Unclaimed UK National Lottery prize money rose to a record £100 million (US$182 million) last year, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport confirmed today.
The figure — the highest since the game was launched — was up from £73 million (US$133 million) the previous year.
After 180 days all unclaimed prize money plus the interest accrued goes to the National Lottery Distribution Fund, the DCMS said.
The money is then allocated to good causes around the country.
Lottery operator Camelot said the unclaimed money related to prizes won in the Lotto draw, Lotto Hot Picks, Lotto Extra, EuroMillions, Daily Play, Thunderball and on scratchcards. It also included unclaimed prizes from Instant Win online.
The largest unclaimed prize in the year 2004 to 2005 was £7,039,469 (US$12.8 million) from the Lotto Extra draw on August 7, 2004, Camelot said.
The winning ticket was bought somewhere in Belfast City and matched all six numbers. But the winner failed to come forward by the deadline of February 3, 2005.
Camelot said the upturn in Lottery ticket sales had contributed to the increased number of unclaimed prizes.
“National Lottery ticket sales are at their highest level since 1997 and we are currently paying out around four million prizes a week,” the operator said.
“Camelot regularly issues appeals for winners of unclaimed prizes to come forward to claim their cash — and we are obviously always keen to unite them with their prizes.
“We have a dedicated team of sleuths who are committed to tracking down those lucky winners and encourage them to come forward to claim their prize.”
Ticket holders should check their numbers every time they play, the operator advised.
if people would read their tickets correctly....
“We have a dedicated team of sleuths who are committed to tracking down those lucky winners and encourage them to come forward to claim their prize.”
That's a happy thought. Evidently, inn the UK, if you happen to be playing it sly, holding out on claiming your prize until you have things set up to your best advantage, they send guys out to examine the security camera film in the store where you bought your ticket to try to ferret you out.... or some other method.
To be honest, I'd wondered if that sort of thing mightn't happen in the US if a person was slow in claiming a jackpot. Not that they'd contact you, but I'd bet they'll have a fairly good idea who you are.
Jack
It should go back to the players in the form of larger jackpots or larger secondary prizes.
i agree with that! good idea
If this person was a registered player they would have been contacted by the lottery. Or, if they lost the ticket it would be recorded on the records. I know people like privacy, but I would prefer not to loose a jackpot. The good part is that all unclaimed prizes in the UK lottery which are not claimed within 180 days of the draw date will go to Good Causes.
Too bad for the person who doesn't check his own numbers. Or, as you suggest, registering as a lottery player (which I'd be inclined not to do if they had such a thing in the US).
But you have to wonder about people who play, but who don't check the numbers afterward.
I've known people who threw their tickets away without checking them if the jackpot rolled.... known a number of people who did that. But this jackpot didn't roll.
Jack
Or her numbers.
Or her numbers.
Sorry CO, but I think you're wrong here. No woman would allow something of that sort to happen to her. It's gotta be a man thing.
In between looking under things scouting for dirt and fretting about something ugly someone said to her over breakfast (she remembers what both of them ate) two years ago, she'd remember to check those tickets.
Jack
Well, I have done that kind of thing before - bought a ticket, threw in the drawer and never checked it. Maybe I would have been a millionaire by now.
Why did I do that? Because I did not take it seriously. I used to buy a ticket just to easy my feeling about bad luck, thinking if one thing turned out to be bad, maybe luck is hiding somewhere else. :)