Is This Not Illegal On Ebay? Sort Of A Lottery?

It says you are buying a box. Interesting wording/idea.

If it's not illegal, it should be. There is no direct way to confirm that anyone receives the $40 if the supposed winner does not leave feedback - and no one files a complaint!

That reminds me of the story:

Young Chuck moved to Texas and bought a donkey from a farmer for $100.
The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day.
The next day the farmer drove up and said, 'Sorry Chuck, but I have some bad news The donkey died.'
Chuck replied, 'Well, then just give me my money back.'
The farmer said, 'Can't do that. I went and spent it already.'
Chuck said, 'OK, then, just bring me the dead donkey.'
The farmer asked, 'What ya gonna do with a dead donkey?
Chuck said, 'I'm going to raffle him off.'
The farmer said 'You can't raffle off a dead donkey!'
Chuck said, 'Sure I can. Watch me. I just won't tell anybody he's dead.'
A month later, the farmer met up with Chuck and asked, 'What happened with that dead donkey?'
Chuck said, 'I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at two dollars apiece, less the $100 I gave you and made a profit of $898.00.'
The farmer said, 'Didn't anyone complain?'
Chuck said, 'Just the guy who won. So I gave him his two dollars back.'

Can the two people that lost open a case to ebay saying they didn't receive their item and get the 40 dollars?

a few years ago I saw someone post that they were selling a duffel bag, which the owner did not know what was inside. He told a story about how he was driving along and the car in front him tossed the bag out the window (or side door?), and drove away.

He stopped and picked it up and it had some heft to it, so he put it in his car and went on his way.

I guess on his way home he decided to put it up for auction, unseen. he asked his brother in law to look inside the bag to make sure nothing was illegal to own or sell, and what he thought it might be worth (but not describing the items inside)

The guy posted pictures and measurements and a weight of the bag, and some note from the brother in-law.

When I saw the auction the bidding was at about $200, and had a few days left, unfortunately I did not remember to check it out before it was over (this was probably 6 or so years ago now)