How To Play Scratch Offs
Scratch off cards have come a long way since the 1970s when the first card was released by the Massachusetts lottery. There are now thousands of cards to choose from at lottery retail outlets across the country. You can now also play these games online. States with regulated online casinos and online lottery games give you access to online scratch offs. These add colorful themes and entertaining gameplay to the original idea.
Play Instant Win Scratch-Offs & Games - up to 10,000 Tokens Per Play! Watch Winning Moment on PCH.com - 2500 Tokens A Day! Unlock the $10,000.00 & $20,000.00 Bonus Games - up to 10,000 Tokens Per Game. Play Smart™ term is a service mark of the Illinois Lottery licensed to the NCEL. Buy & Scan with the NC Lottery Official Mobile App – Now with Ticket Checker! Available on the.
Prizes for scratch offs can be huge. Retail cards with $1 million+ top prizes are available. Online you can win10,000x your buy-in or more in multiple games.
This page has everything you need to get the best from online scratch offs. This includes information on which states offer them via regulated casinos, the most popular games, and how the online games compare to the retail scratch offs we know and love.
- Scratch-off prizes: overall chances of winning, random distribution The overall chances of winning any prize are printed on the back of each PA Lottery Scratch-Off and vary by game. Overall chances are calculated in this way: the total number of tickets in a game is divided by the total number of prizes in that game.
- How to Play & How to Win; How to Claim; Watch the Drawings; Frequently Asked Questions; Scratch-Offs. Scratch-Off Games; Remaining Top Prizes; Ending Games; How to Claim; Fast Play. How to Play; Ending Games; How to Claim; Frequently Asked Questions; Game Play. Where to Play; Second Chance; Advance Play; Jackpot Combo; Grouper; Grouper Super.
- Scratch-Off games are easy to play. Just scratch the scratch-off coating on your ticket with a coin to see if you have won. Game instructions are printed on the face of your ticket. Each of the Scratch-Off games will vary in price, prize structure, play style, and play instructions. Current Games on Sale $1 Games.
Online games with games like scratch offs
Real money scratch off casinos
Legal online casinos are already available in many states. With regulation and licensing underway, the list of states where you can enjoy online scratch offs is growing. You will find them alongside slots, table games, virtual betting games, and video poker.
The current list of states with online casinos includes New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia. Some states also have online lottery games – residents of Michigan can access scratch offs via the Michigan lottery website. National and international brands partner with local casinos in the regulated states. They develop apps that can host hundreds of different games. You can enjoy scratch off and novelty games at brands including BetMGM, FanDuel, andSugarHouse casino in New Jersey.
Online scratch games are an ideal way to take advantage of casino bonuses. Real money online casinos in the regulated states offer a mix of no deposit bonuses, matched welcome bonuses, and ‘no lose’ deals based on your first day’s play. While table games and video poker are often excluded from bonus clearing, online scratch offs contribute 100% to your bonus play-through target.
Keep in mind that the ongoing benefits are important. Once you find a casino online that offers the mix of scratch cards, slots, and other games you enjoy – those loyalty rewards and player promotions will make a big difference to your bankroll over time.
Popular online scratch off games for real money
Online scratch offs allow for play over multiple ‘rounds’. They have entertaining themes, quirky gameplay and sometimes add elements from ‘gems’ type mobile games or even sports into the mix. The core of these games is the same as retail scratch offs — only with a lot more features.
The examples of online scratch offs below show how diverse these games are. Many of them can be accessed in demo-mode, allowing you to find the games you like best before you commit to playing scratch offs for real money.
1. Color Cubes
This IGT online scratch off is loosely based on mobile gems games. You start by selecting a stake between $1 and $10. A grid then fills with colored blocks. You have 8 ‘turns’ where a block is selected and you are awarded all the matching colored blocks which are joined to the selected one. These can be auto-selected, or you can click each time. To the left of the blocks are the prizes. You collect blocks in groups to fill lines – and can win up to $250,000. Bomb symbols explode to give you all the adjacent blocks. Star symbols supply instant wins.
2. Ghostbusters: Spectral Search
This online scratch off takes the familiar 3×3 grid idea to a new level. It is based on the Ghostbusters movie franchise. You get five picks to match as many ghosts as possible. The Stay Puft man has the biggest prize of 15,000x your bet. If you find Slimer you get an instant win. Other ghosts have prizes for between two and four of a kind. The animations are amazing for this game, with the different monsters coming to life on the screen. You can pick a location to search or take one at random.
