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In many ways, the look and feel of video lottery terminals (VLTs) is very similar to that of slot machines. The target audience is not being asked to engage in anything resembling a game of skill, yet in a way that is not overtly patronizing, they are being rewarded for mindless, if not exactly effortless, play. The bright lights, entertaining sounds, and simple objectives of VLTs and their many look-alikes make them attractive to customers looking to spend a little time and money in a gambling establishment.
Web-based scratchcards offered by the UK National Lottery usually require Flash to play, as do the downloadable versions. However, a number of sites and companies associated with the National Lottery cater to players who prefer a different type of game by offering instant win alternatives.
Scratch card sites taking US players
The same 8 facts for every site below, and nothing beyond them. How the list is made.
We keep 10 names here. Position depends on the welcome terms, the regulator on record and the brand’s track record — not on who pays us most.
- 1
Red Dog Casino- 200% up to $8,000
- Wagering 35x
- From $10
- Code WAGGINGTAILS
- Anjouan
- crypto · card · wire
- Online since 2019
Claim offerOpen to US players - 2
Slots.Lv- 200% up to $3,000 plus 30 free spins
- Wagering 35x
- From $20
- Online since 2013
Claim offerOpen to US players - 3
Las Atlantis- 280% up to $9,500
- Wagering 35x
- From $10
- Code LASATLANTIS
- Government of Anjouan (Union of Comoros)
- crypto · card · e-wallet · voucher
- Online since 2020
Claim offerOpen to US players - 4
Xbet Casino- 200% up to $500
- Wagering 40x
- From $50
- Code XB300
- crypto · card · wire
- Online since 2013
Claim offerOpen to US players - 5
Super Slots Casino- 250% up to $6,000 plus 100 free spins
- Wagering 48x
- From $20
- Code CRYPTO400
- Panama Gaming Commission
- crypto · card · wire · P2P
- Online since 2020
Claim offerOpen to US players - 6
BC.Game Casino- 120% up to $4,000 plus 400 free spins
- Anjouan (Union de las Comoras)
- crypto · card · wire
- Online since 2017
Claim offerOpen to US players - 7
El Royale Casino- 230% up to $7,500
- Wagering 40x
- From $10
- Code ROYALSHOW
- Government of Anjouan (Union of Comoros)
- crypto · card · e-wallet · voucher
- Online since 2020
Claim offerOpen to US players - 8
MyBookie Casino- 300% up to $2,000 plus 50 free spins
- Wagering 40x
- From $50
- Code 200MYB
- crypto · card · wire
- Online since 2014
Claim offerOpen to US players - 9
BetUS Casino- 250% up to $4,000
- Wagering 40x
- From $100
- Code CAS250
- Curacao
- crypto · card · wire
- Online since 1994
Claim offerOpen to US players - 10
Bovada Casino- 125% up to $3,750
- Wagering 25x
- From $10
- Code BTCCWB1250
- Curacao
- crypto · card · wire
- Online since 2011
Claim offerOpen to US players
Commercial content. 21+ only. Gambling involves risk — never stake money you cannot afford to lose. Offers and terms change; check the operator page before you deposit.
Web-Based Cards
Several websites now offer virtual versions of the scratch cards found in local convenience stores. And the games they offer are just like the classic cards you're used to. (They may even be identical, depending on where you live.) Scratchcards are quickly becoming one of the most popular forms of online gambling.
These types of cards are exceptionally easy to distribute; you can do it via direct email, an embedded link or widget, or on any social media platform you prefer. They take the instant gratification of a classic scratch card to a new level by allowing you to share the experience virtually. You can play the digital version in any browser that supports Adobe Flash - a feature that's made the platform popular with a wide range of people.
Online fundraising is taking place through web-based scratchcards, which are gaining traction as a new tool for this nascent industry. Bullseye Fundraising began pioneering this platform about two years ago, debuting with nonprofit partners such as the Tiger Woods Foundation and Habitat for Humanity. Bullseye allows users to purchase virtual scratch cards through its site, and 100 percent of the proceeds go directly to the nonprofit fundraising event.
Downloadable Cards
In order to use downloadable cards, you need to have certain software installed on your computer. The software does the work of connecting you to an online scratchcard service while you are actually offline. When you use the card and the service, you have the ability to play without being connected to the Internet.
Arguments Against Online Scratch Cards
Many people who oppose online scratchcards argue that the games are based on retro board games, such as Mousetrap, that are familiar to younger players. But producers of online scratch cards counter this argument by saying that these games are based on retro designs that are familiar to anyone over the age of about 20, and therefore these people are more likely to be familiar with the concept of an online scratch card.
