ComparetheLotto.com Launches New Cutting Edge Scratchcard Comparison Tool — Helping UK Players See Value More Clearly

---

Note: *The following article is purely for fun. It is based on individual opinions and does not constitute advice. The drawing of lottery numbers is entirely random. Please always gamble responsibly. #Ad. Find out more on our How Our Site Works page.

---

Scratchcards have been part of UK life for decades now. Whether it’s a quick flutter at the corner shop, a Christmas present or a bit of online entertainment, millions of us still enjoy them — and official figures suggest we spend billions on them annually. But despite their popularity, there’s surprisingly little clear information available to help players understand how different scratchcards compare across the board.

That lack of transparency is exactly why we’ve launched our new UK scratchcard comparison tool. It brings together National Lottery retail scratchcards and online scratchcards from fully UK‑regulated operators into one simple, easy‑to‑use place — and highlights some important differences that most players never see.

---

Spotting “Dead Jackpot Scratchcards” — A Problem Most Players Don’t Know Exists

One of the biggest issues in the scratchcard world is the existence of dead scratchcards: games that are still being sold even after all top prizes have already been claimed.

The National Lottery does publish prize‑remaining data, but it’s on a page most players never check. That means many people buy a scratchcard believing the jackpot is still available when, in reality, it isn’t.

Our tool makes this instantly visible — alongside other key information. If a game’s top prizes are gone, you’ll see it straight away — no digging, no guesswork.

This alone has been a major eye‑opener for users.

---

RTP: The Value Gap Between Retail and Online Scratchcards

Another key difference our comparison highlights is RTP (return to player) — the percentage a game is expected to return to players over time.

Here’s the part most players never see:

• Retail scratchcards typically return around 60–70%
• Online scratchcards can exceed 90%

That’s a huge gap in value.

Despite this, RTP isn’t shown on the National Lottery’s main game pages. You have to open a separate Game Rules PDF to find it — and most players don’t even know it exists.

Our tool puts RTP front and centre so you can compare scratchcards properly and understand the value you’re getting.

---

Price and Stake Differences: From 10p to £5

Scratchcards vary widely in cost/stake:

• Retail cards cost between £1 and £5
• Online scratchcards start with stakes from as little as 10p or even 5p

For players who enjoy the entertainment but want to keep spending low, that’s a meaningful difference. Our comparison tool shows the full range so you can choose what suits your budget and playing style.

---

Good Causes: Where Contributions Do — and Don’t — Apply

One clear advantage of National Lottery scratchcards is their contribution to good causes. Our tool highlights this transparently, alongside the rare online exceptions — such as charity‑linked scratchcards that donate a percentage to good causes.

This cross‑market comparison simply hasn’t existed anywhere else.

---

A Cutting Edge, Research‑Inspired Scoring System

To help players make sense of all this information, we’ve built a proprietary scoring algorithm that combines varying elements of:

• Behavioural research into what players value
• RTP (Return to Player %)
• Jackpot odds
• Hit rates
• Price/stake
• Remaining top prizes
• Good‑cause contributions
• Welcome Offers

It’s not designed to predict outcomes or guarantee results — nothing can do that. Instead, it provides a meaningful way to compare scratchcards including factors players consistently say matter most: value for money, the appeal of large top prizes, and the enjoyment of frequent smaller wins.

---

Easy to Use Filters

In addition to the AI score which presents the ‘best’ scratchcards for users in a simple way, there are easy to use filters also.

Players may have their own preferences on what they value — some may want to only compare the best £5 scratchcard options, others may want to filter based on remaining top prizes.

The tool allows users to do that easily.

---

Why We Built This Tool

CompareTheLotto.com was launched in 2012 after discovering that UK players betting on the Irish Lotto could receive dramatically different returns depending on the bookmaker — sometimes costing players tens of thousands in missed winnings.

Scratchcards have the same transparency problem.

Other comparison sites have been unreliable, outdated, ad‑heavy or made exaggerated claims. Some have been offline for weeks at a time. Their data has often been inaccurate, and none have compared National Lottery retail scratchcards with online options that offer significantly higher RTPs.

We wanted to build something better:

• Accurate and reliable
• Easy to use
• Recognising the importance of safer gambling

Don’t forget — we have a personalised gambling budget calculator here, because scratchcards should always be a bit of fun, never considered a hack or smart strategy.

Also, we like to be transparent about how our site makes money through affiliate partnerships — you can read more about that here.

---

Final Message

If you’re someone who enjoys playing Instant Games or scratchcards, we hope our tool will help support your choice about the best option for you. If you have any feedback or suggestions, please leave them in the comments below.

Remember — playing Instant Games or scratchcards should be a fun activity, never a ‘smart’ strategy. You should only ever play with what you can comfortably afford to lose.