LOTTERY WINNERS LEAVE $320M UNCLAIMED

Chances are that there are several Jamaicans who are quite unaware that they are sitting on or have misplaced a multimillion dollar lottery ticket.

According to Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL), there are, to date, $320,242,000 worth of unclaimed prizes, which is about 1.3 per cent of the total prizes won. The total value of prizes won for lottery games and sports betting in 2015 is $24.7 billion.

life-changing

Many of those winning tickets cost civilians meagre sums in comparison, but the returns could be life-changing. If you have had a ticket for a while, it would not hurt to double check that ticket, as all winning tickets must be validated and claimed no later than 90 days from the initial draw date.

Fifty per cent of the value of all unclaimed prizes arising from weekly ticket sales goes to the Betting, Gaming & Lotteries Commission (BGLC), and the remaining 50 per cent of the value of all unclaimed prizes arising from weekly ticket sales goes toward a CHASE Fund.

While millions go unclaimed, many persons have collected hefty sums. Last year, one person pocketed $395 million after purchasing a ticket at Chong Lotto Agency located at 12 1/2 South Camp Road. The shop is often referred to as the 'lucky lotto shop'.