Calgary Stampede 50/50 prize a whole lot bigger this year

There's a big jackpot to be won at the Calgary Stampede this year, with the new 50/50 draw sitting at $1.2 million as of Saturday.

It's the first year the Stampede has let the jackpot grow over the ten-day event, rather than holding daily draws for smaller amounts.

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"It started with our advanced ticket campaign and moved right into the ten-day campaign, so the pot has just been growing and growing and growing," said Calgary Stampede spokesperson Jennifer Booth.

The winner of the draw will take home more than$600,000, depending on the final tally at the end of Sunday, with the rest of the money going to good causes.

"We have the Rotary, the Kinsmen, our Stampede showband, the CalgaryStampede Foundation, so it goes to a lot of different groups that are going to do great things for the community," said Booth.

The prize is in addition to everything else up for grabs, such as a dream home and vehicles.

Fred Harris said he likes the one big prize rather than a series of smaller draws.

"We like to spend all our money in one shot," he quipped.

The winning ticket will be drawn on Wednesday.

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