3. Medieval Money: Dragon’s Loot
Instead of scratching to reveal pictures, you get to catapult rocks at a medieval castle in this game. Each rock you throw will smash a hole in the walls, revealing gems. These move to the left, where they accumulate in lines triggering prizes. The top prize is 25,000x at $10 per ticket, or 15,000x at $1. There is a bonus game, which is triggered if you reveal a dragon. You get to pick from three piles of treasure, which will give you either more gems or an instant win.
4. DoublePlay: Super Bet
You need to match three symbols to win in this online scratch off from UGT. These symbols include red sevens, stars, bells, and lucky horseshoes. The big win potential comes in when you get three of the logo/badge symbols. This will trigger five free games at the same bet size used for your current card. For those five games, the prizes are tripled. This boosts the top prize (for three diamonds) from 1000x to 3000x. Bet sizes for DoublePlay SuperBet range from 3c up to $50.
5. Irish Eyes 2
You will see a classic Irish redhead on the 3×3 grid of this game. It is a classic scratch off format, where you must match three symbols to win a prize of up to 1000x your bet. Those symbols show classic luck of the Irish symbols. They include a four-leaf clover, leprechaun’s hat, and a pipe. If you are lucky enough to find pots of gold, then you win five free games. These are based on the bet amount of your triggering card, with a multiplier added to each win.
6. Medusa Scratch
In Greek myths, the Medusa was a hideous creature whose hair was made of snakes. This NextGen online scratch off uses a far more glamorous picture. This game uses the classic nine squares, with prizes awarded for matching three of the symbols. Those symbols include buildings, coins, and warriors. You can click on each square in turn, or auto-play, which reveals them all instantly. Get three logo symbols for five free cards with 3x win multipliers.
7. Merlin’s Millions Scratch
Merlin was the wizard involved in the legends of King Arthur. The version used by NextGen for this online scratch off has a friendlier demeanor. This is a classic scratcher game setup, where you need to match three symbols from a grid of nine to win a prize. The top prize (for matching three Merlin symbols) is a generous 1000x your triggering bet. If you match three orbs, you get three free cards, where all of your prizes are doubled.
8. The Price is Right: Come on Down
You will recognize the logo from the famous TV game show, though the gameplay is brand new. There are two main games, and two bonus games to enjoy. You set your bet, then click two rows of prizes. If you match three cash amounts, that is what you win. The second game uses squares with question marks. They show objects with prizes – here you win the ones in gold. If you get three mountain signs in either game, you play a ‘cliff hanger’ bonus game. There is also a wheel spin bonus called ‘Showcase Showdown’ which gives you a shot at winning up to 100x your original prize.
9. The Voice Scratch Off
This online scratch off is based on the TV talent show. It shows a row of seven red chairs, with prizes above each. You get seven rounds, with each round seeing between one and four of the chairs turning around. They reveal one or more colored music notes, which line up in rows above the chair. Prizes are triggered when you hit the top of each column. You can also receive instant wins.
10. Wheel of Fortune: Winning Words Game
There are two phases to this scratch card style game. You spin the iconic Wheel of Fortune wheel to start. This gives you three prizes – one for each predetermined word. You then see a row of cards, which flip to reveal letters. If you complete your word, you win that prize. The designers of this game keep you on edge by making sure one or more words only needs a single letter to complete. There is an additional random bonus wheel round, where your wins can be multiplied.
Virtual scratch offs vs Lottery retailer games
Many online scratch offs closely resemble the gameplay of their physical counterparts. There are some significant differences, especially when it comes to the complexity of the gameplay and the ability to have extras like bonus rounds or win multipliers.
Here are some of the key reasons to enjoy online scratch offs:
- Flexible bet sizes: It is rare to find a retail card at less than $1. Online, your bet sizes can be anything from a few cents up to $50.
- Bonus games: Spin a wheel to get a win multiplier or find the right symbols to win five free games at 3x on all wins. Online scratch off bonus games are varied, as well as potentially very profitable.
- Instant play: No need to get a coin and rub off the symbols one by one. Online cards let you reveal all the symbols at once, so you can get straight on with the next game.
- Novel graphics: Retail cards cannot give you the option to throw rocks at a castle — or spin a wheel to get a mountain climber moving upwards.
- Casino bonuses: The online casinos that host scratch offs will offer bonuses for new players. They can include no deposit deals, matched welcome bonuses, and special promotions.
- Mobile play: Access scratch offs from anywhere via your iPhone or Android smartphone with online casino apps.
Here are the key advantages of retail scratch offs:
- Availability: You can buy retail lottery tickets and scratch offs in most states. The online versions are currently only available in a handful of states.
