Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis announced that ticket sales for 50/50 raffle prize draws will now be available online to customers in the Canadian province.
AGLC aims to diversify the means by which its customers can access its products, in order to increase revenue and, therefore proceeds, to local charitable organisations.
“Adult Albertans in all corners of the province will now get a chance to support causes that are important to them from the ease of their smart phones and laptops,” ALGC president and chief executive Alain Maisonneuve said. “In 2018-19, AGLC issued more than 14,000 raffle licences and from that, more than $170 million was raised in support of programs and services important to Albertans.”
Charitable foundations associated with the province’s gaming operations have come out in support of the change.
Natalie Minkler, executive director of the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, which provides programs that support health and wellness, education and minor hockey programming for youth, described it as “a forward-thinking initiative”. She said it was being launched a time “when the need in our community is greater than ever”.
Minkler said: “The changes announced will allow the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation (EOCF) and other charities across the province to have greater flexibility and access to fans who want to support the program – in particular at a time when there is so much uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
As well as making 50/50 raffle tickets available online, AGLC is reducing the limit for the allowable use of random number generators (RNGs). Previously, RNGs were permitted to be used only on draws where the total value of ticket sales exceeded CAD$1m.
After consulting with stakeholders, the threshold for allowing the use of RNGs has been lowered to $100,000 in ticket sales.
The changes reflect a push by AGLC to remove ‘red tape’ around gaming in the province. In 2018-19, more than 19,000 charitable gaming licences were issued, generating more than $347 million in funding for good causes.