This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/devon/7673461.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Estate's £1m prize draw delayed | Estate's £1m prize draw delayed |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| People who bought raffle tickets to win a house in Devon have been told the prize draw, due to take place later, has been postponed. | People who bought raffle tickets to win a house in Devon have been told the prize draw, due to take place later, has been postponed. |
| Brian and Wendy Wilshaw sold 46,000 tickets costing £25 each for the chance to win the £1m Oldborough Mansion estate near Crediton. | Brian and Wendy Wilshaw sold 46,000 tickets costing £25 each for the chance to win the £1m Oldborough Mansion estate near Crediton. |
| But a message posted on their website informs entrants the draw has been halted by the Gambling Commission. | But a message posted on their website informs entrants the draw has been halted by the Gambling Commission. |
| The commission said it could not comment on individual cases. | The commission said it could not comment on individual cases. |
| A spokesman for the Wilshaws said they were "distraught" at having to postpone the draw. | A spokesman for the Wilshaws said they were "distraught" at having to postpone the draw. |
| He said they were in discussions with the Gambling Commission to resolve the issue "as soon as possible". | He said they were in discussions with the Gambling Commission to resolve the issue "as soon as possible". |
| Fishing lake | Fishing lake |
| He said: "I can say with absolute certainty that if the Gambling Commission decides that the draw can't go ahead then everyone will get their money back." | He said: "I can say with absolute certainty that if the Gambling Commission decides that the draw can't go ahead then everyone will get their money back." |
| A competition entrant from London, who asked not to be named, said: "I woke up this morning expecting one of two things to happen, to either win a house or be happy someone else had won a house | A competition entrant from London, who asked not to be named, said: "I woke up this morning expecting one of two things to happen, to either win a house or be happy someone else had won a house |
| "I was not expecting be told it was postponed." | "I was not expecting be told it was postponed." |
| She said she had been checking the competition website every day and was annoyed that the Wilshaws had waited until Wednesday night to announce the postponement. | She said she had been checking the competition website every day and was annoyed that the Wilshaws had waited until Wednesday night to announce the postponement. |
| The 11-acre Oldborough Mansion estate at Morchard Bishop includes a house, fishing lake and holiday cottages. | The 11-acre Oldborough Mansion estate at Morchard Bishop includes a house, fishing lake and holiday cottages. |
| It was valued at £1m before the competition started. | |
| Criminal offence | Criminal offence |
| The Gambling Commission recently warned homeowners who were considering selling houses in this way that they could fall foul of the 2005 Gambling Act. | The Gambling Commission recently warned homeowners who were considering selling houses in this way that they could fall foul of the 2005 Gambling Act. |
| Tom Kavanagh, deputy chief-executive, said: "Lotteries are the preserve of good causes and cannot be operated for private gain. | Tom Kavanagh, deputy chief-executive, said: "Lotteries are the preserve of good causes and cannot be operated for private gain. |
| "Prize competitions are free of statutory control under the Gambling Act and can be run for profit. | "Prize competitions are free of statutory control under the Gambling Act and can be run for profit. |
| "But homeowners considering such schemes as an alternative to selling their house risk committing a criminal offence if they cross the boundary and stray into offering an illegal lottery." | "But homeowners considering such schemes as an alternative to selling their house risk committing a criminal offence if they cross the boundary and stray into offering an illegal lottery." |
| The Wilshaws claim they contacted the Gambling Commission twice before launching their lottery to make sure it would not breach any rules. | The Wilshaws claim they contacted the Gambling Commission twice before launching their lottery to make sure it would not breach any rules. |
| The couple originally said they decided to raffle the estate to beat the slowdown in the housing market. | The couple originally said they decided to raffle the estate to beat the slowdown in the housing market. |