Blog Posts

        Category: Sweepstakes
        by Robert Laplaca on April 1, 2022

        In an astonishing reversal (of fortune), the FTC today (April 1) announced that “No Purchase Necessary” is no longer necessary for games of...

        by Robert Laplaca on February 22, 2022

        Last month, a class action lawsuit was dismissed, in part, against plaintiffs who opted into Coinbase Global’s $1.2 Dogecoin sweepstakes. Dogecoin...

        by Robert Laplaca on October 1, 2021

        With the current debt crisis looming and people tightening their belts, perhaps we’ll see more brands doubling down on sweepstakes promotions to...

        by Robert Laplaca on August 2, 2021

        Oh, Canada, you give us ice hockey, maple syrup, Tom Hortons, and one stubborn province that had a noted aversion to “publicity contests.” But no...

        by Robert Laplaca on June 22, 2021

        Every six-year-old boy, at some time in his short life, comes up with the idea of running a raffle as an ingenious way of earning some easy money. It...

        by Robert Laplaca on May 24, 2021

        I love it when there are new and innovative approaches to sweepstakes. That’s been the genesis and driving force behind sweepstakes promotions...

        by Robert Laplaca on May 20, 2021

        Sometimes doing good isn’t easy. Say you’re a company that wants to run a sweepstakes by asking entrants for donations to charity. Sounds simple....

        by Robert Laplaca on April 14, 2020

        “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” Muhammad Ali We are seeing a nation pitching in to flatten the curve and...

        by Robert Laplaca on April 6, 2020

        Forfeit prizes, cancellation, deadlines, termination, Stores closed, goods sold, how do we get through? Test kits, verification, new prizes,...

        by Robert Laplaca on December 13, 2018

        2018 brought us the type of lawsuits you would expect in the world of sweepstakes, contests and giveaways. From "The Annoyance Lawyer" to Bobbleheads...

        by Robert Laplaca on November 5, 2018

        Prop 215 was enacted in California twenty-two years today on November 5, 1996. This law was the first of its kind in the U.S. to legalize medical...

        by Robert Laplaca on August 1, 2018

        You're offered a $1 million game piece for $40,000 dollars. What do you do? As you might expect, this may be an offer you can't refuse. A recent...

        by Robert Laplaca on June 12, 2018

        Commercial Co-Ventures and Sweepstakes Promotions Remember that song in the '90s from the C+C Music Factory called "Things That Make You Go...

        by Robert Laplaca on May 8, 2018

        On April 23, 2018, 13 disgruntled senior citizens, led by a retired and disabled veteran who for seven years purchased hundreds of items from...

        by Robert Laplaca on April 16, 2018

        As was made pretty clear last week from the 1,400 hours of Congressional testimony by Mark Zuckerberg, the USA may want to follow the lead of the EU...

        by Robert Laplaca on March 29, 2018

        Today (March 29th) is baseball's opening day – the earliest opening day in history. If you're going to the Yankees' opener in Toronto, wear your...

        by Robert Laplaca on December 28, 2017

        "It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition,...

        by Robert Laplaca on October 23, 2017

        Client: Do we need Official Rules for our sweepstakes? Attorney: Yes. Client: But we're only running a one-day sweepstakes giving away a...

        by Robert Laplaca on October 6, 2017

        Some things you may not be able to give as prizes: - Smokes (MA, MI, VA) - Gas (NJ, VA) - Beer (many states) - Milk (restricted in a number of...

        by Robert Laplaca on September 5, 2017

        Marx once remarked, "Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough." Well, thanks...

        by Robert Laplaca on August 24, 2017

        William J. Shakespeare recognized over more than 400 years ago in As You Like It that, "Excess may do you harm." This may still hold true today for...

        by Robert Laplaca on July 31, 2017

        It's summer vacation time and what better way to spend it then basking in the sun after winning that all-expense-paid prize trip. Or is...

        by Robert Laplaca on July 21, 2017

        In 1984, Clara Peller, when opening a bun and finding only a tiny burger, first asked the famous line, "Where's the beef?" This question is still...

