The Galaxy Hates Canada?

So, having recently purchased a pack of the new Galaxy Series 6 cards from Topps, I noticed the "No Purchase Necessary" on the front. I'm thinking, how do you get these cards without purchasing them? Theft? My interest was piqued. "See back for details".

So I flipped it over and looked at the No Purchase Necessary disclaimer thing on the back. Has anyone else actually read this? I am quoting:

"Open only to U.S./Canadian (except Quebec) residents. For a chance to obtain...Potential Canadian winners will be required to first correctly answer a mathematical skill-testing question. Include on a 3X5 card the answer to the following skill-test question: 10 + 5 X 2 - 8 = ?"

So all you people in Quebec, you're disqualified for where you live. Fine, ok, sometimes some states/provinces have laws against drawings like this (I'm looking at you Rhode Island...). I get it, but the math question?????? So, some poor shmuck in Canada was lucky enough to have his name drawn, but didn't answer the question, or got it wrong, so he doesn't get the prizes? Wow, Topps, just, wow. That just blows my mind. "USA, you're cool, but we ain't giving these cards to no dumb Canadians." I just don't get it.

Has anyone else noticed this?

 

I'm sure CrazyMike will have a comment on this since he is Canadian..

 

There is a law in Canada that a company cannot give something away for free so there has to be a skill testing question anwsered in order to win a prize:


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia




Skill testing questions (or STQ) are a legal requirement attached to many contests in Canada.

The combined effect of Sections 197 to 206 of the Criminal Code of Canada bans for-profit gaming or betting, with exceptions made for provincial lotteries, licensed casinos, and charity events. Many stores, radio stations, and other groups still wish to hold contests to encourage more purchases or increase consumer interest. These organizations take advantage of the fact that the law does allow prizes to be given for games of skill, or mixed games of skill and chance. In order to make the chance-based contests legal, such games generally consist of a mathematical STQ.

The Promotional Contest Provision of the Competition Act also states that prizes are to be distributed "on the basis of skill or on a random basis.[1]"

The most common form that these questions take is as an arithmetic exercise. A court decision ruled that a mathematical STQ must contain at least three operations to actually be "skill testing"; for example, a sample question is "(2 × 4) + (10 × 3)" (Answer: 38). Enforcement of these rules is not very stringent, especially for small prizes; the player may not be required to answer the STQ to claim a prize. Anecdotally, getting the answer wrong is also often not an obstacle to claiming a prize. The questions are also becoming easier.[2] For contests held in other countries but open to Canadians, an STQ must be asked of any potential Canadian winner.

The same section of law prohibits receiving consideration in exchange for playing the games, resulting in a related peculiarity of Canadian contests: the "free entry alternative", which is usually telegraphed by the fine print "No purchase necessary". Generally this means that it is possible to enter the contest for free by, for example, writing a letter to the entity sponsoring the contest and requesting a game piece or entry form.

also...

I believe that the reason why Quebec is not being included in similiar promotions is that packaging and advertising has to be bilingual ( English and French. Several LFL licensees will not produce bilingual packaging for 8 million people when the rest of Canada and the US ( 320 million people plus) speak english. Because of this some contests that originate out of the US wilk exclude Quebec.

 

Wow, ok, thanks for clearing that up.