The Ward’s Island Catch the Ace lottery is a progressive raffle lottery; a multiple-draw game in which participants purchase tickets for a weekly chance to win and is managed and instituted by members of the Ward’s Island Association. The lottery operates under the terms and conditions of Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

BUYING A TICKET

Participants must be 18 years of age or older to purchase tickets. Proof of age may be required. Any minor purchasing tickets will be disqualified from participating in the draw or winning. Tickets cannot be purchased in a minor’s name or on their behalf. These tickets would also be disqualified from participating in the weekly draw or winning.

Tickets are $5.00 each / 3 for $10 / 7 for $20 / 20 for $50

Tickets will be sold in two ways: cash/card sales at Island locations and online at https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/wia . Credit and debit cards are accepted as payment when purchasing online. Point of sale debit/credit machines will also be used for paper ticket sales.

Regardless of your home address, participants must be physically in the province of Ontario at the time of purchase.

WHEN AND WHERE CAN YOU PURCHASE A TICKET

Ticket sales for Week One of this lottery will commence on Saturday May 16, 2026 at 9 a.m. A list of Catch the Ace vendors can be found at https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/wia or www.wiammembers.ca and are available until 5:59 pm the day of the draw.

To purchase a ticket online visit https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/wia. Tickets can be purchased online until Sunday at 5:59 pm.

DISTRIBUTION OF WEEKLY TICKET SALES

Distribution of the weekly ticket sales revenue is as follows:

1. 20% to the winning ticket holder

2. 30% will be added to the jackpot

3. 50% will go to the Ward’s Island Association

THE DRAW

Each Sunday at 6pm at the Ward’s Island ferry docks, one (1) ticket will be randomly drawn electronically by the President of the Ward’s Island Association from all of tickets sold that week. Only one (1) ticket will be drawn each week. The envelope number shown on the ticket drawn will be opened. 

If the envelope selected contains the Ace of Spades, the ticket holder receives the amount in the Catch the Ace progressive jackpot. This will conclude the series of draws for this raffle. If the envelope selected does not contain the Ace of Spades, the card will be destroyed, and the envelope number is removed from the subsequent draws.

Immediately before each draw the following will be announced to those present and publicly via Facebook Live:

1. The number of the current weekly draw

2. The ticket sales of the current weekly draw

3. The draw prize twenty percent (20%) of the weekly sales

4. The current progressive jackpot amount (including the thirty percent (30%) of the weekly sales

5. Cumulative proceeds to the Ward’s Island Association.

All draws will be video recorded and streamed via Facebook live to ensure lottery integrity. This includes the drawing of the ticket, selection of the envelope, opening the envelope, revealing the card and destruction of the card.

WINNING TICKET

The winning ticket holder will automatically win 20% of the weekly sales and a chance to draw for the current Catch the Ace jackpot. The envelope number indicated on the ticket will be opened. A bonafide member of the Ward’s Island Association will notify the winner by phone. To claim the prize, the winner must present photo identification. Additionally, the winner will sign a brief declaration confirming that they are the sole owner of the winning ticket.

Any winner who is paid a prize agrees to grant the Ward’s Island Association an irrevocable right to publish, through all types of media broadcasting, including the internet, for the purposes of promoting the win, their full name, hometown and photograph without any claim for broadcasting, printing or other rights.

The winner who is paid a prize also gives to the WIA the right to publish any additional information that they voluntarily provide. The winner shall have no claim against the RVHF for invasion of privacy or any other ground(s) by reason of the publication or broadcasting of their name, hometown or photograph or information voluntarily provided by the winner.

The winner will provide their full name, address and phone number to the Ward’s Island Association for reporting requirements to AGCO.

Results of the draw will be posted on the WIA’s website at wiamembers.ca. Once the Ace of Spades is revealed, the lottery is concluded, and AGCO is notified immediately.

THINGS TO KNOW

The lottery will run until the Ace of Spades has been revealed.

The Ward’s Island Association reserves the right to prohibit or refuse ticket sales to any individual or group.

Each weekly ticket batch will be unique from draw to draw. Tickets sold online will ???? KYLE?

Prizes will be secured for a period six (6) months following each weekly draw. Unclaimed prizes will be reported to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

By purchasing a ticket in the WIA Catch the Ace Lottery, the purchaser acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to these rules. All inquiries regarding the conduct, chance of winning, prizing or procedures of lotteries are to be made to WIA prior to the purchase of an online or paper ticket.

Ticket draws will take place at 6:00pm Sundays as indicated on draw date schedule. It is guaranteed that the draw will not take place prior to this time. However, depending on several factors including inclement weather, it may take place after this time. Organizers will do their best to keep as close to 6:00pm as possible, though delays are possible and at times inevitable. Should there be a need to cancel a regularly scheduled ticket draw; potential participants will be notified on our website www.wiamembers.ca and through our Facebook page.

At least two members of the bona fide Foundation team must participate in the creation of the board containing the 52 envelopes for the lottery. The creation of the board is recorded and available on our website for public view. The following stipulations must be followed:

1. A new deck of 52 playing cards is shuffled thoroughly and placed face down. The cards are then individually placed into envelopes (cards are still face down) and then sealed. Once all 52 cards have been placed into envelopes and sealed, they are again shuffled/mixed. They are then numbered/labeled individually from 1-52, and placed in numerical order in a locked display case.

2. The locked display case is held in the possession of the WIA Bona Fide Members.

WIA bona fide members who conduct and manage the draw cannot purchase tickets or have someone purchase a ticket for them in their name for that weekly draw.

Other than those listed above, all people assisting in the weekly draw, including members of the WIA Board for Directors who are not conducting/managing the draw, will be eligible to have a ticket in the draw in their name.

Unclaimed prizes will be placed in safekeeping for a period of (6) six months from the date of the draw; and will receive approval from AGCO before distribution.

FORCE MAJEURE

If it is deemed that at any point during the Lottery, the bona fide members who are conducting and managing the draw cannot ensure the safety of participants, staff, volunteers, and the public through every reasonable measure has been taken, those bona fide members will conclude the current lottery on the following Thursday. Additional security measures will be added accordingly.

The Catch the Ace report Form 6044E, along with all supporting documentation will be submitted to the licensing authority within seven (7) calendar days after every fourth draw.

All funds raised, less allowable expenses, will support the building of the WIA Pavilion.

This raffle operates under the terms and conditions of AGCO.

Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-888-230-3505

Connex Ontario Problem Gambling Hotline: 1-866-531-2600