Lotteries Act 1997

This section applies to a prize in an approved lottery if—

it is 3 months since the closure of the lottery; and

the prize has not been claimed by the person entitled to it; and

the prize has a value of at least the relevant amount.

If it is a monetary prize, the lottery operator must pay the amount of the prize to the chief executive.

If it is a non-monetary prize, the lottery operator must, as soon as practicable and in any case within 6 months after the closure of the lottery—

dispose of the prize under section 131; and

pay the amount of the proceeds, less the cost of disposal, to the chief executive.

However, the chief executive may allow a longer time for disposal of a non-monetary prize if the chief executive considers it would be reasonable to do so having regard to all the circumstances including the nature of the prize.

The chief executive must pay the amount received under subsection (2) or (3) into the Treasurer’s unclaimed moneys fund.

If, after the amount is paid into the Treasurer’s unclaimed moneys fund, the lottery operator is required under section 130 to pay the prize, the lottery operator may give the chief executive a written request in the approved form to be repaid the amount.

On receiving a request under subsection (6), the chief executive must—

pay the amount from the Treasurer’s unclaimed moneys fund; or

if the amount has been paid into the consolidated fund under the Financial Accountability Act 2009, section 97—pay the amount from the consolidated fund without further appropriation.

In this section—

if it is a monetary prize consisting of 1 payment—the amount of the payment; or

if it is a monetary prize consisting of 2 or more payments—the total amount of the payments; or

if it is a non-monetary prize—the amount, or highest amount, claimed to be the prize’s value by the lottery operator in promotional material or other information made publicly available for the lottery.