Lottery, Bingo & Number Games
Lottery scratchcards
A lottery scratchcard is a ticket whose result is fixed before the player buys it, and the player scratches off a coating to see if they have won a prize.
Key points
- Scratchcards are an instant-win format: the outcome is set before or at purchase, not by a later draw.1
- Prizes are revealed by scratching off a covering or, on digital versions, by uncovering hidden symbols.1
- The Gambling Commission defines scratchcards as instant-win lottery products for regulatory purposes, covering both physical and virtual cards.1
- Scratchcards sold by vending machines are treated separately under UK regulation and excluded from the term.1
How a scratchcard works
- A player buys or receives a card with concealed numbers, symbols, or pictures.1
- The covering is scratched off, or the hidden content is revealed digitally.1
- The pre-set outcome determines whether a prize has been won.1
Typical UK National Lottery scratchcard prices
| Price | Top prize example |
|---|---|
| £1 | — |
| £2 | — |
| £3 | — |
| £5 | £2,000,0004 |
Scratchcards vs lottery draws
A lottery is the broader gambling category in which prizes are awarded by chance, typically through a later draw.53 Scratchcards are a specific instant-win format where the result is determined before or at purchase rather than by a later draw.15 This means the player knows the outcome immediately after revealing the hidden symbols, without waiting for a scheduled draw.
The Gambling Commission's definition covers scratchcards sold as physical cards or online/virtual cards, but excludes instant-win tickets sold through vending machines, which are treated as a separate category.1 National Lottery scratchcards in the UK are typically sold at £1, £2, £3 or £5, with older £10 cards discontinued; one cited example had a top prize of £2,000,000 on a £5 card.4
Where this term is used
Related terms
Sources
- Lottery submissions guidance - Common terms and ... gamblingcommission.gov.uk Defines scratchcards as instant-win lottery products and explains how they work.
- Sturgis review recommendation 3 update - Appendix - Activity lists gamblingcommission.gov.uk Lists scratchcards under alternative names for lottery activities.
- Promoting society and local authority lotteries gamblingcommission.gov.uk Defines lottery as the broader category for comparison.
- National Lottery (United Kingdom) en.wikipedia.org Provides typical UK National Lottery scratchcard prices and a top-prize example.
- Lottery en.wikipedia.org Defines lottery as a chance-based prize category for comparison.
Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.