FOR some Mark Six punters, it seems playing the game is more important than winning.
As the Jockey Club celebrated the 20th anniversary of the lottery with a $20 million snowball yesterday, it revealed a staggering $450 million in winnings had gone unclaimed since the game began in 1976.
That is enough to buy nearly two Richland Gardens AIDS centres or half a Hong Kong Stadium.
One unlucky person won $4.5 million in 1989 - enough for a decent Peak apartment in those days - but left the millions lying unclaimed until the 60-day collection period expired.
But Hong Kong gains from such absent-mindedness: the unclaimed money goes into the Lotteries Fund to be administered by the Government to social welfare projects.
Over 20 years, gamblers spent $28.88 billion on the Mark Six, equivalent to about $4,800 for each resident.
Some $5.78 billion of that has gone to the Government, the Jockey Club has gathered commission of $1.73 billion, and more than $17 billion has been returned in prizes.
