You Might Be a Winner

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        by Robert Laplaca on December 24, 2015

        On Wednesday, the Illinois Attorney General declared daily fantasy sports illegal under Illinois gambling law. The AG Lisa Madigan gave her opinion...

        by Robert Laplaca on December 24, 2015

        On Tuesday, the FTC issued an Enforcement Policy Statement on Deceptively Formatted Advertisements -- a/k/a "native advertising", along with...

        by Robert Laplaca on December 22, 2015

        "Game Time Gold", "Ultimate Football Experience", The "Big Game" Sweepstakes, the "Special Teams" Sweepstakes, and the "Big Game Giveaway" are just a...

        by Robert Laplaca on December 22, 2015

        Recently, an affluent and intelligent businessman received a letter on Publishers Clearinghouse letterhead complete with the PCH logo and signed by...

        by Robert Laplaca on December 22, 2015

        It's now viral. Even if you had no interest in watching women get judged based upon how they look in swimwear (athletically speaking, of course), you...

        by Robert Laplaca on December 18, 2015

        Today (Dec. 18) is the official release date for the long-awaited next installment in the Star Wars saga – The Force Awakens. Disney and the Star...

        by Robert Laplaca on December 18, 2015

        On January 20, from 1:00 - 2:30 PM, Rob Laplaca will present a Lorman webinar titled "What All Lawyers Must Know About Fantasy Sports Gambling." The...

        by Robert Laplaca on October 16, 2015

        This week we wrote that fantasy sports leagues were (arguably) legal because they are games of skill under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement...

        by Robert Laplaca on October 13, 2015

        Everyone is familiar with the phrase "No Purchase Necessary." That's because promotions based on chance – sweepstakes, giveaways, or any promotion...

        by Robert Laplaca on March 20, 2015

        It doesn't matter whether you know a basketball from a hockey puck or a three-point play from a five course meal, every March, office works across...

        by Robert Laplaca on March 2, 2015

        1. Practically every type of promotional activity is regulated in some way: Sweepstakes and contests User generated content on websites...

        by Robert Laplaca on January 7, 2015

        Sweepstakes A sweepstakes is a chance promotion where the winners are selected randomly, such as random drawings, giveaways, and instant win...

        by Robert Laplaca on January 7, 2015

        Commercial co-ventures are a form of cause-related marketing that have proliferated in recent years. Commercial co-ventures between a company and a...

        About the Blog

        Promotion and sweepstakes laws vary widely across the fifty states and under federal regulations, creating complex challenges for today’s innovative marketers. This blog explores the latest updates and trends in promotion and marketing law, offering practical insights to help brands stay compliant while pushing creative boundaries. We’ll also discuss noteworthy, questionable, and groundbreaking promotional campaigns to encourage thoughtful discussion among marketing and legal professionals.

        Blog's Editor
        About

        “You Might Be A Winner”—everyone knows this phrase. It is a tried-and-true marketing device that calls people to action to purchase a product, visit a website, or share an idea in return for the opportunity to win a prize. Through this blog, our goal is to make you a winner by providing useful information in the promotion marketing world.

        Promotional marketing law covers many topics, including sweepstakes, contests, games, giveaways, and coupons. It also includes cause marketing, an area that has proliferated in recent years, which includes commercial co-ventures, flat donations, and sponsorships designed to raise money for charities. Laws often differ among the fifty states (and the federal government) and often can’t keep up with the ever-changing landscape created by innovative marketers. We will try to keep you abreast of promotion marketing law developments and elicit discussion over questionable, interesting, or innovative promotions.

        The blog’s editor, Rob Laplaca, has more than thirty years of experience counseling major brands and marketing agencies as they develop fun and legally sound promotions. He is a frequent speaker at national conferences on promotion law topics and “that guy” who can be seen trying to read the fine print on ads and TV commercials.

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        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...