Queen of Hearts Action Report: Week of January 5

SOUTH SUBURBS — Do you feel lucky? Crave action? Patch has compiled Queen of Hearts progressive raffles from around the Southland, some with pretty sizeable jackpots. Even if you split a few thousand or pick up money on the board, it’s better than a sharp stick in the eye

Here’s how the game works: The game consists of a deck of 52 shuffled playing cards plus the two jokers. Playing cards are randomly printed on the inside of each window, ensuring the integrity of the raffle. When a player’s ticket is drawn, the number written on it determines the card number to be opened. If the card drawn is the Queen of Hearts, the winner wins a percentage of the jackpot, usually 60 percent if present, or an even 50-50 split. The remainder goes to the sponsoring organization, such as a charity or place of worship. The new jackpot is seeded and the hunt for the queen starts all over again.

Her Majesty has been coy and is avoiding all south suburban raffles. We hear she’s been helping Meghan Markle put together her new Netflix series.

Get ready to dive into the exciting world of games ‘o chance. Here are some current Queen of Hearts raffles happening in the local area:

Park Lawn Charity – Boy, we sure had fun chasing that record-breaking $2.3 million, didn’t we. The regulars are going to try to drive the jackpot up again. Park Lawn’s progressive raffle resumes Wednesday, Jan. 8, after a holiday hiatus with a jackpot of $118,065 and growing. If your number reveals the queen, sixty-percent of the jackpot goes to the winner if present; if not present, the winner splits the pot 50-50 with Park Lawn. This time, there is money on the board: Jokers, winner gets $250 and the board resets; aces, $200; kings, $150; and queens (excluding hearts), $125. Numbers cards (2-10) win 24 free tickets for next week’s drawing. Online ticket sales continue up to 3 p.m. Tuesday, or buy them in person at Park Lawn, 10833 S. LaPorte Ave., Oak Lawn, or at the always-fun At the Office Sports Bar & Grill, 4901 Cal-Sag Road, Crestwood, where the drawing happens at 7 p.m. every Wednesday live on Facebook.

Bank the Blue – The jackpot going into the Thursday, Jan. 9, pull is $10,530 and growing. There is money on the board: If present at the time of the drawing, the winner grabs $100 for numbered cards and $200 for face cards. Tickets are $1 each, 6 for $5; 12 for $10; 24 for $20. Online ticket sales open at 10 a.m. Friday and close at 2 p.m. the day of the drawing. In each online purchase, the player will only be allowed to select a single number. The drawing takes place around 8 p.m. every Thursday at Harte’s Saloon, 9858 S. Artesian Ave., Evergreen Park. Catch the excitement of the live drawing on BTB Facebook. All proceeds go toward funding confidential mental health services for law enforcement officers in Illinois. Currently, Bank the Blue is funding mental health services for 71 officers. Must be 21 to play.

Oak Lawn Raiders SAC – The jackpot going into the Jan. 5 pull is $8.560. The drawing takes place at 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are 6 for $5; 12 for $10; and 24 for $20 from the handy dandy ticket machine at BJ McMahon’s during business hours, 5432 W. 95th St., Oak Lawn, where the weekly drawing is held. It’s a bar, so they’re open late. The split is 50-50 of the jackpot if the queen of hearts is found. Ticket sales start Monday and continue up until the drawing. There is money on the board: $50 for numbered cards (2-10); find an ace, king jack or a queen (except for hearts) gets you $200; and red and black jokers win ya $500 (black joker resets the board). Catch the excitement of the live drawing on Oak Lawn Raiders SAC Facebook. Famous for carrying a 50-by-100-foot American flag in Oak Lawn’s Independence Day Parade, the Raiders help local individuals and families facing financial difficulties, and other civic projects. Results are posted Monday on the Oak Lawn Raiders website and Facebook page. Must be 21 to play.

Knights of Columbus, Fr. Boyle C.C. Council 4698 of Tinley Park started its Queen of Hearts raffle in December at is holding a Queen of Hearts Raffle for Charity at the Union Bar & Grill 17821 S. 80th Ave., Tinley Park. Drawings are every Monday at 8 p.m. Ticket are $5 each or 5 for $20. If your name is drawn you’ll win a $50 gift certificate to the Union, select a face card or ace win another $50 gift certificate, select a joker win a hundred dollars, select the Queen of Hearts win 50 percent of the pot. The pot going into the Jan. 6 pull is at $4,385. Tickets are sold at the Union when Knights of Columbus are present 5:30 to 8 p.m, Monday, Tuesday, Friday and other TBD dates/times.

St. Patricia Parish – Queen of Hearts Raffle will resume in January.

Does your church, school, veterans group or organization hold a Queen of Hearts raffle drawing? Send the info to Patch editor Lorraine Swanson at lorraine.swanson@patch.com. Be sure to include the split, time and place of weekly drawings, cost of tickets and places of purchase, and where the results are posted (Facebook, website, etc.). To be featured in the Queen of Hearts Action Report, your school/place of worship/organization must be consistent in posting the weekly results of your draw on social media or by contacting us by email. Don’t make us chase you, otherwise we’ll have to drop your raffle, but we’ll always take you back.