- Charity: State lotteries are set up to provide funding for good causes including education, veterans, and the environment.
- Jackpot potential: Retail cards can have huge top-prizes, with the biggest being $1 million or more.
- Remaining wins: In some lotteries, the proportion of cards with big wins with each design is published. This allows you to be strategic in your choices.
- Huge choice: Online casinos have a handful of scratch offs, some lotteries have 20+ games to choose from, with new/seasonal cards appearing all the time.
- Control: Since you need to head to your local lottery retailer to buy scratch offs, there is less temptation to gamble with money you cannot afford.
How do I increase my chances of winning?
You can’t. The odds are stacked against you. To demonstrate this, we’ve provided a chart below comparing the odds on the highest paying scratch tickets across the US.
Odds of winning top prize across the US
| State | Lottery Corp. | Ticket | Price | Top Prize | Top Prize Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No lottery | ||||
| Alaska | No lottery | ||||
| Arizona | Arizona Lottery | $200 Million Cash Explosion | $20 | $2.5 million | 1 in 2,273,203 |
| Arkansas | My Arkansas Lottery | Ultimate Millions | $20 | $1 million | 1 in 570,000 |
| California | California Lottery | $10,000,000 Bankroll | $30 | $10 million | 1 in 3,000,000 |
| Colorado | Colorado Lottery | $3,000,000 Mega Money | $30 | $3 million | 1 in 600,000 |
| Connecticut | CT Lottery | Connecticut Millionaires Club | $20 | $2 million | 1 in 912,000 |
| Delaware | DE Lottery | Money Frenzy | $25 | $250,000 | 1 in 150,000 |
| Florida | FLA Lottery | $15,000,000 Golde Edition | $30 | $15 million | 1 in 6,473,610 |
| Georgia | GA Lottery | Super Max the Money | $30 | $10 million | 1 in 4,200,00 |
| Hawaii | No lottery | ||||
| Idaho | Idaho Lottery | 100x The Cash | $30 | $300,000 | 1 in 167,118 |
| Illinois | Illinois Lottery | $2,000,000 Jackpot | $20 | $2 million | 1 in 2,040,000 |
| Indiana | Hoosier Lottery | Ultimate Multiplier | $50 | $5 million | 1 in 2,018,460 |
| Iowa | IA Lottery | $300,000 Platinum Cash | $30 | $300,000 | 1 in 125,754 |
| Kansas | KS Lottery | Premier Cash | $30 | $250,000 | 1 in 103,778 |
| Kentucky | KY Lottery | Gold Rush | $30 | $3,000,000 | 1 in 2,400,000 |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Lottery | Moneybag Multiplier | $10 | $200,000 | 1 in 404,667 |
| Maine | Maine Lottery | $50,000,000 Cash Blowout | $25 | $50 million | 1 in 2,600,000 |
| Maryland | MD Lottery | Rose Gold Black | $30 | $2 million | 1 in 1,237,463 |
| Massachusetts | Mass Lottery | Supreme Millions | $30 | $15 million | 1 in 7,560,000 |
| Michigan | MI Lottery | Royal Millions | $30 | $4 million | 1 in 2,110,772 |
| Minnesota | MN Lottery | Mega Crossword | $20 | $300,000 | 1 in 487,216 |
| Mississippi | MS Lottery | Mega Ca$h | $20 | $200,000 | 1 in 24,273 |
| Missouri | MO Lottery | $3,000,000 Golden Ticket | $30 | $3 million | 1 in 1,610,160 |
| Montana | Montana Lottery | Loaded | $30 | $500,000 | 1 in 80,000 |
| Nebraska | NE Lottery | Ultimate Bonus Crossword | $20 | $200,000 | 1 in 90,000 |
| Nevada | No lottery | ||||
| New Hampshire | NH Lottery | Granite State Platinum | $25 | $2 million | 1 in 522,996 |
| New Jersey | NJ Lottery | $3,000,000 Ultimate Riches | $25 | $3 million | 1 in 2,904,673 |
| New Mexico | NM Lottery | $200,00 Fortune | $10 | $200,000 | 1 in 628,755 |
| New York | NY Lottery | $5,000,000 Mega Multiplier | $20 | $5 million | 1 in 4,449,600 |
| North Carolina | NC Lottery | $10,000,000 Colossal Cash | $30 | $10 million | 1 in 3,960,000 |
| North Dakota | No scratch offs | ||||
| Ohio | Ohio Lottery | 40th Anniversary Millions | $30 | $10 million | 1 in 1,585,311 |
| Oklahoma | OK Oklahoma Lottery | $250,000 Explosion | $20 | $250,000 | 1 in 881,550 |
| Oregon | Oregon Lottery | Diamond Crossword | $10 | $100,000 | 1 in 114,811 |
| Pennsylvania | PA Lottery | $3,000,000 Money Millionaire | $10 | $3 million | 1 in 1,200,000 |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Lottery | $500,000 Payout | $30 | $500,000 | 1 in 86,404 |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Education Lottery | $500,000 Jackpot | $10 | $500,000 | 1 in 660,000 |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Lottery | 100x The Money | $20 | $400,000 | 1 in 150,000 |
