What are virtual scratch cards?
Virtual scratch cards are exactly what they say they are; they are the only version of the lottery scratch cards you can buy in person. The aim of these is to scratch certain areas in hopes of uncovering the winning symbol or pattern combination; if successful, you can win money prizes. The amount you could win vastly ranges; some could be as little as €2, and some jackpots can be as high as €250,000.
The amount up for grabs will usually depend on how much you paid for the card. Cheaper scratch cards will likely have a capped minimum win compared to those higher-paying scratch cards. However, this is great because it allows scratch cards to be widely purchased and enjoyed by a range of budgets.
What makes virtual scratch cards better than traditional scratch cards?
There are numerous differences between the two and plenty of advantages to opting to gamble on scratch cards virtually online in the Irish market.
Undoubtedly, buying and playing scratch cards online is great for saving time, as you don’t have to go out and find a place that sells your desired scratch card. In addition, this makes them far more accessible; many may not be able to simply go out and buy one due to responsibilities and sometimes disabilities; instead, virtual scratch cards can be played and enjoyed from the comfort of your home at one of the many online casino sites that offer them.
Playing scratch cards online means you don’t have to go out of your way and let people know you’re buying scratch cards. Indeed, rather than standing in a shop and asking to buy one, you can do so online without anyone knowing. Plus, if you buy them using payment methods such as e-wallets (e.g., Neteller, Skrill, or PayPal), the payment transaction will not even be placed in your account.
When you buy a scratch card from a shop in person, they sell the whole lot of scratch cards until they run out. This is a huge disadvantage, as if the jackpot had been won in the first week, for example, you wouldn’t know and instead are still buying these scratch cards. Online, however, you don’t have to worry.
Online scratch cards can be far more visually entertaining to gamble on. While traditional store-bought scratch cards are often themed, online, these themes come to life. There can be animations and pop-ups that enhance your scratch card experience to a far more 3D experience. This is great because you get a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment from the betting experience.
If you want to gamble with traditionally bought scratch cards, you are reliant on the stores being open. Instead, with online scratch cards, you can play and enjoy them whenever you wish, regardless of the time and day. This means you can be flexible when you choose to play virtual scratch cards.
When playing scratch cards online, you are not limited to what’s in store. Rather, you will have many to choose from, and if they still don’t have what you wish for, then you can try somewhere else without leaving your home. Indeed, with more choice, you can get exactly what you wish for when you wish to play it. This also provides far more fun and enjoyment than simply settling for what the store has in store.
Many scratch cards will be able to be enjoyed via your mobile device. This is great for those who want to play on the go or are limited on time.
A major benefit of virtual scratch cards is that you don’t have to worry about them being fake or prank cards. Instead, all you need to check is whether the site you buy them from online is secured with a license. This will often be outlined in the terms and conditions we put on their about page, which provides quick peace of mind.
5 highest-return scratch cards
Below you will see a list of the 5 highest return-to-player (RTP) scratch cards available for you to play online within the Irish market. By RTP, we refer to the amount they are likely to pay out over a period, making these statistically the most rewarding scratch cards to gamble on. Of course, this is only an estimate and may fluctuate, but by rule of thumb, these are our top three recommended scratch cards with the highest payout.
- Whack-A-Jackpot
Whack a Jackpot is our highest RTP scratch card on this list, with a 96.3% pay-out rate. You can win up to €50,000 if you are lucky, and with the minimum price of a scratch card being €0.50, you won’t have to break the bank to enjoy it either.
As you may have guessed from the name, this is a themed scratch card. The name imitates the popular arcade game Whack a Mole, as you have to whack moles to get matching values as you would on a scratch card. The more you decide to stake, the more you may win. Many may be surprised by this, as you would expect to scratch a scratch card; however, for many, this makes the scratch card much more interactive and fun. You are involved in the game and can win real money; accept that it has the feel of a fun arcade game. The visuals of the game are bold and stand out; you have three chances of missing, and then you’re out.
To start a new Whack a Jackpot game, you must buy a scratch card. With each new one you buy, a new game is played. Due to the fun, fast, and instant-rewarding nature of the game, I’m sure you can imagine how addictive this game can be.
