Scratch card games

Scratch card games are best known in tobacconists with the monopoly but for some years now you can also find them in online casinos.

These scratch games are a bit like slot machines because they allow you to get the result of a draw very quickly like a lottery game. It is necessary to know the rules well to increase your chances of winning and to choose the right free scratch card game for you.

Discovering scratch card games

Scratch card games are one of the newest forms of online entertainment. Since its inception, the number of players has grown to millions. But did you know how the game came about? To answer this question, let’s take a look at the history of scratch card games. And if you want to know more about their uses, you could start by learning about the rules of scratch cards.

Origin of scratch cards

Lottery games have been around for thousands of years, but it is difficult to trace their origin. Scratch cards, which are a more specific category of lottery games, were introduced in the early 20th century. The name refers to the cardboard format that was used from the beginning, and is still used for real-life cards today. The strong paper made of a grid was a real revolution at the time. Already the symbol-filled content could be revealed by scratching the surface with a coin. The game became a very popular genre among players because of its ease and simplicity. However, it should be remembered that French lottery games did not appear until the 16th century.

The history of scratch cards

The first scratch card was invented in 1974 in the United States, the pioneer of gambling. The idea came from two Americans, one of whom was a computer scientist named John Koza, a graduate of the University of Michigan, and the other, Daniel Bower, was a retail promotions specialist. The experiment was funded by Scientific Games, the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission. The main objective was to provide a game with instant results. Interested in the concept, the Rhode Island-based Astro Med Incorporation attempted to market the first card in 1987.

A game initially dedicated to a noble cause

After its inception, Koza and Bower saw the potential in the scratch-off ticket, revitalizing the lottery system. Their plan worked, and revenues more than doubled, prompting other states to adopt the innovative game. As well as enticing players with the promise of instant gratification. Many national lottery operators then began offering it in several US states. For a time, scratch cards were used for humanitarian causes. In the US, scratch cards were wrapped to give them a certain appearance. The aim was to collect the proceeds and use them to fund the work of charities and non-profit organisations. The revenue generated from the sale was often directed to local towns and beneficial programmes in each state.

The impact of the game 

Scratch cards arrived in Europe in 1985. It all started when the UK National Lottery company began offering the first printed cards to their lotto customers. As in the US, they were very popular in Britain. All other national lottery companies across the European continent followed the trend. Scratch cards were first used for various causes, including charities and federal associations. They also served as a means of promotion and advertising, appealing to a wide audience of players around the world. The success and growing popularity of the printed versions around the world allowed the scratch card game to make its way into the virtual world. It was in the mid-1990s that the first online casinos released the first version available via the Internet.

A new revolution in online gaming

Cards have been continuously updated to make them more innovative and attractive. The advent of colour has somewhat revived the graphics and designs of the early scratch cards. As a result, scratch cards have been promoted more profitably and have encompassed a wide customer base across a global network. In addition, the Internet makes it possible to obtain lottery tickets with colossal winnings, far superior to those of tickets traditionally purchased at kiosks.