University of Iowa revising ticket promotion because it may be illegal

We told you last week about the University of Iowa's plan to give away free tuition to five students who purchased season football tickets. It sounded like a

We told you last week about the University of Iowa's plan to give away free tuition to five students who purchased season football tickets. It sounded like a good idea to boost sales. There's just one problem: it might be against the law. 

According to The Daily Iowan, one issue is with students using credit cards to buy tickets, because state law prohibits the purchase of raffle tickets on credit. There's also a problem with the two student ticket packages available (one excluding the Iowa-Nebraska game), because the cost of entry varies. 

The school suspended the promotion one day after it was announced and offered refunds to students who bought tickets solely based on the promotion. 

Rick Klatt, an Iowa athletic department official, told The Daily Iowan​ that the school is revising the promotion. They may make it a sweepstakes rather than a raffle (whatever that means). 

Perhaps the athletic department should have consulted some law students first.

- Dan Gartland