The Prize Bond Company said its gross sales for 2002 increased by 11% to €82.9m with the total amount outstanding in prize bonds up by 13% to €375.1m.
Publishing its annual report for the year ending December 31, 2002 the company said that €860,000 awaits over 5,000 winners in unclaimed prizes since the draw started in 1957.
The company is currently running a campaign to highlight the number and value of unclaimed prices. Booklets containing the full list of unclaimed prizes are now available at post offices nationwide. The full list of unclaimed prizes is also available on the internet.
Internet sales through the company's website broke the €1m threshold for the first time last year. The value of the average purchase increased by 29% to €466, the company said.
'I believe that investors are increasingly attracted to prize bonds as a secure, attractive, risk-free investment option,' said Michael O'Keefe, Chairman of the Prize Bond Company.
'This is especially so now with uncertain equity markets and the prevailing low interest rate environment, and is borne out by the continued increase in the value of the average purchase,' he added.
Founded in 1957, the prize bonds draw is Ireland's longest running prize draw. All prize bonds enter a weekly cash draw with prizes ranging from €75 to the monthly jackpot prize of €150,000. All winning bond holders are notified by post.
