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Winning lottery tickets of $11 million unclaimed

LOWELL (AP) - More than $11 million in Massachusetts lottery ticketsremain unclaimed from last year.

A "Lucky for Life" ticket worth $25,000 is waiting for its ownerat a Lowell convenience store. And a winning Powerball ticket worth $1 millionsold in Dorchester on Nov. 3 and has yet to be claimed.

The Lowell Sun reports (http://bit.ly/VGSIPV) that small winnings make up most of unclaimed tickets, but 14 are valued at$25,000 or more.

Retailers who sell a winning ticket receive a 1 percent commission on theprize amount, up to $50,000, even if the ticket is not claimed.

The state Lottery runs awareness campaigns around store locations wherewinning tickets are sold, on its website, in newspapers and TV broadcasts.

Unclaimed prize money is returned to the state's general fund each year.