The first time you buy a scratch card or lottery ticket, it might not occur to you that it has an expiration date. It’s easy enough to purchase one through your local retailer and wait for the winner’s announcement.

However, what happens if you miss an announcement and your ticket expires?

Our King Casino article below provides the answers.

Do Scratch Cards Have An Expiry Date?

Scratch cards have an expiry date, but it’s not indicated anywhere on the back. Instead, you must monitor the National Lottery website to check the scratch card’s status.

Usually, scratch cards expire after ticket sales close. There’s no reason for the tickets to remain valid if you can’t buy them at your local store.

Another reason your card can expire is if the winner claims the jackpot.

Can You Still Claim Out Of Date Scratch Cards?

There are two key dates every participant must remember: the game’s closure date and the final date to claim your winnings. Ticket sales close after the closure date, but potential winners still have up to 180 days to claim their prize.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to claim an out-of-date scratch card after the 180-day window. The rules are strict because anyone who calls on the 181st day will be turned away.

How Long Is A Lottery Ticket Valid For?

It depends on the type of lottery. You’ll need to check the specific details on the National Lottery website.

Most lotteries run until sales close, with the results released shortly after. Either way, you’ll find all the relevant information about past or current lotteries.

The ticket is valid as long as sales are still open. If the website posts that sales have closed, winners have up to 180 days after the results are announced to claim their prize. However, if you didn’t win that particular lottery, you can check which other lotteries are running if you want to play.

What Happens To Unclaimed Lottery Winnings?

Many lottery players wonder what happens to the prize money if it isn’t claimed within 180 days. Is there a runner-up, perhaps?

If any winners fail to claim their prize in 180 days, the money gets donated to various charity projects in the UK. Let’s use the 2020 ￡58 Million win as an example.

A player bought a lottery ticket in South Ayrshire and won the March EuroMillions draw. However, no one claimed the prize within the 6-month allowance. So, the ￡57,869,670 winnings were donated to the Good Causes pot.

The winner has never come forward.

Conclusion

Yes, scratch cards and lottery tickets expire, so you must keep track of them after purchase, just in case you win. Unfortunately, you can’t hold anyone else accountable if you miss the validity window because it’s indicated in the Terms & Conditions. 

So, it would be wise to bookmark the National Lottery page so you can always go back and reread the rules.