A technical glitch has meant some people have gotten their Rotary Dream Home Cash Jackpot 50-50 tickets refunded. Raffle manager Kevin Hilgers explains that when the jackpot reached its limit of $550,000 on Sunday, April 22nd, sales weren’t cut off as they should have been automatically.
“Immediately, we had a plan and a course of action. We always let the AGLC know when hiccups occur, and then we mailed everyone a letter by lunch the next day saying, ‘our apologies, but we have to refund your money.'”
Hilgers says they are working with their software company to ensure the issue doesn’t happen again, and the refund cheques went into the mail last Wednesday. He stresses that everyone who paid for a ticket before the cut off as entered into the draw.
“With our system, we know exactly in which order people buy because they’re all date stamped by the second,” he explains. “That’s what we reviewed with the AGLC… where exactly was that final sale to get you to that $550K mark.”
Everyone who purchased after that point will be getting a refund. Hilgers couldn’t say how many people were affected.
“I think we took the appropriate steps,” he adds. “It’s unfortunate; mistakes can happen, but I think when you nip these things in the bud – mess up, fess up, and pay up – then you move forward.”
The 25th annual Rotary Dream Home Lottery is being hailed at the most successful yet, selling out 30,950 tickets and the record cash jackpot. All of the proceeds support local groups and Rotary Club of Grande Prairie community projects.
Hilgers says they’ll likely increase the amount of the 50-50 next year. Jane Hunter Uhryn of Grande Prairie took home $275,000 as the winner of the 2018 draw.