Before You Start
Online scratch card games work in a similar fashion to the scratch cards you may have played when you were younger - you purchase the scratch card and scratch it to reveal the prize. However, there are some differences between online scratch cards and physical scratch cards:
- The outcome of an online scratch card is determined by a random number generator (RNG) at the moment you purchase the scratch card. The scratch portion of the scratch card is purely for show.
- Online scratch cards offer different stake sizes so that players can adjust how much they would like to risk on each scratch card game. Typical stakes start at £0.10 and go up to £20 or more per scratch card game.
- Online scratch card games are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can be accessed from a desktop, laptop or tablet and even a mobile device with an internet connection.
- Most online scratch card games will offer a demo mode so that players can test out the different scratch card games for free before risking any of their own money. This mode does not require the players to have an account to use it.
- To play any of the scratch card games on the online casinos' websites, players must be at least 18 years of age, and they must play in a country where online gambling is legal.
Step 1: Create an Account
To play online scratch card games, players must first create an account at an online casino. All of the online casinos that we feature on our scratch card casino rankings have been independently reviewed and hold a valid gambling licence.
Click Register / Sign Up
The register button at the majority of the online casinos that we feature is located in the top right-hand corner of their homepage.
Enter Your Details
To register at an online casino, players must provide a name, date of birth, e-mail address, address, and phone number. The information will be used to verify that the player is of gambling age and that they are authorized to create an account.
Set Deposit Limits
Many of the licensed online casinos that we feature offer tools to players to set limits on how much they would like to deposit into their online casino account during a specific time period. These limits can be set at the time of registration. They can always be changed later.
Verify Your Email
The register button will send the player a confirmation e-mail with a verification link. Click on the link in the e-mail to verify that you own the e-mail address that was used to register at the online casino.
Complete KYC (if prompted)
To play the online scratch card games, most online casinos will ask for the player to verify their identity before they can make any withdrawals from their casino account. This is known as "Know Your Customer" (KYC) verification, and they will ask for a photo of the individual's government-issued photo ID and proof of their address (a recent bank statement or utility bill).
Step 2: Make a Deposit
Once you have registered at an online casino and verified your e-mail address, you can navigate to the "Cashier" or "Deposit" section of the website to make a deposit into your account. The following are the different methods of depositing money into your online casino account at the recommended online casinos on our site:
- Debit and credit card deposit methods, including Visa and Mastercard.
- Cryptocurrency deposit methods, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin.
- E-wallet deposit methods, including Skrill, Neteller, and MiFinity.
- Bank transfer deposit methods, which can take between 1 and 3 working days to complete.
The minimum deposit for most online casinos is £10. The majority of deposit methods are instantly processed into the online casino account, except bank transfers.
Important: If you decide to use any welcome bonus that the online casinos offer new players, be sure to read the terms associated with that bonus. Some bonuses require players to make a minimum deposit to qualify; the scratch card games may or may not be eligible for wagering requirements. For more information, browse our site and review the features of the best scratch card casinos.
Step 3: Find a Scratch Card Game
Once you have deposited money into your online casino account, you can navigate to the games section of the website. In that section, players can find the following:
- The scratch card games section within the homepage of the online casino.
- The name of the software provider of the scratch card games (as they might be listed on the homepage) that you can use to search for additional games within the website.
- The "information" button on each scratch card game that displays information about the game's return to player (RTP) percentage, minimum and maximum stake requirements.
If you are not sure which scratch card game to play, we have created a ranked list of the best instant win scratch card games that you can play at the online casinos that we recommend. They are ranked by their RTP percentage.
If you know the name of the scratch card game that you would like to play, you can also use the search bar on the homepage of the online casino to find the game that you are searching for.
Step 4: Understand the Card Before Playing
Before you play any of the scratch card games with your real money, take a few minutes to review the pay table and the information panel for the game that you would like to play. That information panel will have the following:
RTP
The RTP percentage for the scratch card game. The higher the percentage, the better; it is the percentage of the prizes that the scratch card will pay out over the long term. Aim for at least 95%.
Win Conditions
The conditions under which you will win prizes on that specific scratch card game. These conditions differ from game to game.
Prize Tiers
The different prizes that can be won by playing that specific scratch card game. Most scratch card games have a prize that increases with the stake amount that the player selects.
Stake Range
The minimum and maximum stake amount that players can select when they purchase scratch cards from that game. Always start with the minimum stake.
