Sydney's Chase the Ace postponed

The Chase the Ace draw scheduled for Saturday in Sydney has been postponed, with only nine cards left in the deck and a jackpot estimated at $1.3 million.

In a statement, organizerStephen Tobinof the Horizon Achievement Centresaid a large increase in sales is anticipated andvolunteers need "extra time to prepare and manage logistics."

Hesaid organizers willconsiderextra sales locations and increasedsecurity.

Last Saturday, duplicate tickets were sold.Organizers decided on the spot to give both ticket holders the same amount of winnings, although the ace was not drawn, meaning the big jackpot willcontinue to grow.

The next draw is now scheduled to be held March 26. It is a fundraiser for theAshbylegion and the Horizon Achievement Centre, an organization that provides training and employment servicesfor adults with mental disabilities.

Tobin said the postponement also makes sense from a traffic and public safety perspective, given the Vince Ryan Hockey Tournament is being held this weekend and typically means an influx of thousands of people to Sydney.

The statement said the gaming division of Service Nova Scotia is working with organizers to identify best practices that will allow the fundraiser to move ahead, while protecting both the charities and ticket purchasers.