Smack the Jack is back again

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This article was published 26/09/2023 (855 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dozens of local seniors have completed their training to kick off one of the most successful fundraisers that Brandon’s Seniors for Seniors Co-op has ever seen, according to board president Don Kostesky.

Smack the Jack is a game of chance with 54 numbered envelopes that have cards from a full deck including all 52 playing cards and two jokers. The buyer chooses the envelope they think contains the jack of spades.

The draw is made once a week, and if an envelope chosen has the jack of spades, that person takes home the grand prize. If not, more tickets are sold for the following week’s draw until the envelope with the jack of spades is selected, said Kostesky.

The game was first launched in October 2022, and it took six months for the jack to be located, but it was worth it for a Brandon man who won $192,540, which Kostesky said caused a lot of excitement in the community.

“It was amazing, we had that last draw in May, and ever since then, every time I run into somebody they ask, ‘When is Smack the Jack starting again?’” Kostesky said.

Tickets for the second annual Smack the Jack go on sale this week — on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Heritage Co-op on Richmond Avenue and Friday at the Brandon Shoppers Mall beside the Dollarama from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

While incredibly successful, the first year came with a few hiccups and many learning curves, said Rob Lavin, executive director at Seniors for Seniors.

That’s why this year the game will be technology-driven, Lavin said, without having to rely on as many volunteers or staff.

“People will have the ability to purchase tickets online using their own credit card from the Shopify app, and that’s a user-friendly platform. It is just like going on Amazon and purchasing something. We are also launching our Smack the Jack website for sales. It’s reaching out and catering to people who use those apps,” Lavin said.

There are still those who will want to buy tickets with cash and in person, Lavin said, and is why they trained the “20 plus volunteers to use the point-of-sale machines.”

A point-of-sale device processes transactions with credit cards, debit cards and cash.

“And that’s a really important piece that we wanted to keep — the community aspect, meeting people, and the socialization. There are those who want to come and talk with our volunteers, and they’re going to be able to do that. So, for our Thursday and Friday locations in the community, we will have three point-of-sale devices at each location to accept cash, debit, Visa or MasterCard,” Lavin said.

Included in Monday’s training session at Seniors for Seniors was Rollie MacKay, who worked Smack the Jack last year, and said he welcomed the new point-of-sale machines that will also print off the tickets.

“It will be better than last year, dealing with all the tickets. For $20, you had eight different numbers, and sometimes you had to remind people to put the number on both sides. So, you really had to be conscious of what you were doing,” MacKay said.

Alice Hogue has already signed up for two three-hour shifts this week because she remembered how many laughs they all shared working the game last year.

“It’s fun and it’s a good thing you know. People are happy spending money — trying to win money,” Hogue said as she chuckled.

Retired Brandon school teacher Richard McIntyre said he has as much fun volunteering as those who were playing the game of chance and added he especially likes the fundraising aspect.

“The money stays in the community, with the plan to pave the parking lot at Seniors for Seniors,” McIntyre said.

A paved parking lot has been on the wish list for more than 20 years, said Lavin.

“We obviously cater to older people and not all older people are mobile. Some of them have walkers, others a wheelchair. Plus, a paved parking lot is for the ones who are not coming now because of that — so we’re looking at better mobility and better access,” Lavin said.

If this year’s Smack the Jack is as successful as 2022, a new parking lot could be a reality, said Kostesky, who added that ticket prices are the same as they were last year.

One ticket is $5, three tickets are $10 and eight tickets are $20.

“The game runs for a week at a time. So the website will be up and running Wednesday morning with Thursday sales at Co-op and Friday sales at the Shoppers Mall. Online sales will stop Tuesday at 11:59 p.m., and the first draw is Wednesday, Oct. 4,” Kostesky said.

Even if the jack of spades is not drawn on Wednesday, the person whose ticket is selected will win 20 per cent of the week’s sales as a consolation prize.

The game will be played until the jack of spades is selected, and buyers are reminded that new tickets are required for each week of play.

To purchase tickets from the Smack the Jack website, as of Wednesday, visit smackthejack.ca/

» mmcdougall@brandonsun.com

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