The Short Answer
When you play an online scratch card, a Random Number Generator (RNG) will determine your result the moment you click "buy" or "play". The result is displayed before any scratching animation takes place on the screen. The outcome is pre-determined by the scratch card game, not something that is chosen during play.
These are the only two elements of playing online scratch cards. Everything else, like RTP, volatility and prize values are based upon this element.
How the RNG Works
An RNG is a pre-compiled algorithm that generates a sequence of numbers that cannot be predicted. When you play an online scratch card the RNG will determine a number when you start to play the game. This number will relate to the outcome that will be awarded to you when you play. The outcome is therefore pre-determined before you play.
Pseudo-Random vs True Random
The RNG in online scratch card games uses a form of pseudo-random number generation. This is when a computer generates a sequence using a series of mathematical algorithms, such as the Mersenne Twister algorithm. However, when it starts the game, it seeds the algorithm with a "seed value" using something genuinely random, such as the number of milliseconds that have passed since the computer started the game. The output of the RNG is effectively un-predictable by a player and unpredictable by an outside observer.
True Random Number Generators use physical phenomena in the computer that are genuinely random, such as the atmospheric noise in the computer's processing unit. These are much less common in scratch card games but do exist. Both types of RNGs are accepted by the licensing authorities.
Each Result Is Independent
This is a fact most scratch card players do not understand. The outcome of each scratch card game is totally independent of all others. There is no memory within the RNG. If you have lost 20 scratch card games in a row, the chance of winning the next scratch card game is the same as winning the first.
What Happens Step by Step When You Play
You Select a Stake and Click Play
The first step in playing scratch card games is to select your stake to contribute to each scratch card. Most scratch card games allow stakes between £0.10 and £10 (or more in some cases).
The RNG Generates Your Result
The RNG will determine immediately whether you are to win or lose, and if you win, which prize you will be awarded. The result is determined before the scratch card game starts to display the scratch card.
The Card Appears on Screen
Most scratch card games will display a scratch card with symbols. The symbols under the covering on the scratch card have been pre-determined as the result of the RNG process.
You Scratch (or Click "Reveal All")
By clicking on the symbols on the screen or swiping on the screen or by pressing the "reveal all" button, the covering will be removed. This has no effect on the outcome of the game.
Winnings Are Credited
If the outcome of the scratch card games was a win, the prize will be credited to your casino account. The prize money will be based on the stake you placed on the scratch card game.
RTP Explained — What It Means for You
Return to Player (RTP) is the percentage of the money that is wagered on a scratch card game that will be paid back to players. For instance, if a scratch card game has an RTP of 96%, it will pay back £96 for every £100 that is wagered on the game. This average is calculated over a very high number of rounds of play (millions of bets) by all of the players of that game.
What RTP Does Not Mean
The RTP percentage is often misunderstood by many scratch card game players. RTP does not mean that:
- You will receive 96p for every £1 that you wager in your session of play
- That the scratch card game is more likely to pay out after you have lost prizes for a while
- That you will win a prize in a certain number of games (there is no guarantee of either winning or losing a prize)
- That the RTP percentage can be used to compare scratch card games by different developers - they differ in their payout percentages
Volatility: The Other Side of the Picture
Scratch card games with the same RTP can have vastly different experiences for the player when they are playing. Volatility refers to the frequency of the prizes that you win:
- Low volatility scratch card games pay out more prizes but they contain smaller prizes
- High volatility scratch card games pay out fewer prizes but they pay out larger amounts when they do pay out
Best Instant Win Scratch Cards
Every scratch card game we have reviewed, ranked by RTP and volatility — so you can find the best game before you play.
How Fairness Is Certified
It is not possible for the scratch card game players to verify if the RNG within a scratch card game is genuine and produces truly random numbers. For this reason, the casinos that license their scratch card games must certify them to be fair before they can be offered to players.
The Major Testing Labs
- Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) is the largest testing lab for gambling software in the world. The licenses of most of the major gambling regulators of the world accept the certifications of GLI.
- BMM Testlabs is a company that specializes in the certification of gambling software. Its licenses are accepted by most gambling authorities in North America and Australia.
- iTech Labs is a company that is licensed to offer certified scratch card games to the public in both the European and Asian regions of the world.
- eCOGRA is a company that specializes in the certification of online gambling software and services. In addition to its certification services, it is also well-known for its player dispute resolution services.
What Certification Tests
When scratch card games are certified by any of these testing bodies, they ensure that the scratch card games:
- Use an RNG that provides random numbers that are genuinely unpredictable
- Pay out to players an average RTP percentage as specified by the game's developer
- The prize values are as described by the game's paytable
- The software of the scratch card games has not been changed since certification
The certification authority will be displayed in the game's information panel (the "i" button) and at the footer of the scratch card game window. The online casinos are required by law to only license and offer certified scratch card games to their players.
What Actually Affects Your Odds
Due to the way that RNGs work within online scratch card games, there is actually very little that can affect the outcome of a game:
| Factor | Does It Affect Your Odds? |
|---|---|
| Game RTP | ✅ Yes — the only meaningful variable. Higher RTP = better theoretical return. |
| Stake amount | ⚠️ No effect on probability. Higher stakes mean larger prizes and losses proportionally. |
| Scratch order | ❌ No. Result is pre-determined. |
| Time of day | ❌ No. RNG is not time-sensitive. |
| Previous results | ❌ No. Each game is independent. |
| Demo vs real money | ⚠️ See below. |
| Casino platform | ❌ No. Same game from same provider has same RTP anywhere. |
Demo Mode vs Real Money
Most scratch card games offer two different modes for players: a demo mode for free play and a real-money mode. However:
- The RNG within the scratch card games is the same whether they are in demo or real-money mode. The developers of reputable scratch card games use the same RNG within their demo and real-money scratch games.
- In a few cases, developers have reported differences between the bonus features in scratch games when they are played in demo mode versus real-money mode. However, these differences are rare and are flagged in any certified games by the developers.
- Any play on scratch card games in demo mode does not count towards any casino bonus offers.
- Scratch games in demo mode can be used by players to learn how to play real-money scratch games without having to commit their money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I tell if a scratch card is going to win before I scratch it?
No. The outcome of a scratch card is determined by a Random Number Generator that cannot be seen or read by the player. Any company or service that claims that they can tell you in advance the outcome of a scratch game is acting fraudulently.
Does the way I scratch the scratch card have any effect on the outcome?
No. The outcome of the scratch game has been determined before the scratch game begins to display. How you remove the covering from the scratch card has no effect on the outcome.
Are online scratch cards the same as lottery scratch-offs?
While both types of scratch cards share the same name and the same general idea of scratching to reveal prizes, the mechanics of how they function is different. Online scratch card games use a Random Number Generator to determine each prize. Physical scratch tickets have a limited prize pool with each print run - the prize pool can be sold out. Online scratch card games will always have prizes available. Furthermore, the Return to Player percentages of online scratch games is much higher than that of physical lottery scratch cards (online scratch games range from 92% to 97% while physical lottery scratch cards range from 55% to 70%).
How do I know if the casino's games are certified?
Online casinos that are licensed to operate are required to offer only certified games. The certification company will be displayed in the games themselves and in their footer. Furthermore, you can verify the license of the online casino by looking up their license number on their official website.
Find a Trusted Scratch Card Casino
All scratch card casinos we recommend hold valid licences and offer independently certified RNG games from reputable developers.
