Best scratchcard apps UK

Best scratchcard apps UK: our verdict in brief

PlayOJO is our pick for scratchcard fans among our partners, with Coral second and Ladbrokes third. The ranking reflects how well each app suits short, low-cost games and small withdrawals, not a confirmed scratchcard library, because none of the three mentions scratchcards in its App Store or Google Play text or the help pages we checked.

If seeing scratchcards named in an app's own published information matters to you, two UK-licensed apps further down do: the Gala bingo app and kwiff. For everything else, the honest advice is the same: search the app's lobby, or ask support, before you deposit.

Scratchcard apps vs National Lottery scratchcards

Two quite different products share the name. National Lottery scratchcards and online Instant Win Games run under the National Lottery licence. Casino-app scratchcards are digital games offered by remote casino operators, built by game studios and sitting in the same lobby as slots.

The age change came from the government's response on the minimum age for National Lottery games (opens in a new tab), which raised it to 18 for all National Lottery games, including scratchcards and online instant wins. Online sales to 16 and 17-year-olds were due to stop in April 2021, with the law changing on 1 October 2021.

Scratchcards remain widely played. The 2023 gambling white paper, High stakes: gambling reform for the digital age (opens in a new tab), reported that in the year to December 2022, 7.7% of adults had played scratchcards in the past four weeks, against 5.0% for online slot-style games or instant wins. Our scratchcard glossary entry has a short definition, and scratchcards on mobile covers how they play.

How we ranked scratchcard apps

Scratchcards are among the quickest games in a casino app: you choose a price, reveal the panels and see the result. That speed shapes our criteria, which we apply only to the partner apps featured across our ranked app lists.

1. Instant and low-stake content. Does the listing point to quick-play or instant games of any kind?
2. Cash-out on small wins. Low or no withdrawal minimums, no fees and quick processing.
3. Phone friendliness. App size and the iOS version needed.
4. Control. Deposit limits, breaks and other tools, because a run of fast games adds up.
5. Honesty of the listing. Whether the published game list matches what a scratchcard player wants.

Scores come from published facts only, such as store listings, help pages and licence records. Our scoring explainer sets out the weightings.

1. PlayOJO: money back on every game and any-size withdrawals

PlayOJO's selling point for instant-win players is its OJOplus feature, which pays money back on every game played rather than relying on a one-off bonus. Combine that with a help page stating you can withdraw as little as you want, and most payments processed within a few hours, and you have an app that treats small wins sensibly.

The app itself is the lightest of our three: "PlayOJO Real Money Casino" is 25.4 MB and runs on iOS 15.0 or later, so it suits older iPhones. Skill On Net Ltd publishes it on both the App Store and Google Play. Its listing names slots, jackpot slots, bingo, table games and live casino, but not scratchcards, so search the lobby.

Verification is quick by the operator's own account: PlayOJO aims to verify documents within 12 hours and suggests contacting support if you've heard nothing after 48. Deposit limits sit in your account settings, with time and loss limits, OJO Safeguard and self-exclusion also on offer. The drawbacks are the lack of phone support and a £305,150 regulatory settlement in May 2023. Rated 4.2/5. More in our PlayOJO review and PlayOJO withdrawals guide.

2. Coral: free-to-play prize games and a £5 deposit floor

Coral's App Store listing is the only one of our three to mention free-to-play games with real-money prizes, a quick-reveal style of game that will appeal to anyone who likes scratchcards. It also lists Smart Rewards, Rewards Grabber and Coral Coins promotions. Paid scratchcards aren't named, so look in the lobby before depositing.

For a low-stake player, the payments detail matters more. Coral's help pages give a £5 minimum deposit through Google Pay or Pay by Bank, a cap of £2,000 per deposit, and no withdrawal fees. Approved Visa Fast Funds withdrawals typically reach your bank within about four hours, while Fast Bank Transfer takes two to four business days.

"Coral Casino: Slots & Games" is a standalone casino app, 101.6 MB on iPhone, and needs iOS 18.0 or later. It holds our top overall score, Rated 4.3/5, but slips to second here because it is a heavier app and we can't confirm scratchcards. Our Coral review and Coral payments page go further.

3. Ladbrokes: arcade games, Instant Spins and phone support

Ladbrokes' casino app listing describes a section that sits closest to instant play: free-to-play games including Instant Spins and a daily prize wheel, and LadBucks, a reward currency spent on arcade games. Scratchcards as such aren't mentioned, so this is an indicator rather than a promise.

"Ladbrokes Casino Games & Slots" is 101.2 MB on iPhone and needs iOS 18.0 or later; the Google Play version is "Ladbrokes Casino Slots & Games". It shares Coral's payment rules, including no withdrawal fees, and review sites report phone support as well as 24/7 live chat.

