A Calgary man thought he hit it big after winning the Calgary Stampede 50/50 draw, only to be told he didn’t claim his winnings in time. Now, Curtis Geiger says he’s fighting back in the name of fairness. “I go from an ultimate high to an ultimate low. I haven’t really slept a lot in the last few days,” he told CTV News. It started when Geiger purchased a 50/50 ticket during the Stampede rodeo. Right before leaving for an overseas trip, he scanned a QR code on the ticket and read the prize rules on the Stampede 50/50 website. Geiger says the wording made him think he had more than 48 hours to claim the prize. “In the prize claim process, it says that we may claim the prize in 48 hours. So when I read that, I assumed that I have more time than 48 hours because it says you may claim it,” he said. A few weeks later, Geiger checked the website and discovered he had won $125,150. But when he tried to claim the prize, there was a problem. Geiger says he found a separate rules section stating that winners must claim their prize within 48 hours. “There’s a small little rules button that I found out that it was explained to me and click on that. And then if you click on there, then it says you must claim it in 48 hours,” he said. The Calgary Stampede says the 48-hour claim period had expired and the prize could not be awarded. “We understand this is a disappointing situation for the individual involved,” the Stampede said in a statement to CTV News. “In this instance, the winning ticket holder contacted Calgary Stampede Lotteries after the 48-hour claim period had expired and the prize therefore could not be awarded.” But Geiger argues there was nothing on the main website page or his ticket clearly stating that he must claim the prize within 48 hours. “I don’t understand why the language is different there than what it is on the main page,” he said. Calgary lawyer Kevin Weeks says it’s paramount for lottery players to read the rules carefully and follow the claim requirements. But he says if those rules are vague, it could potentially lead to litigation. “I do not consider this to be bad actors. You know, mistakes happen,” he said. “It could have been different on the website. It could have been different on the ticket. It probably will be going forward and should be.” Geiger is now seeking a lawyer. He says he’s aware of the risks of paying out of pocket for his troubles but believes it’s worth it. “The feeling that I had, the up and down, wasn’t pleasant. And I just don’t want that to happen to somebody else out there,” Geiger said. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis regulator says the period to claim a prize is up to the discretion of the licensed charity. Charities can choose a deadline between 48 hours and 30 days for a winner to come forward.
