THERE is $9 million in unclaimed winnings waiting to be collected by WA Lotto players.
That includes a $588,000 division one prize, from a ticket bought in Carnarvon in November.
Players have 12 months from the draw date to claim their prize before it is forfeited.
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READ NOWWhile Lotterywest was determined to help deliver all lottery prizes to their rightful owners, in WA it is a win, win situation.
“We’re unique in Australia in that all unclaimed winnings are returned to the WA community via our direct grants which support not-for-profit groups and community organisations,” Lotterywest spokesperson Jennie Fitzhardinge said.
The record for the largest Lotterywest prizes to go unclaimed is $1.6 million for a share of the New Year’s Eve Megadraw in 2010.
For the past 12 months, Saturday Lotto has the most outstanding winnings with just over $3.38 million and Powerball has the second highest amount at $2.855 million waiting to be claimed.
“Lotterywest members get paid out automatically for Division Two and lower, so we know that this money is locked up in paper tickets, lurking in people’s wallets, pockets and office drawers,” Ms Fitzhardinge said.
“We all talk about the big division one prize but the other divisions should not be discounted as they can also deliver some great prizes.”