According to an agreed statement of facts issued Tuesday, David Long was assisting in setting the cards for a 2023 Chase the Ace lottery at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #27 on Kempt Road while he held tickets in his brother-in-law’s name.Article contentThe former vice-president of a Halifax legion who, along with his wife, collected on two Chase the Ace jackpots they were running has been banned from holding a gambling licence in Nova Scotia.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentAccording to an agreed statement of facts issued Tuesday by the Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division, David Long was assisting in setting the cards for the July 7, 2023 Chase the Ace lottery at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #27 (Vimy Legion) at 3200 Kempt Rd.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentAs the vice-president of the licence holder, Long was not allowed to hold tickets to the draw. Long held tickets in the name of his brother-in-law.Article contentWhen one of those tickets won, Long told the legion’s treasurer and management staff to make the cheque out to him. Long deposited the cheque for $24,594 into his own bank account. He later told police that his brother-in-law, who is not identified in the documents, did not want the money.Article content“When asked by police why he would not return at least half the jackpot to the legion, (Long) replied, ‘Why would I return the money to the legion?” reads the statement.Article content“Mr. Long confirmed that the legion never asked for the winnings to be returned even after being informed that Mr. Long kept the money for himself. Mr. Long then stated he could return half of the money to the legion.”Article contentThe Chronicle Herald was not able to confirm whether that money was returned and is waiting on a response from the legion branch.Article contentArticle content‘David Long’s sister-in-law stated… she did not buy tickets’Article contentAccording to the documents, Long bought a 2018 Dodge Journey for $17,000 and paid personal expenses with the money from the jackpot.Article contentLong reportedly told police there would be an “uproar” if his keeping of the winnings was made public because people would think the game was “rigged.”Article contentA year after having allowed Long to collect on the jackpot, the legion continued to allow Long and his wife to run its Chase the Ace game.Article contentOn July 5, 2024, Long, his wife and one other volunteer were on stage running the draw. Long’s wife, who isn’t named in the documents, drew the winning card that made her sister the holder of the winning ticket.Article content“David Long’s sister-in-law stated that she was not in attendance during the event and she did not buy tickets,” reads the statement.Article content“She also did not receive a telephone call informing her that she had won the draw. She also did not receive any winnings from the draw.”Article contentLong’s wife was holding that ticket, written in her sister’s name.Article contentAfter the lottery, Long wrote the $814 winning cheque from the legion to his wife.Article contentAs a result of the investigation, Long has been prohibited from holding or participating in any lotteries in Nova Scotia. The Royal Canadian Legion was fined $500.Article content
Former Nova Scotia legion VP who got jackpot from his own Chase the Ace draw banned from holding gambling licence
