Calgary resident Curtis Geiger had an eventful week filled with ups and downs. 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 ecstatic but also in disbelief. He double-checked the numbers with a colleague to confirm his win.
Excited about the prospect of retiring sooner, Geiger promptly contacted the Calgary Stampede to claim his prize. However, his elation was short-lived when he received an email informing him that the 48-hour window to claim his prize had expired, and all prizes for the Show Band 50/50 draw had been either claimed or forfeited.
Feeling disappointed and frustrated, Geiger expressed his regret for missing the claim period and his dissatisfaction with the organization’s handling of the situation. The Calgary Stampede clarified that the 48-hour claim period was a standard rule outlined in the lottery’s regulations, governed by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC) licensing requirements.
Geiger highlighted that the ticket did not explicitly state the 48-hour time frame for claiming the prize and questioned the fairness of such a short window. The Calgary Stampede explained that unclaimed prize funds are allocated according to AGLC guidelines to benefit the Stampede and the Calgary Marching Show Band Association.
Legal expert Farhad Shekib suggested that Geiger might have grounds for a breach of contract case based on the transparency and fairness of the claim window communication. Shekib emphasized the importance of clearly communicating such terms to ticket buyers to avoid misunderstandings and legal disputes.
Geiger expressed his intention to explore legal avenues regarding the situation and raised awareness to prevent similar incidents from befalling others.