More Nova Scotians swapping bingo cards for Chase the Ace

Nova Scotians are turning their backs on bingo halls and betting more heavily on charitable lotteries likeChase the Ace.

Between 1997 and 2016, bingo revenueshave dropped 51 per cent, falling from $90.6 million to $44 million, shows data recently released by the province.

The general manager of Cole Harbour Place said his facilitystopped holdingbingosin the late1990sfor financial reasons.

"There was a time when quite a few people showed up and it helped the facility," said MikeCogden."But for us it made a lot more sense to convertthe area that was used for bingo into more tenant space."

Cogdenbelieves a ban on smoking also helped reduce the number of people attending bingo nights. The former bingo hall is now divided between a physiotherapy clinic and a programming room.

Bigger jackpots, different crowds

According to the fundraisingco-ordinatorfor theDigbylegion, bingo is a social event for the seniors in the area, while Chase the Ace attracts adifferent crowd. Both are offered one night a week.

"It's been positive.We're certainly not losing anything andwe're keeping everybody happy," said CarolLalonde.

Lalondesaidthe biggest bingo jackpot at theDigbyLegion is $50.She saidthe second time the legion offered Chase the Ace, the winner took home close to $20,000.

"It only takes one ticket to win," saidLalonde, adding that a third round of Chase the Ace is now underway."It's very popular."

The amount of money wagered on charitable lotteries had steady increases from 1997 onwards, but jumped substantially between 2014 and 2016, increasing from $35 million to $58.5 million, an increase of 67 per cent.

In the provincial government'smost recent annual gaming report, the popularity of Chase the Ace was cited as a contributing factor.

Overall gambling numbers

As a whole, the amount Nova Scotiansspent on gambling has increased by 46 per cent in the last 19 years, rising from $940 million to almost $1.4 billion.

The amount of money spent is up in mostcategories:

• Atlantic Lottery Corporation $231.2 million, up from $182.3 million (27 per cent increase).
• Casinos $429.2 million, up from $250.9 million (71 per cent increase).
• VLTs $613.1 million, up from $404.7 million (51 per cent increase).

Bingo was the only category to experience a drop in revenues.

The province's overall cut from gambling revenues hasincreased 78 per cent over the past 19 years. It now brings in $160 million a year for government coffers, upfrom $90 million.