Now that’s a 50-50 raffle $$$

The Edmonton Oilers have managed to build what is considered the single largest 50/50 raffle in pro sports, with the contest selling C$472 million (US $350 million) in tickets since 2001, half of which has gone to prizes for residents in Alberta and the other half (after expenses) to funding the foundation. That “after expenses” bit is slightly germane here — the C$107 million paid to Win50, a company incidentally owned by the Edmonton ownership group, for organizing the raffle is a conspicuously large expense compared to other such events — but still, the numbers are massive compared to other contests across the NHL.

Justin Birnbaum and Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico