Scratch cards online

As is the case with virtually everything else on the internet, there is no shortage of online scratch card games to choose from.

The variety stems from a host of established game vendors and the different approaches taken by each.

Scratch card games – or ‘Scratchies’ as they are more informally referred to – are why you’re here and these tips, tricks, and other valuable pieces of information should help get you started!

Online casinos with scratchies

Instant kiwi scratchies

By visiting the mylotto in nz is a great place to play local scratchies online. However for some reason they do not have open 24/7.

Instant kiwi
Instant kiwi

The offshore online casinos on the other hand the possibility to play scratch cards 24/7.

Online scratch card games – What are they?

Chances are that you have come across scratch cards at a stand or local store. These are cards that, as the name suggests, are scratched to reveal either a prize or nothing won.

There may be multiple sections to be scratched off to reveal a prize, with some requiring that you try and guess the winning section to scratch off.

The concept is the same for online scratch card games (also known as scratch tickets, scratchers, scratchums, scratchies, scritchies, scratch-its, or scratch-and-win). One differentiating factor is that online scratchies are virtual.

Online scratch cards became available around the year 2010 thanks to the power of Java and Flash technologies.

Online scratch card games fall into two categories:

  1. Download-based
  2. Web-based
Scratch cards
3 wow Scratch card

Download-based Scratch card games

These are a relatively older generation of online scratch cards where software must be downloaded to allow you to play.

Once downloaded and installed, the software then connects to an online card provider. Some game developers still offer these kinds of online scratchies.

Web-based Scratch Card Games

These are the most common nowadays as they are more convenient. No downloads or installation is required as everything runs on any supported browser. Web-based scratch card games offer convenience as you can start playing immediately and they can be played on any smart device.

Online vs offline scratch card games

It is the classic ‘modern vs traditional’ battle when comparing online and offline scratchies.

Random number generators power the virtual cards and they offer instant rewards if you have a winning ticket – your winnings are simply credited to your account.

There is absolutely no need to take a trip to the convenience store to claim your winnings.

There is no denying that there is an irreplaceable feeling that you can only get from scratching off a physical card and slowly but surely revealing a prize. The tangibility is alluring, plus the scratching part is quite enjoyable to some.

However, nostalgia aside, online scratchies give developers more leeway and allow them to add bonuses that are just not possible with traditional scratchies.

RTP and house edge of online scratch card games

By definition, RTP (Return to Player Rate) is the average percentage of how much the scratch card game is expected to pay its players over a period of time.

House edge kiwi
House edge

House Edge, or the house advantage, is the same thing with the only difference being in how the two figures are calculated.

They are reverses of each other, meaning that if the House Edge is 2%, the RTP is 98%.

Most online scratch card games have an RTP in the 95%-96% range, putting them at par with most slot games.

Types of scratch cards

Different vendors mean that there’s a wide variety to choose from.

  1. Officially-Recognized ScratchiesThese are popular, licensed, and affiliated with a specific entertainment show or franchise. Shows with massive followings like Wheel of Fortune offer an opportunity to tap into that audience by adding some favourite aspects of the show into the online scratch card game.They have great economic viability to developers and casino owners and are therefore very popular.
  2. Pokie ScratchiesGame developers normally take advantage of existing success stories in their stables. To capitalize on a popular pokie, developers create scratch card games based on the same theme. They end up being visually similar but different in the game mechanics.
  3. Bingo ScratchiesThe concept used in bingo is used here. Random numbers drawn are to be matched with the numbers in the scratchie to win.
  4. Standard ScratchiesThese are the brainchild of their respective developers because they are built from scratch. They have no affiliations to existing shows, games, or bingo but play just as well. They may not be as popular as the other types on this list.

Most scratchies are fairly straightforward and can therefore be further categorized into the number of rows and columns they have. So, 3×3 scratchies need only 3 matching symbols for a win, but 3×5 scratchies need a minimum of 4 matching symbols while 5×5 scratchies require all 5 symbols more often than not.

Whatever the type, you are sure to find a scratch card game you’ll thoroughly enjoy in one of the great casinos listed here.

Top 5 scratch card developers

  1. NextGen Gaming has been in the game development space for 20 years and has been continuously producing great titles. It is one of the world’s largest independent game design studios for online casino markets. NextGen is an established developer, bringing scratchies based on some of their popular pokies like the Foxin’ Wins, Robin Hood Prince of Tweets and Merlin’s Millions.
  2. Microgaming is a pioneer of the online gaming space and has been at it since the mid-90s. Their games catalogue is quite extensive, reaching far and wide within the industry. Microgaming is responsible for a lot of fan-favourite titles, with great scratchies like Ruby of the Nile, Foamy Fortune and Whack a Jackpot.
  3. Playtech: While not as renowned as Microgaming, Playtech boasts a large footprint in the industry, with thousands of employees all over the globe. It has experienced immense growth since its humble beginnings in 1999, to now offering over 600 games including a variety of scratchies, many inspired by popular pokies. Look out for titles like The Hulk and Kong: The Eighth Wonder of the World
  4. Pariplay Ltd was founded in 2010, but despite being a ‘newcomer’ in the iGaming industry, it has proven to be worth its salt. Pariplay has consistently produced games that meet the highest standards. Popular online scratchies from this stable include Fruit Basket, Fish & Chips and Zodiac fortune. Don’t miss a Pariplay-developed game in the casino of your choice.
  5. NetEnt: With its roots in Sweden, NetEnt is very much a key player in the online casino gaming industry. While they remain proficient in the slots offerings, they have more than held their own in the scratchies that they have brought to market. Honorable mentions from NetEnt include Ace and Lucky 7.

How to play scratch cards online

Once you have your casino of choice, make a deposit into your account and select the scratch card game you wish to play.

This will probably be found under ‘instant wins’ or ‘other games’. Scratchies have simple interfaces that are easy to grasp even for a first-timer.

More about instant win games here

Potential winnings from scratchies

Just like any other casino game, it is possible to win huge amounts but maybe on rare occasions. Payouts are still relatively great though, often in the hundreds of dollars.

FAQ

Which payment methods can be used for playing Scratchies?

You can use a variety of methods like Paypal, Visa, Bitcoin, and Skrill.

Are there free spins and bonuses when playing Scratchies?

No, those do not apply to Scratchies.

Is there a welcome bonus for playing Scratchies?

It depends on the casino you choose as to whether scratchies are included in the games that you can use your welcome bonus on.