Gambling terms, explained straight

Lottery, Bingo & Number Games

Scratch cards

A scratch card is an instant-win lottery ticket that hides a pre-set result under a coating or behind digital panels, which the player reveals to see if they have won.

Also known as
Scratchcard, instant-win lottery
Outcome timing
Determined before or at the point of purchase1
Physical version
Player scratches off a coating to reveal hidden symbols14
Virtual version
Panels are revealed digitally; outcome fixed at point of sale16

Key points

  • Scratch cards are distinct from lottery draw tickets, where results are decided after purchase.12
  • In the UK, the Gambling Commission excludes vending-machine scratch cards from its lottery submission definition.1
  • Online instant-win games are treated separately from physical scratch cards in GAMSTOP guidance.3
  • The prize outcome is predetermined or fixed at the point of sale for the game.16

How scratch cards work

  1. The player buys a physical card or opens a virtual card online or in an app.13
  2. For physical cards, the player scratches off a coating to reveal hidden numbers, symbols, or panels.14
  3. For virtual cards, the panels are revealed digitally with a click or tap.15
  4. The outcome is predetermined or fixed at the point of sale, so the result is known instantly once revealed.16

Regulation in the UK

For Gambling Commission lottery submissions, "scratchcard" includes physical scratch cards and remote instant-win games determined by a random number generator, but excludes scratch cards sold by vending machines.1

The Commission also distinguishes online instant-win games from physical scratch cards for GAMSTOP participation requirements.3

Common questions

What are scratch cards made of?

Physical scratch cards are typically made of paper or cardstock with a latex or foil coating that can be scratched off to reveal the hidden result. Virtual scratch cards are digital images displayed on a screen.

How do scratch cards work?

The player buys a card and reveals hidden symbols or numbers by scratching off a coating (physical) or clicking panels (virtual). The outcome is predetermined or fixed at the point of sale, so the result is instant.16

Does ridge wallet scratch cards?

Ridge Wallet is a brand of minimalist wallets and does not sell or offer scratch cards. The question may be a misspelling or confusion with another product.

How to play lottostar scratch cards?

Lottostar is an online lottery platform. To play their scratch cards, you create an account, deposit funds, select a scratch card game, and click or tap to reveal the panels. The outcome is determined instantly by a random number generator.

Where this term is used

Lottery & bingo Lottery A lottery is a game of chance where winners are drawn from a pool of tickets sold. Lottery & bingo Pick 3 lottery A daily lottery game where players choose three numbers to match the drawn numbers. Lottery & bingo Jackpot lottery A lottery with a large prize that accumulates until won. Lottery & bingo Lottery scratchcards Instant-win lottery tickets sold by official lottery operators. Lottery & bingo Annuity vs lump sum lottery Comparison of receiving lottery winnings as annual payments versus a single payment. Lottery & bingo Lottery jackpot odds Lottery jackpot odds are the probability of winning the top prize in a lottery game

Sources

  1. Lottery submissions guidance - Common terms and ... gamblingcommission.gov.uk Defines scratchcards and their regulatory treatment in UK lottery submissions.
  2. Young People and Gambling 2022: Official statistics - List of gambling activities gamblingcommission.gov.uk Distinguishes scratchcards from lottery draw tickets in official statistics.
  3. Guidance for society lotteries and External Lottery Managers gamblingcommission.gov.uk Separates online instant-win games from physical scratchcards for GAMSTOP guidance.
  4. Promotional marketing: Scratchcards asa.org.uk Describes how physical scratchcards are promoted and how players reveal results.
  5. iLottery - GLI gaminglabs.com Explains how virtual scratchcards work with random number generators.
  6. [PDF] GLI Standard #14 - Gaming Labs International gaminglabs.com States that prize outcomes are predetermined or fixed at the point of sale.

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.

Written and maintained by Ellis Warrender, writer and maintainer.

Last updated 28 July 2026. Spotted an error? Tell me and it gets fixed and logged on the corrections page.