When Do Scratch Off Lottery Tickets Expire?

You may have noticed that not all scratch off lottery tickets show an expiration date on them. Even though they may not display this, there is always an expiration date on every lottery ticket. How to determine when this expiration takes place depends on the terms of service for each individual lottery.

Let’s delve into this topic more closely so that you never have to worry about your lottery ticket expiring again, and you missing out on a prize.

Do Scratch Off Tickets Expire?

The short answer to, “Do scratch off tickets have an expiration date?” is, “Yes.” But we should also distinguish whether we’re talking about a pre-scratch-off expiration, or an expiration related to claiming your prize. This article will focus on pre-scratch expirations as they pertain to whether you should bother scratching the ticket you have in your hand at all.

It goes without saying that any purchased scratch-off ticket you buy will eventually become null and void if you don’t “play” it. Remember that any scratch card is your participation in a particular lottery game. This game does end at a certain point, rendering all related tickets expired and not worth anything if you haven’t played it yet. In other words, unlike lotteries like Powerball with a rollover jackpot, there’s very rarely a continuation from one lottery game to the next one.

How Long are Scratch-Offs Valid?

Bear in mind that each region (and each lottery game within that region) will have its own unique rules, terms, and conditions for playing their respective games. In the UK, for instance, you will notice that each lottery game comes to a close after a certain time, rendering all related tickets null and void.

In the US, ticket sales close after a certain amount of time. The lottery operators in the US assume that all tickets that have been purchased have been scratched, and therefore are now eligible to be claimed. They won’t sell any more tickets for that specific game. The claiming of prizes will also expire after a certain time, and this time can range from several weeks, to a whole year.

You will often notice a disclaimer at the back of your scratch off ticket that reads something like, “All prizes must be claimed by…” This will tell you whether or not you are still eligible to claim the prize your ticket has won.

How Do You Know if Your Scratch-Off Ticket Has Expired?

A good way to check the expiration date of your scratch off ticket is to note the terms of service printed at the back of it. This will often provide you with a “Valid until…” section that explains the validity of the ticket you possess. But this is not the case for all tickets.

Another way you can confirm the sure validity of your scratch off ticket is to visit the website of the lottery operator. A much more elaborate and detailed terms of service section will be found there, allowing you to determine when/if it’s worth scratching your ticket at all.

It’s also worth noting that holiday-specific scratch-off tickets have shorter expiration periods than your year-round variety. This is because these tickets are based on a particular theme that ties in with a particular holiday like Christmas or Halloween. In such cases, you will have to take special note of when your ticket prize can still be claimed.

When playing scratch cards online, such as a platform like theLotter, tickets are much easier to manage. If it’s available on the site, you can play and get your prize, without wondering if it’s still valid.

Can You Claim at All If a Scratch-Off Has Passed its Expiry Date?

Many lotteries in various countries are lenient when it comes to serving their players. You can often contact your lottery operator directly via a phone call, or simply make contact with them on their website’s live chat. Explain your situation to them and you might just be lucky enough to claim a prize despite the expiration of your ticket.

Source: Lotto Agent

This is not always the case though, so don’t get your hopes up. If you’ve left claiming your prize for an extended amount of time, chances are the prize you’re trying to claim has already been transferred to the prize money for the next game.

Other lottery operators are extremely strict about prize claims, and won’t entertain any claim attempts on or after the expiration date. If you have a ticket that has been scratched and you have not yet claimed the prize, you may as well contact the lottery office and ask them if they can accommodate you despite the lateness of your claim. You have nothing to lose! And you may be informed of second chance games you weren’t aware of.

Final Thoughts

Always be aware of the expiration date of your scratch off ticket. Remember that certain games might end shortly after you have made your purchase, and claiming your prize should be done as quickly as possible to avoid losing out on your possible winnings.

Fortunately, you will never find a vendor selling you a scratch off ticket after a game has come to a close, so if you have your ticket in hand, scratch and claim quickly! And remember the convenience of playing and getting paid your prize on Lotto Agent and other online lottery vendors.

FAQ