While most lottery winners in B.C. claim their prize right away, each year a small percentage of lottery prizes are not claimed in the province.
According to the B.C. Lottery Corporation most unclaimed prizes are for small amounts, from people who have likely forgotten to claim their prize.
A spokesperson says historically in our province, it is rare for major prizes, $10,000 or more, to go unclaimed.
Since 2002, unclaimed prizes of games purchased totaled about $77 million, from the more than $3.3 billion in prize money that was available.
Since 2006, only three major prizes have gone unclaimed in B.C., totaling $317,660.10. All three prizes were 6/49 prizes that matched five out of the six numbers, not the grand prize.
The unclaimed prizes were for $99,318.50 in 2006, $104,534.60 in 2008 and $113,807 in 2009.
Prizes for games are considered to be unclaimed one year after the draw is held. Scratch $ Win game prizes may be claimed up to the expiry date on the back of each ticket.
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