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 traditional Lotera card deck is composed of a set of 54 different cards, each with a different picture. To start the game, the caller (cantor, Spanish for "singer") shuffles the deck.