Calgary resident Curtis Geiger experienced a series of ups and downs this week. He was thrilled to discover that the 50/50 ticket he bought at the Calgary Stampede rodeo on July 11 was a winning ticket valued at $125,150. Geiger recounted feeling disbelief and even asked a colleague to confirm the numbers for him.
Dreams of early retirement quickly filled his mind. Eager to claim his prize, Geiger promptly contacted the Calgary Stampede. Sadly, the response he received later was not what he hoped for. In an email shared with CBC News, the Stampede informed Geiger that all prizes for the Show Band 50/50 had either been claimed or the 48-hour window to claim them had lapsed.
This news came as a significant disappointment to Geiger, who expressed regret and frustration, both at himself for missing the deadline and at the organization for the outcome. The Calgary Stampede clarified that their Showband 50/50 operates under a lottery license from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC), and they must adhere to the rules set by the regulatory body.
According to the Stampede’s statement to CBC News, the 48-hour claim period is clearly outlined in the lottery’s rules and FAQs, which are publicly available. However, Geiger pointed out that the ticket did not specify this time frame. He also argued that the word “may” on the lottery’s website should equate to “can” rather than “must.”
Geiger believes that the 48-hour window is unreasonably short and questions the handling of unclaimed prize funds by the Stampede. The organization stated that such funds are distributed in line with AGLC requirements.
Legal expert Farhad Shekib from Toronto suggested that Geiger might have grounds for a breach of contract case regarding the clarity and fairness of the 48-hour claim window. Shekib emphasized the importance of transparent communication to ticket buyers about any time restrictions. Geiger expressed his intention to explore legal options and raise awareness to prevent similar situations for others.
