How Do Scratchcards Work?
This is an independent, informational guide for UK readers and is not affiliated with the organisations mentioned. It is provided for general information only.
A scratchcard is an instant lottery game: you scratch off the coating to reveal hidden symbols or numbers, and if they match a winning combination you win the prize shown straight away. The winning cards are fixed when the game is printed, which sets the odds, and those odds are printed on the back.
The basic idea
A scratchcard is an instant lottery game: you scratch off an opaque coating to reveal hidden symbols, numbers or amounts, then check whether you've matched a winning combination printed on the card.
Each game has its own rules, but the principle is the same — match the right symbols and you win the prize shown, with no waiting for a draw.
How the odds are decided
The outcome of every card is already determined before you scratch it. The game's maker fixes how many winning cards are in each print run, which sets the odds, and those overall odds are printed on the back of the card.
Online scratchcard-style games work the same way but use a tested random number generator to decide the result the moment you play.
Where you buy them
Physical scratchcards are sold in shops, supermarkets and newsagents, while digital instant-win games are available through the official National Lottery site and app.
Either way you must be 18 or over, and you pay a fixed price per card.
Physical versus online cards
The experience differs a little: a physical card is pre-printed, so the result already exists before you scratch, while an online game generates the result as you play.
The odds and the basic match-to-win idea are the same in both cases.
Once you know the result is already set before you scratch, scratchcards lose their mystique a little — there's no clever way to pick a winner, just the luck of which card you happen to buy. That's worth remembering: enjoy the quick thrill, keep the spend small, and treat any win as the bonus it is.
How do scratchcards decide who wins?
The winning cards are fixed when the game is printed, which sets the odds. Online versions use a tested random number generator.
Are scratchcard odds printed on the card?
Yes — the overall odds of winning any prize are shown on the back of each card.
Do you need to be 18 to buy a scratchcard?
Yes — scratchcards are gambling, so the minimum age is 18.
Is an online scratchcard the same as a physical one?
The idea and odds are the same; an online version generates the result via a tested random number generator as you play.
Related guides: Scratchcard odds, Are scratchcards gambling?, Buying scratchcards online
18+ only. Gambling should be fun, not a way to make money. If you are worried about your gambling, or affected by someone else's, free and confidential help is available from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, from BeGambleAware.org, and through the self-exclusion scheme GAMSTOP. You must be 18 or over to gamble.