Instant win games, also referred to as “instants”, “scratchcards” or “scratchies” are cards that feature coated panels which need to be scratched with the edge of a coin or thumbnail. Underneath each panel are symbols, numbers or letters that show the player whether they have won a prize or not.

There are many different types of instant win games that are played in Australia, but these tend to fall into six price categories of $1, $2, $3, $4, $5 and $10. Generally speaking, the more an instant win game costs to play, the more the player could potentially win. For example, if someone buys a $1 “Happy Go Lucky” ticket from a Tattersall’s retailer, they have a chance to win the top prize of $25,000. But if they buy a $10 “Special Gift” ticket, they could win a top prize of $500,000.

Most lottery companies in Australia share their games, but this does not mean that prizes can be claimed anywhere in the country. If you buy a ticket in Queensland and you win, you will generally need to claim your prize in Queensland. Fortunately, this isn’t difficult, because you can scratch your card as soon as you have purchased it and register your claim immediately if you win.

If you win a modest prize then you can usually hand the instant win game back to the lottery retailer and receive your cash payout on the spot. For larger prizes you will need to follow the claim instructions that are usually printed on the reverse side of each game ticket.

As with instant win games in any other country, it is important to realise that the top prize(s) could already have been won when you purchase your ticket. If you are playing in the hope, however remote, of hitting the top prize then it is essential that you check to ensure it is still up for grabs before buying a game. The lottery retailer should be able to tell you whether or not the top prize has already been won.