Responsible Gambling

Last updated: 17 August 2026

The LWDHF 50/50 raffle is a way to support Lake of the Woods District Hospital and to enjoy a monthly draw. It is entertainment, not a source of income, and it should never be treated as one.

1. Who may play

• You must be 18 years of age or older. No one under 18 may buy a ticket, hold a ticket or claim a prize.
• You must be physically located in Ontario at the moment of purchase. Visitors who are in Ontario may buy with location services switched on.
• Using a VPN or a proxy is prohibited, and a ticket bought outside the permitted jurisdiction is void.
• Never buy a ticket for someone under 18, and never treat a ticket as a gift for a child.

The raffle is conducted under licence # RAF1552544, issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, the provincial regulator for lottery and gaming in Ontario.

2. Treat it as entertainment

Half of ticket sales goes to the winner; the Foundation’s share buys medical equipment for the hospital. Both of those are good reasons to take part. Neither is a reason to expect a return.

• Your chances depend on how many numbers you hold against the total sold. There is no way to improve them other than buying more, and no pattern to find.
• Past draws tell you nothing about future ones.
• Decide before you buy what the ticket is worth to you as a donation and as a bit of fun, and buy on that basis.

3. If you have a membership, watch the recurring charge

Membership is convenient because it charges your stored payment method automatically for every subsequent draw. That is exactly why it deserves attention: the spending continues without any further decision from you.

• Set a monthly limit before you enrol and choose the pack that fits it.
• Check your card or bank statement each month so the amount stays visible.
• If a recurring charge stops feeling comfortable, cancel it. You can always take part again another month.

4. Signs that gambling may be becoming a problem

Any of these is worth paying attention to, in yourself or in someone close to you:

• Spending more than planned, or more than is comfortable to lose.
• Buying more tickets to make up for money already spent.
• Borrowing money, selling things or using money meant for bills or food.
• Hiding purchases, or being uneasy when someone asks about them.
• Thinking about draws often, or feeling restless or irritable when not taking part.
• Playing to escape stress, loneliness, grief or low mood.
• Arguments at home about money or about gambling.
• Missing work, school or family commitments because of it.

Problem gambling is common and treatable, and asking for help early makes it easier.

5. Practical advice

• Set a budget for the month before you buy, and stop when you reach it.
• Never chase losses. Buying more after a loss does not change the odds.
• Do not play under stress, or while upset, tired or drinking.
• Keep it social and occasional rather than a routine you stop noticing.
• Do not borrow to buy a ticket, and never use credit meant for something else.
• Take breaks. Skipping a month is normal and costs nothing.
• Talk to someone if it stops feeling like fun.

6. How to limit or stop buying

1. Cancel any membership by emailing support@lwdhospitalfoundation.ca. This is the fastest way to stop recurring spending.
2. Ask us not to contact you about draws. Unsubscribe from any reminder email, or write to the same address, and we will remove you from the list.
3. Remove the stored payment method from your account on the ticket platform, so a purchase always takes a deliberate step.
4. Ask your bank about gambling blocks. Many Canadian banks and card issuers can block gambling transactions on a card at your request.
5. Use device tools to block gambling sites, or a browser extension that does the same.

Self-exclusion

Self-exclusion is a formal, voluntary arrangement in which a person asks to be barred from gambling for a chosen period. In Ontario it is run province-wide for casinos and regulated online gambling sites, and ConnexOntario can explain how to enrol and what it covers.

This charitable raffle is not part of that province-wide programme, so please also tell us directly if you want to stop. Write to support@lwdhospitalfoundation.ca and we will cancel any membership, remove you from draw reminders and ask the raffle vendor to close your account on its platform.

7. Where to get help

Free and confidential support services

Service	Contact	Who it is for
ConnexOntario	1-866-531-2600 · connexontario.ca	Free and confidential information and referral for gambling, mental health and substance use, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline	1-888-230-3505	Support for anyone concerned about their own gambling or someone else’s
Gamblers Anonymous	Peer support meetings across Ontario, in person and online	People who want to stop gambling, with the support of others who have done the same
Kids Help Phone	1-800-668-6868	Young people, including anyone worried about a parent’s or caregiver’s gambling, 24 hours a day
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline	Call or text 9-8-8	Anyone in Canada thinking about suicide or worried about someone who is, 24 hours a day
Hope for Wellness Help Line	1-855-242-3310	Indigenous people across Canada, 24 hours a day, with counselling available in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut as well as English and French

These services are independent of the Foundation. Calling one of them does not affect any ticket you hold or any prize you are owed.

8. Read before you play

• Rules of Play — eligibility, packs, draws, prizes and membership, in full.
• Draw Schedule & Prizes — every date and prize in the cycle, with all times in CST.
• Membership — how the subscription works and how to cancel it.
• Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Play responsibly. Must be 18+. Ontario only. Lottery Licence # RAF1552544, issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.