How to Win Scratch Cards

Across different countries and continents, rules on some beloved casino games, such as roulette and blackjack, differ or contain nuances. Scratch cards, however, are universal. Founded in America back in 1974 by John Koza and Daniel Bower, there are now hundreds and thousands of scratch cards in circulation every day. A huge part of the UK gambling landscape, the UK scratch card and lottery market is now worth up to £8 billion/year. For many, it is the ultimate game of chance, but some believe to have found the perfect strategy of how to win scratch cards regularly. In this article, we will review six of the best tips and tricks that you could use the next time you purchase a scratch card.

Lottery Scratch Cards Secrets

Whereas other games within the casino industry rely on maths and data to determine effective and successful strategies, the scrape and reveal element of tickets makes applying a number-centric scheme impossible. Instead, when it comes to examining the ways how to win a scratch card, you can adopt other techniques. Some are simple, whilst some can be a little more complex.

Higher Price Gives Better Lotto Scratch Cards Odds

You may be thinking that buying lots of cheap tickets could increase your chances of winning on a scratch card. However, time has shown that actually buying the more expensive ones is a much more effective way to play.

Whilst uncostly versions can be friendlier on your wallet, the prize pools are often limited to just a lucky few. Premium scratch games may be harder to win and be a little more expensive, but the overall jackpots are higher, and it’s often common that more prizes can be won.

What are the Odds of Winning on a Scratch Card? It Depends

Almost all the most popular scratch card games in Great Britain are issued by the National Lottery. In order to provide some variation for players up and down the UK, odds across the offerings usually range from anywhere between 1:4 and 1:20. On most scratch cards, the odds of finding a winning one will be printed on the back.

For some, such numbers make the game more appealing than other casino games. From this perspective, the closest one to scratch cards is blackjack. Compare yourself: in blackjack, the house has an edge by virtue of playing second, but before a hand, there is just over a 1:2 shot of being a winner.

In comparison, when you play roulette, the chances of you hitting a number are 35:1. Yes, the likelihood of you winning increases when betting on red or black. Still, the odds advantage isn’t much more significant than some of the scratch cards that you can get your hands on today.

Multiple Scratch-Off Panels: A Good Course of Action

Scratch cards in the UK often feature multiple panels. If you’re considering how scratch cards work, the quantity of panels is designed to either increase or lower your chances of winning. And for those wondering what is the best scratch card to buy, it’s worth noting that these multi-panel cards, while often more costly, have a bigger winning potential.

Additionally, understanding how long scratch cards last can be important, as these premium options typically come with extended validity periods, giving players more time to claim the prizes. In contrast to odds, the validity of a ticket isn’t indicated anywhere on the back. Instead, you will have to consult the game closures on a dedicated page of the National Lottery.

An image of a scratch card rear by scratchcard-winners.co.uk

The combination of more ways to win and longer validity makes multiple-panelled cards a worthwhile investment, despite their higher cost.

Find a Game You Like Playing and Stick to It

Half of the battle may be won by sticking with a scratch card game that you like to play.

Not only do you know what you are spending each time, which can help you budget, but you can also familiarise yourself with the card’s odds and even identify certain patterns that the card may offer over time. Kristie Burton applies this lottery hack and showcases that this method works in the video below:

Buying in Bulk: Pals are Welcome

For decades, people have used lottery pools to lower the overall cost of the game, and it migrated to scratch tickets.

A pool requires you and a group of others to club your money to purchase cards in bulk. You would set a weekly or monthly budget and then fill the quota with the required scratch cards. Although you won’t win as much on the cards as you would individually, it can be a really cost-effective and fun way of playing.

Check the Statistics and be Prepared to Play the Long Game

Consult the statistics to assess your chances of winning on a scratch card—the odds and probabilities vary for different companies. Websites such as smartscratchcard.co.uk break down how many prizes have been claimed across the National Lottery scratch cards up and down the UK. You will thus know which to buy and which to avoid.

Another strategy could be to approach your play similarly to playing slots. At times, a slot just isn’t paying out; somebody new jumps on the same fruit machine and profits from someone else’s losses. The same principle can be applied to scratch tickets. If you physically see a person lose with a particular one, or that some scratch card is more popular among players than others, which can give you a hint on what scratch cards win the most.

In Shops or Online?

The more scratch cards you buy, the better your chances of success. Whichever way you like to play, there are pros and cons to both.

Buying scratch cards in a shop:

• Pros
• Easy Access
• Variety of Choice
• Prices for Every Budget
• Sensory Experience

• Cons
• Card Amount Fluctuates: There will be days when your favourite scratch cards may be out of stock or low in numbers
• Time-Consuming: It takes more time than simply playing online

Playing scratch cards online:

• Pros
• Quick & Easy: All you need is an official account with the online website to get started
• Many Options

• Cons
• Harder to keep track of spending: This is because you are making card deposits with ‘virtual’ money rather than buying each card in person
• No Sensory Experience: You cannot physically scratch the card panels, which is part of the fun