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Comment by rnotaro | Hacker News Reader

> CONTEST IS OPEN TO RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND WORLDWIDE, EXCEPT FOR QUEBEC, CRIMEA, CUBA, IRAN, SYRIA, NORTH KOREA, and SUDAN.

Ah yes, Quebec, excluded of most contests.

https://capturetheflag.withgoogle.com/rules

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Quebec has a lot of rules for contests; advance registration with the government, providing them with a % of the prize value in advance, etc. Probably not worth the paperwork when dealing with them internationally.

Isn’t that where you have to answer a math question if you win?

That's not Quebec specific [0] - in fact, growing up in Ontario, it wasn't until just now that I learned that this was a Canadian thing at all.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skill_testing_question

I love that the image in the article also includes parenthesis, you just know that someone had to point out that a lot of people would manage to get it wrong without them.

No it's much more byzantine than simply the skill testing question. Classic Canadian bureaucracy.

https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Canadian-contests-exclude-Quebe...

It's not required to do so anymore for internationally based contests.

https://www-racj-gouv-qc-ca.translate.goog/communications/no...

Very weird way of wording it.

Also Quebec is finally on the axis of evil where it belongs, I guess.

Surprised Russia isn't on the list..

Payoff was 2 potatoes, only had 1 to spare.

It's because we've nationalized gambling[1], and so all gambling/contests need to be approved by the government.

1: https://portail.lotoquebec.com/en/home

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loto-Qu%C3%A9bec

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling_in_Quebec

Nationalized lol

> It's because we've nationalized gambling[1], and so all gambling/contests need to be approved by the government.

What you're describing (the state has a monopoly on gambling) is applicable to many other jurisdictions in US/Canada that aren't excluded from the website.

Yeah, it doesn't have to do with nationalized gambling. It has to do with strict sweepstakes laws.

* Register the sweepstakes rules and all advertisements used to promote the contest with the Quebec government at least 30 days ahead of the sweepstakes' launch.

* Pay a fee of up to 10% of the sweepstakes' value, depending on who is allowed to enter.

* Offer the sweepstakes rules in French as well as English.

https://www.liveabout.com/why-are-so-many-competitions-void-...

Yeah, right, and we know where you live, I guess.

It's because of the all-consuming void they have there -- the Void in Quebec.

Their laws are so terrible it's not worth the trouble. Their citizens need to vote for change.

Funny cause Quebec elections are ongoing right now and it looks like the do-nothing party is gonna stay in charge.

They didn't upset anyone or the alternative is worse. Just normal politics.

Hmm, I don't know whether that applies to H4CK1NG G00GL3 or just to the main CTF (which took place from July 1 to July 3).

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