Another fun feature of this scratch card game is the possible multiplier options available. This is something you would not get to experience from a real-life scratch card; instead, if you are successful, you could see your wagers being doubled by 10,000 if you are lucky. This means that even if you decide not to wager a large amount, you can still win big regardless, which is friendly for those with a range of budgets.
- Wish Upon a Jackpot
At number two, we have Wish Upon a Jackpot, which has an estimated RTP of 96.06%. This is an interesting scratch card, as it used to be a progressive casino game but has now transitioned into a scratch game. However, it has kept the progressive jackpot, as if you are successful, you could earn up to 100 times your maximum bet. To achieve this, you would be aiming to scratch and reveal three pig wizard symbols on your card.
This scratch card is brought to you by Mecca Bingo and can also be played on Coral too, and they say the scratch card aims to appease those seeking a scratch card experience while adding a little bit extra to enhance the experience. If you’re a new player, you can even enjoy a welcome bonus that can be used on the scratch card.
As the name suggests, this scratch card has a fairy tale theme. Meaning there is an underlining fantasy plot with characters. The theme is seen through an array of symbols, such as the gingerbread man or fantasy creatures. They even include themed bonus rounds that you could win; for example, they offer a Jack and the Beanstalk themed round where you must try to select the right way for Jack to climb the Beanstalk. As you can imagine, this adds a lot more plot to the game and makes it feel more than a simple scratch card. If you are lucky enough to guide Jack to the top safely, then you can meet the golden goose, who may offer multipliers to increase your winnings.
However, this scratch card has another possible bonus round. The second one is a fairy godmother-themed game, where she will fly onto your screen and use her desire to give magic symbols. If you see her on your screen, you know you are in for some luck, as she could result in some big winnings. Collectively, all these bonus rounds add an extra layer of thrill and anticipation to the game, making it even more fun to play and wager on.
- Pig Wizard
With an impressive RTP of 95.82%, Pig Wizard is a fun virtual scratch card with, you guessed it, a Pig Wizard theme. With an interesting theme, this provides plenty of enjoyment as you aim to unravel three images of a pig. This is another great virtual scratch card that can be paid for regardless of your budget. You can start wagering with as little as €0.20 and as much as €500.
As with many of the highest-paying scratch card games online, you will be able to unlock bonus games to attempt to boost your earnings. The bonus game will be triggered if you find three of the treasure chest symbols. This will let you roll dice with the aim of collecting special symbols to increase your winnings.
This scratch card comes with a huge progressive jackpot that you could win too. If you are playing on the word VEGAS that comes up across the screen, then you could receive one of the five possible multipliers. If you are lucky, this could leave you with a comfortable €1,000,000.
- Merlin’s Millions
With a RTP of 95.17%, Merlin’s Millions earns a place at number four in our list. Many love this scratch card due to how financially flexible it can be. Therefore, you can buy the virtual scratch card for as little as €0.20, or if you are a high roller, you can buy one for as much as €200. Therefore, they suit all budgets and preferences, not to mention the impressive jackpot, which sits at €250,000, so there is a lot at stake.
The game comes with an additional feature called’reveal all’. This is a handy feature if you wish to not manually scratch all the symbols; instead, you can click the button and it will do it for you. This is great for those who are short on time or just want to get to the outcome quickly.
Beside having a high RTP, this particular scratch card is popular with online gamblers due to the magical fun it brings. The game is visually appealing and, most of all, easy to understand, making it accessible to many.
- Play of Palace
Our final scratch card on the list has a RTP of 94.58%. Compared to the previous scratch cards, this has a royal theme and is set in a royal palace, as the name suggests. Depending on your budget, you have a choice of six virtual scratch cards to pick from; these range from €0.20 to €5.00. Similar to Merlin’s Millions, you can either scratch away the symbols or reveal them all at once. Like all virtual scratch cards, the game offers quick wins. The six different scratch cards on offer are called Give a Dog a Bonus, Bruce’s Treasures, Grand Gala Night, Caked in Cash, and Bone-anza, and the biggest winning scratch card is named Play Off Palace Supermatch.
If you are unsure about this scratch card, they offer a free demo card for you to test. This is great for beginners to get a feel for the game. If this sounds interesting, you can play this scratch card at Jackpot Joy online, plus new players will receive a generous welcome bonus to use on scratch cards.
