Calgary resident Curtis Geiger had a week filled with ups and downs. After discovering his 50/50 ticket from the Calgary Stampede rodeo on July 11 was a winning ticket worth $125,150, he was overwhelmed with disbelief and excitement. Geiger quickly reached out to the Calgary Stampede to claim his prize, only to receive an email stating that the 48-hour window to claim the prize had expired, leaving him devastated and questioning how he missed the deadline.

In response to the situation, the Calgary Stampede explained that all prizes for the Show Band 50/50 are subject to a 48-hour claim period as per the lottery rules set by Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC). Despite Geiger’s argument that the ticket did not clearly specify the claim period and the word “may” implied flexibility, the Stampede stood by the established guidelines.

Geiger expressed his frustration at the perceived lack of transparency and fairness in the process, believing that the short claim window was designed to minimize prize payouts. The unclaimed funds, according to the Calgary Stampede, are distributed as per AGLC requirements.

Legal expert Farhad Shekib suggested that Geiger might have grounds for a breach of contract case based on the clarity of communication regarding the claim period. Shekib emphasized the importance of transparency in such matters to ensure fairness for ticket buyers.

Geiger, considering legal action, aims to raise awareness to prevent others from facing a similar situation in the future.