composed of the Sponsor and the Administrator, together with their affiliates and related companies, including without limitation their parent, sister and subsidiary companies, retailers, franchisees, advertising and promotion agencies, suppliers of material and services related to the Sweepstakes, and any other corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship or other legal entity directly involved in the Sweepstakes and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, and other representatives.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Internet access required at your cost. An individual meeting the Eligibility Criteria may enter the Sweepstakes during the Sweepstakes Period in one of two ways (each method an “Entry,” collectively, the “Entries”):

(i)With a Valid The Elder Scrolls ® Online Account: During the Sweepstakes Period:
Access the #ESO #MillionReasonsToPlay US$1,000,000 Giveaway website at: https://millionreasons.elderscrollsonline.com;
Complete the Sweepstakes entry form;
Accept the terms, conditions, and Official Sweepstakes Rules;
Click the “Register” button to submit your entry form; and
Log into your valid The Elder Scrolls ® Online account and play The Elder Scrolls ® Online at least once during the Sweepstakes Period.
Upon submission of your entry form, you will be entered into the Sweepstakes for a chance to win a prize described in Section 6 below (“Prize”), provided that you log into your valid The Elder Scrolls ® Online account and play the game at least once during the Sweepstakes Period. If you do not play, your entry form will not be counted. Entrant may only use one (1) valid The Elder Scrolls ® Online account in connection with this Sweepstakes. Chances of winning are not increased based on game play.

(ii)Mail In Entry: During the Sweepstakes Period, access the Mail In Entry Form (available at: https://millionreasons.elderscrollsonline.com/form (“Mail In Entry Form”), download and print the Mail In Entry Form and complete all fields, and mail it to : P.O Box 490, Woodbury, NY 11797-0490, United States of America (“Mail In Entry”). The Mail In Entry Form must contain all requested information or the Mail In Entry may be disqualified. All Mail In Entries must be postmarked no later than January 10, 2016, and must be received at the foregoing address no later than January 26, 2016 to be entered to win a Prize. Entries received after the January 26, 2016 deadline will not be considered.

Slurg

Nice try, but no, I cannot just submit a mail in form under #ii. My state is specifically excluded on the mail in form as well. There is no workaround here. This promotion does not meet the requirements in my state.

icontested

Tankqull wrote: »

because you have no reasons to play?
you should be busy trying to survive...



[edit]
forgot the /sarcasm tag

In this picture I see bait, small game, crawlers, and fish

Ravalox

Slurg wrote: »

Nice try, but no, I cannot just submit a mail in form under #ii. My state is specifically excluded on the mail in form as well. There is no workaround here. This promotion does not meet the requirements in my state.

You stated the requirements of your state (of which you failed to indicate which state it is -BTW ... only Florida, New York, and Rhode Island are excluded) require that you do not have to make a purchase. The sweepstakes rules state multiple times that no purchase is required; so there would have to be another reason why you can not participate.

{EDIT}
Ok, so I found the most likely reason for Florida, New York and Rhode Island not being eligible.

Both Florida and New York require a surety bond to be submitted; in Florida's case it would be held for 5 years (not sure how long it would be held in NY).

Rhode Island's law is antiquated and appears not to take into consideration anything other than physical play pieces E.G.: "the minimum number of participating objects to be made available”

Here are the governing clauses for all three states. Your assumptions are incorrect as to why (if you live in one of these three). If you live in another state, then you are able to participate.

Florida
In Florida, a sweepstakes sponsor must register the sweepstakes
with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and
must establish a trust account or obtain a surety bond at least
seven days before the start of any sweepstakes in which the
prizes have a retail value greater than $5,000.28 The amount of
the surety bond must equal the total retail value of all prizes
offered.29 Sweepstakes sponsors that have conducted promotions
in Florida for five consecutive years without incident may
apply for a waiver of the bonding requirement.30
To register the sweepstakes, the sponsor must submit a completed
application, a copy of the sweepstakes official rules, and
a $100 filing fee.31 Once the official rules have been submitted,
they may not be altered. Florida also requires that the official
rules be posted in all retail outlets and in all advertising copy;
however, the ad copy need only include the material terms of
the official rules and the sponsor’s website address, a toll-free
telephone number, or a mailing address where the full official
rules may be viewed, heard, or obtained during the sweepstakes.32
Once the sweepstakes is over, a certified list of winners
of all prizes valued over $25 must be filed with the Department
of Agriculture and Consumer Services within sixty days after
the winners are finally determined.33

