Big jackpot awaits final winner today in Chase-the-Ace craze in Cape Breton

INVERNESS, N.S. – A game of Chase the Ace that has lasted almost a year in a small Cape Breton town and has attracted thousands to the community is about to come to an end.

About 25,000 people are expected to descend on Inverness today for the final draw in the popular weekly fundraiser.

With a jackpot of more than $1 million on the line and just five cards left in the deck, organizers say they’ll keep drawing tickets until they have a winner.

Crowds attending the charity fundraiser started to grow once the jackpot passed $30,000, creating a carnival atmosphere at a local arena every weekend over the summer.

The RCMP say they have some concerns about the safety of the participants, many of whom will be carrying large sums of cash.

The Mounties will have 20 additional officers on duty in the town of about 1,300 people and a police helicopter will be in the air.

The RCMP are also asking anyone who parks on the side of the road in the community to leave enough room for police and emergency vehicles because of the large number of visitors who are expected.

Chase the Ace is similar to a 50-50 draw with $5 tickets, but there’s a twist. Instead of giving half the ticket sales to the winner, they get 20 per cent. Another 30 per cent is added to a growing pot that can be won if the ticket holder draws the ace of spades from a deck of cards.

The local Royal Canadian Legion plans to split the proceeds from the draw with the Inverness Cottage Workshop, which provides skills training for adults with intellectual disabilities. The workshop plans to use the money to build a new centre.