Online scratch cards often raise questions about fairness. With no physical card to hold, it’s normal to wonder how the outcome is decided, who checks the system, and whether everyone has a genuine chance of winning.
This guide explains how online scratch cards work in the UK, how randomness is created, and what protections are in place for players. It also looks at some myths and how to approach these games sensibly.
If you’ve ever wanted a clear explanation without jargon, this blog can help you understand what really happens behind the scenes.
What Does It Mean When People Ask If Online Scratch Cards Are Rigged?
When people say a game might be “rigged”, they are usually questioning whether it is fair. The concern is that the game could be set up to benefit the operator, making the outcomes different from those advertised. Because online scratch cards don’t have a pre-printed ticket, the result appears on your screen after you play. That may feel less transparent than a paper card you scratch yourself.
What matters is how the outcome is decided and whether the process is genuinely random. In the UK, this is tightly regulated and checked to make sure the game works as described.
How Do Online Scratch Cards Actually Work?
Online scratch cards are designed to copy the experience of scratching a ticket, but the outcome is produced by software, rather than ink and foil. When you click to play, the result is created using a Random Number Generator (RNG).
An RNG is software that produces sequences of numbers in an unpredictable way. Each play is independent — one result does not decide the next. The graphics you see on the screen simply show the outcome that has been calculated.
Game information usually explains:
- The cost of each card.
- Which symbol or number combinations can lead to prizes.
- The value of different potential prizes.
Some games may use prize pools that are predetermined and then distributed randomly. Others may use “on-the-fly” RNG draws. Both approaches are permitted in the UK, provided they meet technical standards and are tested before release.
Are Online Scratch Cards Fair and Regulated?
In the UK, companies offering online scratch cards must hold a licence from the Gambling Commission. As part of licensing, games go through independent testing. Approved test labs examine whether the RNG is functioning properly and whether results show the unpredictability expected from a fair system.
Game operators are required to display a Return to Player (RTP) figure. The RTP is a theoretical percentage that shows how much of the total money staked on a game is expected to be paid back to players in prizes over a very large number of plays.
For example, a scratch card with an RTP of 88% is designed so that, across many thousands of plays, about £88 of every £100 staked may be returned as prizes. This figure is based on long-term calculations and does not reflect what will happen in any individual session. Each play is independent, which means your own result could be higher, lower, or nothing at all. The RTP rate is best understood as an average model, not a guarantee of winnings.
Transparency rules also require that costs, potential prizes, and rules are clearly available before you play.
How Do Random Number Generators Protect Players?
The RNG is at the heart of every online scratch card. It is developed by specialist providers and then tested by independent laboratories approved by the Gambling Commission.
Testing involves running huge samples of results to check that there are no patterns or biases. If the game uses prize pools, testing ensures these are distributed according to the rules.
The system does not stop being monitored once the game goes live. Updates to the software must go through change controls and retesting. Logs and audits are kept so regulators can confirm that the version running is the one that passed testing.
This means outcomes are not influenced by your playing time, recent results, or the size of your stake.
What Role Does the UK Gambling Commission Play?
The Gambling Commission sets and enforces the rules for licensed operators. Its responsibilities include:
- Approving independent test labs.
- Checking that operators present game information clearly.
- Ensuring customer funds are handled securely.
- Investigating complaints and taking enforcement action if standards are breached.
Operators must display their licence details on their website. You can also confirm these directly on the Gambling Commission’s public register.
The Commission has the power to fine companies, suspend their licences, or stop them from operating if they fail to meet the required standards.
Can Online Scratch Cards Be Manipulated by Casinos?
Licensed operators cannot interfere with the result of an individual play. Outcomes come from certified software that has already been tested for fairness.
What varies between games are design choices such as:
- The size of the smallest and largest possible prizes.
- The combinations needed to win.
- The RTP figure.
These differences are part of the published rules and paytable. The important point is that the game cannot be secretly adjusted in the background to alter your chance of winning once it is live.
Common Myths About Online Scratch Cards
“Staff decide when you win or lose.”
Outcomes are generated by the RNG or prize pool system, not by staff. Operators do not have a way to choose your result.
“Playing at a certain time gives you better chances.”
There is no link between time of day and outcomes. Each play is independent.
“New games give out more prizes.”
New and old games are subject to the same standards. What differs are the rules and paytables.
“Prizes are not real.”
Prizes listed in the rules must be honoured. Any potential winnings should be paid according to the operator’s terms and conditions.
How to Play Scratch Cards Online Safely
Scratch cards are games of chance. There is no strategy that guarantees a win. If you decide to play, it can help to:
- Set a personal budget that you are comfortable with.
- Take breaks so you can keep perspective.
- Remember that outcomes cannot be influenced.
Licensed websites are required to provide tools that allow you to set deposit limits, take time-outs, or use self-exclusion if you want to step away from gambling for a while. They must also display links to independent support services, which are available directly through every regulated operator’s site.
Playing responsibly means treating online scratch cards as entertainment, not a way to make money.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to these games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.