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Some Nova Scotia charities have expressed concerns about changes to the online raffle platform, with one animal rescuer calling it “a kick in the face.”
Angela Welburn, owner of Integrity’s Haven Horse Rescue, used an online raffle to support her organization.
The charity in Chester Basin, Nova Scotia, takes in sick, mostly elderly pets, including horses, donkeys and zebra donkeys.
Welborn said running the charity meant high costs for feed, housing and veterinary care.
“My expenses were more than my contributions and income. So I was always in the red. It hurt. During the pandemic, I used up most of my savings,” she said.
Welborn raises most of the money through the charity’s clothing donation bins, but also relies on fundraising events including raffles.
She recently learned of a policy change through Rafflebox, an online platform that helps charities and nonprofits raise money. The buyer’s exact location now needs to be verified through location services and must be in the province.
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“It’s just another blow,” she said. “I’m a registered charity and I’ve done everything I can – including suicide – and then I’m faced with this red tape.”
In the past, all that was required was proof that the purchaser’s credit card address was a Nova Scotian, Welborn said. She believes some people who do live in Nova Scotia will now be ineligible.
“It’s going to be sad because I do have some supporters at the shelter who work out of the province on their laptops and their phones and now they won’t be able to purchase Rafflebox tickets,” she explained.
“Especially now, with so many people going on vacation, it would have been easy for them to get tickets (under the old rules). Maybe they’d travel out west or to New Brunswick.”
In a statement to Global News, Rafflebox said the decision was made after discussions with the Alcohol and Gaming Authority of Nova Scotia and that additional verification will now be used to “ensure the safety of ticket purchasers.”
The changes were made to their platforms on Friday.
According to the FAQ page on the Rafflebox website, only registered nonprofits or charities can host raffles through the site. Organizations are also required to apply for their own raffle license from provincial gaming regulators.
Nova Scotia, meanwhile, said licensing rules have always required buyers to be in the province.
“There has been no change to our legislation and policies. We have always required charities and raffle providers (like Rafflebox) to verify that the ticket purchaser is located in Nova Scotia at the time of the transaction,” the Alcohol and Gaming Authority of Nova Scotia wrote in an email.
“Vendors are required to verify sales are not to out-of-province people. We have not issued any orders to Rafflebox and have no set actions or timelines, but we are in regular discussions with charities and vendors to ensure they are complying and understand the requirements.”
As Welborn awaits impact, she is ready to make a tough decision.
“I’ve been seriously considering not adopting any more animals because my vet bills and feed costs are too high,” she said.
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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