[kimos]

This may apply in the US but not everywhere. In Canada it is illegal to expire and take back money on gift cards.

So they can keep collecting interest on it forever, but they have to keep the balance for you indefinitely.

[reaperducer]

The U.S. as well.

By law, gift cards never expire.

Unfortunately, I have several gift cards I didn't use before the store expired.

[OkGoDoIt]

I’ve seen gift cards work around this by charging a “monthly maintenance fee” after a year of inactivity.