The Canadian Press
INVERNESS, N.S.—The organizer of a wildly-popular fundraising game that has drawn thousands of people to a small Cape Breton town will bring the event to an end on Oct. 3, saying “Chase the Ace” simply has grown too big.
Cameron MacQuarrie said if no one wins the jackpot this Saturday, they will play until someone draws the ace of spades the following weekend.
MacQuarrie, one of the game’s organizers and the vice-president of the local Royal Canadian Legion, said they are expecting 15,000 people in Inverness this weekend as the game tightens and the chances of winning increase.
But he added the growing crowds are raising concerns among police and emergency health providers, who worry the large number of people might hamper their access to someone in distress.
The game of chance, which involves finding the ace of spades in a deck of playing cards, saw its jackpot grow from $35 last October to more than $884,000.
MacQuarrie, who expects the jackpot to reach $1 million, said they now have three venues hosting people for Saturday’s event.
