Service Nova Scotia
and Municipal Relations
Alcohol and Gaming Division
Torrington Place
2nd Floor
780 Windmill Road
PO Box 545
Dartmouth, NS
B2Y3Y8
902.424.6092 T
TOLL FREE IN NS
1.877.565.0556
902.424.6313 F
BREAKOPEN TICKETS
POLICY GUIDELINES APPLICABLE TO THE CONDUCT AND MANAGEMENT
Effective: June 1, 2012
1.
Definitions:
1.1.
Instant Win Game means a break open ticket game in which winners are determined based exclusively on the symbols
on a break open ticket.
1.2.
Bingo Event Ticket Game means a break open ticket game in which a winner is determined by matching a bingo ball
symbol or symbols on a break open ticket with a specified number or numbers drawn during the course of a licensed
bingo event conducted and managed in accordance with the terms and conditions. Bingo event tickets are not bingo
paper. Progressive Bingo Event Ticket Game is a Bingo Event Ticket Game with a progressive element where prizes that
are not won during one game are added to the prizes on a future game.
1.3.
Seal Card Game means a Break Open Ticket game featuring tickets that grant certain players a chance at a prize or
prizes to be determined by the removal of a window from a Seal Card to reveal specified winning numbers or symbols.
Progressive Seal Card Game is a Seal Card Game with a progressive element where prizes that are not won during one
game are added to the prizes on a future game.
2.
Guidelines:
2.1.
A Breakopen Ticket License is valid for the period stipulated on the license issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Division.
2.2.
Breakopen tickets can only be purchased from vendors approved by the Alcohol and Gaming Division.
2.3.
Breakopen tickets shall only be sold at the location stipulated on the charitable licensee’s license.
2.4.
Breakopen ticket licensees must comply with all conditions attached to the issuance of the Breakopen Ticket License.
2.5.
The conduct, management and sale of Breakopen tickets cannot be delegated to another organization or to a person
who is not a member of the licensee organization.
2.6.
Compliance Officers of the Alcohol and Gaming Division shall:
2.6.1.
be permitted access to all areas of a licensed premises or, where tickets are stored, for the purpose of
examining the tickets, and
2.6.2.
remove tickets or other appropriate documents associated with sales of Breakopens for further examination, if
deemed necessary.
2.7.
A Breakopen Ticket License may be revoked if sales are being managed or conducted in a manner which is, or is likely to,
reflect unfavourably upon the integrity of gaming in the province of Nova Scotia.
2.8.
Only the prize stipulated on the ticket shall be awarded by the licensee.
2.9.
Licensees are not permitted to cash cheques or extend credit for the purpose of selling Breakopen tickets.
2.10. Sellers are not permitted to purchase Breakopen tickets while they are acting as sellers.
2.11. Each licensee shall be held responsible for and shall guarantee the payment of all winning tickets at the time of
purchase.
2.12. The licensee is responsible to remit a financial report on an annual basis to the Alcohol and Gaming Division with the
appropriate fee calculated at the rate of 2.13% of the total value of prizes awarded during the year.
2.13. The licensee shall ensure that all winning tickets are defaced at the time of prize payment.
2.14. A licensee is responsible to retain all winning tickets for a period of three (3) months from the date of sale.
3.
Instant Ticket Game
3.1.
Any mechanical or electronic Breakopen Ticket Dispenser must be approved by the Alcohol and Gaming Division for use.
3.2.
The Licensee shall sell Breakopen tickets only from a transparent container or Break Open Ticket dispenser which is
large enough to hold at least one (1) full box of Break Open Tickets.
3.3.
The transparent container(s) and/or Break Open Ticket dispenser(s) must be kept in view of the purchasers at all times.
3.4.
The licensee shall ensure that ticket purchasers do not remove tickets from a transparent container and ticket
purchasers do not operate a Break Open Ticket dispenser.
3.5.
The licensee shall ensure that the transparent container or Break Open Ticket dispenser is at least half (½) full of tickets
at all times.
3.6.
The Licensee shall ensure that the number of unsold, winning Break Open Tickets remaining in the transparent
container or Break Open Ticket Dispenser is not posted and the number of winning Break Open Tickets left in play is not
promoted in any manner.
3.7.
Each winning ticket shall be exchanged for cash only at the time of sale.
4.
Bingo Event Ticket Game
4.1.
Only one unit of the same Bingo Event Ticket game may be in play at one time.
4.2.
Bingo Event Tickets and Progressive Bingo Event Tickets may only be sold in conjunction with licensed bingo events and
must be played and completed within one bingo event.
4.3.
The Licensee shall not put a unit of Bingo Event tickets out for sale unless there is a reasonable expectation that it will
sell out during the course of an Event.
4.4.
Following the sale of an entire unit of Bingo Event Tickets and Progressive Bingo Event Tickets, the Licensee shall inform
the bingo caller, and the bingo caller shall announce which licensed bingo game will determine the winner(s) of the
Bingo Event Ticket Game and Progressive Bingo Event Ticket Game prize(s).
4.5.
If no one wins the Progressive Bingo Event Game prize, the Licensee shall ensure that the prize from that game is carried
forward to the next unit of Progressive Bingo Event Game tickets as approved by the Licence.
4.6.
Should a circumstance arise where a player with a hold card does not announce they are the winner until after a
subsequent ball has been drawn the player will still be eligible for an equal portion of the prize (full amount if no other
winners exist)
4.7.
Each winning ticket shall be exchanged for cash only, immediately following the winner(s) being identified.
5.
Seal Card Game
5.1.
Only one unit of Seal Card Tickets may be in play at one time.
5.2.
The Licensee shall not put a unit of Seal Card Game tickets out for sale unless there is a reasonable expectation that it
will sell out during the course of an Event or, where sold at a club, unless there is a reasonable expectation that it will
sell out within one operating day.
5.3.
Following the sale of an entire unit of Seal Card Game tickets, as soon as reasonably possible, the Licensee shall
announce that the seal will be removed and shall remove the Seal Card window(s) to reveal the Seal Card Game prize(s).
Note: if the Seal Card provides two prize options the Licensee may only use the single larger prize value.
5.4.
The Seal Card shall be prominently displayed in the location named in the Licence.
5.5.
Where a player who has won a chance at a Seal Card prize or Progressive Seal Card Game prize will not be present when
the Seal Card window is removed the Licensee shall record the player’s contact information. The Licensee shall not
require a player to post personal information at the place of sale.
5.6.
The licensee should have house rules outlining procedures to be followed when the winner of a Seal Card Game prize
cannot immediately be found. The Licensee must also ensure that such procedures are prominently displayed at the
location named in the Licence.
5.7.
The Seal Card window shall be removed in the presence of at least two representatives of the Licensee, one of whom
must be the designated member in charge. The representatives of the licensee shall deface the Seal Card by signing and
dating it.
5.8.
If no one wins the Progressive Seal Card Game prize, the Licensee shall ensure that the prize from that game is carried
forward to the next Deal of Progressive Seal Card Game tickets as approved by the Licence.
5.9.
Each winning ticket shall be exchanged for cash only immediately.
5.10. The Licensee shall ensure that Seal Cards are retained for at least 3 months following the disposition of the prizes.