A Brief History of Scratch Cards
Lotteries have entertained people around the world since ancient times, but modern-style scratch cards only emerged in the 1970s. The Massachusetts State Lottery introduced one of the earliest scratch-off tickets, The Instant Game, in the mid-1970s. In 1987, AstroMed Inc. patented a scratch card, helping bring wider popularity to these instant-result games.
Scratch cards had been around for decades before moving online in the 21st century. They began appearing at online casinos in late 2009 and 2010. Early games used Macromedia Flash and Java to recreate the paper-ticket experience on a computer. Players used a mouse to “scratch” the surface and reveal a potential prize.
Types of Online Scratch Cards
Digital scratch cards come in two main formats: browser-based games and downloadable games.
- Browser-Based Scratch Cards: This is the most common online format. The games run in a web browser, so users do not need to install software on their computer. They typically rely on the Flash plugin.
- Downloadable Scratch Cards: Users must download dedicated software to their computer. Once installed, it connects automatically to an online service provider, which supplies games without depending on browser support.
How to Play Online Scratch Cards
Few casino games are as simple to play as scratch cards. Get a card, remove its covering to reveal the symbols, and check whether they make a winning combination.
Play begins when you place a wager. Move your mouse over the card to uncover the symbols beneath. This reveals one symbol at a time, building anticipation. For a faster result, click the Show Card button to reveal the entire card at once.
Symbols differ from game to game. Some cards feature pictures, such as fruit, that need to line up or appear diagonally to win. Any winning combination is highlighted on screen.
Some games feature multiplier symbols such as 1X, 10X, or 50X to indicate a potential return: three 1X symbols pay your full bet, while three 2X symbols pay twice your bet, and so on. Depending on the casino, the top prize may be 50X your bet or more.
Winning on Online Scratch Cards
A big prize is possible, but the odds of winning big on a scratch card are low. As with slots, you can evaluate a scratch card by checking its return to player (RTP).
RTP is a percentage, not a promise of winnings, but it can help you compare scratch cards that may pay more over time. A higher RTP can indicate better prospects across many plays, but it cannot guarantee a result. Examples named among scratch cards with the highest RTP include Merlin’s Millions, Genie Jackpots, Wish Upon a Jackpot, Pig Wizard, and Gorilla Go Wild.
For entertainment, pick a scratch card with many wins and use the lowest wager available to make your play last longer. If your aim is to win money, the guidance is to choose a scratch card with many wins and bet more; neither approach guarantees a profit.
Keep a close eye on your budget, too. Online scratch cards can be fun, but your funds may run down quickly if you lose track. Set a win limit and a loss limit before playing, and stop when you reach either one.
How to Choose an Online Scratch Card
Major software providers offer thousands of online scratch card games, including NeoGames, PariPlay, and WinTingo. Like slots, scratch cards cover themes from sports and fantasy to comic books. They are no dependable route to wealth, but they can be entertaining and may result in winnings.
