$178K ticket number mix-up on Winnipeg Blue Bombers site human error: LGA

WINNIPEG — An investigation has concluded that human error was to blame for a winning ticket number mix-up during a 50/50 draw at the Grey Cup on Nov. 29.

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“Sometimes human errors occur, this is one of those times,” Liz Stephenson with the Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba said.

“There’s no evidence of anyone trying to do anything wrong.”

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The winning numbers for the largest 50/50 jackpot in Blue Bombers history were shown correctly on the jumbotron during the game, but later typed incorrectly on their website.

“I checked the ticket at the Grey Cup game and saw I had the winning number – or so I thought,” Charles Ritchot, a 61-year-old retired mechanic from La Salle told Global News in early December.

READ MORE: Grey Cup 50/50 prize winner almost threw out ticket

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When he checked the website the morning after the game he noticed that his ticket was suddenly two numbers off. The final three numbers were shown on the Bombers’ website as 351. The real winning ticket ended with 531.

When Ritchot saw the typo he threw his nearly $200,000 ticket in the trash. Luckily he recovered it afterwards to keep as a memento to how close he came to winning the huge jackpot.

Ritchot waited for days as the ticket continued to remain unclaimed, even contacting the Blue Bombers to ask if there was a typo. When he checked the website on Dec. 7, the numbers had been corrected and he was $178,748 richer. The investigation found that the Blue Bombers website was updated to show the correct numbers between Dec. 3 and Dec. 5.

RELATED: $180K Grey Cup 50/50 prize pot still unclaimed

The Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba’s investigation into what caused the error was launched on Dec. 9 and wrapped up last week.

A final interview with a member of the service provider who runs the Blue Bombers website was delayed because of an out-of-country trip.

“There was a delay, a six to seven week delay waiting for someone to come back that may have added some mystery to this,” Stephenson said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "There was a delay, a six to seven week delay waiting for someone to come back that may have added some mystery to this," Stephenson said.

“The Bombers were terrific in terms of being cooperative,” Stephenson said. “We just recommended some tightening up in connection to internal procedures and double checking the numbers.”