Fast Play vs Scratch Offs: What's the Difference?
Both Fast Play and scratch off games are instant-win lottery tickets — there's no drawing to wait for, and you find out if you've won right away. The difference is in how the ticket is made.
Scratch off tickets
Scratch off tickets are preprinted in bulk at a factory, shipped to retailers, and sold from a physical roll or dispenser. Every ticket in that print run was created with the same fixed set of possible outcomes before a single one was ever sold. You physically scratch the ticket to reveal your result.
Fast Play / Print n Play tickets
Fast Play games — also called FastPlay, Print n Play, InstaPlay, Quick Win, or EZPLAY depending on the state — are generated fresh by a lottery terminal or vending machine the moment you buy one. There's no roll of preprinted tickets; the terminal prints your specific ticket and result on demand.
Why the difference matters for remaining prize data
Because scratch offs come from a fixed preprinted batch, many states can publish exactly how many prizes remain in that batch. Fast Play games are generated on demand, so several states don't publish the same kind of remaining-prize breakdown for them — some publish a live progressive jackpot figure instead, and some publish nothing beyond the game rules. Check each specific game's page for what data that state actually publishes.
Responsible gaming reminder:Neither format is more or less "fair" than the other, and this comparison does not recommend one over the other. Both are games of chance. This information does not predict winners or improve odds. See our Responsible Gaming Resources.
Always verify with the official source: Game rules, odds, and available data vary by state and by game. Confirm current details on the official state lottery website before playing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Fast Play games?+
Fast Play games are instant lottery games printed on demand from a terminal or vending machine at the time of purchase, rather than being preprinted like traditional scratch-off tickets.
Are Fast Play and Print n Play the same thing?+
They describe the same underlying concept — a terminal-printed instant game. Print n Play is Virginia's brand name for it; other states call it Fast Play, FastPlay, InstaPlay, Quick Win, or EZPLAY.
Do Fast Play games show remaining prizes the same way scratch offs do?+
Not always. Some states publish a full remaining-prize tier breakdown for Fast Play, some publish only a live progressive jackpot figure, and some publish neither. Check each game's own page.
Does this data predict winners?+
No. This tracker does not predict winners, improve odds, or guarantee any outcome for either format.