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.

The winner is the first player that shouts "Buena!" or "Lotera!" right after completing a tabla or a previous agreed pattern, similar to bingo: row, column, diagonal, four corners, or unique to this game, or four in a square (a pozo')'.