Can a company host a contest and give no valid way to prove there was a winner?
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Can a company host a contest and give no valid way to prove there was a winner?
Not sure if this is technically business, but there was recently a contest that I entered and, according to the rules, my group should have won. When I contacted the company, they danced around the subject and said they notified the winner privately. My biggest concern is that the contest was a scam and just for advertisement. I believe the company never really picked a winner. Is it legal for a company to provide no valid way to prove there was truly a winner? What can I do about this?
Asked on November 5, 2016 under Business Law, Michigan
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
There is no explicit requirement to provide proof of who won to other contestants, but if the contest was a scam, it is a crime and also something that you could theoretically sue over (if it would be economically worthwhile to do so). A good first step is to contact your state Attorney General's office to report the situation: the AG may investigate and/or may refer matter to a another, more approrpriate agency (like the Michigan Gaming Control Board) to investigate. If the ageny(ies) find there may have been a violation, they may take action; and if find a violation, that would bolster your case, if you were to elect to sue.
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