Scratch Card
The very first scratch cards were developed as instant lottery tickets and were first produced in 1974, before being patented in 1987 and having their heyday in the 1990s.
But despite their relatively short history, scratch cards are one of those things that seem to have been around forever, and that’s because the gambling public has a close relationship with them.
We all remember them growing up, we remember buying them, playing them, and even winning on them. The fondness that the general public has for scratch cards is why they were one of the first things to be added to early online casinos.
Scratch Card Casinos
As mentioned above, scratch cards have been around for a few decades and online scratch cards are as old as online roulette and online slots. But in recent years they have lost their appeal somewhat and this has led to them becoming quite rare on some of the newer casinos, with some developers refusing to even create them.
That’s because the latest generation of gamblers grew up with online slots, live casinos and other exciting interactive games and they see online scratch cards as a basic, simplified alternative.
This view is also shared by some more experienced gamblers and it all concerns the potential of these games.
In their most basic form, scratch cards are essentially just lotteries, albeit ones where the results are shown instantly. If you make them a little more complex, adding big graphics, bonus features and more, then you’re basically creating a bonus slot without the reels.
This is the issue that many developers face, and it’s why online scratch cards have taken a backseat in recent years.
Casinos with Scratch Cards
Casinos don’t create their own games. They license them from major software developers, which is why many casinos seem to have the same games.
So, the question of “which casinos have the best scratch cards” is more a question of, “which developer creates the best scratch cards”. And while there is always an element of subjectivity, the best in our eyes is Microgaming.
We have highlighted the work that they do a lot on this site and you could be forgiven for thinking that they were our favourite developer. That’s simply not the case and there are a couple others who we believe create better slots and are better in other areas too.
However, there are few who are as constantly brilliant as Microgaming are. They lead the way when it comes to scratch cards simply because they are the only developer who seems to have emphasised the importance of these games. Many other big names don’t provide any, while others seem to have included them as an afterthought.
Microgaming Scratch Cards
Here is just a small selection of Microgaming scratch cards:
- 7-up
- Space Evader
- Pharaoh’s Gems
- Mumbai Magic
- Freezing Fuzzballs
- The Link Scratch
- Bingo Bonanza
- Caterpillar Scratch
- Hand to Hand Combat
- Game Set and Scratch
- Halloween Scratch
Countries
Online vs Offline Scratch Cards
There are a few differences between offline and online cards, and in the following cases online ones are superior:
- Instant: Online scratch cards can be revealed with the click of a button and any winnings will be transferred immediately.
- Variety: Your local shop can only stock so many cards and if any of these sell-out then you can’t play them. Online casinos can sell many more and none of these sell out.
- Price: While your online store won’t stock high-roller scratch cards, simply because they don’t cater to big gamblers, online casinos do.
How to Win at Online Scratch Cards
There is no concrete strategy for beating any game of chance. Unlike poker, which is played against other players and can be beaten with skill, and blackjack, which can be beaten with perfect strategy, scratch cards are down to the luck of the draw.
There are a few important things to remember though and if you get these right then your chances of success may increase:
Mindset
The right mindset is always important when it comes to gambling. On the one hand, you should never assume you are going to win, but on the other hand you shouldn’t believe that the casino will beat you every time.
While it is true that the house always wins, this doesn’t mean they win every game or that they will beat every player. It means that if 100 players play 100 games, they can expect to win enough of them to be in profit at the end. They may beat 60% and lose to 40%—-as far as they are concerned, that’s a good thing.
As a player, your goal is to be one of the 40% instead of one of the 60%.
Payouts
Not all scratch cards have the same odds, but all of them should be transparent about their odds. It’s the same with any game, and your duty as a player is to find the one that serves you the best.
For instance, if you are the sort of gambler who is happy to write off their deposit and only cares about big wins, then you can go for big odds and big jackpots (the two go hand in hand). If you’re the sort of gambler who gets upset with any loss and is happy with the slightest of profit, go for short odds and smaller jackpots.
With online scratch cards, the odds are displayed in relation to how many cards will be successful on average, such as “1 in 4” or “1 in 2.5”. In the first case, it means that, on average, you need to buy 4 cards to get 1 that is a winner.
Bonuses
Finally, and most importantly, make sure you are getting a good bonus. Take a look at our casino online real money rankings to get some help here, as we have reviewed countless top online casinos to highlight the ones that are safe, secure and player-friendly, while also offering a wealth of big bonuses.
This is important because bonuses are basically free cash, and there is no better way to guarantee a profit and to minimise your losses than to play with someone else’s money!