compulsory lottery winnings

a prerequisite of the purchase of a lottery ticket should be the production of a valid proof of identity and thus ensuring that all winnings are claimed.

it goes without saying that anonymity should still be strictly observed.

this idea has nothing to do with instructing the lottery winner what to do with the dosh; they can give it to the local cats’ home or drop it in the sea weighted down by œ ton of cement if that is their wish.

every time an announcement is made that for example, œ million pounds has not been claimed and that the owner of the winning ticket purchased it in a certain area; everyone within a 10 mile radius begins to panic and turns their houses upside down, accusations are hurled towards spouses of carelessness which inevitably leads down the path to divorce or worse, or mighty great rows at the drycleaners etc.

the poorly paid administrative workers at said lottery will have to begin the laborious completion of reams of paperwork to ensure unclaimed monies are lawfully redirected – the stress must be enormous. it is so unfair, when one phone call from the rightful winner would have ended all this grief.

take responsibility for your winnings for goodness sake, is it much to ask?