Time Limits For Claiming Lottery Tickets & Scratchcards
If you’ve ever found an old lottery ticket or scratchcard tucked away in a drawer, you’re not alone. But what happens if that ticket was a winner? Can you still claim the prize, or has the deadline passed?
This blog looks at how long you have to claim prizes from UK National Lottery draw-based games and scratchcards, and what steps you might need to take. Whether it was bought in person or played online, knowing the time limits and rules may help save you from missing out. We’ll also cover what happens if tickets are damaged or hard to read, and how to check if a scratchcard is still valid.
Do Lottery Tickets Have an Expiry Date?
Yes, UK National Lottery tickets for draw-based games such as the Lotto, EuroMillions, Set For Life, and Thunderball have a clear expiry date. You get 180 days from the date of the draw to claim any potential prize. That’s around six months to check your numbers and start a claim if you’ve won.
Once the deadline passes, the prize money goes to the National Lottery’s Good Causes fund. So, if your ticket is a winner, but hasn’t been claimed within the time frame, you most likely won’t be able to collect your prize.
This 180-day rule applies whether you bought your ticket in person from a retailer, or played online.
If you’re playing online, any smaller prizes (up to £500) are usually paid into your account automatically, so you don’t need to do anything. But for higher amounts, you may need to contact the National Lottery, who can help guide you through the steps based on how much you’ve won.
Can You Claim Expired Lottery Tickets?
Unfortunately, once the 180-day claim period has passed, expired tickets can’t be used to claim a prize. This is a strict policy in place to keep the process consistent and fair. Even if the ticket was a large win, once it’s expired, it’s no longer valid.
It doesn’t matter whether you missed the deadline by a day or a week — once it’s passed, the ticket is considered void. Any unclaimed prizes after the deadline are added to the National Lottery’s Good Causes fund to support charitable projects across the UK.
To avoid this, it may be a good idea to check your tickets soon after each draw and store them somewhere safe. If you’re playing online, you should receive a message if you win, which can help you act within the deadline.
What If You Find an Old Winning Lottery Ticket?
If the ticket is still within the 180-day window, you can still claim the prize. The first step is to check the draw date printed on the ticket and count the days since that draw took place. You can also do this by visiting the official National Lottery website or app and entering the draw date to see if your ticket is still valid.
If the ticket is close to the expiry date and you believe it’s a winner, it can be worth starting the claim process as soon as possible. Claims must be made before 11:00pm on the 180th day. If you’re claiming a prize in person or by post, keep in mind postal delays and processing times.
If you’re not sure about the ticket or if it’s hard to read, you can contact the National Lottery’s customer service line for guidance on what to do next.
How Much Time Do You Get to Cash In a Scratchcard?
Just like draw-based games, National Lottery scratchcards also have a 180-day claim window from the official game closure date, not the purchase date. This is important to understand because some scratchcards can remain on sale even after new ones are launched, but they all have an official end date.
The closure date for each game is published on the National Lottery’s website. After that date, the 180-day countdown begins. So, even if you bought the scratchcard a year ago, you could still potentially claim — as long as the game hasn’t officially ended, or if the claim window hasn’t run out yet.
If you’re unsure about the closure date, it’s best to check directly with the National Lottery or look up the specific scratchcard game online.
How to Know If Your Scratchcard Is Still Valid
To check if your scratchcard is still valid, you’ll need to look up the game name and number. Then visit the National Lottery website where they list all scratchcard games, including whether they are active, closed, or expired.
If the game is still active, you can scratch and check for a possible win. If the game has closed, you need to see whether it’s still within the 180-day claim period.
You can also visit a National Lottery retailer who can scan the card and let you know almost instantly if it’s still valid, or if it’s too late to claim. If you’re not sure, it’s best to ask rather than assume the card is no longer good.
Can You Claim Damaged or Ripped Scratch Cards?
It is possible to claim a potential prize from a damaged or ripped scratchcard, but only if the vital parts of the card can still be verified.
The most important areas are the barcode, the game number, and any security codes. These must be legible so that the National Lottery can confirm the card is genuine and determine the prize.
If your scratchcard is torn or has been accidentally washed, don’t throw it away. Instead, contact the National Lottery as soon as possible. They may ask you to send in the card for further checks. Make sure to take a clear photo of both sides before sending it, just in case.
However, if the card is so badly damaged that the information can’t be confirmed, they may not be able to pay out any prize. It’s another good reason to store cards safely until you’ve scratched and checked them.
Playing lottery games and scratchcards can be entertaining, but it’s important to remember they are games of chance, and there’s no guaranteed outcome. There are no strategies or systems that can improve your odds of winning. All National Lottery games are random, and outcomes can’t be predicted.
Only spend what you can afford to lose, and try to treat these games as a form of leisure. If you ever feel it’s becoming something more than that, support is available. For free, confidential help and advice, you can contact GambleAware.org or call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.
Keep your play fun, safe and informed.
*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.