Brief History of Scratch Cards
The first lottery scratch cards were very simple. They had a one covered layer and up to four sections, with thin membranes that lucky players would scratch to reveal matching symbols. The first scratch cards had numbers and letters as symbols, but soon words, symbols, and pictures were available. Players could also find symbols from popular casino games, such as Blackjack. A more advanced version of these early scratch cards is still available today at kiosks and land-based casinos. Besides the national lottery, most physical scratch cards are manufactured by Pollard Banknote and Scientific Games. But gone are the days where players had to go to a convenience store to get cards, then look for coins or other blunt scratching tools if they didn’t want to get dirty nails.
Modern Day Scratch Cards
Since 2010, gamblers can also play scratch cards online, with Flash and Java technology that perfectly simulates the scratching graphics and sound effects of physical cards. It’s now also possible to play games that feature popular characters like King Kong and Rocky, which makes for more engaging and satisfying gameplay. Today, most online casinos use Random Number Generators (RNGs) to run scratchcard games, as well as slot machine games.
The basic card will have a 3×3 grid of hidden symbols that a player clicks on to reveal the symbols. If there are three similar symbols or numbers, you’re a lucky winner. The winnings from scratch cards are rarely huge, so you’ll probably not make a fortune. At some of the best online casino UK websites, players can play scratchers as a bonus round on video slots. At other casinos, you can even find games that carry a jackpot. The chances of you getting bigger payouts are generally proportional to the size of your stake. While not every player can afford to play high-stakes games, some strategies can boost your chance of getting winning scratch cards.
Why Play Scratch Cards Online?
Some players may enjoy the intricate mechanisms and sophisticated strategies that are required for casino games like Baccarat, Blackjack, and Poker. However, the truth is that for you to become competitive at these games, you have to study these strategies and practice for hours on end. Playing slots with free spins no deposit 2019 UK or scratching cards, on the other hand, are perfect alternatives in terms of enjoyment and simplicity. The best part is that you can enjoy this low cost fun from the comfort of your sofa. Of course, we’re not encouraging you to stay on your couch for too long, that’s not good for your health—but we know you get the picture.
Types of Scratch Cards
There are different types of scratch cards that you’ll find at online casinos, and not all are made equal. If you’re not playing them already, here are some of the types of best scratch cards to buy.
Casino Scratch Cards
As you can probably imagine from their name, casino scratch cards take a lot of influence from traditional games like Blackjack, Slots, and Roulette. Slots-themed games are especially a massive hit due to their high-quality graphics, sounds, and animations. They are also Flash-based, which means players can enjoy them on the move as well. If you choose to play Blackjack-themed scratch cards, the game deals cards for both you and the dealer. You then have to scratch the cards to reveal your hands and win prizes as high as £100,000 if your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s. With Roulette-themed games, you spin the online roulette wheel to generate winning numbers, then try to match them with what’s on your cards. Players can also find games that are themed after Video Poker, with the potential to play up to 25 hands at a time, all with simplified rules.
Bingo Scratch Cards
The name is just as obvious—these scratch cards come with a Bingo theme. The cards look like Bingo cards, and you also get minor features like number boards and Bingo ball dispensers. However, instead of a complete Bingo card, players get lines of three numbers which have to match with balls drawn from the dispenser. The most popular variants include The 60s, a 75-ball Bingo based game that dispenses 30 balls and allows players to buy up to 4 tickets. If any of the numbers on your scratch cards match ones from the dispenser, you’ll be a winner. Bubble Bingo has 3 prizes per card from up to 12 tickets per player at a time. Yet another popular variant is Bingo Mania, which has 12 balls, 3 numbers per card, and up to 6 cards per player.
Lottery Scratch Cards
Some scratch cards may look like regular lottery tickets, but with the advantage of instant potential wins. They are almost always fun to play, with one of the most popular one being Jungle Joy. In this game, players scratch 4 squares from a 3×3 grid to reveal animal symbols. If any three symbols match, then they are a winner. Other popular games are themed around sports, fruits, fantasy, comic books, fish, jewels, popular movies, and personalities. Another cool game is Super 3 Wow, where players can get up to three cards in a game.