New York
Like Florida, New York requires a sweepstakes sponsor to file
an application for registration with the secretary of state and
either establish a trust account or obtain a surety bond if the
promotion is conducted in connection with the sale of consumer
products or services, the elements of chance and prize are present,
and the total value of the prizes offered exceeds $5,000.34 A
copy of the official rules and a $100 filing fee must accompany
the application. These must be filed at least thirty days before
the promotion begins.35 The official rules, the geographic area
covered by the promotion, and the prizes available must be conspicuously
and prominently posted in every retail outlet where
the game may be played and in every related advertisement.36
Once the promotion is over, a certified list of winners of all
prizes valued over $25 must be filed with the State of New York
within ninety days after the winners are finally determined.37

Rhode Island
Rhode Island requires registration with the secretary of state
for any promotion “in which a retail establishment offers the
opportunity to receive gifts, prizes, or gratuities, as determined
by chance” and the total value of the prizes exceeds $500.38 The
registration must be filed before the promotion begins. To register
the sweepstakes, the sponsor must pay a $150 filing fee and
provide a statement of (1) “the minimum number of participating
objects to be made available”; (2) “the minimum number of prize
winning objects that will be included”; (3) “the proportionate
opportunity of winning prizes”; (4) “the minimum value of [the]
prizes”; and (5) the rules of the promotion, including “the period
of time and the geographic area to be covered by the contest.”39
Rhode Island does not require sponsors to post a bond or
establish a trust account.
Although sponsors are not required to file a list of winners
with the state, they must maintain a list of winners for at least
six months after the promotion is completed.

DaveMoeDee

MarRyb wrote: »

There should be no give away like this at all. They should figure something out where all the player base can contribute. This will upset a lot of players, including us in Australia.

Welcome to life. If there are barriers to them doing it in your country, that is the fault of your country. That shouldn't stop them.

tom5330

The bottom line is, why make a competition that others cant enter but some can. I believe that everyone who has paid for this game and still supports it should have a fair chance at anything, just like anyone else. Why not let people win in game gold, or like others have said crowns. Maybe this will push people to play something else.

DaveMoeDee

The "if I can't have it no one can" mentality is childish.

icontested

tom5330 wrote: »

The bottom line is, why make a competition that others cant enter but some can. I believe that everyone who has paid for this game and still supports it should have a fair chance at anything, just like anyone else. Why not let people win in game gold, or like others have said crowns. Maybe this will push people to play something else.

Do the crime do the time. I'm pretty sure anyone who is excluded for legal reasons earned that on their own.

DaveMoeDee

AngryNord wrote: »

Glaiceana wrote: »

Yeah its not ZOS' fault. The countries that are not eligible for the contest have specific rules and laws pertaining to contests and giveaways. You cannot expect ZOS or Bethesda to go and change these laws. It is sad, but players shouldn't blame a random company for the laws of their country.

Yup, as I said, contrary to popular belief on the political left, the president of the USA does not have the ability to dictate the laws of other countries (at least not without the help of large numbers of US Marines, drones and B-52s...)

What are you smoking? What left are you talking about? The left where Trump forces Mexico to pay for a wall with a big, beautiful door? Seems you want badly to go on a political rant and don't care if it makes any sense.

Lynnessa

tom5330 wrote: »

The bottom line is, why make a competition that others cant enter but some can. I believe that everyone who has paid for this game and still supports it should have a fair chance at anything, just like anyone else. Why not let people win in game gold, or like others have said crowns. Maybe this will push people to play something else.

A sweepstakes is not a competition... it's a gamble.

Hm... If residents of excluded areas lobbied their governments enough, maybe they could get the laws changed. Then you could just enter Publishers Clearing House and try winning a million that way.

For srs tho, I'm not sure that crowns would work, seeing as they do have real money value.

