Do online scratch cards have expiration dates?

When you play online, your winnings will be added directly to your account when under a certain amount on most platforms. It’s a very simple process, before you begin to play you will have already set up an account and connected your payment details to make the process seamless.

If you are one of the lucky winners who gets a larger prize, you may have to go through a verification process to release the funds, but you will not have to worry about the game going out of date in the meantime.

What about physical scratch cards?

Physical scratchcards are very popular and widely available in retailers, notabIy supermarkets and newsagents in Britain. These DO have expiry dates - if you play a National lottery scratch card and it’s a winner, you MUST clam your prize within 180 days of that card’ closure date.The closure date varies from card to card but is listed on their website. If you’re struggling to find it, try here. Any retailer with a National lottery terminal should be able to check for you, and they can pay out winnings up to £500 too. You can also go to a Post Office to get paid for a winning scratch card, although the upper level is £500 here too.

If you have been lucky enough to win over £500 then you will have to claim your prize directly through The National Lottery’s claims process.

The Health Lottery

At The Health Lottery, all our scratch cards and instant win games are online only. They are linked to your account, so all your wins are paid directly into your online wallet. If you’re lucky enough to win over £2,000 we’ll need to verify you for you to get your prize, but the process is straightforward and our Contact Centre will be happy to help. Play whenever you’d like without ever having to worry about an expired card. 

The best part is, The Health Lottery is creating change in communities across Britain. Our initiatives support a range of projects from mental health charities (supporting hidden impairments in the very young, all the way to helping seniors with dementia) as well as physical fitness and disability support. You can learn more about the good causes that thrive because of your play here.