Chase the Ace back in the race
Duplicate tickets were due to a printing error, Service NL says
Hang on to your Chase the Ace tickets.
The next draw for the $1million-plus possible payout will go ahead Wednesday, July 26, at St. Kevin’s Parish in Goulds.
The draw should have been held Wednesday July 19 but was put on hold after duplicate tickets were found.
The postponement came mere hours before the scheduled draw and followed a full day of kilometre-long lineups as thousands of people queued up for their shot at the potential million-dollar payoff.
No more tickets will be sold for the next draw and tickets already purchased will be valid, Servicenl.
The bin containing all of the tickets is locked, and only Service NL has access to the key to ensure no error or tampering may occur.
Service NL officials say there was a technical printing error that resulted in the duplicates. Service NL officials said that so far, four individuals have come forward with duplicate tickets, 17 tickets in total. Each ticket was printed with the number 1378754.
“There is no information to suggest any intentional wrongdoing or fraudulent activity has taken place,” Service NL said in a media release. “There are sufficient anti-fraud mechanisms in the ticket printing process to prevent the production of counterfeit tickets.”
People who bought Chase the Ace tickets for the July 19 draw with the number in question — 1378754 — will be given replacement tickets for next week’s draw.
To receive them, ticket holders must present the duplicate tickets and photo ID in person at the parish on either Monday or Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or Wednesday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Service NL officials said that any individuals who will not be able to attend Wednesday’s draw, must make arrangements for someone to appear on their behalf.
If a ticket with the number 1378754 is drawn on Wednesday, it will be declared invalid and another ticket will be drawn.
Current ticket holders who want to take part in next week’s draw must go to one of three verification sites that will be publicized in advance, and must be present at one of the sites to claim the prize.