SkylarkAU wrote: »

I thought it was obvious, it's because they can't convert USD to dollerydoos

Best post ever on these forums.

Slurg

Ravalox wrote: »

Slurg wrote: »

Nice try, but no, I cannot just submit a mail in form under #ii. My state is specifically excluded on the mail in form as well. There is no workaround here. This promotion does not meet the requirements in my state.

You stated the requirements of your state (of which you failed to indicate which state it is -BTW ... only Florida, New York, and Rhode Island are excluded) require that you do not have to make a purchase. The sweepstakes rules state multiple times that no purchase is required; so there would have to be another reason why you can not participate.

{EDIT}
Ok, so I found the most likely reason for Florida, New York and Rhode Island not being eligible.

Both Florida and New York require a surety bond to be submitted; in Florida's case it would be held for 5 years (not sure how long it would be held in NY).

Rhode Island's law is antiquated and appears not to take into consideration anything other than physical play pieces E.G.: "the minimum number of participating objects to be made available”

Here are the governing clauses for all three states. Your assumptions are incorrect as to why (if you live in one of these three). If you live in another state, then you are able to participate.

Florida
In Florida, a sweepstakes sponsor must register the sweepstakes
with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and
must establish a trust account or obtain a surety bond at least
seven days before the start of any sweepstakes in which the
prizes have a retail value greater than $5,000.28 The amount of
the surety bond must equal the total retail value of all prizes
offered.29 Sweepstakes sponsors that have conducted promotions
in Florida for five consecutive years without incident may
apply for a waiver of the bonding requirement.30
To register the sweepstakes, the sponsor must submit a completed
application, a copy of the sweepstakes official rules, and
a $100 filing fee.31 Once the official rules have been submitted,
they may not be altered. Florida also requires that the official
rules be posted in all retail outlets and in all advertising copy;
however, the ad copy need only include the material terms of
the official rules and the sponsor’s website address, a toll-free
telephone number, or a mailing address where the full official
rules may be viewed, heard, or obtained during the sweepstakes.32
Once the sweepstakes is over, a certified list of winners
of all prizes valued over $25 must be filed with the Department
of Agriculture and Consumer Services within sixty days after
the winners are finally determined.33

New York
Like Florida, New York requires a sweepstakes sponsor to file
an application for registration with the secretary of state and
either establish a trust account or obtain a surety bond if the
promotion is conducted in connection with the sale of consumer
products or services, the elements of chance and prize are present,
and the total value of the prizes offered exceeds $5,000.34 A
copy of the official rules and a $100 filing fee must accompany
the application. These must be filed at least thirty days before
the promotion begins.35 The official rules, the geographic area
covered by the promotion, and the prizes available must be conspicuously
and prominently posted in every retail outlet where
the game may be played and in every related advertisement.36
Once the promotion is over, a certified list of winners of all
prizes valued over $25 must be filed with the State of New York
within ninety days after the winners are finally determined.37

Rhode Island
Rhode Island requires registration with the secretary of state
for any promotion “in which a retail establishment offers the
opportunity to receive gifts, prizes, or gratuities, as determined
by chance” and the total value of the prizes exceeds $500.38 The
registration must be filed before the promotion begins. To register
the sweepstakes, the sponsor must pay a $150 filing fee and
provide a statement of (1) “the minimum number of participating
objects to be made available”; (2) “the minimum number of prize
winning objects that will be included”; (3) “the proportionate
opportunity of winning prizes”; (4) “the minimum value of [the]
prizes”; and (5) the rules of the promotion, including “the period
of time and the geographic area to be covered by the contest.”39
Rhode Island does not require sponsors to post a bond or
establish a trust account.
Although sponsors are not required to file a list of winners
with the state, they must maintain a list of winners for at least
six months after the promotion is completed.

Why would I tell strangers where I live?

That would be an accomplishment, to claim the second prize in the contest (crowns) without having a valid game account, which requires one to purchase the game.

I'm not asking for anyone to school me with stuff cut and pasted from the Internet. I already asked someone who has experience regulating these kinds of issues. There are many consumer Protections in place. In most cases that's a good thing.