We take a look at some of the scratch cards and niche games on offer at the leading online casinos and explain how to play these games for real money if you’re looking for a fun alternative to slots, poker, blackjack, roulette and baccarat.
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What niche casino games are available online?
A niche game is one that appeals to a smaller, more specific section of the online gambling market, extending beyond the typical casino offerings like slot machines and table games and providing an alternative way to place a real money wager.
The most common form of niche casino game available online is the virtual scratch card, for which there are many unique variants. The top-rated online casinos may also offer such casual games as keno, bingo, lotto and some other exclusive creations.
What players are scratchies and niche games suited to?
Most often, the niche games available at online casinos are games that are suited to the more casual player, as these are typically all luck-based games that require no special skill or strategy to play. Games like the scratchies are typically favoured by more recreational punters, and can provide a good way to change things up between spins on the slots or the roulette wheel.
These games are a lot less daunting than games like poker or blackjack which require a certain level of knowledge and skill to win, and provide a non-daunting platform for players of all skill levels to enjoy the thrill of a cash win.
Scratch cards and other casual games can be sampled for free in practice mode at an online casino before you decide whether you want to commit to risking any of your own money. This is just another way online casino vendors make it easy for players to comfortably transition to online play. Practice-play is a great way to familiarise yourself with the range of niche casino games and scratch cards on offer before choosing which one you want to play for real money.
Playing scratchies at online casinos
An online scratchie is an electronic version of the cardboard scratch cards that are purchased in real life for the chance to scratch and reveal an instant prize. In real life, players use a coin or sharp object to remove metallic panels from the cardboard in the hopes there are matching symbols lying underneath. The online version follows the exact same format, except instead of physically scratching a card, you use your mouse or touchscreen to click and reveal the winning panels. It’s a much easier, tidier and hassle-free way to enjoy the thrill of a real money bet.
Leading software developers have taken advantage of the technology at their disposal to create online scratchies that are vibrant, animated and use some truly entertaining themes. Online scratchies are available for instant-play, which means you can dive in right over your Web browser like Google Chrome without having to download anything. Here’s how easy Internet scratchies are to play:
1. Sign up for an account with a top-rated online casino like any of those recommended on our site.
2. Make a cash deposit using a trusted payment method like credit card, debit card, bank transfer, web wallet or pre-paid card, making sure to take advantage of any welcome bonuses on offer.
3. Load the scratch game of your choice directly over your Web browser.
4. Use the buttons at the bottom of the game to set the size of your wager. Online scratchies offer a much wider variety of prices and betting options than real life scratch cards, with bets suited to casual players and high rollers.
5. Click to reveal each panel individually, or click the ‘reveal all’ button to show them all at once.
The paytable will sit to the side of the game screen – if you have managed to reveal any matches, you will be an instant winner and the corresponding cash prize will automatically be deposited to your online casino account.
Best scratchies and casual games on the Internet
The range of online scratchies and mini-games available at the top-rated casinos used to be much more extensive, but for reasons unknown the selection seems to be dwindling. While there is still a great range of games to choose from, if you are keen to try your luck at instant-win scratchies and niche games, we recommend delving in now before your choices become even smaller.
These are just some of the most scratchies games available at our recommended online casinos:
- Dawn of the Bread
- Freezing Fuzzballs
- Game Set and Scratch
- Slam Funk
- Flip Card
- Granny Prix
- Plunder the Sea
- Golden Ghouls
- Offside and Seek
- Bowled Over
- Lucky Numbers
- Beer Fest
- Cast for Cash
- Penguin Pay Day
Other niche games available at our top-rated casino sites include:
- Spingo
- Six Shooter Looter
- Hexaline
- Four By Four
- Monkey Keno
- Pharaoh Bingo
- Mayan Bingo
- Germinator
- Super Bonus Bingo
- Crown and Anchor
- Crypt Crusade
- Space Evader
- Bunny Boiler
Best casino sites for niche games and scratchies
Many leading online casinos offer at least a small selection of scratchies and niche games. You will often find these games listed in an online casino under such game categories as ‘other,’ ‘casual,’ ‘specialty’ or ‘mini-games.’
Given the differing laws regarding online gambling around the world, not all online casinos are available to all players. For a full list of the casino sites offering scratchies and casual games to players in your country, refer to our casino table at the top of this page. This table has been geo-targeted to recognise your location, and will only recommend leading offshore casinos that cater to your area.