[miguelxt]

What do you mean at taxpayer expense? Spanish's National Lottery is one of the few State-run enterprises that returns real money to the taxpayer.

[bell-cot]

Net, yes. But inside that Lottery - ticket sales are income, and collected winnings are expenses. And I'd bet that unclaimed winnings end back up in the government's coffers - therefor, you claiming your winnings means that you benefit at taxpayer expense.