Scratch Card Roll Guide: Quantity Per Roll & Where to Buy

Scratch cards sit by tills in shops across the UK. Ever wondered how many are in one roll, or where those rolls come from?

This guide breaks down what a roll is, how quantities vary by game and price, and how retailers get them. We also touch on how scratch cards work, what the odds and prizes information means, and a few practical points to keep in mind.

How Many Scratch Cards Are In A Roll?

A scratch card is a small, pre-printed instant-win game. You reveal symbols or numbers by scratching off a panel, and any prize is determined by the card’s rules and outcome.

In shops, scratch cards are supplied on rolls, a bit like raffle tickets. The number of cards on a roll varies:

Type of scratch card: £1 scratch cards often come in larger rolls, usually around 180 to 200 cards.
Higher-value scratch cards: £2, £3 or £5 cards tend to come in smaller rolls, generally ranging from 80 to 120 cards. This is because higher-priced games cost more per ticket, so fewer are supplied in each roll.

Roll size can also depend on the specific game and how it is produced. Seasonal or limited-edition cards may use different quantities.

Each roll is sealed when it leaves the factory and sent to retailers, who open them and place the tickets in display units for sale. Every ticket is a separate game with its own outcome, and the odds and prize table for a particular card are printed on the back and shown on the official materials for that game.

Curious why those quantities differ from one game to another? That comes down to how the cards are made and sold.

Why Do Scratch Card Roll Quantities Vary?

The roll size is shaped by a few practical considerations. Price point is the big one: lower-cost games tend to be packed in bigger rolls so they last longer on display, while higher-priced games usually come in smaller runs to manage stock value and space.

Game design also matters. Special editions, seasonal themes and promotional runs may have shorter print runs, which can change how many tickets are bundled together. Retail logistics play a role, too. A busy supermarket with multiple dispensers may take larger rolls, while a smaller shop might favour compact ones to fit a tighter counter area.

Prize structures are planned at the production stage, which in turn influences overall print quantities and packaging decisions. If you want to check the exact number of cards in a roll for a particular game, look on the packaging or ask at the counter, as retailers often know what they have been supplied with.

Next, a common question: can you buy a full roll yourself, or are they only for shops?

Where Can You Buy Full Rolls Of Scratch Cards In The UK?

Retailers in the UK typically sell scratch cards individually. Full rolls are the unopened bundles that distributors send to shops, and those sealed rolls are intended for licensed retail sale rather than direct purchase by the public.

Authorised distributors supply rolls to retailers under agreed terms. Members of the public are not able to purchase sealed rolls directly from official providers. While some shops might agree to sell you all the remaining tickets from a display for a particular game, that is different from buying an unopened roll and is entirely at the retailer’s discretion.

Buying a large quantity does not change how the game works. Outcomes are set during production, not by the order of tickets on a roll, and the odds and prize information are shown on each ticket and in the game’s official details.

If that leads you to wonder what a full roll would mean in practice, the next section covers the essentials.

What To Know Before Buying A Full Scratch Card Roll

Scratch cards are instant-win lottery games. A “full roll” is simply an unopened bundle intended for retail stock, not a product designed for individual customers.

Even if you were able to obtain an entire roll, each ticket would still have the same published odds as if you bought a single card. The results are predetermined during manufacturing and there is no way to ensure a profit overall.

Costs can add up quickly. As an example, a roll of £2 cards could cost between £160 and £240, depending on how many tickets are in that roll. It helps to look at the price per ticket, the stated odds of winning for that game, the prize structure and the terms and conditions before deciding whether to play. Many games show headline odds like 1 in 4 or 1 in 5 for winning any prize, but the size of those prizes varies and not every prize equals or exceeds the ticket price.

What counts as “worth it” is personal. Some people prefer games with more frequent smaller prizes; others are interested in games that advertise larger top prizes. Whichever you prefer, it makes sense to decide on a budget first and stick to it.

If you are also curious about why total roll costs differ, pricing offers a clear picture.

How Scratch Card Rolls Are Priced

This section looks at how scratch card rolls are priced in the UK and the main factors that shape their overall cost. Understanding the basics of pricing helps explain why retailers stock the games they do and how rolls are supplied.

Factors That Affect Roll Costs

The headline factor is the face value printed on each ticket, multiplied by the number of tickets on the roll. For example, £1 scratch cards are often supplied in rolls of about 180 to 200 tickets, so the roll’s face value would sit between £180 and £200.

Higher-value cards come in smaller rolls. A roll containing 60 tickets priced at £5 would have a face value of £300 if all were purchased at once.

Other factors can affect the roll cost, such as:

• Game type: Limited edition or seasonal games may have different prices or smaller roll sizes.
• Retailer supply agreements: Retailers buy scratch card rolls through official distributors, who set the prices and quantities available.

The terms and conditions for each game, including the prize table and odds, are displayed at point of sale and on official materials. Buying more tickets changes how many chances you take, but it does not alter the published odds for any individual card.

So, with prices and quantities in mind, is a full roll ever “worth it”?

Are Full Scratch Card Rolls Worth It?

Whether buying a large quantity of scratch cards makes sense depends on your preferences and budget. A full roll gives you more tickets to play, but each ticket still has the same published odds and there is no approach that guarantees a positive return.

Some players enjoy having more entries; others decide the cost outweighs the potential outcomes. Retailers and online platforms may also apply per-transaction or per-customer limits, which can restrict how many you can buy at once.

Scratch cards should be treated as paid entertainment rather than a way to make money. If you choose to play, set a clear spend limit and only use money you can afford. Understanding how rolls are put together, how pricing works and where they can be bought helps you make an informed decision, and if you ever feel that playing is not enjoyable, it is sensible to take a break.

_{*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to these games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.}

_{**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.}