Hagersville Catch the Ace jackpot expected to go over $1M for March 9 draw
The Hagersville Catch the Ace progressive jackpot has regularly been breaking its own records the longer it goes on.
The March 2 draw saw a record broken, which the organizers did not anticipate: tickets sold out about an hour-and-a-half before sales were slated to end.
I'm so disappointed we ran out, but we don't have a crystal ball," said Dan Matten, a member of the Hagersville Lions Club and one of the organizers of the fundraiser.
The Feb. 23 draw saw around 70,600 tickets sold, which was about 5,300 tickets more than the approximately 65,300 sold in the Feb. 16 draw. But then the March 2 draw saw 86,405 tickets sold, which is 15,805 more tickets than the Feb. 23 draw.
Matten said the organizers were not expecting such a huge jump in demand, but added they will do their best to make sure they have more than enough tickets for the March 9 draw.
That draw will likely bring in a lot more people, as the progressive jackpot is now a guaranteed $839,994 for the winner. Even if ticket sales for March 9 only match the March 2 sales (and realistically, the sales have been increasing every week), the jackpot would swell to $1.01 million.
The weekly winner of the March 2 draw was Mike Armstrong; he won 20 per cent of the total ticket sales for that day, which was $114,802.
He chose envelope 42, which contained the eight of diamonds.
Each week, participants in the Hagersville Catch the Ace weekly progressive jackpot buy raffle tickets and one is drawn. That person automatically wins 20 per cent of that week's ticket sales. They pick a numbered envelope as well. If that envelope contains the ace of spades, they also win the progressive jackpot, which is built up each week with 30 per cent of the ticket sales.
The remaining 50 per cent of the ticket sales goes to the Hagersville Lions Club and the Hagersville Rocks committee of the Hagersville Chamber of Commerce, the organizations running the fundraiser. All of the people who are helping to run the fundraiser are volunteering their time.
Hagersville Rocks is giving its half of the funds raised to the West Haldimand Hospital and Healthcare Foundation, which supports West Haldimand General Hospital.
The Lions will be giving their portion to the Hagersville Food Bank and other organizations and initiatives within the community.
The next draw will take place on March 9. Tickets will be sold at the Hagersville Legion from 10:30 a.m. to 7:50 p.m., with the draw taking place at 8 p.m. Ticket holders do not have to be present to win; the draw can be watched live on Facebook on the Hagersville Lions Club - New Page.
The community is reminded that tickets are only available for purchase on Thursdays at the legion. There have been reports of scammers selling fraudulent tickets in the community and online.
Catch the Ace participants are also reminded to be respectful of area businesses and residents when parking to go into the legion, and to not block driveways, streets, etc.