Don't bet on the kids' nostalgia for booby trap board games! Most young teenagers won't be as tempted by online scratch card games modeled after board games like Connect4, Candy Land and Mousetrap because they are not as nostalgic for kids of that age. Candidates for a slot theme don't include Connect4, Candy Land or Mousetrap.
Lottery companies need to be responsible in their marketing practices and game design choices. If not, they're gambling (ha!) with something far more important than their bottom line. And why is that? Because they could be setting some young person on the path to a gambling addiction, which we know is partly learned and partly inborn. And it's a road that's hard to get off once you're there, especially if you started down it at a young age.
Numerous men and women with addiction problems began their substance or object experiences as young teenagers, between the ages of 12 and 15. Therefore, it would be illegal to create familiar, nostalgic, and obviously youth-focused lottery games because it would be placing the youth who play them in a gambling-priming situation.
The online scratch card services also face problems with cheating and fraudulent activity. Player cheating does exist, and when players are caught, they face penalties that can affect their ability to access online scratchcards in the future.
Player fraud usually takes the form of individuals attempting to gain repeated access to site or game bonuses by registering under different names. For example, a site may offer a post-registration bonus in the form of a free card. Someone committing collusion would create multiple accounts under different names in order to access this bonus more than once.
If an online scratch card service finds that there has been cheating, they will usually move quickly to ban the accounts of anyone found to be committing this cheating. As with any other gaming site, if a player is found to be cheating, the online scratch card service has every right to ban that player from their site in the future, meaning that this player would have no chance at all to experience the thrill of online scratch cards. And quite frankly, if a player is found to be cheating on one of these services, it's likely that they've done so on other gaming sites as well.
Benefits of Online Scratch Cards
However, for individuals who enjoy or are accustomed to the "analog" form of gambling and are not inclined to use the Internet, there really isn't anything enticing enough to make you switch to an online gaming format. However, if you do decide to change just one part of your routine and experience the thrill of possibly winning with a card (or two) purchased from a government-regulated lottery site as opposed to a private one, that could certainly be described as a fun twist on what is essentially a very stale routine.
Internet-based scratch cards are also green, as they do away with the paper or cardboard materials that go into traditional scratch cards. If you are an eco-conscious individual and enjoy playing scratch-off games, yet disapprove of the waste that goes into them or the eventual litter that discarded cards may represent, scratch cards that you access via the Internet may be a better bet for you.
Responsible Gambling with Online Scratch Cards
Even though online scratchcards don't seem to have any negative side effects, you should always be careful when placing bets online. They can really control you if you're not careful.
Try to rely on the sanctioned and regulated online scratch-off sites of your country. When possible, weed out the companies and people who might be trying to scam or defraud you - and who would much rather deal in cash than in the regulated way that online gambling is supposed to be conducted. You don't have to be an online security expert to figure out that a site with the gambling equivalent of a burger joint isn't worth the risk to your financial and personal information.
Set a spending limit or the limit on your debit or credit card. Once you use it up, stop spending. It is too easy to get caught up in the fun of these games and not realize that you are spending money you cannot afford to lose. These games usually have a very low upfront cost, but they can have a slippery slope effect. You start out spending very little, and before you know it, you have spent much more.
Regardless of the game or location, responsible gambling should always be at the forefront of your mind if you want a stress-free gaming experience. Of course, this is even more critical when you are playing for real money.
Conclusion
When it comes to the many decisions you face on a daily basis, take comfort in the fact that choosing between playing online scratchcards and traditional scratchcards is a simple, low-stakes decision. You can feel comfortable with whichever choice you make because both options have very similar implications.
Scratchcards that are available online are a convenient and tempting option for people who usually limit their gambling to online casinos or online sportsbooks. There's hardly a quicker or easier way to play a game of chance with the potential for outsized rewards, and the rewards can be experienced from the comfort of your own couch. Scratchcards are available at many online casinos and many of the online platforms that offer virtual sports betting.
It is important to remember, however, that it is far too easy to overspend on online games, as opposed to physically interactive ones, because you are only engaged by the click of a mouse. And when you consider that you don't have to pay for the game by handing your real money or some sort of card to the cashier at your local corner store, it becomes even easier to associate online cards with nothing more than real air, which is pretty much all the online environment has to offer.
It is important to practice responsible gambling, even in the simplest games, on the safest sites if you want to avoid serious consequences that could affect your life in the future.
The only difference between digital scratch-off lottery tickets and the traditional kind is, you guessed it, the Internet and/or a computer, as well as the more environmentally friendly nature of online tickets. The same games you find in the same place you buy beer or snacks can be found online, so it's just a matter of deciding how you want to play.
For those who like to anticipate and physically interact with scratch cards when they need to use a coin to reveal the details and rewards, there's no reason to abandon the old-fashioned cards. However, if you like the concept of obtaining scratch cards and prefer not to leave your home, you may want to learn more about the online version.