Man loses his lottery winnings after dog eats his scratchcard

A man won a national lottery scratchcard only to lose all his winnings after his dog ate it.

Gareth Thomas, 38, had just returned home from his local Londis after buying a £2 “£120,000 Richer” scratchcard when he realised he had landed a prize. “I scratched it at the table and was buzzing when I saw the win,” he said.

But his celebration was short-lived. After briefly stepping outside to collect laundry, Gareth returned to find his dog Teddy had shredded the winning ticket. The remains — chewed foil and cardboard — were scattered across the table.

Despite efforts to piece the card back together, the barcode and essential details were too damaged for verification. National Lottery officials confirmed there was no way to honour the prize without a valid ticket.

Gareth had intended to use the winnings to pay off bills. He joked, “Typical, isn’t it? The one time I actually win something, and the dog thinks it’s lunch.”

Playcasino.com, who spoke to Gareth, reminded players that scratchcards are legal documents and should be treated like cash. “Take a photo, store them safely, and keep them away from pets or children,” a spokesperson advised.

Teddy, who has previously chewed TV remotes and socks, has now added a £500 scratchcard to his list of conquests.