DiggCouch - Why no love for Florida???

[ferneaux]

So, after my wife and I watched the latest Diggnation podcast, I rushed to the DiggCouch page and registered to be entered in the sweepstakes to have the Diggnation troupe come to our pad for a taping.

Oh… wait… not so fast Floridians…

According to the contest rules, our entries are VOID for some unknown reason. In section 3 of the contest rules, it states on the first line “Open to legal residents of the 50 United States including the District of Columbia (excluding Florida and Puerto Rico)…”

Now, I can understand excluding PR as it is not technically a “state”, but Florida? Why not Alaska? Maine? Idaho? …or anywhere else?

My wife and I are baffled. What have the residents of Florida done to deserve this cold shoulder from Rev3 or GoDaddy? Anyone know and care to share? Is this also a reason why I haven’t seen them do a show here?


….sigh.


Disappointingly yours,
Mark
(Tampa, FL)

[travislopes]

So, after my wife and I watched the latest Diggnation podcast, I rushed to the DiggCouch page and registered to be entered in the sweepstakes to have the Diggnation troupe come to our pad for a taping.

Oh… wait… not so fast Floridians…

According to the contest rules, our entries are VOID for some unknown reason. In section 3 of the contest rules, it states on the first line “Open to legal residents of the 50 United States including the District of Columbia (excluding Florida and Puerto Rico)…”

Now, I can understand excluding PR as it is not technically a “state”, but Florida? Why not Alaska? Maine? Idaho? …or anywhere else?

My wife and I are baffled. What have the residents of Florida done to deserve this cold shoulder from Rev3 or GoDaddy? Anyone know and care to share? Is this also a reason why I haven’t seen them do a show here?


….sigh.


Disappointingly yours,
Mark
(Tampa, FL)

That is completely bull. I would love to hear an explanation as to why this is so.

- TL
(Hudson, FL)

[arcole]

i almost pissed myself when i saw i could win this but then see this =/ i am in palm beach why no FL!

P.S. i know we have a lot of morons in the state and no one can drive but come on just rent a big truck you will be fine.

[comhcinc]

it has to do with the laws of florida

[arcole]

it has to do with the laws of florida

LOL you have got to be joking

[comhcinc]

no i am not.

[arcole]

no i am not.

oh i am just dieing to know what law. would not be the 1st time i heard we had dumb messed up laws.

[comhcinc]

i don't know off the top of my head, but sweepstake laws very from state to state and i am sure that is the issue here.

[tokenuser]

The state of Florida has a restraining order on Alex. Something to do with Spring Break '96, several endangered animals, a bicycle pump, and fruit smoothie.

Lets just say that he has abed waiting for him if he crosses the state border.


(joking - gaming laws are inconsistent nationally, and this is conseidered a game of chance).

[arcole]

The state of Florida has a restraining order on Alex. Something to do with Spring Break '96, several endangered animals, a bicycle pump, and fruit smoothie.

Lets just say that he has abed waiting for him if he crosses the state border.


(joking - gaming laws are inconsistent nationally, and this is conseidered a game of chance).

oh now this sounds more like the issue hahaha

[snowman]

ive never heard of a contest that wouldnt include florida. please shed some light on this!!

- Jason (St. Augustine, FLORIDA)

[willgt09]

from an attorney's office website - http://www.sweepstakeslaw.com/

Some states require a sweepstakes sponsor to register the sweepstakes. Florida, New York, and Rhode Island require registration when the total retail value of the prizes is greater than $5,000 (or $500 in Rhode Island for retail store promotions).

Florida and New York require the sponsor to bond the sweepstakes equal to the total value of the prizes. Once the winners are announced, a winners’ list must be provided to the state(s) in order to release the bond.


The problem is that Florida law restricts the setting up and conducting of contests, that it becomes too difficult to go through the regulatory hoops necessary to run a contest/sweepstakes in Florida.

[ohhoe]

from an attorney's office website - http://www.sweepstakeslaw.com/




The problem is that Florida law restricts the setting up and conducting of contests, that it becomes too difficult to go through the regulatory hoops necessary to run a contest/sweepstakes in Florida.

Really? I won a 5000 shopping spree to Electronics Boutique when I was 15 and lived in Florida.

[willgt09]

well, i dunno really. I don't live in Florida. I'm just sayin' what Google tells me.

[ferneaux]

from an attorney's office website - http://www.sweepstakeslaw.com/

The problem is that Florida law restricts the setting up and conducting of contests, that it becomes too difficult to go through the regulatory hoops necessary to run a contest/sweepstakes in Florida.


That's some pretty awesome sleuthing there, WiLLGT09.

I did some searching too and found that the Florida requirements, although pretty lame, seem to match up with all that is explained in the contest.... with the exception of one thing: "Florida still requires promoters to file with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, a copy of the complete rules and regulations at least seven days before launch, and promoters must still post the entire set of rules at all retail locations where a person can enter the game if the value of the prize exceeds $5,000."

This sounds like a reasonable excuse.... they may not have had the time to submit the sweepstakes to the FL gov't before announcing the contest. However, the strange thing is that these SAME rules apply for New York and Rhode Island. Why isn't the contest void in NY and RI as well?

... weird.


I'll see if I can get an "official" answer from the Diggnation folks via email and post it back here.


