Disqualified for WoW 3v3 tourney?

[usonian]

Does anyone know why Arizona (along with some other states / provinces) is not eligible for the WoW 3v3 Tournament?  I wasn't definitely planning on trying it out, but I was thinking about it.

[Arcdelad]

but I was thinking about it.

This is why.

[un4]

Daylight savings?

[JohnnieRat]

Is gambling illegal in Arizona?

[Shadowwolf]

Is gambling illegal in Arizona?

Technically gambling is illegal in all states except in designated areas and with designated methods. No one is going to raid your house with SWAT if you play poker with some friends and bet money, but if you set up a small numbers ring in your basement, yes, they will come calling if you get caught. I believe in Nevada, the entire state allows gambling of any sort provided that at a certain level of money handling the Nevada Gaming Commission is informed and issues a permit, but places like New Jersey or California for instance only allow gambling at approved casinos and betting establishments. The Lottery is considered "legal" because its state run. Funny how that works, when the government controls or approves of it its "OK" when they have no say in it, its illegal.

As for the WoW thing, maybe it has to do with the DST thing, or perhaps not. Could be some issue Blizzard had with finding approval on the game that Arizona didnt like and shot them down. I know some states dont allow online gambling like Mass and whatnot, the online Poker is illegal if you bet real money =P

[capnpop]

it has to do with games of skill i think, lemme find a link, i know that North Dakota had a problem with it before...

Here we go with some of it:

Residents of Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Montana, and Vermont must take it under advisement that CEVO Events are considered "GAMES OF SKILL" and "STRATEGY" and meet the requirements in accordance with their respective state laws which govern playing in "GAMES OF SKILL" for members to participate.

from http://www.cevo.com/?page=corporate&func=termsofuse

While some literature suggests that participation is still possible, Blizzard removes that notion quickly:

(A) LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, SINGAPORE, THAILAND, MALAYSIA, (B) THE AGE OF MAJORITY IN THEIR COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE, (C) HAVE AUTHORIZED ACCESS TO A WORLD OF WARCRAFT ACCOUNT THAT IS IN GOOD STANDING AND HAS BEEN UPGRADED WITH "THE BURNING CRUSADE" EXPANSION TO WORLD OF WARCRAFT UPON THE COMMENCEMENT DATE (DEFINED BELOW), AND WHICH REMAINS IN GOOD STANDING THROUGHOUT THE TOURNAMENT (THE "ACCOUNT"); AND (D) WHO ARE NOT RESIDENTS OF THE US STATES OF ARIZONA, CONNECTICUT, NORTH DAKOTA, MARYLAND OR VERMONT OR THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC, CANADA OR RESIDENTS OF THE AUSTRALIAN STATES OF VICTORIA, QUEENSLAND OR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY (THE "ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS).

from http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/pvp/tournament/legal.xml

so, if you are a resident of one of those states that is bolded, you are not eligible.  Blizzard doesn't check to see if you are eligible and if you pay up and can't participate due to rules, I don't know what steps Blizz will take to get you your money back (if any).


In unrelated news:

To enter, simply go to the Account Management page of www.worldofwarcraft.com, log in, using your account name and password, click on the link for the Tournament, and pay the applicable entry fee. The Entry Fee for the Tournament is $20.00 USD for the First Qualification Round of the Tournament, and $20.00 USD for the Second Qualification Round of the Tournament. Canadian residents are not required to pay an Entry Fee in order to enter. Instead, Canadian residents may enter by submitting a 250 word typewritten essay comparing the video gaming culture in Canada to the video gaming culture in the United States on 8 ½ x 11 inch paper and mailing their essay to Essay Entry for The North American Blizzard Entertainment Arena Tournament, P.O Box 18979, Irvine, CA 92623.

[Grendeel]

If i recall right, Canadians were not allowed to participate as well for last years tournament.  Reading your quote Capn it got me thinking.

We have various product contests where, if you buy a certain product,  you can become eligible for their contest.  Most of these contests can also be entered without the purchase of said product (essentially free of charge).  Their usually is a caveat at the end of the commercial or the list of rules for the contest, stating how to do this.  As well you are required to answer a skill testing question first, in order to receive your prize (if you won).

Im now wondering if we have a law that forces companies to do this.  With blizzards case, the essay would, in all likely hood, substitute for the skill testing question and the ability to enter the "contest" , free of charge.

-edit

Ah, there is a long history here and laws where made that cover this type of thing over a century ago.  The law that covers this is: section 206 of the Criminal Code (Appendix A) and section 74.06 of the Competition Act (Appendix A).  In part it says

If winners are to be determined based upon a game of mixed chance and skill, the contest is prohibited by the Code if the participants are required to pay money or give valuable consideration in order to participate. It is therefore prudent that an element of skill be introduced into the contest and that participants not be required to pay money or give valuable consideration for the right to participate unless the contest does not involve an element of chance.

I find it funny that these laws were introduced to combat the evils of "3 card monte"  played in backrooms and saloons  a long time ago