Question #1 for me is what is law concerning minors participating in sweepstakes / gambling? The ESPN rule may be a CYA measure if it’s illegal.
Of course, no mention of any existence or lack thereof of any such law.
Most states have laws preventing gambling by minors, which include sweepstakes, lotteries, and games of chance.
A quick search yielded this one form Minnesota
349.181 RESTRICTIONS ON WHO MAY PARTICIPATE IN LAWFUL GAMBLING.
Subdivision 1.Minimum age.
(a) A person under age 18 may not participate:
(1) as a player in games of pull-tabs, tipboards, paddlewheel, or raffles;
(2) as a player in a bingo game other than:
(i) a bingo game exempt or excluded from licensing; or
(ii) a bingo game conducted by an organization as part of an annual community event if the person under age 18 is accompanied by a parent or guardian; and
(3) in the conduct of pull-tabs, tipboards, paddlewheels, bingo, or raffles, except that a person under age 18 may sell raffle tickets.
Violation of this paragraph is a misdemeanor.
(b) A licensed organization or employee may not allow a person under age 18 to participate in lawful gambling in violation of paragraph (a). Violation of this paragraph is a misdemeanor.
(c) In a prosecution under paragraph (b), it is a defense for the defendant to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant reasonably and in good faith relied upon representations of proof of age authorized in section 340A.503, subdivision 6, paragraph (a).