“Scratchies” are in high demand these days at online casinos, including those that cater to Kiwis and offer new players generous welcome bonuses. Super easy to play, scratchcards offer amusing and imaginative themes along with the opportunity to instantly winning cold, hard cash. There’s no learning curve: our guide will give you all the knowledge you need to explore, play and win.
If you are impatient to get started, before or after reading this guide, you should check out this curated list of top-rated casinos popular with New Zealanders, offering virtual scratch cards along with special bonus offers for new players:
Like online pokies, scratch cards come with all kinds of entertaining themes based on sports, movies, children’s stories, comics, and TV shows. You can find scratchcards with HD graphics as well as animations that immerse you in the game. Gamblers can freely explore and select the games that appeal to them most. Our list of recommended online casinos for Kiwis offers a great selection of scratch card options. Play on practice games for fun, checking out the casino’s options and getting a hang of the online scratch game - though it will not take you long to used to it. After you feel comfortable, just jump right in and go for it. Each of the sites makes it easy to find the rules, features, and paytables. Most scratch card games have an instant play option so you can play right inside the browser of any device, or you can download the software to your computer. Scratchies are lightweight, loading quickly and easily to any smartphone, tablet or computer.
Why play online scratch card games?
Scratchcards are distinguished by their simplicity but also by their relatively high payout percentage. You may miss out on the dubious pleasures of scraping your fingernails on a piece of silver-coated cardboard, along with the joy of waiting in line for a card or two at your local convenience store. But maybe you’re the type who would prefer to just get immediate access to hundreds, if not thousands, of fascinating multimedia scratch game options, which typically pay out far higher those of than paper cards and rivaling other online games of chance.
How to Play Scratch Cards Online
The first step for any scratch card is to decide the size of your bet. Don’t worry, you can change the amount at any time. Usually, it’s best to start small and grow as your confidence, enjoyment, and winnings increase. Like pokies, scratch games have colorful symbols, which are the key to winning. At first the symbols – usually numbering from 5 to 9 – are concealed. Then it’s up to you to virtually scratch the cards to reveal the hidden symbols and see if you are a lucky winner. Usually the presence of three of a kind or more of a particular symbol will win you a prize. Get 4 or 5, and you may be pocketing big money. There is an amazing variety of scratch cards available at our recommended casinos. The games often have similar rules for the basic play, but some come with special bonuses. Like pokies, scratchcards may offer bonus rounds or second screen games with additional pick-and-win possibilities beyond what is possible in the basic card game. Many players enjoy trying out various games to explore the various kinds of bonuses on offer. Playing practice games typically doesn’t require registration. Most online casinos let punters play for fun right from the website. But you should register at the casinos you like. Not only is that the only method by which you can win real money. It is also the only way you can become eligible for welcome bonuses, free games and more, with chances to win real money on bonus dollars from the casino without risking your own bankroll. Once you register and make a deposit, review the various scratch cards on offer at the casino of your choice. Usually casinos have a dedicated section for scratch cards. When you locate a game you think you would enjoy playing, click it and then press the button for a new card, usually clearly marked. Then all you need to do is decide how much you want to wager. Then “scratch” by pressing on the place you would like to scratch to reveal the hidden symbols and discover if you’re an instant winner. If so, the casino will immediately credit you for the value of your win.
Scratch Card Variants
Although scratch cards usually have similar rules, there are plenty of options, variations and themes to choose from. Look for the ones that really distinguish themselves in creativity, entertainment and – last but not least – payout percentage. Here are just a few of the varieties available: Sports enthusiasts will many scratch cards for their preferred games. Cricket fans, for example, will cheer for Bowled Over. In the game’s first round, there are hidden drawings of some of the world’s most famous cricketeers. In a second round, a ball is bowled at some stumps. If it hits, you win a bonus prize. Football lovers will enjoy Microgaming’s Offside and Seek, another card with two games in one: the first features uncover caricatures of some top footballers, the second may reveal a player scoring a goal, winning for you a bonus prize. Bunny Boiler is an offbeat game for those with a fatal attraction to rescuing rabbits in distress. Instead of “scratching” to reveal symbols, you roll virtual dice, navigate a gameboard, win prizes, and prevent a wacky wabbit from becoming soup. Those who love casino games will want to check out the scratch card portfolios of their favorite game developers. Fans of Microgaming should try Lucky Numbers and Whack a Jackpot, both highly regarded for their high payout rates and big prizes. Playtech fans will enjoy games like Captain America, Gladiator and American Roulette. NetEnt, highly regarded for its animations and graphics, impresses with its ancient Egyptian adventure, The Lost Pyramid.
Odds
People play online scratch cards not just because they are pretty, simple and fun. They are also renowned for the frequency of wins and relatively high Return to Player percentages, meaning the rate at which a game is programmed to payout to players. Though scratch card wins usually pay less per win than many other games, many find that they win more often. Some scratchcards at our recommended casino sites surpass the 96% RTP mark. That payout rate compares favorably to many pokies and table games, and far exceed paper scratch cards whose outcome is determined long before you scratch. With online scratchcards, you are always assured a fresh game every time you pick a new game card. It’s a random number generator that decides on the spot whether you will be rewarded with a winning result. The odds of winning a scratch card depend on the software programming. Obviously, the bigger prizes are harder to win but the frequency of small wins may come as a pleasant surprise. But on any given day, on any card, you could scratch your way to a handsome payout. To give you an idea of what the odds of winning in scratch card play, we researched the expected Return to Player (RTP) rates of some popular scratch cards.
- Lucky Numbers – 96.6%
- Whack a Jackpot – 96.3%
- Foamy Fortunes – 96.3%
- Wish Upon a Jackpot – 96.06%
- Pig Wizard – 95.82%
Conclusion
Few things are easier than playing scratch cards online. Give your fingernails a rest and try virtual scratchcards instead. An exciting universe of diverse themes, fun gameplay and welcome bonuses awaits. And, with a little luck, you will get frequent wins and high payouts, especially if you stick with the Kiwi-friendly casinos in our recommended list. Check out the free practice games first, where you have no risk. Then, when you are ready, try your hand at the real money and take full advantage of the casino’s free money offers for newcomers. When was the last time you won a fistful of dollars just by scratching? Scratch away and the best of luck to you!