August 11, 2006

            LANSING - Attorney General Mike Cox announced today that an Assurance of Discontinuance had been filed with the Ingham Circuit Court regarding the "Save Our Heritage Sweepstakes" that had been operated by the Citizens for Wildlife Conservation.  The Assurance of Discontinuance requires cancellation of the sweepstakes and notification to all persons who received tickets when they made "donations" that their money can be returned.

            "This agreement will halt the sale of tickets under any guise, and moreover provide refunds to those who thought they were entering a raffle, not making a contribution," said Cox.

            Today's action results from an investigation launched by Attorney General Mike Cox after a complaint from supporters of a ballot proposal to ban the hunting of mourning doves that the sweepstakes was an illegal lottery.  The rules for the sweepstakes indicated that no donation was necessary to enter the sweepstakes and tickets referred to a "$5.00 contribution."  However, other promotional materials asked people to "buy" tickets at $5.00 per ticket. 

            The Assurance of Discontinuance requires Citizens For Wildlife Conservation to immediately cancel the sweepstakes and to provide ticket holders with written notice of the cancellation  along with a postage paid card for them to request a refund if they had not intended to make a contribution to Citizens For Wildlife Conservation, except for the raffle.

            The notification and refund card must be mailed by August 31, 2006 and ticket holders will have until September 30^th to request refunds.  All funds received by Citizens for Wildlife Conservation will be held in escrow until September 30, 2006 to allow time for the refunds and to prevent the use of the money until it is clear that any money remaining was meant to be a contribution rather than merely the purchase of a sweepstakes ticket.  

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