Exactly how we score games and casinos
All reviews on InstantWins.net are independently performed. There is no editorial input from the companies themselves, or their affiliate managers.
Casino and game placements cannot be purchased. The companies themselves do not pay to have their games ranked higher, or to feature them more favourably in our content.
All games are scored according to the published criteria under this article. There is no changing of the criteria during the review process.
The reviews are updated with any new information regarding the games. If there is a change in the RTP of a game, for instance, or if a license is gained, it will be noted and dated on the review page.
All scratch card game reviews follow a five-step process before publishing a score for each game.
The RTP of the games is sourced from the primary source of the game itself. This includes the paytable within the game, the provider's information on the game, or the testing laboratory's RNG and GLI reports of the game. Other review sites' reported RTPs are not used. If the game or provider publishes a range of RTPs (e.g. 94.9%-96.4%), that range is noted in the review; the higher value is not used. If no RTP can be sourced from these primary sources, there is no figure published for that scratch card game.
A real money play session of the game is performed at a licensed casino. This is performed instead of using play sessions performed in "demo" mode at the scratch card game's website. The results of a real money play session are used in the review.
A full documentation of the scratch card game's mechanics is performed. The information documented includes the number of scratch fields, the layout of the fields, the match-to-win requirement, the prize values for each prize level, bonus features, the stake range for the game, and the identification of the testing laboratory that performed the RNG test on the scratch game.
The available availability of the game at the recommended list of casinos is checked for any geo-restrictions or availability issues. If the game is not available at any of the recommended casinos, this is noted in the game review.
Based on the six different criteria, each scratch card game is scored. Each criterion is weighted according to the number assigned to each criterion (the weight) and the score for each criterion (an out of 10 score). The total score is out of 10.
| Criterion | Weight | What We Measure |
|---|---|---|
| RTP | 35% | Theoretical return to player — sourced from provider documentation. Higher RTP = higher score. |
| Volatility Profile | 20% | Distribution of wins — documented neutrally. Scores reflect whether the stated volatility is delivered in practice. |
| Maximum Prize | 20% | Top prize in absolute value, adjusted for proportionality to minimum stake. |
| Gameplay Quality | 15% | Design, scratch reveal mechanics, theme coherence, and session experience from real play. |
| Casino Availability | 5% | Number of our recommended casinos that carry this title. |
| Provider Licence | 5% | Active certification from GLI, BMM, iTech Labs, or equivalent testing authority. |
Casino reviews use a separate criteria from games. The licensing and safety of the casino accounts for 30% of the total score, rather than the bonus offered to players as a percentage of the total score.
| Criterion | Weight | What We Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Safety & Licensing | 30% | Active gambling licence verified directly against the casino's published licensing information. Recent sanction history reviewed. |
| Scratch Card Library | 25% | Total number of instant win / scratch card titles available, provider diversity, and quality of the library (not just quantity). |
| Bonus Value | 20% | Real bonus value after wagering requirements, eligible games, time limits, and minimum deposit are factored in. Headline bonus size is not used raw. |
| Withdrawal Terms | 15% | Monthly withdrawal cap, minimum withdrawal amount, pending period, identity verification process, and any withdrawal fees. |
| Customer Support | 5% | Live chat availability, response speed tested with a real query, and quality of the response. |
| Mobile Experience | 5% | Scratch card gameplay on mobile — tested on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. |
Any changes to the content of the pages with new data is reflected on the page as quickly as possible. Pages have an "updated" date stamp that is only changed upon the publishing of new content.
If any corrections are to be made to content that was published (such as a new RTP value for a scratch card game), the correction is noted on the page with the date of the correction. There are no silent edits to content.
Report an error →InstantWins.net has affiliate relationships with the casinos that are recommended on the website. These relationships are noted on each relevant page. If a casino with which we have an affiliate relationship falls below the standards that are required of casinos on our website, that recommendation is removed. The affiliate relationship ends prior to or in place of the removal of that recommendation.
Read the full disclosure →