(Jamma) Over 642 euros, that is the sum of unclaimed prizes in the latest edition of the Italian Lottery. As per regulation, winnings not collected within 180 days from the date of publication of the winning tickets in the Official Gazette end up in the state coffers. In the last eleven years, the amount of forgotten winnings by Italians amounts to 20,6 million euros.
The distraction of the Italians affects not only the small prizes, but often also huge winnings. The negative primacy belongs to the 2008/2009 edition, when it was even the first prize of 5 million euros, sold in Rome following year), not to be collected. Last year the sums left to the State amounted to two million euros, corresponding to the second prize won in Modena, plus smaller winnings for a further 700 thousand euros. Looking back at previous issues in 2003, unclaimed prizes amounted to almost 4 million euros. The following year, however, the winning tickets forgotten in the drawer amounted to 1,1 million. In 2007 premiums not collected for a total of 1 million 125 thousand euros. Only 220 thousand euros instead the prizes forgotten in the 2010 edition.
