Scratch tickets are games of random chance that could offer instant results or extended fun, whichever way you want to play. Every ticket presents a chance to enjoy the thrill of the instant win.

5 Easy Steps to Play

1

Set a budget: Playing Instant Games is fun, but it’s gambling. Treat it as part of your entertainment budget.
2

Choose your scratch ticket: Discover some of the exciting features of the different games here.
3

Scratch your ticket: Simply scratch to reveal the hidden numbers or symbols and match to win.
4

Check your ticket: See if you’ve won. Check at the retailer or use the OLG App. Learn more about ways to check here.
5

If you are a winner, claim your prize: Just take your signed ticket to a participating retailer for prizes under $1,000 – before the expiry date on the back of your ticket. Find out more here.

Set A Budget

Playing an Instant ticket is a form of gambling. Treat it as part of your entertainment budget -cash you’d spend on a movie or popcorn.

Scratch tickets are often impulse buys, so it helps to plan in advance how much you’re willing to spend in a week.

Tip

Track your spend. It’s easy to lose track, so be sure to know exactly how much you spend and win in a month so you can stay within your budget.

Choose your scratch ticket

There's more to selecting a scratch ticket than just by picking a theme. Here are some ways to choose your favourites.

An instant ticket of crossword tripler and crossword deluxe shown in front of a blue circle.

Choose by Price

Tickets range from $2 to $100, and the price is found in the top right corner.

Tip

Tickets that look the same can be priced differently, so be sure to check the cost.

An instant ticket of OLG Double It and Bingo shown in front of a blue circle.

Choose by Play Style

Fast Play:

Keep it quick and easy with a single scratch area.

Extended Play:

Want to stretch out the suspense? Choose a ticket with multiple scratch areas, such as instant Bingo and Instant Crossword.

An instant ticket of OLG Bingo and Jumbo Cash shown in front of a blue circle.

Choose by Prizes

Large Prizes:

Some instant tickets feature large top prizes – as big as $2.5 million. It’s fun to try for the big win, just know that you often pay more for the chance of a larger prize.

Smaller Prizes:

Some tickets feature smaller top prizes but offer many more prizes, such as Instant Bingo and Instant Crossword.

Did you know you can TOP UP any eligible INSTANT ticket for a chance to win a growing jackpot?

Learn more about INSTANT TOP UP

Scratch your ticket

Using a coin to scratch instant ticket sections.

Instant games are simple. Scratch to reveal the ticket’s hidden numbers or symbols and match to win. Instructions on the back of every ticket tell you how it works.

In case of an accidental scratch to the wrong area, a win is still a win. The barcode on every ticket can be scanned to confirm it.

Check Your Ticket

After you've scratched the ticket, double check the instructions on the back to see if your ticket is a winner. Scratch the Scratch & Scan area completely to reveal the barcode, scan it using the ticket checker at OLG authorized retailers, or ask a participating retailer to scan it at the lottery terminal. You can also scan it with the OLG App.

Claim Your Prize

For prizes under $1,000, take your signed ticket to a participating retailer who can verify the ticket at the Lottery Terminal.

Tip

Yes, the expiry date matters. Check for it on the back of the ticket and be sure to claim any prizes by that date.

FIND A RETAILER NEAR YOU open in a new window Play instants at OLG.ca open in a new window

SEE NEXT : ODDS

MY PLAYSMART TOOLS

How To Play