| Tennessee | TN Lottery | Gigantic Jumbo Bucks 300X | $30 | $4 million | Not Available |
| Texas | TX Lottery | $200 Million Ca$h | $20 | $5 million | 1 in 1,357,585 |
| Utah | No lottery | ||||
| Vermont | VT Lottery | Mega Bucks | $25 | $60,000 | 1 in 183,000 |
| Virginia | VA Lottery | Extreme Millions | $30 | $10 million | 1 in 1,366,523 |
| Washington | WA Lottery | Jackpot Fortune | $30 | $2 million | 1 in 905,940 |
| West Virginia | WV Lottery | Money Bags | $10 | $5,000 | 1 in 12,000 |
| Wisconsin | WI Lottery | Wisconsin Millions | $30 | $1 million | 1 in 160,000 |
| Wyoming | No scratch offs |
If you’re playing online, the outcome is controlled by random number generator software, which means you cannot affect your chances. There is no strategy involving betting more after losing or varying your bets in specific ways that will influence how often you win. As with all games, the house edge is a mathematical fact.
You can do this by playing only with money you can afford to lose, making sure you are not showing signs of problem gambling, and finding the games that are entertaining to play — then seeing any wins as an extra.
History of scratch offs
The concept of instant win games started with Pull-Tabs. All this would change in 1973 when two inventors — John Koza and Daniel Bower — combined forces to create the first modern scratch off games. There was more to this than simply creating a surface to scratch. Math was needed to develop games that had fair returns and to randomize the outcomes for the lottery operators.
Scientific Games was created in 1974 to market the new cards. This company went on to become one of the biggest names in gambling. Their modern brands include Bally, WMS, and Barcrest slots — plus Shuffle Master for devices for casino table games. The first cards were produced for the Massachusetts lottery, though they would soon become hugely popular across multiple states with lottery games.
Cards are now created by lotteries across the country. A new format saw these cards move online in the early 2000s. With online casinos not available in every state in the USA, it is only recent state-level regulation that has seen them become available. You can enjoy game show themed novelty games, plus cards which are closer to the original concept of revealing three matching symbols online.
WARNING: Bad Advice Alert!
There is just so much bad information out there. Most scratch off tips you will find online are total nonsense - seriously!
They are based on guessing, bad observation, bad data -- and drawing completely the wrong conclusions.
Not to mention the bad maths. Oh dear, the bad maths, LOL :-)
This is just a small sample of the bad stuff:-
- Scratch off tickets are just random dumb luck - WRONG!
- Every ticket has exactly the same chance of winning - WRONG!
- You should only buy from lucky stores - WRONG!
- Buy entire rolls of tickets as there is a guaranteed number of winners in each pack - WRONG!
- Buying low priced lottery tickets in bulk is the best option - WRONG!
- Always buy scratchers in batches of 5 of the same ticket - WRONG!
- Buying all your tickets at the same time increases your chances of winning - WRONG!
- If you see someone buy a winning ticket, avoid that roll as the next one will be a loser - WRONG!
- Watch for a series of losing scratch-offs, then buy some of those as the next one is more likely to be a winner - WRONG!
- Leverage the cheap tickets to build up to the grand prizes - WRONG!
- Once you choose a game, always stick to that same game - WRONG!
I could go on. All of these so-called tips are out there online. People are following this advice in the hope it will help them to win big on the scratchers.
Sadly, it won't help at all. That stuff just means even more losing tickets.
You Should Be Angry - I Am!
It makes me really quite mad that people have been putting out such useless 'advice'.
Which is exactly why I decided to put together this collection of scratch off lottery tips that do improve your chances of winning.
And to make them free to you too!
So enter your best email below, and start reading 'How To Win Big At Scratch Offs' right now:-
Privacy Assured: Your email address is never shared with anyone
How To Win Scratch Offs Every Time..?
Let's put this myth to bed right now. You cannot win at scratch offs every time. There is no way to beat the system and guarantee a win each time you play. Not in the way you really want.
