Chase the Ace in Inverness: 6 things to know

1. How did it get started?

This kind of fundraiser has gained popularity in parts of the Maritimes and Newfoundland in recent years. Inverness, N.S., has been holding Chase the Ace contests for the past two years.

The tiny communityof Noel inHantsCounty started their own Chase the Acein 2013 afterborrowing the ideafrom a fundraiser inInuvik, N.W.T.

2. What exactly is Chase the Ace?

It's something like a 50-50 draw, but instead of winning half the value of the ticket sales, the winning ticket holder receives a smaller cut of the take and a chance to draw the ace of spades from a deck of regular playing cards to win the jackpot.

Half the money raised goes to the organizationbehind the draw, 20 per cent to the weekly winner and 30 per cent is funnelled into the big prize. The jackpot builds until someone draws the ace of spadesmeaning the contest can run as long as 52 weeks.

The Inverness Chase the Ace is going on 46weeks without a jackpot winner. Only sixcards including the ace of spades remain.

As of Sept. 26,there are five cards still left in the deck.Organizers say Chase the Ace will end the followingweekend.

At that time, if the first winning ticket holder doesn't draw the ace, organizers will continue to pull raffle tickets until the ace is picked.

3. How do people take part?

For the draw on Saturday, Sept. 26,tickets will be soldfrom noon to 5 p.m.

Anyone who buys a ticket will be entered into the draw. Some people have arrived as early as7 a.m. to ensure they had a chance to play. Tickets are $5 a pop.

The tickets will be soldat the Legion Hall andthe Inverness arena, as in past weeks. Due to the volume of people flowing into Inverness for Chase the Ace, organizers have added a third, larger venue at theBroad Cove concert grounds.It's a ten-minute drivenorth of Inverness and has ample parking, beer garden and food vendors plus ticket sales.

The legion has posted details about additional seating on their Facebook page.

Organizers are expecting about 15,000 people to attend this weekend's draw. That's 10 times the population of the community of Inverness.

Inverness is about a four-hour drive from Halifax, or a two-hour drive from Sydney. TheRCMPhave put parking restrictions in place, so watch for the signs or you might get towed.

Here's some advice on where to park from the legion:

• Free parking is available at the arena and Inverness Academy.
• Paid parking isavailable at the racetrack with an entrance from Maple Street.

4. Where is the money raisedgoing?

Proceeds go to theInverness Cottage Workshop, a charity for people with disabilities and the Inverness chapter of theRoyal Canadian Legion. The Cottage Workshop plans to use the money raisedfor a new facility.

5. Can people outsideInverness play?

Some people have been asking others, who are goingto Inverness, to purchase tickets on their behalf. You just really have to trust the person to give the winnings to you. But this guy did.

6. What's the prize?

For the Sept. 12draw, there was a $188,000 weekly prize, and the jackpot grew to a whopping $884,000.The jackpot for this weekend's draw could reach $1 million.

In Photos: Inverness Chase the Ace, Sept. 5