THE ESSENTIALS
Lost your lottery ticket? What to do next
How to report a lost, stolen or damaged National Lottery ticket, the 30-day deadline and how to stop it happening again.
The short answer
Tell the National Lottery in writing within 30 days of the draw. Without the ticket you can’t claim in a shop, so this written report is your only route to a prize. If you played online, you don’t need to do anything. Your entry is saved in your account.
Step 1: check whether you won
Check the numbers you played against the results for that draw. If you used a Lucky Dip and can’t remember the numbers, report the loss anyway. The operator can look up tickets from the shop, date and time you bought them.
Step 2: report it within 30 days
Email [email protected] or write to The National Lottery, PO Box 287, Watford, WD18 9TT. Include as much of this as you can:
- The game and the draw date or dates.
- The shop where you bought it, and the date and rough time.
- Your numbers, if you know them, and how many lines you played.
- How you paid. A bank or card statement showing the purchase helps.
- What happened to the ticket.
- Your name, address and phone number.
Don’t wait to see if it turns up. The 30 days start from the draw, not from when you notice the ticket is gone.
What happens next
The operator tries to find your entry and work out whether it was yours. Payment isn’t guaranteed. If the ticket won, they may hold the prize until the normal 180-day claim period ends, in case the ticket or another claim turns up.
If you report a lost ticket after 30 days, it’s usually only looked at if the ticket itself is handed in.
If your ticket is damaged
Don’t tape, iron or laminate it. Keep every piece in an envelope, take clear photos of the front, back and barcode, and report it within 30 days in the same way.
If you find someone else’s ticket
Post it to The National Lottery, PO Box 287, Watford, WD18 9TT with a short note saying where and when you found it, plus your contact details.
How to stop it happening again
- Sign the back and add your address as soon as you buy it. An unsigned ticket can be paid to whoever hands it in.
- Take a photo of the front and back.
- Keep tickets in one safe place.
- Play online if you can. You can’t lose a ticket that only exists in your account.
Questions people ask
Can I claim a lottery prize without the ticket?
Not in a shop. You need to report the loss to the National Lottery in writing within 30 days of the draw. Payment is at the operator’s discretion.
How long do I have to report a lost lottery ticket?
30 days from the draw. After that, a claim is usually only looked at if the ticket itself turns up.
Does a photo of my ticket count?
A photo helps show which entry was yours, but it isn’t a replacement for the ticket. Report the loss within 30 days and send the photo with it.
What if I lose a ticket I bought online?
There’s no paper ticket to lose. Your entry is saved in your National Lottery account, and the operator tells you if you win.