What Happens To Unclaimed Scratch Card Prizes?
Scratchcards are one of the simplest forms of gambling available in the UK. You buy a card, scratch off the panel, and see if you’ve won. It doesn’t involve any skills or strategies—just chance. Because they’re quick and easy, they remain popular at many supermarkets, newsagents, and petrol stations across the country.
But have you ever thought about what happens if a winning card is never claimed?
It might surprise you to learn that not all possible prizes may be collected. Some scratchcards might be forgotten, misplaced, or damaged before a claim can be made.
This blog explains what usually happens to any unclaimed prizes, how long you have to collect any potential winnings, and where to check important information, like expiry dates and remaining prizes. If you’re new to scratchcards, this guide can help you understand the basics.
How Long Do You Have To Claim a Scratch Card Prize?
If you win a prize on a National Lottery scratchcard, you typically have 180 days to claim it. That’s around six months, and the countdown starts from the date the game officially ends, not from when you bought the card or when you scratched it.
You won’t find the end date printed on the card itself. However, the official National Lottery website keeps an up-to-date list of all scratchcard games, including those that have closed. If you’re unsure about a card, you can ask a retailer to scan it at the till—they should be able to check if it’s still valid.
For online instant win games, any potential prizes you win are usually credited to your account automatically, without the need to make a separate claim. The 180-day claim period begins from the date the win is recorded on your account. Unlike physical scratchcards, everything takes place digitally, so there’s no paper ticket to keep or present. However, it’s still important to log in and check your account regularly, as any unclaimed or unwithdrawn prizes can still expire if not dealt with within the allowed timeframe.
To make a successful claim for a physical card, you need to keep the original scratchcard in good condition. If it’s too damaged to read, or if you’ve lost it, it may not be possible to verify your win. Most smaller prizes can usually be collected from the retailer where the card was bought. For larger amounts, you may need to contact the National Lottery directly.
How Do You Find a Scratch Card Expiry Date?
Since the 180-day claim period is linked to the game’s end date, knowing when that is becomes important. The expiry date isn’t written on the scratchcard itself, but it is available online. The National Lottery website lists all active and closed scratchcard games. This is where you can find both the start and end dates for each one, along with the last possible day to claim any potential prize.
If you can’t check online, most lottery retailers can scan your card and let you know whether it’s still valid. Some shop-branded or private scratchcards (those not run by the National Lottery) may have different rules. In these cases, details about expiry dates and how to claim can usually be found on the back of the card or on the company’s website.
For online games, all relevant dates are typically shown in your online account or in the terms and conditions. Some gambling sites may send alerts or emails to let you know if you’ve won something, but it’s worth logging in regularly to check.
What Happens If You Don’t Claim a Scratch Card Prize?
If a winning scratchcard is not claimed within the allowed time, that prize is lost. The money is no longer payable to the person who bought the card or anyone else.
In the case of National Lottery scratchcards, any unclaimed prizes may be transferred to the Good Causes fund, which supports a wide range of projects across the UK. This includes community groups, environmental initiatives, arts and heritage, and local sports programmes.
If you’ve bought a scratchcard from a private operator, such as a supermarket promotion or non-lottery brand, any unclaimed prizes may not go to charitable causes. These companies usually outline what happens to any unclaimed winnings in their terms and conditions. It may vary depending on the type of promotion or scratchcard involved.
Scratchcards are not like raffle tickets or draws where every ticket eventually wins or is entered into a prize pot. Each scratchcard is printed with a pre-set outcome, and unclaimed wins don’t “roll over”. Once the claim period ends, that card’s outcome is simply no longer valid.
How Do You Find The Number of Remaining Scratch Card Prizes?
You might be curious about how many potential prizes are still left to be won on a particular scratchcard game. The National Lottery’s official website includes a section called “Scratchcard Game Prizes Remaining”, which lists each active game and how many prizes are still available at different levels.
These figures are updated regularly. For example, if a scratchcard started with five top prizes of £1 million, the page will show how many of those have already been claimed. It also includes smaller possible prize amounts and the odds of winning anything at all.
Here are a few facts to consider:
- Pre-Printed Outcomes: Every card is printed with a fixed result. Some are winners, and most are not.
- Random Distribution: Winning cards are distributed at random across the UK to make the games fair.
- Fixed Odds: If the odds are shown as “1 in 4,” this means that, on average, one in four cards is a winner—but this doesn’t mean every fourth card wins. You could buy several losing cards in a row, or win more than once—it all depends on the card batch and chance.
Scratchcards from private operators may not have this type of transparency. Some companies may publish prize data on their websites, but it’s less common. If you’re unsure, it may be worth reading the small print or contacting customer services before buying.
Scratchcards and instant win games are both types of games of chance, which means there’s no guaranteed way to win. The outcome is already decided before you scratch the card or click to play. While it can be interesting to see how many potential prizes are left, this information doesn’t improve your chances of winning.
Although Ivy Casino does not offer instant win games, you will find a wide range of exciting casino games to explore. Ivy Casino provides various slot and table games, such as blackjack and roulette, suitable for all experience levels.
*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.