Can National Lottery Scratch Cards Expire?

One of the most frequently asked questions we get about National Lottery scratch cards expire.

If you’re holding onto a scratchcard you purchased a while ago or perhaps stumbled upon an old scratch card while cleaning, you might wonder if it’s still valid or if the opportunity to claim your potential prize has slipped away.

Listed below is a table of all National Lottery scratchcards over the last few years, as well as their status regarding game closure date, and the last day to claim any prizes.

Make sure to cash in before you lose out!

Expiration Dates on Scratchcards

The short answer the to the question is yes, scratchcards can go out of date. The expiration is not due to the physical properties of the scratchcard but rather the rules set by the National Lottery.

All National Lottery scratchcards have an expiry date, which is different for each scratchcard. Because there are so many different scratchcards being released – check out all new scratchcards for example – it can be hard to keep track of when scratchcards must be cashed in.

However, it is unlikely that you will ever have this problem, unless you are the kind of person that loses winners, or is just too lazy to go back to the shop.

Let’s explain why this happens, and how to check it for yourself!

Do Scratchcards Expire?

Yes, National Lottery scratchcards expire for 2 main reasons.

The first reason being that all the jackpot prizes have been won.

Scratchcards are split into 3 categories, A, B & C – all details regarding this can be found on our Remaining Scratchcard Jackpots page.

Scratchcards with a jackpot of £121,000 or more are classed as category C games. 

When all the jackpots from a category C game are won, the scratchcard game is closed shortly after. At this point, National Lottery announce the closure and the standard closure rules (detailed below) apply.

This is not the same for category A games, scratchcards with a jackpot prize of £121,000 or less.

These games can be sold even after all the jackpots have been won. 

Therefore, the second reason for a scratchcard expiry is when all the scratchcards have been sold to retailers.

Sometimes however, all category C scratchcards will be sold, even when there are still jackpot prizes remaining. For whatever reason, some jackpots aren’t claimed and therefore scratchcards with prizes of £121,000 continue to be sold.

The National Lottery Scratchcard Expiration Rules

There is no hard and set rule in regards to when National Lottery scratchcards expire, which can make the process slightly more complex and infuriating for players.

Based on the information above, a scratchcard game will remain ‘open’ whilst all the top prizes are remaining, or while there are still scratchcards to be sold. However, once either of these criteria are met, then National Lottery announce a game closure – just head to this page.

This page is only updated a few times a year, and doesn’t always contain historic data. See the table below for some of the scratchcard games that have expired:

Once a scratchcard is announced as closing, then you will typically have 180 days to take it to a shop and claim your winnings.

What To Do With An Expired Scratchcard

If your scratchcard has expired and the game marked as closed, there is no possible way for you to claim any winnings. Any money that you could have claimed will be added to National Lottery’s Good Causes fund to support community and charity projects.

If you take an expired National Lottery scratchcard to the shop to claim any winnings, you will likely be told to contact National Lottery directly for further assistance. There is nothing any shop keepers can do to override this.

Why Do Scratch Cards Expire?

There are several reasons why scratchcards have expiration dates. One is practicality. It would be challenging for National Lottery to manage unclaimed prizes indefinitely. Setting a deadline helps keep the system manageable.

Another reason is to encourage players to check their tickets promptly and claim any winnings, which keeps the game exciting and engaging. The expiration also helps ensure that the funds for unclaimed prizes can be put to good use in the community through the Good Causes fund.

Has My Scratchcard Expired?

If you’ve followed the above steps we’ve mentioned, and you are still unsure (or just lazy), as always, we are happy to help you out. 

Just fill in the contact form below, or simply contact us directly or through our social media page.

While National Lottery scratchcards themselves don’t degrade or lose their scratchability over time, they do indeed have an expiration date in terms of prize claims. It’s essential to check and claim any winnings within the stipulated time frame.

So, if you have a habit of buying scratchcards and tucking them away, it might be time to scratch off those panels and see if you’re a winner – just be sure to do it before your luck expires!