Are High Value Daily Instant Win Games Ethical ? Playing for non-existent prizes?

[LesL269823]

So this week we can play for a $100 Starbucks Gift card for 500 Points, 1 winner per day. Since it was explained the the game software picks a random time of day to make an award available and the first person to play after that time wins.

So with only 1 per day, if say the game software randomly chooses to make that reward available at 8 AM, then everyone else who plays the rest of the day is playing for a non-existent prize. 

I would have to believe if cash were involved, this might be questionably legal, but since it is only points without a cash value, it is all in fun?

On the average, 50% of the plays for these offers are when there is No Prize Available.

Not discouraging anyone from playing these, I usually do myself.

[andrewtoo]

As shown below, from the official rules there is no guarantee that there will be one Staples Card available each day.  All of them could be available to win on one day or within one hour for that matter.  If you enter an Instant Win Game, there is no guarantee that one will be available that day.  However, the "Calendar Day" reference below just reiterates that only one card may be won per calendar day.  Considering that we can only enter and instant win once per day, then I don't see how we could win more than one card per day anyway.  Good Luck Everybody!

https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/rewards/redeem/rules/promo/30330-staples-iw.pdf 

From Section 6.

"There will be five (5) random, computer-generated
winning times during the Promotion Period. If you are the first player to play the Instant Win Game at or after one of the randomly-generated times, you will be a potential instant winner of the prize offered for this calendar day..."

[RenateW69623]

I've wondered the same thing, whether the IW could all be offered in 1 day, but the fact that there are 5 winners for 5-day IW and 7 winners for 7-day IW (for these $100 IW), implies that there is 1 winner per day.  Also when it says "winner of the prize offered for this calendar day", that also implies to me that there is 1 winner per day.  But with the weird way this rewards program is run, it wouldn't surprise me if they did something screwy like having all wins on 1 day.

[KarenBaum]

 Maybe I read it wrong but it's 7 prizes total for the entire month.

" Play for a chance to be 1 of 7 winners! "

[RenateW69623]

This Instant Win was available for 7 days, so there is 1 winner a day.  Now there is a Staples $100 IW with only 5 winners, but the IW is only available for 5 days, so again there is only 1 winner a day.  With probably thousands of people playing these IW, you can guess the likelihood of winning.  I wish they would have more gift cards for points instead of these high value IW that only a very few people can win.

[Jason2020LovesKelly]

Actually, it's rotating. All Instant Wins are on a rotating basis. According to the rules: Rewards Daily Instant Win Rules (aarp.org)

More specifically, to the OPs post: 30329-starbucks-iw.pdf (aarp.org)

[EricC28201]

Thank you for the thought provoking topic @LesL269823 .  It is clearly stated and cogent.

It got me thinking, Isn't this really just cannibalism by proxy?  Lets face it, this is a web site and its value is based largely on the volume of traffic it generates (yes even non-profit entities have to demonstrate some kind of tangible quid pro quo value to perpetuate themselves).  In that context we are just a commodity (traffic) to be lured to the site to sustain and\or enhance its market value.  The various 'Prizes' are a form of bait to pique our interest.

Bungle In The Jungle 

Ironically the Security Challenge was raz.

[Jason2020LovesKelly]

At this point, not entirely trusting with the outcome. I play for fun, and if I win, I get a great big happy win surprise. As my wife says, '"Going through the motions." All of this adheres to my schedule not their schedule. If I win, I win.