Jackpot Scratch Cards
The stakes are higher and more players look for the best scratch cards to buy UK when lucrative instant jackpots are involved. As you already know we have a way of getting the best options that you can play for low stakes as well. Just imagine the rush of scratching for a pound or two, and having the chance to reveal a £1 million combination. Some of the most enjoyable jackpot scratchers include Wintry Wonderland, Arabian Delights, Beat the Bank, and Beachside Bonanza. Other thrilling games include the unique 4-tier progressive jackpot, Winners Club Scratch, as well as the £1 million jackpot Macau Nights.
National Lottery Scratch Cards
Most UK players are familiar with the National Lottery scratch cards logo. These paper scratchers can still be bought at most retail shops around Britain. These games usually vary between 1 and 5 Euro and have different payouts as well. Players can buy as many cards as they want. However, according to The Guardian, the National Lottery has a finite number of winning tickets. Some retailers have also previously continued selling tickets, even after most of the prizes had been claimed, and winning statistics were almost non-existent.
How to Play Online Scratch Cards
Before we go deeper into tips and strategies on how to win on scratch cards UK, we’ll assume you’re a newbie and start with the basics. To start playing, you need to register at a top online casino (more on that later) and navigate to the scratch cards section. You’ll usually find several games, with a variety of styles, bet limits, payout limits, and themes, so you’ll have to choose the best scratch cards for your particular preferences. The next step is to click on the coin selector to determine the amount of money that you’ll be playing with per card. The plus and minus signs will increase or decrease your stake. Players can then click the New Card button and start playing on a new card that appears on the screen.
At most casinos, you can manually scratch the cards using a virtual coin, guitar pucker, or any number of tools. Nostalgic players who used to scratch paper cards usually prefer the manual scratching option. You can also play faster using an auto-scratch option that instantly uncovers the entire scratch card. You can repeat this process for as long as you like, or look at other games if you get bored. If the results are in your favour, your winnings are calculated based on your stake. The value of the symbols in your winning combination also determines the payout amount. A paytable shows the symbols’ values, and winnings are automatically added to player accounts.
Virtually every player wants to know precisely how to win on scratch cards—so let’s not dilly-dally anymore, and get into the bone of the matter. Our experts have played and researched these online casino games over time and have loads of titbits to crank up your gaming skills.
Scratch Cards Strategies
Playing scratch cards online is instantly gratifying and exciting. The game is purely luck-based, which will get your adrenaline pumping and nerves on edge as you scratch the next card. However, that’s just the broad perspective of the game. Whether you’re playing free online scratch cards for fun or buy scratch cards and expect potential returns, you can use slots.xyz strategies to get more out of your bankroll.
If you’re looking to make scratching cards your next online adventure, we’ll help you boost your odds of winning using the strategies listed below. At the very least, these strategies will help you avoid losing all your cash. However, these strategies only work if you’re playing at a legally licensed casino, with fair game RTP percentages.
Choose the Scratch Cards Betting Site: Like we mentioned earlier, you’ll most likely find the best scratch cards to win on UK sites that have the best casino reviews. There are also several basics to choosing an online casino that we’ll touch on in later sections.
Use Bonuses to Your Advantage: Whether you want to play slots, live casino blackjack, or scratch cards, bonuses can boost your bankroll and your winning chances. Not sure where to find or how to find free scratch cards no deposit bonuses? After reading the next section, you’ll be as much an expert as the guys here at slots.xyz.
Decide Your Stake: The allure of instant wins may result in you incurring immediate losses. Before you start scratching, always decide if you’re going to play 25p, 50p, £10, and so forth. If you’re not too sure, it’s always better to start with the lowest price or free scratch cards, then later decide if you want to up the ante.
Keep it Fun: It’s easy to get carried away and start trying out every game in sight until you blow your bankroll. The best way to win when playing scratch cards is to keep it light and have fun. If it becomes more about getting maximum returns, then you’re already doing it wrong.
Online Scratch Cards Bonuses
Top casinos usually not only allow customers to play Blackjack online free, but they also have free versions of other games, including scratch cards. However, as you may expect from free games, players can’t cash out any of the winnings that they rack up. To be fair, none of the losses are real either. With that said, players can still win, even after scratching for free using bonuses. Once you’ve accepted your bonus, played, and cleared your wagering requirements, you’ll be able to withdraw real cash. Let’s just take a quick peek at some of the most common bonuses that you’ll most likely encounter.
