#OurElderScrolls - Why the exclusions?

yodased · October 2018

Its not about legal or illegal. It is a simple thing of a company choosing to create a contest and do nothing more for it than that.

In this field of dreams, if you country or state so much as asks for a signatory or a tootsie roll pop to verify legitimacy of the contest, they exclude you.

Why? Because that does not allow them to remove said contest without awarding it. They would have recourse for not distributing the prize once one as well.

So if your country or state wants verification of intent and puts consequenes on pulling contests, you are a no fly zone.

Dont blame devs or modererators or players or gina, this comes from legal at Zenimax.

Turelus · October 2018

Nemeliom wrote: »

I'm from Argentina and I SERIOUSLY doubt there are any legal issues to approve this activities here. They probably aren't aware this kind of events exist. So how can something unknown be banned?

According to the internet there are rules, one of which is it can't require a purchase (ESO Sweepstakes require an account and thus a purchase).

Argentina
Yes, but ensure that:
The purchase of a product or service is not a requirement in order to be able to participate in the promotion; the elements needed to enable a person to participate must be made available for free to anybody willing to participate
Prior authorization from the Federal Lottery Agency (and in some cases by the Provincial entities regulating chance games) needs to be obtained when the prize exceeds AR$ 6,666 (approximately USD$425) in value
Please note that awards based on answering general culture questions do fall within this category under Decree 588/1998.

baratron · October 2018

I understand that many countries have laws prohibiting the giving away of prizes with an actual cash value unless the sweepstake is organised in a certain way, but I don't understand why players in those countries can't be entered into a contest with purely digital/no cash value prizes. I was sure we had this argument last year during the 10 Million Reasons contest.

Bhaal5 · October 2018

Why do a style of competition if all can not participate? First time can be put down as naive, second time is sort of a deliberate exclusion

therift · October 2018

DragonRacer wrote: »

Heh, not sure why Florida is excluded, but I guess it's kinda hilarious a state within the U.S. (as well as two others) are in the same forlorn boat as Australia and some other countries.

I can't be arsed to look up what law we have that excludes us from this, though.

Because Zenimax would be required to place the cash equivalent of the total prizes in a trust account with a state or Federally chartered depository institution.

therift · October 2018

Donatelllo wrote: »

If someone can provide me with the law that says AUS and NZ cannot enter I would be extremely grateful. However since the UK can enter and our laws have many similarities to the UK. I cannot see the problem as to why. Enough of the BS and turdflung excuses. Let us enter!

OMG! I think I finally realise what is going on! ZOS is racist!

Sweepstakes drawings in Australia require a permit (relatively simple) and the drawing must be conducted by an Australian entity. Since the firm conducting the Sweepstakes on Zenimax's behalf (very common) is located in the United States, the sweepstakes is not in compliance with Australian law.

Salvas_Aren · October 2018

I'm from Austria and I'm not allowed to participate.

Thanks to my lame-ass government. Taxing international sweepstakes does not help.

Lettigall · October 2018

In my country giveaways are defined by gambling law, if I don't need to pay to participate- it's not gambling and therefore not regulated by law. But hey it's s small country so ZOS don't give a F***!

therift · October 2018

Lettigall wrote: »

In my country giveaways are defined by gambling law, if I don't need to pay to participate- it's not gambling and therefore not regulated by law. But hey it's s small country so ZOS don't give a F***!

It is a Sweepstakes, not gambling. Most governments regulate Sweepstakes.

Bouldercleave · October 2018

It sounds like a lot of people around here need to learn their Country's laws and regulations before coming in and claiming to be a victim of some nefarious plot.

It's simple - if they have to jump through ANY kind of hoops to include you but have to do nothing to exclude you - guess what you are....excluded.

We have a lottery in the US that is currently up to 1.6 BILLION dollars. IIRC, only 41 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands can participate.

It's just reality. It's not always going to be "fair"

Kiralyn2000 · October 2018

Yeah, this isn't just ZOS out to screw you.

I've seen these "but why!?!?!" threads pop up on various game forums for at least the last decade. It's nothing new. It's nothing personal. It just is.

Mettaricana · October 2018

Hell im in florida USA and i cant enter any contests zos hosts... real slap in the face i clan pay money amd play the lotto but can't enter a us made games contest becuase my government is anti gamble how is ot gambling if its free to enter

Sylvermynx · October 2018

I'm not really sure that Utah wouldn't get it's silly "cultural" knickers in a wad if someone entered a ZOS contest, won something, and then somehow got "reported". But for sure we don't get the lotteries - people do drive over the adjoining borders, but I'm not real sure what happens if one of them wins - state tax commission takes way more than their fair share, then the winner goes to jail?

