How SCRATCH & WIN WORKS

While gambling provides entertainment for many, it's important to acknowledge its inherent risks. When parents or family members gift lottery tickets to children, they are unknowingly presenting gambling as a harmless activity.

Research reveals a concerning pattern: many adults with gambling issues began their journey as youngsters. Early exposure to gambling, including lottery products like Scratch & Win, can serve as a precursor to later complications.

Did you know:

• Youth gambling is a lot more common than most people realize. Young people report their first gambling experiences occurring around 9 to 11 years of age.
• Around 60 percent of high school–aged adolescents report having gambled for money during the past year.
• Four to six percent of adolescents have a serious problem with gambling, and 10 to 14 percent of adolescents are at risk of developing a problem.

If you’re worried about a young person's gambling, there's support available. Explore our Resources for Families for further guidance.

Scratch & Win games are random, so how likely is it that a player will win? Is it possible to predict a win every time you play?

Scratch & Win odds vary from one game to another. On average, the odds of winning are approximately 1 in 4, but it doesn’t mean that if you purchase four tickets that one will be the winner. Even if you buy tickets in bulk, you might only have losing tickets. Winning and losing tickets are randomly distributed across the province or nationally, depending on the game. That’s the fun of it!

The odds of winning can also vary based on two considerations: the number of tickets printed and the number of prizes available for a game. After a game is released, the numbers of purchased tickets and prizes collected have a great impact on predicting the odds of a game.