Thanks

[potofgravy]

Why no love for Australia?

[xfuuey]

awesome... one less state to decrease my chances of winning! :D

[murphy1d]

The state of Florida has a restraining order on Alex. Something to do with Spring Break '96, several endangered animals, a bicycle pump, and fruit smoothie.

Lets just say that he has abed waiting for him if he crosses the state border.

You forgot to mention the "Hover-Round incident" at the retirement community...but then again maybe we should let that one lie.

[ariastar]

For whatever reason, the government of Florida might also have denied the sweepstakes so it couldn't happen. The general rules may be the same for several states, but the actual process will differ according to the laws of each state. They may not have been able to work through the process, or maybe it would have taken several months. They're not going to just exclude Florida for no good reason.

What I find funny is this:

“Open to legal residents of the 50 United States including the District of Columbia (excluding Florida and Puerto Rico)…”

It's open to residents of the 50 United states, and Florida is excluded. So if residents of 50 states can enter, but not Florida, I'm wondering when we had a 51st state added. :D

[ryudo]

Swamps smell,no one wants to be bitten by gators and remember the ep with bugs outside in NYC at jays..now imagine that on a stained couch outside a trailer next to a swamp or a plastic covered couch in a condo in a retired couples home.:p

[smes]

And why not Canada either?

[ryudo]

And why not Canada either?

Because you gave us William Shatner.

What did we do so badly to deserve him?:mad:

[ohhoe]

Because you gave us William Shatner.

What did we do so badly to deserve him?:mad:

And Celene Dion.

[summx]

it's clear that alex and kevin simply don't like florida

[xfuuey]

..don't blame 'em    :eek:

[skyz]

it's clear that alex and kevin simply don't like florida

kevin likes south beach well enough ;)

but then again to be 'cool' on south beach is not that easy there is a lot of competition :cool:

so i can well understand their fear of fail :D

[knippschild]

And why not Canada either?

Same reason as Florida.

Certain providences of Canada simply make it too frustrating and difficult and it's not worth to go through all the trouble.

[aaronbond]

i hope somebody from corporate jumps in here and answers the question. *points @ louderback!*

;)

-Daytona Beach, FL

[ohhoe]

i hope somebody from corporate jumps in here and answers the question. *points @ louderback!*

;)

-Daytona Beach, FL

Haha my High School graduation was at the Ocean Center in Daytona.

My mom works at the prison in daytona.

[kevincollateral]

Haha my High School graduation was at the Ocean Center in Daytona.

My mom works at the prison in daytona.

haha. what high school did you go to? i live in ponce inlet for 3 years. went to spruce creek (moved before graduation) but my sister graduated from there and had hers at the ocean center.

[msmags]

And why not Canada either?

I know! So sad. :(

[jonnywb]

I wish the UK was involved too! :(
Ah well... saves me some money on beer =p

[aaronbond]

Haha my High School graduation was at the Ocean Center in Daytona.

My mom works at the prison in daytona.

ummm well that's umm good to know.... i think...? lol. i'll be sure to keep shouting "i demand to speak to ohhoe's mom!" when they want to put me in the slammer.

haha. what high school did you go to? i live in ponce inlet for 3 years. went to spruce creek (moved before graduation) but my sister graduated from there and had hers at the ocean center.

sweet deal a fellow SCHSer. '03 myself. have had a sweet software job since HS so have stuck around. not a very techy community 'round here. maybe i could see who is when ppl come out of the woodwork to watch a diggnation being filmed? O WAIT THAT CAN'T HAPPEN! grrr.

[ariastar]

And why not Canada either?

I don't believe Canada allows sweepstakes. Has to be a skill thing, or something. Too much red tape.

[ariastar]

I have an idea! Since they can't do it in Florida and aren't including every country in the world, how about they scrap the idea to begin with so no one can win! You people in Florida and Canada and the UK still have no chance, but at least no one else does either. :cool:

[bravecoward]

who wants a diggnation filmed in a retirement home anyways?!

:D

[aaronbond]

who wants a diggnation filmed in a retirement home anyways?!

:D

old ppl are tech savvy and know how to rock man. they'd probably kick your butt in wii bowling! :D

[ferneaux]

Well, I got a reply from Prager.

Basically, it boiled down to Florida laws. They may not have accepted GoDaddy's contest for one reason or another... he didn't say.

BUT.... they are pushing hard to do a show in Florida! w00t!

...still, not happy that FL is excluded, but we do live in a retarded state. oh well...

[murphy1d]

Soooo...who won? The revision3.com/diggcouch site is gone.

[stevenbullen]

Soooo...who won? The revision3.com/diggcouch site is gone.

Yeah who won.

[speed]

I don't believe Canada allows sweepstakes. Has to be a skill thing, or something. Too much red tape.

"Skill testing" as in a simple math question. Even then, the contest holder usually whispers the answer to the person filling it out.

I think the main reason would probably be the fact that neither Revision3 nor GoDaddy are Canadian corporations and the Canadian government has so many stupid laws that are intended to "preserve Canadian culture" (too fucking late).

[ecbaticevan]

Alex and Kevin: stop off over here at FSU in Tallahassee! It's good weather and close enough to the Georgia border in case you need to make a quick get away.