Answer: The USA has similar laws. The laws governing MLM do require a product or service simply because of the concept of Marketing. Marketing is "all the steps and costs incurred in bringing a product or service from the manufacturer or service provider to the end user". Ipso Factum, if there is no product or service, you cannot be engaged in marketing. The laws governing schemes are old simply because the schemes are old, in much the same manner that laws governing murder are old. Murder was, and is currently a crime. Simply stating that a law is old does not mean it cannot apply, as well, a simple perusal of current MLM laws show them to be clear and consise. So much so that there are groups of lawyers who specialize in this law practice. Government officials apply MLM laws to MLMs and pyramid scheme laws to illegal lotteries and schemes