Loteria has been played as a game of chance, as a pastime, and for educational purposes. Because the Loteria cards include the name of the pictured character, they are used to teach reading, writing, history, and social values. Many bilingual teachers use the game as a teaching tool in the United States.

A traditional game of chance, lotera the Spanish word for lottery is often referred to as Mexican bingo, where illustrated cards depicting the Mexican aesthetic replace bingo balls.