Industry Trends

How to Control Costs When Ordering Secure Lottery Ticket Printing: A 5-Step Checklist for Procurement Managers

Who This Checklist Is For

If you're responsible for buying promotional scratch off printing or secure lottery ticket printing for a marketing campaign, and you're not doing it every week (like most of us), this checklist is for you. Maybe you need 10,000 personalized scratch off tickets for a product launch, or you're sourcing secure instant lottery tickets for a retail promotion. Either way, the goal is the same: get a secure, high-quality product without blowing your budget.

I've been managing print procurement for about 6 years now, handling everything from business cards to complex security printing. In that time, I've processed roughly 200 print orders and negotiated with over a dozen specialty vendors. I learned the hard way that marketing scratch off tickets have a few cost traps that aren't obvious until you're in the middle of it. So, I built a simple checklist to avoid those mistakes. Here are the 5 steps I use every time.

Step 1: Nail Down the Security Features You Actually Need

This is where most of the budget gets spent, and often overspent. Vendors will offer you a long list of security options—microtext, UV inks, holograms, serial numbers, tamper-evident seals, scratch-off opacity layers, and more. It's easy to say 'give me everything,' but you don't always need it all.

The check point here is simple: match the security level to the prize value and distribution method. If your top prize is a $50 gift card and the tickets are handed out at a trade show booth, for example, you probably don't need a holographic foil. Standard secure scratch off card printing with a well-formulated scratch-off latex and a basic serial number is enough. But if you're printing secure instant lottery tickets for a state lottery with a $10,000 top prize, you need the full suite.

To be fair, the vendors are usually just listing what they offer. They assume you know what you need. But if you don't, you can easily double the print cost on features you'll never use. I've done it. In 2022, I approved a quote for promotional scratch off printing that included microtext on every ticket. It sounded good. I later found out that for our low-value, controlled-distribution campaign, it was pointless. That added about 15% to the cost.

Step 2: Get Specific About Substrate and Size

This is a 'thought it was obvious until it wasn't' moment. Paper stock and ticket size are two of the biggest cost drivers in lottery scratch off card printing. A standard 2" x 3" ticket on 12-point card stock is your baseline. Every deviation from that can add cost, and sometimes significantly.

Here's what I look for in every quote:

• Stock weight: 12-point (about 300 gsm) is standard. Going to 14-point or 16-point adds cost, and you only need it if the ticket is going to be handled a lot or used as a mailer. For a one-time handout, 12-point is enough.
• Size: Odd sizes mean waste on the print sheet, and you pay for that waste. Stick to standard sizes if you can. For personalized scratch off tickets, a standard business card size (3.5" x 2") or postcard size (4" x 6") is usually fine.
• Packaging: Individually wrapped tickets vs. bulk packs. Individual wrapping costs more, but if you need them for event giveaways where you control distribution, bulk packs are fine.

I get why someone might just pick 'premium card stock' because it sounds better. But the weight difference between 12-pt and 14-pt is minimal to the end user. The cost difference? It can be 10-20% per ticket for smaller runs. So, ask yourself: will anyone actually notice or care about the paper weight? If the ticket goes straight into a bin after scratching, probably not.

Step 3: Compare Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), Not Just Per-Ticket Price

This is my main thing. A low per-ticket price can hide higher costs elsewhere. I track every order in a simple cost spreadsheet, and I've found that the 'cheapest' quote is often the most expensive in the end. Here's what I include in my TCO calculation for promotional scratch off printing:

• Setup or plate fees: These can be flat fees of $50 to $300, depending on complexity. A vendor with a slightly higher per-ticket price but no setup fee can be cheaper for small runs.
• Shipping and handling: Secure printing vendors often use insured, trackable shipping. That can add $30-$100 or more per order. Some vendors include this; some don't.
• Proofing fees: Some vendors charge for a physical proof (a printed sample before the full run). Others include it. It's a small cost, but it adds up.
• Rush fees: If you need the tickets in a week instead of three, that's often a 25-50% premium. Plan ahead.
• Redo costs: The most expensive 'discount' I ever took was on a cheap vendor. The scratch-off layer didn't cover properly, and we had to reprint 5,000 tickets. That 'savings' of $200 turned into a $1,200 redo when quality failed.

