Rangers Reach credits changes to 50/50 draws for bigger jackpots, but expert warns of potential gambling harm

Normally when a person buys a ticket for a 50/50 draw at their local hockey game, they hope to pocket an extra couple of hundred dollars.

But changes to the way the Kitchener Rangers are doing their 50/50 draws are leading to people winning thousands of dollars — maybe even life-changing amounts.

Last year during the playoffs, one 50/50 winner took home $58,000. At the home opener on Sept. 19 when the Rangers faced the Brantford Bulldogs, the winner of the 50/50 took home $40,000.

Craig Campbell oversees the draw as executive director at Rangers Reach, a community outreach arm of the Kitchener Rangers Ontario Hockey League team. He says the bigger jackpots are "a great start to our season so far."

Rangers Reach, or the Kitchener Rangers Community Fund, is crediting tweaks to its 50/50 draws for bigger jackpots, but one expert warns the lure of winning more money may be a concern for people with gambling problems. 

In a 50/50 draw, half of the money from ticket sales forms a jackpot for the winner, with the other half going to the group that organized the raffle.

Campbell says the team’s charity arm has seen about a 30 per cent increase in ticket sales following the changes.

One change, Campbell said, was the single number multi-chance option that was recently approved by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. He says this makes it easier for the person buying the ticket because they only have to "worry about that one number to check and be in the raffle."

For Rangers Reach, a shorter ticket means they can sell more tickets more quickly in the concourse at the games, which also helps the jackpot tick up.

Campbell said the second change sees Rangers Reach “doing what a lot of the pro teams are doing, and that's SMS marketing, which has been huge for us.” 

That means they can send a text to let people know about that game's 50/50 draw and anyone in the province can buy a ticket.

According to its website, Rangers Reach was established to build and support the community that has supported the Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club since 1963. Rangers Reach generates their funding from multiple sources, with the primary source being Rangers Reach 50/50 and authentic game worn jersey raffles.

In addition the foundation receives an annual funding donation from the Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club.

Campbell says organizations raising funds for charities and community causes can take lessons from the Rangers Reach experience.