No Deposit Bonus: Just like online slots no deposit free bonus offers, scratch cards no deposit don’t need much of an introduction. As the name suggests, players can get the bonus and play for real money winnings, without having to deposit any of their own money. Players usually find this type of bonus at a brand new casino or when a casino introduces new scratch cards that it wants to promote. You may even sometimes get amazing free slots no deposit no card details win real money offers. The number of no deposit scratch cards games, as well as the potential winnings, are, however, minimal. You can expect to get, at most, £10-£20. You’ll also get a decent idea of how the game works, without any risk. Just be sure to read the full no deposit scratch cards terms and conditions before you opt-in on the bonus.
Free Scratchies: Are somewhat similar to free spins. Players usually get a certain number of games free together with a matched bonus on their first deposit. For example, a casino may offer a welcome bonus of 50% up to £100 + 100 free scratchies.
Match Deposit Bonus: Unlike with no deposit bonuses, matched bonuses reward players according to how much they deposit into their accounts. A typical matched deposit bonus is a 100% bonus up to £250. What this means is that if you deposit £250, you’ll have £500 available to play with.
Mobile Player Bonuses: Sometimes casinos will offer bonuses and promotions, especially for particular players, such as mobile players or customers from a specific country. Offers like mobile casino free bonus no deposit allow new players that register using their mobile devices to play scratch cards for free. These free mobile scratch cards no deposit offers may require you to verify your account using your phone number. They also usually have the best no deposit bonus wagering requirements and other terms and conditions.
Cashback: When every customer plays scratch cards for real money, they usually hope to get a winning combination. However, you’ll occasionally incur more losses than you’d anticipated. In such cases, some casinos will refund you with up to 10% of your net losses. Cashback promotions can be awarded as a bonus or real money. As you may imagine, most cashback offers have limits to avoid abuse by players.
Choosing Casinos with Scratch Cards
As we mentioned earlier, a lot of players are now playing UK scratch cards. You’re also spoilt for choice in terms of casinos that have exciting and enjoyable titles. We often advise players to consider whether their chosen casino is licensed and regulated by reputable regulators like the UKGC and Gibraltar Gaming Authority. Certification by independent auditors like eCOGRA also gives a credibility boost to the games you’re playing.
You may register at a particular casino when you are itching to buy scratch cards online and getting your gaming fix, but end up enjoying other games as well. It may, therefore, be in your best interests to choose a casino that has a massive overall selection of games. Many sites will offer the bonuses that we mentioned earlier, and even more, so you need to choose where you get the best offer. If you enjoy playing on the move, then you may also want to review the available mobile gaming options.
Platforms to Play Scratch Cards
How you enjoy your favourite will ultimately be a matter of the devices that you prefer to use. You may even find a perfect casino in terms of the best scratch cards, bonuses, and payment options. In the past, you could start going through the registration process, only to find out that your device is not compatible with the casino software. The current crop of casinos, however, provides gaming options for every type of player. You just need a reliable internet connection, and you’re good to go. It’s, however, still advisable to browse through casino reviews that me and my team regularly update, if only to check the available set of options. You can start scratching cards using the following options.
PC Software
Some casinos have a downloadable PC software pack that customers have to download before they start playing. These software packs usually contain most of the game sounds and graphics, such that the internet only contributes in terms of winning odds. Players will, therefore, enjoy enhanced, less data-heavy gameplay than they would, playing web-based scratch cards. You can find downloadable scratchers on Mac, Windows, Linux, as well as operating systems like Ubuntu.
Web-Based
As the internet technology and technology, in general, get more advanced speeds and processing capabilities, the case for using downloadable scratch cards is quickly getting weaker. Web-based games are now able to provide the same quality gameplay as installed software. In fact, players on web-based platforms can enjoy casino gaming on multiple devices without having to download, install, and uninstall software. All you need is to login to the casino or lottery website using modern web browsers like Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, and Safari.
Mobile
The advancement of mobile technology has also spawned a boost in the popularity of scratch cards with younger players who prefer to play on-the-go. Players can use their mobile devices by downloading iOS, Android, or Windows native apps. They can also use HTML5-based mobile websites to play where they want and when they want. Cutting-edge casinos are also offering mobile scratch cards that allow players to scratch the screen using their fingers like they would a paper card. Most players prefer such gameplay, as it’s more immersive and authentic than revealing symbols on the entire card with a single click.
Online Scratch Cards Software Providers
The meteoric rise of online scratch cards UK also mainly came as a result of several top-notch software developers that created innovative graphics, sounds, and gameplay. If you register at a casino that allows players to filter games according to the software developer, you might want to search for games from the following studios. We’ve included industry veterans, as well as new players who’re making a name for themselves with their high-quality, modern lotto scratch cards.
Microgaming
Microgaming is one of the biggest names in online gambling. Thousands of prime gambling establishments boast of Microgaming games, including numerous scratch cards. The developer scored too many awards to count over the years, including the Hooded Ram Brewing Co Award for Company of the Year 2018. They also bagged the EGR B2B Mobile gaming software 2017, Innovation in slot provision 2019, and Poker network 2018. Look out for games like Beer Fest, Bowled Over, Bingo Bonanza, Six Shooter Looter, Cashapillar, and Bill and Ted.
Playtech
Playtech is yet another game developer that’s been around for a while. The software studio recently won the 2019 Gaming Intelligence Awards Supplier Innovation and Poker Supplier of the Year awards. Their excellence also spreads to their scratch cards, which have outstanding graphics. The games are widely regarded by players as some of the best. Look out for games like Rocky, Beetle Bingo, Blackjack, and Iron Man 2.
NetEnt
NetEnt is an industry giant, with plenty of award-winning games under its belt. Their games just never disappoint. In 2019, the company was awarded a hat trick of the Best Live Casino Provider, Best Support for Responsible Gambling, and Best Online Casino Provider at Southern European Gaming (SEG) awards. Scratch cards from NetEnt provide gameplay that’s unique to what you get from other developers. Their library has titles like 7 Gold Scratch, Treasure Hunt, Bubbles, Lucky Double, Shoot 4 Gold.
NeoGames
Since 2005, NeoGames has specialised in scratch cards, as well as other instant-win and lottery games. They’ve also expanded into the slots market, but rest assured they are still creating plenty of excellent scratchers. NeoGames also has a host of other web, tablet, and mobile optimised games, including The Fairy Tale, Legends of Terra, Cash Farm, The Lost Maya, and Lucky Eggs.
GameSys
GameSys has a diverse portfolio of recognisable and distinctive brands that deliver the best player experience in their class. The software developer is focused on providing excellent gaming content to a global audience. Their best scratchers include Deal or No Deal, Cash Crop, Scratchcard Shop, Gold Fever, and Bejeweled.
Best Scratch Card Odds
Earlier, we mentioned that scratch cards were pretty much a game of chance. Newbies usually tend to focus on the odds of winning the jackpot, but more seasoned players look at the bigger picture. The less you incur small losses, the more you win overall. It, therefore, stands to reason that you’d want to play games that have the highest odds of winning. Before you ask—yes, we know some of the scratchers with the best RTPs. Every casino game’s RTP has to be published, and the following games have some of the highest figures:
- Pig Wizard – RTP 95.82%
- Wish Upon a Jackpot – RTP 96.06%
- Gorilla Go Wild – RTP 95.43%
- Merlin’s Millions – RTP 95.17%
- Genie Jackpots – RTP 95.82%
Conclusion
It would sound funny to say that players enjoy online scratch cards UK because they are available on the move—players can still scratch paper cards on-the-go as well. However, you’ll save yourself that trip to the convenience store, as you enjoy a broader range of games in the process. Players who don’t want to play discreetly can also happily do so online. Scratch cards are easy to play and massively enjoyable as well. Simply select your game and stake, then start scratching away. If you don’t want to commit too much brain power, practice, and strategy to your gaming, scratchers are the perfect game. Older players who enjoyed paper scratchers will also enjoy the nostalgia factor. They would, more often than not, lose their stake—but today the stakes and potential winnings have grown massively.