Step 5: Set Your Stake
Within each scratch card game, players will find a stake selector that allows players to select the purchase price of each scratch card. Prices can range from £0.10 to £20 per scratch card.
A few things to keep in mind regarding scratch card stakes include:
- There is no benefit to increasing the stake that you use to purchase scratch cards. The RTP percentage is the same for each stake level within a game.
- If you increase the stake amount that you use to purchase scratch cards, your potential prize for winning will increase. A prize of, for instance, "5,000x stake" will award you a prize of £500 if you have a stake of £0.10; however, it will award you a prize of £100,000 if you have a stake of £20.
- The higher the stake that you use to purchase scratch cards, the fewer number of scratch cards you can buy with a given bankroll. For instance, if you have a bankroll of £20, you can purchase 10 scratch cards if you select a stake of £2; however, if you select a stake of £0.20, you can purchase 100 scratch cards.
Step 6: Play the Card
Once you have selected your stake amount for the scratch card game that you would like to play, you can purchase scratch cards. The website will display your scratch card to you on the screen. You can scratch it manually or reveal it all:
- Manual scratch to reveal prizes on each individual panel.
- Reveal all of the prizes on the scratch card by clicking the "reveal all" button. This is functionally the same as manually scratching each panel of the scratch card.
Once all of the panels on the scratch card have been revealed, the online scratch card game will reveal your prize (if any) and add it to your online casino account balance. The prize will be automatically credited to your account - there is no action that you need to take to claim it.
Click on the "new game" or "buy card" button to purchase another scratch card from the same scratch card game.
Step 7: Withdraw Your Winnings
To withdraw your winnings from your online casino account, navigate to the "Cashier" section of the website and click on the "withdraw" link. Following are the steps that you will have to complete to withdraw your winnings from your online casino account:
Complete KYC First
If you have not already completed your KYC verification, you will be required to do so prior to being able to withdraw any winnings. The verification documents will be required; most online casinos will complete your verification within 24 to 72 hours of requesting it.
Select Withdrawal Method
The withdrawal method that you select for your winnings will likely be the same as the method with which you deposited your money into the online casino (as required by anti-money laundering regulations). For instance, if you deposited using a bank transfer, you can only withdraw your winnings via bank transfer. Most online casinos will accept e-wallets (such as Skrill and Neteller), cryptocurrency (such as Bitcoin and Ethereum), and credit and debit cards. Bank transfer withdrawals can take between 1 and 5 working days to be processed.
Check Wagering Requirements
If you deposited money into your online casino to claim a bonus, your winnings from scratch card games may not be withdrawable until you have wagered the bonus amount a certain number of times (known as wagering requirements). Winnings that are placed into your account with real money will always be able to be withdrawn at any time.
Enter Amount and Confirm
Enter the amount of your winnings that you would like to withdraw. The amount that you enter will be processed by the online casino and sent to the withdrawal method of your choice. Your winnings will be credited to your chosen method after a few minutes. Some online casinos may require you to confirm your withdrawal request via e-mail.
Key Tips for New Players
- ✅ Always check the Return to Player (RTP) percentage of the scratch card games before playing. The RTP percentage for scratch card games can be as much as 2% different between games with similar names.
- ✅ Try demo mode first — most online scratch card games will offer a "demo" mode so that players can test out the games for free prior to placing any of their own money into the online casino. This mode does not require the players to have an account.
- ✅ Set a loss limit before you start each session — always set a limit on how much money you are willing to lose while playing online scratch card games and stop when you have lost that amount of money.
- ✅ Read bonus terms before accepting — always read the terms and conditions of the welcome bonus that online casinos may offer new players. Most bonuses will have wagering requirements for scratch cards and other types of games.
- ✅ Check what deposit methods are accepted at your chosen online casino prior to registering - most online casinos will accept cryptocurrency, credit and debit cards and e-wallets.
- ❌ Do not increase the stake amount that you use to play online scratch card games. There is no benefit to increasing your stake amount - the probability of winning will be the same at each stake level within a specific scratch card game.
- ❌ Do not play at unlicensed online casinos. Unlicensed online casinos are not regulated, meaning that they may not have proper security measures or fair games - there is no recourse in the case of any disputes.
Best Scratch Cards for Beginners
The scratch card games that are featured on our best online scratch card games list are evaluated for high RTP percentages and simple game mechanics - making them ideal for new players to the online scratch card genre.
