Calgary resident Curtis Geiger experienced a series of ups and downs this past week. After discovering that the 50/50 ticket he bought at the Calgary Stampede rodeo on July 11 was a winning ticket worth $125,150, Geiger was initially ecstatic but later faced disappointment. Despite his excitement at the thought of possibly retiring sooner, his hopes were dashed when he found out that the 48-hour period to claim his prize had expired.
In a message shared with CBC News, the Stampede informed Geiger that all prizes for the Show Band 50/50 draw had either been claimed or the time limit to claim them had lapsed. Geiger expressed his frustration at missing the window and directed some of his disappointment towards the organization.
The Calgary Stampede explained that the 48-hour claim period is a standard practice outlined in the rules set by Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC) for their Showband 50/50 lottery. Despite Geiger’s argument that the time frame was not clearly indicated on the ticket and his interpretation of the word “may,” the Stampede emphasized the necessity of following the established guidelines.
Geiger criticized the short duration of the claim window, questioning the transparency of the process. He raised concerns about the fate of the unclaimed prize money, which the Stampede stated is allocated in accordance with AGLC regulations.
Legal expert Farhad Shekib suggested that Geiger might have grounds for a breach of contract case based on the clarity and fairness of the 48-hour window. Shekib highlighted the importance of transparent communication with ticket buyers regarding claim deadlines, potentially through prominent displays at ticket sale points or direct ticket messaging.
Geiger expressed his intention to explore legal avenues in response to the situation and aims to raise awareness to prevent similar experiences for others.