What must a contract have in order to be valid, ensuring it is not considered gambling or speculation?

For a contract to be considered valid and not classified as gambling or speculation, it must have a legal purpose. This means that the contract's objectives must align with the laws and regulations in place; it cannot be based on illegal activities or intentions. A legal purpose establishes the foundation for enforcing the contract in a court of law.

In the context of insurance and related contracts, a legal purpose ensures that the terms applied lead to a legitimate and protective function rather than a mere game of chance or speculation. Contracts without a legal purpose would be inherently unenforceable, as they contravene the legal principles that govern agreements.

While elements like fair compensation, mutual consent, and a binding agreement are essential components of many contracts, the existence of a legal purpose is crucial in distinguishing contracts that are valid and enforceable from those that resemble gambling or speculative agreements. Thus, having a legal purpose is fundamentally vital to the contract's validity.