Buying a lottery ticket or scratch card is often a quick and easy way to take part in a game of chance. But it’s not uncommon to find one tucked away in a drawer or folded up in a wallet long after it was bought. That’s when many people start to wonder: do they expire?
While it might seem like a ticket or card should stay valid as long as you hold onto it, there are time limits you need to be aware of. If you want to make sure any prizes can still be claimed, it’s worth knowing how expiry dates work—and where to find them.
This blog post walks you through how long tickets and scratch cards stay valid, how to check expiry information, and what happens if you miss the deadline. Read on to learn more.
Yes, lottery tickets in the UK always have an expiry date. For National Lottery games, if you’ve bought a paper ticket in a shop or an online entry, you’ll usually have 180 days from the draw date to claim a prize.
Once that period has passed, any unclaimed winnings can’t be collected. This system helps ensure that prizes are handled fairly and consistently.
Details about claim periods can usually be found in the game’s terms and conditions or on the National Lottery website. If you’re unsure, you can also contact customer support for clarity.
To avoid missing out, if you’ve bought a ticket, you should keep it in a safe place and check the results regularly. That way, if your numbers come up, you’ll be ready to claim without delay.
As mentioned, National Lottery tickets remain valid for 180 days after the date of the draw. This applies to all standard draw-based games, regardless of if you purchased them in person or online.
Other lottery providers or charity games might have different rules, so if you’re playing outside of the National Lottery, it’s always worth checking the specific terms for that game.
Keeping an eye on draw dates—and making a note of when the claim period ends—can help ensure you don’t miss the opportunity to collect a prize if you have a winning ticket.
If a winning ticket isn’t claimed in time, the prize is no longer available. In the case of National Lottery tickets, any unclaimed winnings go to the Good Causes fund, which supports a wide range of charitable and community projects across the UK.
For other operators, unclaimed prizes may be used differently depending on their own policies. If you’re unsure, check the game’s terms or get in touch with customer service for the full details.
Scratch cards follow slightly different rules to draw-based tickets. The 180-day countdown doesn’t begin when the card is bought but rather from the date the game officially ends.
This end date is set by the lottery operator and marks the point when the scratch card is no longer being sold. Once that date is reached, you’ll still have 180 days to claim any prizes if you have a winning scratch card—but after that, the card will no longer be valid.
The end date for each game is published on the National Lottery website and is sometimes displayed at the point of sale. It’s worth checking if you want to be sure your card is still eligible for a prize claim.
If you’re not sure whether a scratch card is still valid, start by checking the back of the card. Most have small-print details about the claim period, as well as terms and conditions.
You might also find expiry information on the packaging or leaflets that come with the card. For online purchases, the game’s rules should be available on the operator’s website.
Still have questions? Reaching out to the lottery’s customer service team is a simple way to get accurate information quickly.
Whether you can still claim an old scratch card depends on when the game officially ended. The 180-day claim period starts from the closure date, not the day you bought the card. So, if you find an old winning scratch card, the first step is to check whether that window is still open.
If the deadline hasn’t passed, follow the instructions for claiming, which might involve returning to the shop or sending in the card. But if the expiry date is gone, unfortunately, the prize can no longer be awarded—even if the card shows a winning combination.
That’s why it helps to check your cards shortly after purchase and keep track of when each game is set to end.
If you enjoy playing the lottery or scratch cards, being aware of expiry dates is a straightforward way to stay on top of your entries and cards. Whether you’ve just bought a ticket or a scratch card or come across one from a while ago, knowing where to find claim information helps you understand what steps to take if you do win.
By checking results regularly and keeping your ticket or scratch card somewhere safe and easy to find, you’ll be ready to claim any prizes within the time allowed if you have a winning ticket or scratch card.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins, etc.) mentioned in relation to these games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.