Patreon Raffles/Prizes
Added 2015-07-28 18:22:51 +0000 UTCOkay, so Patreon's staff wrote me back. I asked them to clarify their stance on Raffles or Random prizes to patrons. This is what they wrote back:
"Thanks so much for writing in about this! I can understand why it's confusing, since some creators still have raffles up. Raffles are not allowed on Patreon and cannot be advertised, but if you want to randomly select patrons and give them something, that's fine. Again, you just can't advertise it."
So, well, this doesn't really clarify it. It's actually kind of confusing. So I guess I can continue with my raffle idea, I just can't tell you guys about it. Sorry, you can't know.
I assume I can post it on DA and the Comic Forums, just not here.
Comments
That's kinda what I figured, but I didn't realize that the winner might get in trouble too. Perhaps I should scrap this idea and find other rewards. What if I do this? Patrons get to submit interesting ideas and I'll just pick one and draw it? If it happens to be their character, great. And the most interesting one (to me) will get drawn. Is that a raffle?
Jakkal
2015-07-28 19:29:31 +0000 UTCProblem with raffles is... get ready: - raffles - are - gambling - Yes i know it might come as a surprise, but they are legally considered so. If you have people gambling then you (as an enabler) have to pay extra taxes on the gambling that is going on and the people who receive a prize have to pay extra taxes for the prizes they receive. This happens even if you state that the actual prize is zero. Moreover there are states that put different taxes on the gambler and the enabler. Even if there is no prize won. Or to be won. In order for Patreon to allow raffles, they have to be listed as a gambling site. Which they currently are not. And would need to pay taxes for allowing the enabling of gambling, which they are not currently paying. And would need to enable a system where you as an enabler will pay extra taxes for the raffles, and the people who receive a prize would need to be taxed for the prize they received. So, basically, it's a can of worms. If you do it hush hush and don't advertise it and don't make it an habit and don't do it with the intent of having people give you more money.... then as an amicable offer they will close one eye and let it slide. Make it an habit. Become famous for doing it. Start doing it with the intent of getting more money that people can trace... THEN... expect Patreon to be legally empowered to shut you down from their site and denounce you to the authorities for illegal gambling. This is the law. They cannot legally allow you to do it short of becoming a gambling site, which they of course do not wish to. Also be aware that legally if you "donate" art to people across the globe they have to know that their nation is supposed to get taxes out of your "donation". And some of them do oppose any kind of gambling and by your raffling you could give their nation ground to be legally entitled to enter that person's house and confiscate any electronic equipment over which said art could potentially be stored. Then search for it by taking their own time, WITHOUT giving the receiver opportunity to make a backup for it would void the entire operation, and usually one or two years later allow the user to have his stuff back. And of course all cloud storage parties used by said person could be legally terminated on the grounds of such confiscations. This includes email, instagram and such. So yeah, raffles might be innocent but are a legal nightmare. With very horrific repercussions. So, when they say "no raffles pretty pls." and don't go in detail it's because the details require some hundred words post like mine to just skim the surface of the nightmare. Patreon does not have the capacity to hold the beast at bay and they would have to pay a lot more taxes just to enable its users to do raffles. As well has having to keep track of the winners and exact taxes for their nations of origin. Thus it is not legal under their own terms and conditions. I hope i have explained "the beast" succinctly but properly. Also please don't put me in the raffle list because having had my computers confiscated once was enough, thank you.
Simone Spinozzi
2015-07-28 18:59:43 +0000 UTC