        by Robert Laplaca on June 7, 2017

        Our teachers have told us that there's no such thing as a bad question. In that light, I've come up with 11 common (simple) questions about...

        by Robert Laplaca on February 24, 2017

        On February 9, 2017, a consent order was entered in favor of the FTC against the general manager of a company engaged to procure printing and mailing...

        by Robert Laplaca on January 9, 2017

        On December 14, 2016, the Consumer Review Fairness Act of 2016 was passed to try to put an end to companies taking down nasty reviews about their...

        by Robert Laplaca on December 29, 2016

        In case you missed it, here are some notable items from 2016 concerning sweepstakes, contests, and related promotional matters: Influencers,...

        by Robert Laplaca on December 15, 2016

        First, a short history lesson. The term "sweepstakes" dates back to the 15th century in reference to a common game where everyone placed a "stake"...

        by Robert Laplaca on September 23, 2016

        Olympic prize awards are generally taxed like other prizes. Some lawmakers have seen this practice of taxing our Olympians as a "victory tax." On...

        by Robert Laplaca on August 19, 2016

        Recently and without fanfare, Pinterest revised its Promotion Guidelines in a few significant ways. The old Guidelines said you cannot "run a...

        Firm Highlights

        Blog

        What is a Bonus for Purposes of ERISA?

        An ongoing dispute about a Department of Labor advisory opinion published last September raises a basic but unanswered question under the ERISA: What...
        Media Mentions

        Verrill Recognized by WMTW for Partnership Supporting Hunger Relief in Maine

        Verrill was recently featured in coverage by WMTW News 8 for its role in a collaborative effort to combat food insecurity across southern...
        Press Releases

        33 Verrill Attorneys, Across Four Offices, Recognized in the 2026 Chambers USA Guide

        BOSTON, Massachusetts, PORTLAND, Maine, WESTPORT, Connecticut, and WASHINGTON, D.C. – Verrill has been recognized as a Leading Firm in 14...
        Blog

        Will the Knicks Beat the Spurs? (Are Prediction Market Event Contracts Gambling?)

        For those of you who like to keep score, currently 18 states are engaged in litigation over prediction markets, such as Kalshi and Polymarket,...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        DOJ Announces Faster Review and Enhanced Enforcement for Benefits-Fraud FCA Matters

        On May 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Division issued a new memorandum, “Accelerating Review and Enhancing Enforcement in...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        DOJ Announces Minnesota Health Care Fraud Takedown; Signals Intensified Medicaid Enforcement Nationwide

        On May 21, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced a first-of-its kind Minnesota Health Care Fraud Takedown charging 15 defendants, including...
        Media Mentions

        Lauren Galvin Quoted in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly on Arbitration and Anti-SLAPP Protections

        Verrill Partner Lauren Galvin was recently featured in a Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly article highlighting a notable Superior Court decision...
        Blog

        Section 530A Accounts: What Employers Should Consider Before Offering Contributions to “Trump” Accounts

        Section 530A accounts, commonly referred to as Trump accounts, have attracted attention since the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in...
        Blog

        Navigating PBM Reform: Regulatory Changes, Market Shifts, and Practical Guidance for ERISA Fiduciaries

        Pharmacy Benefit Manager (“PBM”) arrangements have long relied on rebates with limited transparency into true drug costs. Recent regulatory and...
        Blog

        DOL’s Proposed Regulation on Selecting Alternative Investments: Broad Implications for 401(k) and 403(b) Plan Fiduciaries

        On March 30, 2026, the Department of Labor issued a proposed regulation purporting to implement an executive order to expand access to “alternative...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Private Clients & Fiduciary Services Attorney Gracie Castle

        BOSTON, Massachusetts – Verrill is pleased to welcome Gracie Castle to the firm’s Private Clients & Fiduciary Services Group as an Associate,...
        Published Works

        Francesco De Vito Authors Article in the Journal of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys

        Verrill Partner Frank De Vito authored an article featured in the Spring 2026 issue of The Abstract, the journal of the American College of Mortgage...