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Received from: FactMaster
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Today's useless fact - How much money goes unclaimed in state
lotteries?
While we couldn't find an exact figure, columnist Al Tompkins of
Poynter Online estimates that hundreds of millions of state lottery dollars go unclaimed every year. This
seems entirely reasonable, considering the net amount of money
involved. According to the North American Association of State
and Provincial Lotteries, during the last fiscal year, U.S.
lottery sales totaled $44.9 billion.
Where does all this unclaimed money go? Out of the 38 states that
hold lotteries, 10 of them roll over all the money to the prize
pool. Other states take percentages towards "state asset pools,"
such as education, transportation, or tax relief. The NASPL
offers a state-by-state guide to where the money is transferred.
Over 57% of Americans played the
lottery last year. The largest jackpot ever? On Christmas day
2002, Jack Whittaker of West Virginia won $314.9 million, to be
paid out over 30 years. He elected to receive a lump sum payment
of $170.5 million instead.
Lottery category
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