$3.4 million in lottery prizes unclaimed last year, so where does the money go?

APPLETON (AP) — The Wisconsin Department of Revenue says roughly $3.4 million in lottery winnings were not claimed by lucky ticket holders last year.

The Appleton Post-Crescent Media reported (http://post.cr/1pospKM ) that since 1997, nearly $55 million in winning tickets have gone unclaimed.

The figures represent only lotto games like Powerball and Mega Millions. It doesn't include unclaimed prizes from Wisconsin Lottery scratch-off tickets.

The unclaimed winnings go toward property tax relief in the state and show up as a gaming credit on property tax bills.

In Wisconsin's history, there have been only a few unclaimed $1 million payouts and a small number of $10,000 prizes. Most of the unclaimed tickets fall in the $4 to $100 range.