Scratchcard

A pre-determined instant lottery product where players reveal a hidden result by scratching or clicking a covered panel, with prizes fixed in advance across a finite ticket pool.

Definition

A Scratchcard is an instant lottery whose outcomes are decided before sale: a finite print run, or its digital equivalent, contains a set number of winning and losing tickets, and revealing the panel simply uncovers a result already assigned. The prize structure and overall payout percentage are fixed by the pool design, and the operator's margin, often around 30 percent or more of sales, is the portion never returned as prizes. Digital scratchcards mimic the format but usually resolve via an RNG or a server-side finite pool. Because the edge is baked into the pool, no technique changes the odds, and scratchcards are best treated as instant, high-margin entertainment with negative expected value.

Worked example

A GBP 2 scratchcard from a book of tickets is designed so that, across the whole print run, prizes return roughly two-thirds of sales; a player scratches three matching symbols to win a small fixed amount.

Why it matters

Scratchcards show how a fixed finite pool sets odds and margin without any live draw; learners see pre-determined outcomes, professionals see finite-pool prize design.

Related

Note: Payout percentages vary by game and jurisdiction; the roughly 30 percent margin figure is a common ballpark for scratch products, not a guaranteed value.