[cortesoft]

It is an interest free loan to a company, with a high likelihood that it will never be collected.

[yummypaint]

Many companies will deduct money from gift cards at regular intervals if they aren't used for some arbitrary period, so it can be worse than 0 interest even if the card is used by the recipient.

[shmoogy]

I think this is illegal in (some states) so it's happening less and less.

[atlasunshrugged]

I don't think they're allowed to do that anymore, see this article

https://www.thebalance.com/new-gift-card-rules-for-expiratio...

[boomboomsubban]

That article says they're allowed to charge an inactivity fee monthly after a year of no use.

[technothrasher]

That's federal rules. Many states, Massachusetts for example, do not allow inactivity fees.