When you think of great resources to learn about promotions laws, you think (we hope) of Ad Law Access, but you might not think of Food Network Magazine. However, the magazine recently ran a story entitled “Half-Baked Law” about a legal issues associated with a baking contest.

According to the story, New Jersey resident Sally Ball tried to enter her mom’s apple pie recipe in the American Pie Council’s National Pie Championship, but couldn’t compete because an old law in the Garden State considers certain cooking competitions to be illegal gambling. State lawmakers heard about this, and the General Assembly voted to change the law in May. Now, the bill is in the State Senate’s hands.

This should serve as a reminder that promotions laws aren’t always intuitive and don’t always make sense. Even things as seemingly innocuous as a baking contest could run afoul of gambling laws.

Good luck, Sally. We’re rooting for you.