No plans to allow Toronto Blue Jays 50/50 raffle tickets to be sold in Saskatchewan as draw expands elsewhere
Listen to this article
Estimated 5 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Baseball fans in Saskatchewan hoping to try their luck in the Toronto Blue Jays charity 50/50 raffle will have to ride the pine for another season.
Saskatchewan’s gaming regulator confirmed there are no plans to license the Jays Care Foundation’s draw here. But some in the baseball community hope that changes.
Until this year, tickets for the raffle by the Major League Baseball team’s charitable arm could be bought only in Ontario and Nova Scotia. The draw appears to be expanding across the country, with the additions of Alberta and New Brunswick in March.
“Bring the lottery to Saskatchewan. We need it, and it would cause a lot of excitement for our community,” said Jordan Draeger, the owner of Going Yard Baseball Academy in Saskatoon.
The Jays Care Foundation runs multiple 50/50 draws throughout the season, and each raffle builds up over multiple games. Tickets are sold online during games, and buyers must be in one of the four approved provinces when purchasing, regardless of where they live.
The team’s World Series 50/50 draw set an MLB record, with a $25-million jackpot set aside for the winner. The foundation uses proceeds to fund initiatives such as ball camps and diamond upgrades in participating provinces.
That would be a boost for baseball in Saskatchewan, Draeger said.
Draeger says the Jays and their foundation already have a presence in Saskatchewan, with the Field of Dreams initiative and an annual showcase that brings players to the province. (Jeremy Warren/CBC)
“Everyone’s competing for that same funding that volleyball, hockey, all sports, are competing for from Sask Sport,” Draeger said. “So, the ability to just kind of isolate baseball and give them an opportunity to create some of those funds through that draw would be hugely beneficial for everybody.”
Saskatchewan loves a 50/50 raffle. The Saskatchewan Roughriders set a Canadian Football League record in November when the team’s Grey Cup 50/50 hit $2 million, with half of that going to the eventual winner.
So, why isn’t the Blue Jays raffle available here?
Each province and territory is responsible for regulating charitable gaming and gambling. The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) handles regulation and issues licences for 50/50 raffle, bingo, Texas Hold ’em poker and mock casino fundraisers.
Either the Blue Jays charity hasn’t applied for a licence or it was turned down by the province. Neither the Blue Jays or the gaming authority clarified in their statements whether the foundation had applied.
“There are no plans for SLGA to [license] the Jays Care 50/50 at this time,” the Crown corporation said in a statement.
“In considering whether or not to allow a large interprovincial raffle in Saskatchewan, government must balance the interests of many different individuals and groups. Current policies around raffle ticket sales support the success of existing Saskatchewan charities that rely on proceeds from the raffles they conduct.”
A spokesperson with the Jays Care Foundation said there is “nothing to share from Jays Care at this time.”
WATCH | Jays 50/50 raffle isn’t available in Saskatchewan. Some say that needs to change:
Blue Jays 50/50 raffle isn’t available in Saskatchewan. Some say that needs to change
The number of provinces now participating in the Jays’ 50/50 raffle has doubled to include New Brunswick, Alberta, Nova Scotia and Ontario. Half the proceeds are funnelled back to the provinces for youth ball programs. Some say Saskatchewan’s ball programs would benefit from licensing the lottery.
The Alberta government announced last month it licensed the Jays 50/50 for the 2026 MLB season.
“Proceeds from ticket sales in Alberta, after prizes and operational costs, will be reinvested into Jays Care Foundation programs and community baseball infrastructure projects in Alberta,” a government news release said.
Draeger noted the Blue Jays and the foundation already have a presence in Saskatchewan, with its Field of Dreams initiative and summer showcase that brings Jays players to the province.
But that’s “just the tip of the iceberg as to what they’d be able to do to help people in Saskatchewan and the culture of baseball” if 50/50 proceeds were available in the province, he said.
Hanley Minor Ball was one of 15 ball leagues in Canada that received funding through Field of Dreams last year. The $45,000 paid for upgrades at one of the Saskatchewan town’s three ball diamonds.
“It was nice to be able to access some funds that were specifically for ball,” league president Christine Catton said. “The town and [the Rural Municipality of Rosedale] have always been a part of supporting us, but it was a big price tag to complete this project. This would have taken us years to fundraise for.”
Catton said having access to proceeds from Jays 50/50 raffles would be great for baseball in rural communities.
“We all rallied behind [the Blue Jays] last year, and I think they really gained some momentum as Canada’s team,” she said.
“I think people would be interested in supporting that and being able to potentially have a piece of the pie.”