In Q1 2024, I compared costs across 4 vendors for a run of 15,000 secure lottery ticket printing jobs. Vendor A quoted $0.38 per ticket. Vendor B quoted $0.31. I almost went with B until I calculated TCO: B charged a $120 setup fee, $65 for shipping, and $40 for a physical proof. Total: $4,890. Vendor A's $0.38 per ticket included everything: no setup fee, free shipping above $1,000. Total: $4,695. That's a 4% difference hidden in fine print. Vendor A was cheaper overall.

Step 4: Verify the Security of the Scratch-Off Layer

This is a technical detail, but it's critical for secure instant lottery tickets. The scratch-off latex needs to cover the prize area completely, and it needs to be opaque. If light can shine through, or if it can be scratched off with a fingernail and lifted in one piece (a sign of poor lamination), your security is compromised.

What to check: Ask the vendor for a sample or a physical proof. Don't rely on a digital PDF. Take the sample, hold it up to a bright light, and see if you can see through the scratch-off area. Try scratching it with a coin, a fingernail, and a regular pen tip. It should flake off, not peel off in one sheet.

According to standard security printing practices (Source: industry guidelines for scratch-off ticket production), a well-formulated scratch-off layer should have a Delta E opacity of less than 1 when tested against a light source. That's the industry standard for preventing 'see-through' fraud.

I made the mistake of trusting a digital proof once. The actual printed tickets had a thin spot in the scratch-off layer. We caught it before distribution, but only because we did the light test. It cost us a week of delay and a rush reprint. Trust the test, not the promise.

Step 5: Lock Down the Artwork Specs and File Setup

Artwork preparation fees and delays are a common hidden cost. Vendors often charge for file corrections or for converting files from RGB to CMYK, or for fixing low-resolution images. If you handle artwork in-house, get the exact specifications before you start.

The checklist for artwork:

• Resolution: Standard print resolution is 300 DPI at final size. For a 4" x 6" ticket, your image should be at least 1200 x 1800 pixels. Anything less, and the vendor will likely charge for a fix or the print will look fuzzy. (Source: Print resolution standards for commercial offset printing.)
• Color mode: Use CMYK, not RGB. Convert your Pantone colors to CMYK using the Pantone Color Bridge guide. Pantone 186 C (a common red), for example, converts to approximately C:0 M:90 Y:72 K:5 in CMYK, but the printed result can vary by paper and press. If color matching is critical, request a physical proof.
• Bleed: Your design should extend 0.125 inches (3mm) past the cut line on all sides. This prevents white edges after trimming.
• Serialization: If you need unique serial numbers on each ticket (which is common for personalized scratch off tickets), specify the format and placement clearly. Ambiguity here leads to change orders.

One thing I learned: don't assume your in-house designer knows print specs. I once submitted a file at 72 DPI (web resolution) for a marketing scratch off tickets order. The vendor caught it, but there was a $50 file prep fee. It was my fault, not the vendor's. Getting the spec sheet upfront from the vendor saves that $50 every time.

Final Pointers and Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Ordering too many or too few. For promotional scratch off printing, quantity breaks are significant. A run of 2,500 tickets might cost $0.60 each. A run of 10,000 might be $0.35 each. But don't order 10,000 if you only need 3,000 for the campaign. Storage, waste, and expiration dates (for time-sensitive promotions) make over-ordering a real cost.

Mistake 2: Ignoring the delivery timeline. Most secure lottery ticket printing vendors need 2-3 weeks for production and shipping, assuming standard turnaround. Rushing a job for next week can double the cost. I budget 4 weeks from order confirmation to delivery, just to have a buffer.

Mistake 3: Not asking about a 'qualified' quote. Some vendors quote a price that assumes you provide a 'print-ready' file. If your file needs corrections, the quote changes. Always ask: 'Is this price based on me submitting a print-ready file, or does it include your prepress services?'

My experience is based on about 200 mid-range orders for marketing and promotional materials, not on high-volume lottery industry contracts. If you're printing millions of tickets for a state lottery, your experience will differ. But for most B2B and marketing uses of personalized scratch off tickets and secure instant lottery tickets, these 5 steps will cover the main cost drivers.

Prices are for general reference as of early 2025; verify current rates with vendors.