Scratchcards

1. Where can I buy National Lottery Scratchcards?

You can buy National Lottery Scratchcards from Lottery Scratchcard retailers throughout the UK. Scratchcards come in four different prices, £1, £2, £3 or £5. The price is indicated on the front of the ticket.

2. How do I find out where my nearest retailer is?

You can find out where your nearest retailer is by calling the National Lottery Line on 0845 0910 0000.

3. How do I play Scratchcard games?

Just scratch off all the coating and follow the instructions on the front and the back of the ticket.

Further information on how to play Scratchcard games can be found in the Game Procedures which are available from all National Lottery Scratchcard retailers, by calling the National Lottery Line on 0845 910 0000 and from the National Lottery website at:
http://www.national-lottery.co.uk/player/information.do?info=scratchcard

4. How do I claim a prize?

Prizes from £1 – £75 can be claimed from any National Lottery Retailer. For prizes over £75 you can ask your retailer or call the National Lottery Line on 0845 910 000. Prizes must be claimed within180 days after the announced close of the game.

These dates and further information on how to claim prizes can be found on the National Lottery website at:
http://www.national-lottery.co.uk/player/information.do?info=scratchcard

5. What are the odds of winning?

The odds of winning vary depending on the game. You can find the odds of winning each game on the back of the ticket and in more detail in the Scratchcard Game Procedures which are available from all National Lottery Scratchcard retailers and on the website at:
http://www.national-lottery.co.uk/player/information.do?info=scratchcard 

6. The odds are 1 in 5, and I have bought five tickets, why haven’t I won?

The overall chance of winning a prize for each game is calculated by dividing the number of tickets by the total number of prizes available in the game.

As the prizes are randomly distributed throughout the game, this does not necessarily mean that if you buy five tickets in a row you will be guaranteed a prize. In the same way, it is possible that if you buy five tickets in a row you may win more than once.

7. How do I find out how many top prizes are left?

This information is available by calling the National Lottery Line on 0845 910 000 and on the National Lottery website at:
http://www.national-lottery.co.uk/player/i/scratchcardprizes/scratchcardprizes.html

8. What if I lose my winning Scratchcard?

Unfortunately, in the case of Scratchcards, only physical possession of the Scratchcard can be taken as proof of purchase. If you have lost your ticket you will not be able to claim a prize.

Related Links

• Scratchcards

  The licence and schedules for the third Scratchcard class licence, which was granted to Camelot Group plc on 1 April 2005.

• Ensuring Scratchcard security

  We ensure that Camelot has rigorous security arrangements in place for the printing, storage and distribution of National Lottery Scratchcards. We also check that they make sure that their Scratchcard suppliers have appropriate security arrangements in place.