The Chamber Summer Speed Raffle is coming up on Thursday, July 17th. The drawing will be held at Snickers Pizza & Pub at 5:30pm. We call it the Summer Speed Raffle since it differs from our Polar Bear Days Raffle where we announce tickets one at a time building up to the anticipation of still being in for the big first, second, & third place ticket holders. We still draw tickets on site, but only reveal the winning ticket holders. Only 200 tickets sold with a chance to win some cold cash such as: First place $8,000, second $1,500, third $500 along with seven $200 winners & six $100 winners. You can chose the “split” option which applies to the first and second place ticket holders. If both ticket holders select “Split” they split $9,500 or the “no split” option to take home the winnings you are designated. Tickets are $100 each and going fast so stop by and grab your ticket at Snickers pizza & Pub, Tom & Jerry’s, Keyboard, Jim’s Sports Club, Valentini’s, or the Chisholm Chamber (call Shelly 218-254-7931/218-996-1710). You do not have to be present to win but we will have pizza and wings for attendees along with split the pot and a side game to walk home with extra winnings.
Origins and Evolution of Split the Pot (50/50 Raffles)
What Is “Split the Pot”?
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A 50/50 raffle is a game of chance where participants buy tickets.
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Half the total money collected goes to the winning ticket holder, and the other half goes to the organizing group (usually a nonprofit, school, or community organization).
Early History
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Rooted in traditional raffles, “Split the Pot” likely evolved in North America during the 20th century, gaining popularity as a simple and effective fundraising tool.
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Unlike raffles with physical prizes, this version streamlined logistics by offering cash as the prize, making it easy to organize and attractive to participants.
️ Rise in Popularity
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1970s–1980s: Became a fixture at community events, bingo nights, and church fundraisers.
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1990s–2000s: Spread widely across North American sports events, especially at:
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Hockey games (notably in Canada)
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Baseball stadiums
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High school football games
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Modern Usage
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Many professional sports teams (e.g., NHL, MLB) now host official 50/50 raffles at games, with regulated procedures, digital tickets, and large payouts.
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Technology platforms like Bump, Rafflebox, and Ascend have made online 50/50 raffles secure, transparent, and more popular.
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Some raffles now accumulate over hundreds of thousands of dollars, especially when jackpots roll over from game to game.
⚖️ Legal Oversight
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These raffles are regulated by gaming or lottery commissions, depending on the region.
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In most jurisdictions, only registered charities or nonprofits can legally run 50/50 raffles.
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Some areas allow progressive raffles, where the pot grows over time (e.g., “Chase the Ace”).
Why It Endures
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Simplicity: Easy to explain and participate in.
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Appeal: Cash is a universally attractive prize.
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Benefit: Supports good causes while giving participants a personal incentive.
