Bombers’ raffle ticket mixup under investigation

Advertisement

Advertise with us

Manitoba’s regulatory body governing gaming has launched an investigation into how the Winnipeg Blue Bombers dropped the ball with the 50-50 draw at the Grey Cup.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Monthly Digital Subscription

$1 per week for 24 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

Monthly Digital Subscription

$4.75/week*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Winnipeg Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

No thanks

*$1 will be added to your next bill. After your 4 weeks access is complete your rate will increase by $0.00 a X percent off the regular rate.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/12/2015 (3589 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba’s regulatory body governing gaming has launched an investigation into how the Winnipeg Blue Bombers dropped the ball with the 50-50 draw at the Grey Cup.

The Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba said Wednesday it will meet with the CFL franchise Friday to try to sort out the typo that nearly cost Charles Ritchot of La Salle $178,748.

“I want to emphasize that we take this very, very seriously,” said Liz Stephenson, chief administrative officer at the LGA. “This is something we are absolutely following up on.”

Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Charles Ritchot came forward with the winning ticket for a prize of $178,748.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers Charles Ritchot came forward with the winning ticket for a prize of $178,748.

Stephenson said the main responsibility behind the investigation is to ensure the honesty and integrity of the raffle.

“We will take a look at any documentation, procedures, posting and relaying of information, which is very important so the LGA knows the prize has been claimed and handed out.”

Stephenson said she can’t put a time frame on how long the investigation will take.

“It depends on where the process leads us. We expect the Bombers to co-operate fully. We have a good relationship with them,” she said.

Ritchot, 61, a retired mechanic, ended a 10-day mystery Tuesday when he presented the winning 50-50 ticket at the Blue Bombers office at Investors Group Field.

Ritchot told the Free Press he saw the prize-winning numbers on the Jumbotron the night of the Grey Cup, but figured he’d pick up the prize in the morning.

When he checked the Bombers website to prove to his wife he had won, he was shocked to see a different number than he saw the night before.

Ritchot initially threw out his ticket, but fished it out of the trash to keep as a reminder of how close he came to winning the jackpot.

After failed attempts to ask if a typo was made, Ritchot checked the website on Monday morning and found the number had been changed.

Meanwhile, the Bombers issued a statement of their own Wednesday, saying they are fully co-operating with LGA.

“The (Winnipeg Football Club) is already in discussions with the Liquor and Gaming Authority and will fully co-operate to ensure protocols and procedures regarding the 50-50 program meet all requirements that may be recommended during the review,” Blue Bombers spokeswoman Kim Babij-Gesell said in an email.

“The 50-50 number was announced correctly by the PA announcer late in the Grey Cup game and posted correctly on the video boards at that time However, when the winning number was posted on our website that evening after the Grey Cup game was completed, two digits were accidentally transposed. This mistake on the website was corrected the next morning when it was identified.

“An error was made because the Winnipeg Football Club did not inform the public that the incorrect number was posted overnight on the website. Our processes will be reviewed with training for staff to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

“We would like to apologize to Mr. Ritchot for the confusion, and we are very happy he kept his ticket and was able to collect his prize.”

With Bomber 50/50 draws, the holder of the winning ticket takes home half the accumulated pot for the game, with the other half going to support amateur football and other community programming in the province.

On Oct. 3, the $41,108 prize was deemed to be unclaimed after it was determined the winner was ineligible. That ticket had been purchased by a Bomber employee. Under the club’s raffle licence, Bomber employees are not eligible to win the 50/50 prize, so the prize had to be deemed unclaimed.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca

Scott Billeck

Scott Billeck
Reporter

Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024.  Read more about Scott.

Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.

 

Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

History

Updated on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 5:45 PM CST: Added 50/50 information

Report Error Submit a Tip

Local

LOAD MORE