Unclaimed prizes shall be retained in the state lottery account for the person entitled thereto for one hundred eighty days after the drawing in which the prize is won, or after the official end of the game for instant prizes. If no claim is made for the prize within this time, all rights to the prize shall be extinguished, and the prize shall be retained in the state lottery fund for further use as prizes, except that one-third of all unclaimed prize money shall be deposited in the economic development strategic reserve account created in RCW 43.330.250.

     On July 1, 2009, June 30, 2010, and June 30, 2011, all unclaimed prize money retained in the state lottery fund [account] in excess of three million dollars, excluding amounts distributed to the economic development strategic reserve account, shall be transferred into the state general fund.

[2009 c 564 § 949; 2005 c 427 § 2; 1994 c 218 § 5; 1988 c 289 § 802; 1987 c 511 § 8; 1982 2nd ex.s. c 7 § 19.]

NOTES:

     Effective date -- 2009 c 564: See note following RCW 2.68.020.

     Effective date -- 1994 c 218: See note following RCW 9.46.010.

     Severability -- 1988 c 289: See note following RCW 50.16.070.