There’s nothing quite like finding a forgotten lottery ticket in your coat pocket or an old scratch card in a kitchen drawer. It naturally raises the question of whether it could still be worth something, or if it is simply too late to claim.
Before you tuck that ticket away or rush to collect, it helps to know that both lottery tickets and scratch cards have firm deadlines for claims. These dates are set by official rules, and missing them can mean missing out for good.
This guide explains how expiry works for lottery tickets and scratch cards in the UK, what to check on your ticket, and where to claim if you are still within time. Read on to make sure no potential prize slips by unnoticed.
How Long Are Lottery Tickets Valid?
Every National Lottery draw ticket in the UK has a fixed claim window of 180 days. The clock starts from the date of the draw, not when you bought the ticket. That applies to Lotto, EuroMillions, Thunderball and similar draw games.
If you have a shop-bought ticket, keep it safe, since the original is needed to collect any prize. Entries bought online or through the official app are recorded automatically, which makes checking and claiming simpler within the allowed period.
If the 180 days pass, the prize cannot be paid. It is worth checking results soon after each draw so you always know where you stand.
Some smaller operators and charity draws set their own claim periods, so the 180-day rule may not apply outside National Lottery games. The ticket itself or the organiser’s website usually spells out the relevant timing.
Scratch cards have a similar window, but their countdown starts from a different point.
How Long Do Scratch Cards Last Before They Expire?
National Lottery scratch cards can be claimed for 180 days from the official game closure date, not from the date you purchased the card. That closure date is set when a particular game is taken off sale.
You will not usually find the closure date printed on the card. Instead, the National Lottery website publishes a list of closed games along with their closure dates. Retailers can also check the status of a card in store. For example, if a game was removed from sale on 1 March, the last day to claim would be 180 days after that date.
Once the 180 days after game closure pass, any prize can no longer be collected. If you come across an old card, it is worth checking the closed games list straight away.
How To Tell If A Ticket Has Expired?
To see if a draw ticket is still valid, look for the draw date printed on the front, then apply the 180-day window described above. If that window has already closed, the prize cannot be claimed.
Scratch cards work differently. Their validity depends on the specific game’s closure date, which is listed on the National Lottery website. Find the game on that list, then count 180 days from the closure date to see if you are still in time.
If you are unsure, participating retailers can scan a ticket to confirm its status. Digital entries in your National Lottery account will also show whether a prize is pending or has expired.
Other operators, including charity lotteries or local draws, may use different timings. Check the information printed on the ticket or contact the organiser for guidance.
If your ticket is still valid, the next step is knowing where and how to claim.
Where And How To Claim Prizes
Small Prize Claims At Retailers
If you win a modest amount on a National Lottery ticket or scratch card, up to £100, most authorised retailers can pay you directly. The member of staff will scan your ticket to confirm the win and pay the amount due.
Many shops can also handle wins between £100 and £500, although it depends on the retailer’s cash levels on the day. For wins above £500, retailers may offer a cheque or direct you to claim by post or through the official channels.
Large Prize Claims By Post Or Prize Centre
For larger amounts, over £500, the process changes. Most higher-value prizes need to be claimed by post or through a National Lottery regional centre. To claim by post, complete a prize claim form, available on the National Lottery website or from some retailers, and send it with your original winning ticket.
Very large wins, typically £50,000 or more, require an appointment with a National Lottery representative at a regional centre. That meeting confirms the details of your claim and ensures secure payment.
Can An Expired Ticket Be Revalidated Or Replaced?
Once a lottery ticket or scratch card has passed its expiry date, it cannot be used to claim a prize in the UK. This applies across National Lottery draw games and scratch cards, and there are no extensions for late claims.
Expired winning tickets cannot be reactivated, exchanged or replaced. After the deadline, unclaimed prizes for National Lottery games are directed to the National Lottery’s Good Causes fund.
Lost or damaged tickets are different. If your ticket is lost or damaged but still within the claim period, contact the National Lottery as soon as possible. You will be asked for details such as where and when you bought it, and you must get in touch before the claim window closes.
What Happens If I Try To Claim An Expired Ticket?
Trying to claim a prize with an expired ticket or scratch card will not work, regardless of the amount. Retail ticket scanners will not validate an out-of-date ticket, and staff will let you know that the claim cannot be processed.
Posting an expired ticket or contacting the National Lottery after the deadline leads to the same result. The claim falls outside the permitted timeframe and will not be paid. Rules for charity or local lotteries may differ in detail, but most operate strict timelines similar to the main draws.
What Happens To Unclaimed Prize Money?
In the UK, if a National Lottery prize is not claimed within the deadline, the money does not stay with the operator. Unclaimed prizes are transferred to the National Lottery’s Good Causes fund once the claim window closes.
The Good Causes fund supports projects across the UK, including community facilities, arts and culture, heritage and sports programmes. Players do not need to do anything for this to happen, the transfer is automatic after the deadline, and the prize cannot be retrieved once it has gone to the fund.
Other lotteries, such as charity or local draws, set out in their own terms how unclaimed prizes are used. In many cases they also benefit charitable or community projects.
Knowing how expiry works, and checking dates as you go, helps make sure any prize due does not go to waste. If gambling is becoming difficult for you or someone close to you, free support is available in the UK.
**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.