New DPP ruling: plain paper entries are ‘legal and acceptable’
Promotions & Incentives Magazine February 1992: Page 4.
EXTRACT FROM THE ARTICLE:
New DPP ruling: plain paper entries are ‘legal and acceptable’
John Donovan, managing director at Don Marketing, a company which specialises in promotional games said: “Don Marketing first contacted the Gaming Board Authority, Scotland Yard and the Home Office about this matter in 1985. Discussions held then have culminated in this decision. It’s unsatisfactory and not what we expected.”
Donovan claimed guidelines were set in 1979 when the now famous Imperial Tobacco Spot Cash promotion went all the way to the High Court and was ruled illegal, even though there were two alternative routes of free entry, according to Donovan.
“Following that ruling, we put all our energy into designing skill games. We’re disappointed that after all that, the DPP is changing the law.”
Donovan also felt that laws should only be passed following a proper passage through both houses of Parliament. “This is just a policy decision from the Crown Prosecution Services,” he said.
According to Donovan, there are still many illegal promotions taking place. He cites a Noel Edmond’s TV programme on Saturday nights, which features a phone-in competition to predict future events. “There is no skill involved, but people are still paying, in effect, with their telephone call,” said Donovan.