Because Ladbrokes and Coral are both run by LC International Limited, part of Entain, you may only be able to take a new account at one of them; see why you can't open accounts at both. Rated 4.2/5. Read our Ladbrokes app review.

Scratchcard app comparison: what each partner publishes

You can confirm any of these licences on the Gambling Commission's public register entry for Skill On Net (opens in a new tab) or its equivalent for other operators. For a broader view of light, cheap-to-run apps, see our low stakes casino apps list.

Other UK scratchcard apps worth knowing

We have no offer with the apps below and don't rank them, but their published information mentions scratchcards.

Gala - Bingo & Slot Games

The Gala bingo app combines bingo rooms with slots, Slingo, live casino, game shows and scratchcards, according to its App Store listing and review sites. It is a 99.7 MB download needing iOS 18.0 or later, and it has no sports section. Its licence holder is LC International Limited, the same company behind Coral and Ladbrokes. Read our Gala Bingo app review or the Gala Bingo iPhone app page.

kwiff: Sports Betting & Casino

kwiff is a combined sportsbook and casino app whose game types, drawn from its store listings and review sites, include scratch cards, Slingo, keno and crash games. At 19.7 MB and iOS 13.0 or later it is unusually light. The licence holder is Eaton Gate Gaming Limited, which faced Gambling Commission regulatory action of £480,305 in December 2022. See our kwiff app review.

Who makes the scratchcards in casino apps

Online scratchcards are designed by game studios, and two studios whose published product lists include them, alongside slots, are worth recognising in a lobby.

Our Hacksaw Gaming page covers that studio's slots on mobile. A game's studio name normally appears on its tile or in its help screen, which is also where you'll find the RTP.

What scratchcards cost per hour on a phone

Scratchcards feel cheap because each card is a small, fixed price. The total adds up through speed, so it helps to think per hour. The working is simple: cards per hour × card price = amount staked, and amount staked × (100% − RTP) = expected loss.

So if a £1 card's help screen shows an RTP five points below 100%, an hour at that pace has an expected cost of 5 × £2.40 = £12. Wins come back and get re-staked, which is why the staked total can be far larger than the money you started with. Our budgeting guide shows how to set a figure before you start.

UK rules for scratchcards and instant wins in apps

• 18+ and verified first. Age and identity must be checked before you deposit or play, demo games included.
• No autoplay. Since 17 January 2025 autoplay is banned for all online casino games, so you can't set cards to reveal by themselves.
• Minimum pace. Slots must take at least 2.5 seconds per game, and other casino games at least 5 seconds per game cycle. We haven't seen Commission guidance that classifies scratchcards specifically, but either floor rules out instant back-to-back reveals.
• One game at a time. Playing several casino games at once is banned.
• Real-time spend. Net spend and time spent must be on screen as you play.
• Stake limits. The £5 and £2 per spin limits apply to online slots, defined as reel-based casino games, so a scratchcard's price range is set by the game.

The rules on game speed are explained in our game speed rules page.

How to find scratchcards in a casino app

1. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play using its exact listed name.
2. Register and complete age verification, which UK rules require before any play.
3. Set a deposit limit when the app prompts you, before the first deposit.
4. In the lobby, search for "scratch" or "instant", or browse categories such as Instant Win or Arcade.
5. Open a card's information screen to check its price range, RTP and studio.
6. If you find nothing, contact support and ask whether scratchcards are offered on the app and website.

Trouble at any stage? Our guide to age verification in casino apps explains the checks.

Scratchcard app pitfalls

• Near-miss thinking. A card that almost matched is still a loss, and it tells you nothing about the next card.
• Treating a bonus as scratchcard money. Our partners' offers are slot offers; scratchcards probably won't count.
• Free coin scratch apps. Social apps pay no real money and aren't the same product; see what a social casino app is.
• Unlicensed apps and APKs. Offshore casinos give you no UK protection. Check the Gambling Commission register before you install.

Scratchcards are a paid form of entertainment, and the RTP means the house keeps a share over time. If you'd like to stop, GAMSTOP (opens in a new tab) lets you self-exclude from all UK-licensed gambling sites and apps for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years, and the National Gambling Helpline is on 0808 8020 133.

Partner welcome offers for instant-win players

We don't have a scratchcard offer to show you. The three welcome offers below belong to our ranked apps and are all built around slots; read the terms on game eligibility before assuming any scratchcard play counts. 18+ and terms apply.

The spins have a face value of £8, £10 and up to £50 respectively (number of spins × 10p). They are slot stakes with the usual house edge, not cash.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.