D0PAMINE · October 2018

Donatelllo wrote: »

If someone can provide me with the law that says AUS and NZ cannot enter I would be extremely grateful. However since the UK can enter and our laws have many similarities to the UK. I cannot see the problem as to why. Enough of the BS and turdflung excuses. Let us enter!

OMG! I think I finally realise what is going on! ZOS is racist!

That last part is completely unneccessary.

Conduit0 · October 2018

Mettaricana wrote: »

Hell im in florida USA and i cant enter any contests zos hosts... real slap in the face i clan pay money amd play the lotto but can't enter a us made games contest becuase my government is anti gamble how is ot gambling if its free to enter

Florida isn't anti-gambling, ZOS's legal department are just lazy af. To operate a sweepstakes with a total prize value over $5000 in FL and NY you need to be bonded and register the sweepstakes in that state, that is it. They just can't be bothered and so we get screwed.

starkerealm · October 2018

Donatelllo wrote: »

I saw this promotion and the chance to enter the sweepstakes to win one of those magnificent prizes on offer. I felt quite excluded and a bitterly disappointed when I found that I was excluded from the chance of entry due to my country of residence.

Why have Australia and New Zealand been left out of this great event? #OurElderScrolls? How about just #ElderScrollsforsomebutnoteveryone.

Is our money not as good as those in the countries that are allowed to participate? Is this just another conspiracy to purposely exclude the greatest nations on the planet?

What possible excuse can you provide that can dispel your obvious disregard for your faithful southern hemisphere player base?

Do the right thing ZOS. Do the right thing.

Please explain!

Not sure about New Zealand, but I know that Australia requires the actual drawing to be held in their national borders. So, Bethesda Softworks would need to set up an Australian shell company, spend the licensing fees, spend the administrative fees for the contest, pay to have an observer on hand (I think, but I'm not 100% sure), and then hold the drawing there.

Or, they could just save the money and say, "yep, no Aussies allowed."

Which sucks for you, and I'm sorry, but there's not really a lot of reason to jump through all the hoops.

LadyLethalla · October 2018

Tanaka_Khan wrote: »

Well why doesn't ZOS plan something that Australians and others who are excluded can take part in?

Or... and here's an idea, set up a competition in each region or country. It *can't* be that difficult.

starkerealm · October 2018

LadyLethalla wrote: »

Tanaka_Khan wrote: »

Well why doesn't ZOS plan something that Australians and others who are excluded can take part in?

Or... and here's an idea, set up a competition in each region or country. It *can't* be that difficult.

It can be that expensive. The last time this came up, someone coughed up the numbers for how much it costs to set up a shell company to include Australia. It was substantially more than the prize pool.

I also remember from sniffing around, there's several other countries with similar legal restrictions. This is before you consider the'd need to pay out prizes for each country.

DanteYoda · October 2018

Donatelllo wrote: »

I saw this promotion and the chance to enter the sweepstakes to win one of those magnificent prizes on offer. I felt quite excluded and a bitterly disappointed when I found that I was excluded from the chance of entry due to my country of residence.

Why have Australia and New Zealand been left out of this great event? #OurElderScrolls? How about just #ElderScrollsforsomebutnoteveryone.

Is our money not as good as those in the countries that are allowed to participate? Is this just another conspiracy to purposely exclude the greatest nations on the planet?

What possible excuse can you provide that can dispel your obvious disregard for your faithful southern hemisphere player base?

Do the right thing ZOS. Do the right thing.

Please explain!

Tax reasons i bet.. its usually Tax

Lettigall · October 2018

therift wrote: »

Lettigall wrote: »

In my country giveaways are defined by gambling law, if I don't need to pay to participate- it's not gambling and therefore not regulated by law. But hey it's s small country so ZOS don't give a F***!

It is a Sweepstakes, not gambling. Most governments regulate Sweepstakes.

Keyword is most, sweepstakes like ZOS are doing aren't even defined by law where I live.
And i know *** gambling law, if I don't have to pay to participate or buy product to participate it's not regulated! If I was entering sweepstakes buy buying any of ZOS products then it would be regulated by law. I already own game so I don't need to buy anything.

maboleth · October 2018

Donatelllo wrote: »

Why have Australia and New Zealand been left out of this great event? #OurElderScrolls?

