Ticket mix-up an honest mistake

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This article was published 21/03/2016 (3487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba has concluded the Winnipeg Blue Bombers didn’t intend to deceive customers during a mix-up about which ticket won $178,748 in a 50/50 draw at the Grey Cup.

“It was simply human error,” said Liz Stephenson, chief administration officer for the authority.

“We are satisfied there was no wrongdoing,” she said.

At the game last November, the Bombers posted the correct winning number on the Jumbotron. But on the Bombers site online, two numbers were switched, so it appeared a different ticket had won. Days later, the online error was caught, the number was corrected on the website and the winner claimed his prize.

The investigation into the mistake wrapped up last week, after investigators were finally able to speak directly to the host for the Bombers’ online site and confirm it really was a typographical error that mistakenly transposed two numbers.

“We wanted to check the details with one of the people who runs the website, just to find out when the changes were made. The person responsible actually went to New Zealand… That totally delayed things,” Stephenson said. “Two numbers were switched, it was pretty straightforward.”

So ends the mystery that nearly cost Charles Ritchot of La Salle his winnings.

Reached at his home, which he and his wife are remodelling with some of the winnings, Richot said the findings came as no surprise.

“It’s so close, it’s two digits switched. A mistake is a mistake.Granted, if I’d not kept the ticket, that would have been a big mistake,” Ritchot said.

He added it underscores the need to double- and triple-check the data keyed in and to own up to mistakes as soon as they are found. The worker who made the mistake shouldn’t be penalized, he said.

He said he hopes the Bombers also leave the winning number for the other prizes up on the Jumbletron longer during the game.

“It all worked out. We can laugh about it now.”

Richot saw the numbers at the game when they flashed on the screen and knew he held the winning ticket, but the next day he checked the website and saw the different number. He tossed his ticket into the trash but later fished it out to keep as a reminder of how close he came to winning the jackpot.

That was followed by days of anticipation when no one came forward to claim the prize.

After failed attempts to ask the Bombers if a typo was made, Ritchot checked the website again and found the number had been changed to reinstate his ticket as the winner. Ritchot, 61, a retired mechanic, ended a 10-day mystery when he presented the winning 50/50 ticket at the Blue Bombers office.

The gaming authority launched the investigation.

Bombers spokesman Darren Cameron said the franchise will make changes to prevent mistakes, but he didn’t go into details.

alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca