What Are Online Scratch Offs?

By Jessica Whitehouse,
Editor at online-gambling.com

Jessica Whitehouse Editor at online-gambling.com

Jessica Whitehouse is a content expert and editor from Santa Monica, California. At online-gambling.com, she focuses on roulette, blackjack reviews, lottery, and casino payments. Whitehouse is also our leading go-to expert in online gambling in South Africa. In addition, she provides the photo materials for most articles on the site.

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Last updated: December 16, 2019

Online Scratch Offs (also known as scratch cards and scratchers) are digital versions of the traditional scratch cards. Like the physical version of the game, the object of an online Scratch Off is to uncover symbols that trigger a prize. Wins are also paid out by the website operator rather than the government, and the payout scheme is a bit different as well.

For online Scratch Offs, you use a click instead of a quarter © Wikimedia Commons

Here’s everything you need to know about online Scratch Offs.

How Do Online Scratch Offs Work?

Much like an online casino, a website providing online scratch cards accepts deposits from members who can use those credits to purchase tickets. In fact, many online casinos offer Scratch Offs as part of their gaming options. In terms of casino games, online Scratch Offs are most similar to Slots, although they will likely be categorized under “Specialty Games” or “Other.” However, Scratch Offs, in general, are different from lottery draws or Keno because you either win or lose the moment you purchase a ticket, then “scratch off” each area of the ticket to find out if it’s a winner. There’s no waiting involved.

Much like the physical versions, online Scratch Offs come in different setups and themes. But the goal is to reveal specific icons that trigger multipliers. The multiplier wins are applied to the price of the card, which can be adjusted within the game. Rather than buy a “$1 scratcher,” you would choose an online Scratch Off and set the value of the card. The higher the card’s value, the more you win if you trigger a multiplier. (The size of the bet does not affect the odds of winning.)

As an example, if you were to play an online Scratch Off valued at $2 per card and won a 10x multiplier, you would win $20.

For traditional Scratch Offs, you don’t have to uncover every individual icon if you don’t want to. Instead, you can simply scratch off the bar code and hand it back to the cashier to see if you’ve won (or scan it at a lottery machine). Similarly, you can click the “Reveal All” button on an online Scratch Off to reveal every space at once.

Most online versions even let you set a certain number of cards to automatically play through. For example, you could set a $1 per card online Scratch Off to play through 10 cards for $10, and the game will proceed automatically until the budget is reached. Any wins will be deposited into your account along the way.

Are Physical Scratchers Better Than Online Scratch Offs?

Physical Scratch Offs are popular for their simplicity, affordability, and high potential of a large payout compared to a number draw lottery ticket. For example, you have a 1 in 250 million+ chance of winning the Mega Millions jackpot, while a million-dollar Scratch Off jackpot can have a 1 in 500,000 chance of winning. And any prize can have a 1 in 4 chance of winning, which is as good as the lottery gets.

However, for avid Scratch Off players, playing online Scratch Offs will save you trips to the store while providing far more options. At sites that focus on Scratch Offs specifically, you could have over a hundred options are your disposal.

Other benefits of online Scratch Offs include bonus offers and loyalty points for continued play that could mean free money for more chances to win.

Before joining and depositing at a website that offers online Scratch Offs, take the time to do some research. Like any betting website, it’s important to ensure it’s a reputable operator that’s both well-regulated and well-reviewed. There are also a good number of choices available to players in the US, and each one offers a different set of benefits to appeal to various players. That makes comparing and contrasting all the more crucial.