Inverness Chase the Ace to spread to three venues

Chase the Ace in Inverness will be back Saturday and organizers have come up with a planto deal with the massive influx of people that will be comingto Inverness.

The game of chance, which involves finding the ace of spades in a deck of playing cards, saw the Invernessjackpot grow from $35 last October to $884,147.76 on Saturday, Sept. 12, the last time the event was held.

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Withsix cards left in the deck, thousands of hopeful winners are expected to head to the Cape Breton town to buy tickets this weekend.

The fundraiser is now so popular, organizers had to takea one-week breakto give themselves more time to work with police, emergency crews and government to get things better prepared to ensure public safety.

Third venue added

Organizers announced Mondaya third venue has been added to cope with the crowds. Tickets will now be sold at theBroad Cove Concert Grounds at 178 Broad Cove Chapel Road. Previous Chase the Ace events were held at the Inverness legion and the Invernessarena.

Ticket sales this Saturday will run from noon to 5 p.m. at the three venues.

The draw itself will take place at the Inverness Arena, rather than the legion hall.

"This will reduce the pedestrian traffic and congestion on Central Avenue in front of the Legion Hall which has evolved into a serious safety and traffic concern," said aFacebookpost by the Inverness branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Big change

If the winner on Saturday does not draw the ace of spades and win the jackpot, the final Chase the Ace draw will be held on Saturday, Oct. 3, with draws taking place until a winner is found.

In that case, the first winner wouldget 20 per cent of the cut and a chance to pick the ace of spades. If that ticketholderisnot successful, another ticket wouldbe drawn and the winnerwould draw for the ace of spades. If they do not draw the ace of spades, a consolation prize of $25,000 will be given out. This process wouldcontinue until the ace of spades was drawn.

Should it be necessary to hold a draw that day, ticket sales will be extended to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at all three venues.

Proceeds of the raffle are going 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.