The B.C. Lions have been banned from selling 50/50 tickets electronically over the integrity of the system.
Tickets were printed instantly for buyers on hand-held devices and the corresponding, individually numbered tickets were printed one-by-one, directly into the draw bin. The jackpot was reported in real-time while sales were active.
The CFL club reverted to manual sales of pre-printed tickets for the Nov. 3 regular season finale at B.C. Place Stadium. The ban also covers the WHLs Kamloops Blazers and Vancouver Canucks, despite the NHL lockout. The Lions deployed the devices through the Oct. 19 game when unspecified problems were observed and Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch began to examine the equipment, stadium wiring and volunteer training.
We havent been told anything as to why, said Lions president Dennis Skulsky, who is hoping the devices return for the Nov. 18 West final. The important factor is its not B.C. Lions-related, this is their decision across the province.
It had nothing to do with us, said Trudy Hicks, president of the Blazers Education and Scholarship Fund. B.C. Gaming Commission has found a glitch that they think is a problem with the electronic part of it. Apparently they said the (Lions 50/50) tickets weren't cutting off and going into the draw barrel.
It is not clear whether the devices were originally issued the required certificate of technical integrity under Section 75 of the provinces Gaming Control Act. GPEB general manager Doug Scott did not answer the Couriers questions.
GPEB is under the Ministry of Energy and Mines and a communications representative, who declined to be named, said: Electronic 50/50 ticketing systems are relatively new. The province is working on new technology standards for approving these systems. Charities are suspending the use of this technology until it can be properly tested, approved and certified.
The Lions raised $598,834 and gave away half, or $299,417, to winners through Nov. 3. Proceeds go to B.C. amateur football. The top 2012 regular season prize was $40,002.50 won by "Hardeev from Surrey" on Aug. 19. Unlike the Canucks, the Lions website does not disclose the last name of winners.
In 2009, the Lions reported $115,620.60 in net gaming proceeds, according to documents released via Freedom of Information. Expenses, as a percentage of gross revenue, were 13.26 per cent. The 2010 report said the club netted $84,244.12 but spent 15.07 per cent of gross revenue. Line items, including advertising, wages, printing and contract fees, were censored by government for fear of harming third-party business interests.
Canucks Sports and Entertainment took in $3,593,828 and gave away $1,796,914 in 2011-2012, the first year the company used the Bump 50:50 electronic system. Proceeds go to Canucks For Kids Fund and Canucks Autism Network. Elise Pascale Shaw won the biggest prize ($65,777) on Oct. 6, 2011.
Our licence is currently for the paper ticket system, said Canucks chief operating officer Victor de Bonis by email. We are hopeful that the electronic 50/50 audit process will be completed over the next two weeks and our electronic license will be issued accordingly.
In a video on the Canucks website, de Bonis said the move to the electronic system helped us immensely.
We get to sell longer, because we can go all the way through the second period by having the system automated, he said. Its raising a lot of money.
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