Calgary resident Curtis Geiger experienced a turbulent week of emotions recently. Following his purchase of a 50/50 ticket at the Calgary Stampede rodeo on July 11, he discovered on Monday that he held a winning ticket valued at $125,150. Geiger expressed his disbelief at the news, mentioning that he even had a co-worker double-check the numbers to confirm. The prospect of potentially retiring sooner due to the winnings excited him.
After promptly reaching out to the Calgary Stampede via email, Geiger awaited a response anxiously. Unfortunately, the Stampede informed him that all prizes for the Show Band 50/50 draw had either been claimed or had exceeded the 48-hour window for claiming the prize, leaving him empty-handed. Geiger described feeling a mix of disappointment and frustration, blaming himself for missing the claim deadline and expressing dissatisfaction with the organization’s handling of the situation.
In response to inquiries, the Calgary Stampede clarified that the Showband 50/50 operates under a lottery license issued by Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC). The Stampede emphasized the importance of adhering to the lottery rules and timelines set forth by the AGLC. Geiger, on the other hand, pointed out discrepancies in the communication of the claim period, citing the absence of a clear timeframe on the ticket and questioning the brevity of the 48-hour window.
Regarding the unclaimed prize funds, the Calgary Stampede stated that they are allocated to the Stampede and the Calgary Marching Show Band Association as per AGLC regulations. Toronto-based lawyer Farhad Shekib suggested that Geiger might have grounds for a breach of contract case based on the fairness and clarity of the 48-hour claim window. Shekib emphasized the importance of transparent communication to ticket buyers regarding claim deadlines.
Geiger expressed his intention to explore legal options and raise awareness to prevent similar situations for others in the future.