Lag

Turelus · October 2018

Conduit0 wrote: »

Mettaricana wrote: »

Hell im in florida USA and i cant enter any contests zos hosts... real slap in the face i clan pay money amd play the lotto but can't enter a us made games contest becuase my government is anti gamble how is ot gambling if its free to enter

Florida isn't anti-gambling, ZOS's legal department are just lazy af. To operate a sweepstakes with a total prize value over $5000 in FL and NY you need to be bonded and register the sweepstakes in that state, that is it. They just can't be bothered and so we get screwed.

Apart from they would need to do it for 195 countries, every time they do it. Each country is also going to likely be a different set of hoops as well.

We can all speculate all day but the most we know from ZOS is Gina's old confirmation that it is due to local sweepstake rules.

redlink1979 · October 2018

Our money is always good enough when we buy the game, when we buy the eso+ and when we buy crowns. But to participate in some contest suddenly we aren't good enough if we aren't from the selected countries? Even more strange, some European Union countries are eligible and others aren't? What about other continents where there is a large player base? We should all participate or non at all. Why some people are more suitable than others? Shame you on, ZOS.

Turelus · October 2018

redlink1979 wrote: »

Our money is always good enough when we buy the game, when we buy the eso+ and when we buy crowns. But to participate in some contest suddenly we aren't good enough if we aren't from the selected countries? Even more strange, some European Union countries are eligible and others aren't? What about other continents where there is a large player base? We should all participate or non at all. Why some people are more suitable than others? Shame you on, ZOS.

@redlink1979 as stated in the thread, it's not ZOS but local laws regarding sweepstakes. It's been the same for every sweepstake they've run since the games launch.

Bouldercleave · October 2018

redlink1979 wrote: »

Our money is always good enough when we buy the game, when we buy the eso+ and when we buy crowns. But to participate in some contest suddenly we aren't good enough if we aren't from the selected countries? Even more strange, some European Union countries are eligible and others aren't? What about other continents where there is a large player base? We should all participate or non at all. Why some people are more suitable than others? Shame you on, ZOS.

Really? REALLY???

You act like they selected certain Countries and not others out of spite. If your Country's laws and regulations kept them from including you, it's not ZoS fault.

Shame on YOU for throwing your false anger on the wrong culprit.

Mainman99 · October 2018

Bouldercleave wrote: »

Really? REALLY???

You act like they selected certain Countries and not others out of spite. If your Country's laws and regulations kept them from including you, it's not ZoS fault.

Shame on YOU for throwing your false anger on the wrong culprit.

Id say ZOS ignored countries because they wouldn't comply to certain countrys laws.
Im certain that you can have a sweepstake that includes at least 100 countries in the world but its much more paperwork and ZOS were to lazy to do that.

So yes, ZOS handpicked "easy countries" and ignored the rest

BuddyAces · October 2018

Everyone here thinking it's just a small hoop they have to jump through. How many countries are excludex? I seen a number of something like 180 countries excluded posted earlier in the thread, may have been a random number since I was just skimming the responses but whatever. Say it's even 20. That's 20 different countries all with their own laws/fees. IT ADDS UP. I'll be the first one to grab my pitchfork when it comes time to yell at zos but I can see why they do what they do regarding these things.

Mainman99 · October 2018

My main complaint is when they promote something like the Sweepstake as its available to everyone and then write in the fine print that its only available in certain countries. I don't want to see it at all if its not available for me (or at least print it as Sweepstake-limited countries so I know that my country might not be included).

I also dislike that all we have is rumors and old posts about why and no official response

Conduit0 · October 2018

Turelus wrote: »

Conduit0 wrote: »

Mettaricana wrote: »

Hell im in florida USA and i cant enter any contests zos hosts... real slap in the face i clan pay money amd play the lotto but can't enter a us made games contest becuase my government is anti gamble how is ot gambling if its free to enter

Florida isn't anti-gambling, ZOS's legal department are just lazy af. To operate a sweepstakes with a total prize value over $5000 in FL and NY you need to be bonded and register the sweepstakes in that state, that is it. They just can't be bothered and so we get screwed.

Apart from they would need to do it for 195 countries, every time they do it. Each country is also going to likely be a different set of hoops as well.

We can all speculate all day but the most we know from ZOS is Gina's old confirmation that it is due to local sweepstake rules.

I didn't say anything about other countries, I pointed out that FL and NY are left out due to sheer laziness. If they're not even willing to go through the relatively minor trouble of getting bonded to at least make the contest available in all 50 US states its no surprise that so many other countries are left out as well.

redlink1979 · October 2018

Bouldercleave wrote: »

...

Another owner of the undeniable truth so offended...