Lottery Ticket & Scratch Card Expiry Dates Explained
It’s easy to forget about an old lottery ticket, or leave a scratch card tucked away in a drawer. But if that ticket was a winner, how long do you really have to claim it?Â
This blog breaks down how expiry dates work for games offered by the UK’s National Lottery — including draw-based games like the Lotto or EuroMillions, and instant win options like scratch cards.
Understanding how long your ticket remains valid could be the difference between claiming a potential prize, or missing out entirely. We’ll explore deadlines, damaged ticket rules, and what happens if you find a ticket that’s been sitting around for months.
Whether you’ve just checked your numbers or stumbled across an old card, this guide can help you understand the timeframes and rules you need to know.
Deadlines To Claim Lottery Wins
For all draw-based games run by the UK’s National Lottery — such as the Lotto, Thunderball, EuroMillions and Set For Life — you have 180 days from the date of the draw to claim any potential prize. This applies whether the ticket was bought in a shop or online.
So, if you played the Lotto on 1st January, the final day to claim any winnings would be 30th June. After that, even if the ticket matched all the winning numbers, the prize would no longer be paid out.
It’s important to note that this countdown starts on the day of the draw, not the day you check your numbers or find the ticket.
Any Unclaimed prizes after the 180-day deadline are usually transferred to the National Lottery’s Good Causes fund, which supports a range of community projects across the UK.
How Long Are Scratch Cards Good For?
Scratchcards from the UK’s National Lottery have their own prize claim rules, which are slightly different from draw-based games like the Lotto or EuroMillions.
The key thing to know is this: you have 180 days to claim any potential scratchcard prize, starting from the game’s official closure date — not from the day you bought the card.
Each scratchcard has a unique game number printed on the back, and every game remains on sale until the operator (currently Allwyn) chooses to close it. A game isn’t closed just because the top prizes have been won — scratchcards can still be sold after that point.
Once a game is officially closed, the date is published on the National Lottery website. From that date, the 180-day countdown begins. For instance, if a game closes on 15th March, you’d have until 11th September to claim any prize.
If you’re unsure whether a scratchcard is still valid, there are easy ways to find out — which we’ll look at next.
Understanding Prize Claim Windows
The 180-day deadline applies to all prizes across National Lottery games, whether it’s a scratchcard or a draw-based ticket. However, how you claim any potential winnings depends on the prize amount and how the ticket was bought — either online or in a shop.
For prizes up to £100, most can be claimed directly in-store. National Lottery retailers are required to pay out prizes of up to and including £100 — though if the shop uses a till-point terminal, they are only required to pay up to £50.
For prizes over £100 and up to £500, some retailers may still be able to pay you. These claims are allowed, but not guaranteed — and it’s up to the retailer whether they pay in cash or directly onto a debit card.
If you’ve bought a National Lottery scratchcard or draw-based ticket in-store and you win over £500 and up to £50,000, you can start your claim online at the National Lottery website. These prizes can no longer be claimed at Post Offices, and they cannot be claimed by post if the ticket was bought in a shop.
Instead, you’ll need to fill in an online claim form. Once submitted, the National Lottery will provide instructions on how to complete the claim, which may include returning the original ticket for verification. Make sure to keep the ticket safe — you’ll need it.
For any prizes over £50,000, you’ll need to contact the National Lottery to arrange an in-person appointment at one of their regional centres. These high-value claims require extra verification and secure processing.
The 180-day countdown includes weekends and bank holidays — it doesn’t pause. You can find full instructions for claiming any potential prizes on the back of your ticket or by visiting the National Lottery website, as some details may vary depending on the game or where it was purchased.
How To Find Out If Your Ticket Is Still Valid
If you’ve got a lottery ticket or scratch card you’re unsure about, the quickest way to check its validity is by contacting the National Lottery directly.
For draw-based games, you can look at the date printed on the ticket and count 180 days forward from the draw date.
For scratch cards, the expiry depends on the official closure date of that particular game — not the purchase date. You won’t find the closure date on the card itself, but the National Lottery’s website lists all closed games and their final claim dates. Alternatively, you can call the National Lottery customer service team for help.
Redeeming Out-Of-Date Scratch Cards
Once a scratch card game has passed its final claim date, any remaining prizes are no longer valid. This means you won’t be able to redeem an out-of-date card, even if it shows a winning combination.
Scratch cards are designed to be used within a set timeframe, and the closure date marks the end of that cycle. The only exception is if there was a delay in the game’s closure being published or communicated — but this is rare.
To avoid disappointment, it may be a good idea to scratch and check your cards soon after purchase. If you find an old card and aren’t sure whether it’s still valid, the National Lottery helpline can confirm whether it’s eligible for a prize claim.
Damaged Tickets & Payout Rules
If your lottery ticket or scratch card is damaged, it may still be possible to claim a prize — but it depends on the extent of the damage.
The National Lottery will assess whether the ticket is readable and genuine. For draw-based tickets, this includes checking the barcode, serial number, date and time of purchase. For scratch cards, they’ll need to see the full game number and the unscratched or partly scratched areas that confirm the result.
You’ll probably be asked to send the damaged ticket to the National Lottery for inspection. A decision will be made based on their standard verification process. Keep in mind, if key details are missing or the ticket has been significantly tampered with, your claim might be declined.
To reduce the risk of damage, it’s best to store tickets in a dry, safe place until you’ve checked and, if needed, claimed them.
What If You Find a Winning Lottery Ticket?
If you find a lottery ticket and it turns out to be a winner, the next steps depend on whether you bought the ticket yourself. The National Lottery only pays out prizes to the rightful ticket holder — usually the person who purchased it.
If you find someone else’s ticket and try to claim the prize, the claim could be denied unless you can prove ownership. For example, if the ticket was bought online, the winnings are automatically paid to the registered account. For physical tickets, claims may be checked against CCTV footage or store records in some cases.
If you genuinely believe you lost a winning ticket, you can submit a lost ticket claim form within 30 days of the draw. The National Lottery will then review your case, though claims without solid proof are unlikely to succeed.
It might be a good idea to sign the back of physical tickets after purchase. This can help prove ownership in the event the ticket is lost or stolen.
Playing lottery games and scratch cards can be enjoyable, but they are games of chance. Wins can’t be predicted, and there’s no guaranteed way to increase your chances. It’s best to set limits, only spend what you can afford and take regular breaks. If you feel gambling is becoming a problem, support is available from organisations like GamCare and GambleAware.
*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.