Concerns raised about lottery funds as 98% of unclaimed prizes spent on marketing

Between 2015 and 2021 just over €124m of expired unclaimed prizes was forfeited — an average of around €17.7m per year.

Concerns have been raised concerning the National Lottery after it was revealed that 98%, or some €120m, of unclaimed prizes goes into marketing.

Winning lottery players failed to claim more than €124m between 2015 and 2021, an investigation by Comptroller and Auditor General Seamus McCarthy into the lottery operator accounts showed.