Philippe Morin
Northern News Services
Monday, April 16, 2007

TUKTOYAKTUK - Everyone loves a game of chance.

And in Tuktoyaktuk, it seems, these games are a pretty large industry which support many of the hamlet's programs.

Dorothy Loreen, who was selling peel-off "Nevada" tickets at the CFTC radio station March 17, said the community often goes through a box of tickets per week.

That is 5,000 tickets.

"Sometimes, it's half a box, maybe 2,000," she said, of the casino-themed $1 peel-offs.

Obviously, in a town of about 1,000 people, it's a pretty high average per capita.

Indeed, it seems Tuktoyaktuk's residents love to try their luck.

Bingos are another popular game in town, and are read over CFTC radio.

On March 17 as guest host Caroline Jane Loreen prepared to read the winning numbers, she said she didn't know how many people were listening. .

But she said the game is popular enough to have cards selling four times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Before Tuktoyaktuk's Beluga Jamboree was held, April 13 to 16, another contest was held in town to crown the jamboree King and Queen.

The prize went to whoever raised the most money for the celebration, and guaranteed the winners a flight to Edmonton.

Loreen said she raised funds by holding events like dances, and, of course, selling raffle tickets.

"We raffled off some wolf-fur mittens, also a boy's motorcycle," she said.

And while raffles are always fun -- at least, if you win -- residents say they are an especially good way to raise money.

Besides, what's the harm if the money stays in the community?

Coach John Stuart said people in Tuk will often raffle a cake instead of selling it, because it creates more profit.

"With a cake raffle you can raise $100," he said, which is important because it can cost several hundred dollars to send sports teams to Inuvik. .

But what about the RCMP? Does the raffle, peel-ticket and bingo craze also mean there is illegal gambling in Tuktoyaktuk?

Maybe a little, said Tuktoyaktuk RCMP Sergeant Charlie Gauthier, but it's not too serious.

While he said the department does get complaints now and then, Gauthier feels illegal gambling just isn't a top priority in town.

"There are a few houses that are known to hold major gambling games, and there's questions of law as to whether the house makes a profit," Gauthier said.

"They are not high on the priority, because when people are gambling they are generally not drinking, which is not a bad thing. It does create a bit of a concern about money being lost that could go to food, or supplies for the children, that kind of thing, but overall I can say it's not one of our priorities," he said.

With thousands of dollars raised for the jamboree this year, you might say everyone wins.