Regulations for Chase the Ace-style lotteries introduced in Yukon

The Government of Yukon has introduced new regulations under the Lottery Licensing Act. These regulations now allow eligible charitable organizations in Yukon to hold Chase the Ace-style lotteries.

Chase the Ace-style lotteries are a kind of progressive raffle where a jackpot continues to grow over time. There are two chances to win at every event that’s held – the initial ticket draw and the jackpot game. In the initial draw, a winning ticket is pulled and the holder of the winning ticket takes a percentage of the day’s ticket sales. The initial draw winner then plays the jackpot game by choosing a playing card from a card deck. If they draw the pre-determined winning card, they also win the jackpot. If they don’t draw the winning card, the jackpot will continue to grow over several events until someone pulls the winning card.

With these new regulations, charitable organizations will have another fundraising option available to them. Eligible charitable organizations can begin to apply for licensing mid-June.

Charitable organizations offer many programs and services that contribute directly to Yukoners’ well-being, and lotteries are an important fundraising tool they use. These new regulations were developed to help support charitable organizations in their efforts to fundraise, while ensuring such Chase the Ace-style lotteries in Yukon are manageable, fair and transparent.

Minister of Community Services John Streicker

We are happy and excited to have the chase the president [chase the ace] back because it was a major fundraiser for us.

President of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 254 Legion Joe Mewett

Quick facts 
  • Like all lotteries, Chase the Ace-style lotteries have restrictions. The restrictions for this kind of lottery include a $100,000 jackpot cap and a requirement for commercially printed tickets.

  • The cap reflects lessons learned from other jurisdictions and is intended, in part, to address potential issues such as security and excessive crowds. The requirement for printed tickets helps provide for additional fairness and transparency.

  • A jackpot of $100,000 translates into more than $166,000 in raised funds for the charity running the event.

  • The Criminal Code of Canada generally prohibits all forms of gambling in Canada – though it can take place if provinces and territories regulate and license it. Before the introduction of these regulations, Yukon’s Lottery Licensing Act did not address Chase the Ace-style lotteries.

Media contact 

Sunny Patch
Cabinet Communications
867-393-7478
sunny.patch@gov.yk.ca

Aisha Montgomery
Communications, Community Services
867-333-1024
aisha.montgomery@gov.yk.ca

News release #: 
18-123