Scratch Card Odds

Scratchcard odds are numbers that are used to describe how much chance a player has of winning a prize. These scratchcard odds can be presented in a sentence, as a fractional figure or as a percentage. For example, the odds ‘1 in 3’, 1/3 and 33% all say the same thing – one game in every three will, on average, result in a win.

It is important to understand that scratchcard odds are determined by the number of prizes that are winnable from a certain number of games. To illustrate, if there were 1,000 scratchcards in a particular game and 333 of these were winners, the overall odds of you winning that game would be 1 in 3. However, it would still be possible to play three games and have three losers, or indeed to play three games and have three winners, because the scratchcard odds refer only to ‘the big picture’.

That said, scratchcard odds can be a useful guide when you are deciding which scratch card or instant win game that you want to play. For example, if you are torn between two similar games and one gives you a 1 in 3 chance of winning whilst the other gives you a 1 in 5 chance of winning, the first game would - over the long term – give you the best chance of winning a prize.

Scratchcard odds can normally be found in the rules accompanying each game at your chosen scratchcards site. It is best when comparing those scratchcard odds to make sure that you compare them on like-for-like terms. Saying that one game gives you a 1 in 3 chance of winning any prize and that another gives you a 1 in 10 chance of winning £10 is not a fair comparison. As a general rule, we would advise you to compare the odds of winning any prize or, if you are specifically seeking a jackpot, to compare the odds of winning the best possible prize.

Whilst scratchcard odds can be useful when approached in the way we have just outlined, they should not be viewed as the be-all and end-all of scratchcard selection. A game that offers a smaller chance of winning, but a much bigger jackpot and a lot more entertainment value might be a better gaming choice for you. It really depends on what you are looking for.

The best scratchcard odds

If you want to stand the best possible chance of winning any prize at all, focus on playing those games that have the best scratchcard odds. However, if you are more interested in having a great time and the idea of winning a cash prize is just a nice bonus, you should really feel free to play any scratchcard game that takes your fancy.

Finally, it is worth pointing out that whilst you cannot change the scratchcard odds themselves, you can improve your own chances of winning by purchasing more scratchcards. If buying one card gives you one chance of winning, buying two cards doubles your chances, and buying four cards quadruples them. For this reason, many online scratchcards players like to buy several games in a given session, and that approach often results in them being able to enjoy the thrill of winning on a fairly regular basis.