(Do you really just mean 'win' or do you actually want a 'profit'..?)
You could buy a ton of tickets, and that would mean you are extremely likely to win with at least one of them.
But if it's only a small win, and most of your tickets are losing tickets. Then overall you didn't really win.
So don't focus on the idea of 'winning every time'. Instead let's maximise your chances of winning something -- AND the chances of that being a big win.
Because in real life, that's the honest best you can do. Take that from someone who has been helping people boost their chances of winning the lottery since 2003!
How Do You Choose Which Game To Play?
Whatever you do, don't be driven by 'shiny item syndrome'. The lottery company wants to sell as many lottery tickets as possible. The gas station/store wants to sell as many tickets as possible. Your aim is winning tickets - not buying lots of different shiny things!
So think carefully and plan before you buy. If you just blindly buy the latest scratch ticket you are hurting your chances of winning. If you just keep on buying the same ticket that you bought last time, then you are hurting your chances. If you buy 'one of these, two of those, and maybe a couple of them too' then you just hurt your chances again.
This is why the FIRST thing I focus on in 'How To Win Scratch Offs' is choosing the right game. It's the most important decision you can possibly make. Get that wrong and it doesn't really matter what else you do! So what are the best lottery scratchers to buy? - get my tips above and I'll walk you through how to choose which are best.
The same kind of thing applies to regular draw based games too. Which is why I also focus on this first in my tips on how to win the lottery for ball/number based games.
Does Your Playing Budget Matter?
No, not really. Anyone can buy a scratch off and win big. There are cases of a lottery player winning on the first scratcher they ever bought, or even the first time they ever played the lottery.
It only takes one lottery ticket to actually win big.
So don't listen to the dull nay-sayers who say you'll never win. Or the 'how to win at scratch offs experts' who claim you need a really big budget.
Your budget will determine how often you can play. But just remember two things:-
- Count playing scratchers as entertainment - you never really lose if you get good value out of playing! You can't lose when you go to the movies or buy a ticket to a football game - treat your scratch off tickets the same way, for entertainment purposes.
- Don't be crazy about it - only spend money you can afford to lose. Obviously don't risk the money that pays the bills and puts food on the table!
Then make sure you read my scratch off lottery tips and you'll put yourself streets ahead of most players.
Does Being Positive Help?
Mindset, being positive, the 'law of attraction' and all that stuff. It can't turn losing tickets into winning tickets.
How To Play Scratch Offs 2019
But it does help in terms of being open to the idea that what you think (or have been taught!) may well be wrong. It also helps with that 'putting a little effort in' to maximise your chances. And it helps get the job of actually buying tickets done.
Because guess what fact is nearly always true for people who are overly negative about the lottery? The very people who say things like 'the odds are so bad it's impossible to ever win'. Or the ones who claim it's all a scam and the lottery company fix the results...
Those are the people who don't buy tickets!
And we can absolutely guarantee that those people will NEVER win! Scratch off cards or anything else.
Buy just one ticket ever, and your chances are already infinitely better than their chances! :-)
Thankfully, you are not like them.
Let those people smugly put their '$1 a week' into a savings account. And turn it into barely more than they started with by the time they retire. The rest of us can enjoy playing, maximise our chances of winning and celebrate when those wins do come along :-)
Is It All About The Grand Prizes?
Yes and no. Of course those grand prizes matter and ultimately that's what you want to be collecting from your state lottery.
But until that happens, you want to increase the number of smaller prizes you can collect from the convenience store meanwhile to keep the fun happening! Not every scratch card will win - that can never happen - it's all about increasing your odds overall. And that starts with selecting the right scratch off game.
Are Online Scratchers The Same As Scratch Cards?
No. Don't play them. They are more like a slot machine, and you can't apply most of the useful scratch ticket tips I give you.
Can I Lose A Scratchie By Playing It Wrong?
No, you can't :-). Although some of them look like there is some kind of skill involved, there really isn't. Even the ones that are branded as other games. You can't play it badly and lose. So don't worry about becoming an expert lottery player - it's all about which ticket you buy, not how well you play it.
What Do Other Players Think Of My Scratchers Tips?
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/MGZC7G5VQVAI5CVRGPNZJN2GJI.jpg "How To Play Scratch Offs")
How To Play Scratch Off Games
Best Scratch Ticket To Buy
How To Play Scratch Offs In Texas
Best Way To Play Scratchers
How To Play Scratch Offs Poker
Review Policy
How To Play Scratch Offs Online
All genuine reviews are published with the exception of those that we are unable to publish due to breach of the Review Guidelines.