Punters leave €1.1 million unclaimed at Crown Perth

Western Australia’s regulator revealed that unclaimed prize money grew 12% to €1.1 million in the year to June 30.

Australia.- The Gaming and Wagering Commission of Western Australia has revealed that about €1.1 million in unclaimed prize money was left by punters who won at the tables of the Crown Perth casino. According to the industry’s watchdog, the fund where the unclaimed money is stored has grown over the last year.

The Commission recently filed its latest annual report in the Parliament and informed that the “Gaming Community Trust Fund” grew almost 12% to €1.1 million in the year to June 30, up from €1.1 million at the end of 2016-17. The winnings must not be claimed for at least 14 months before they are transferred into the fund, where they are held for “purposes recommended by the commission.”

Unclaimed winnings are held by Crown for 12 months, and if after a further two months the winner could not be found to collect the prize money their right to it expires.

“The money credited to the Gaming Community Trust fund is derived from unclaimed winnings from the conduct of gaming authorised by the Gaming and Wagering Commission at Crown Perth,” a Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries spokeswoman said and added: “Unclaimed winnings remitted to the Gaming Community Trust do not come from TAB operations. Where winnings have been unclaimed for 12 months from the time the right to be paid first arises, the Gaming and Wagering Commission is to be notified in writing by the permit holder/casino licensee.”