Lotteries — at least the concept of them — have been around for centuries, with records dating back to ancient Rome and tracing their way through the Medieval ages into colonial American era and beyond. Rulers like Augustus Caesar and King James I used lotteries to fund various endeavors, ranging from municipal repairs to welfare for the underprivileged to financing ships to colonize Virginia’s Jamestown colony. In fact, until the 1800s, lotteries were a key financing aid for the United States’ founding fathers, including Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
While these historical lotteries may only slightly resemble modern lotteries like Powerball or the Mega Millions, lotto lovers have existed in the U.S. since its birth — and have driven some of the most substantial advancements to popular betting games, including scratch-offs.
This guide breaks down the history of scratch-offs while also providing a high-level look at how these instant-win tickets are made. Take a closer look — then start ordering your favorite scratch-off tickets right on your phone with Jackpocket!
What Are Scratch Cards?
Also known as a scratch ticket, scratch card, or scratchie, scratch-off lottery tickets are a type of lotto game with roots stretching back as far as the late 19th century. However, scratch-off tickets as we know them were created at scale and popularized in the 1970s. Since then, these instant-win tickets have become one of the most popular, best-selling games in the world.
Scratch-off gameplay rules can vary depending on the type of ticket chosen. However, the concept is fairly straightforward. Each ticket features a computer-generated combination of various numbers, typically with at least one winning number noted above the scratch-off portion. Additional numbers typically fall below, each hidden below a thick, opaque layer of ink and a coating of latex or silicon.
After getting a ticket, lotto enthusiasts scratch away the ink to reveal the numbers hidden below. If the revealed numbers align with one or more of the winning numbers, the potential winner may be eligible for a prize depending on the rules of the scratch-off game.
In some cases, lottery winners can take home a substantial prize, too. In 2023, a fan from Massachusetts won $25 million through a scratch-off game — 17 years after winning another $1 million on another scratch-off ticket. A New Yorker also got lucky with scratch-off tickets twice, taking home two $10 million grand prizes!
When Were Scratch-Off Tickets Made? A Brief History of Scratch Cards
Early versions of scratch-off tickets can be found as long ago as the late 1800s and early 1900s. As mentioned above, these scratch-off tickets looked far different from the games lotto enthusiasts know and love now. However, these 19th and 20th century instant-win games laid the foundation for scratch cards as we now know them.
Two predecessors in particular — pull tabs and scratch-off carnival games — bear the closest resemblance to modern scratch-offs. Pull tabs were first used in the 1890s and were attached to beer cans, cigarette packs, chewing gum packages, and other consumer products as a sales promotion. Buyers pulled the tabs away to find instant prizes below.
Scratch-off carnival games used a similar concept, covering numbers or symbols on cardboard or paper cards with paint. Carnival-goers would then scratch off the layers of paint to reveal the numbers or images below and potentially win a prize.
Scratch-Off Tickets in the 1970s and Beyond
It wasn’t until the 1970s that scratch-offs became as popular as they are today. Former coworkers and J&H International employees John Koza and Dan Bower are credited with the creation and eventual adoption of the modern scratch-off ticket. After leaving J&H, the pair combined their expertise in probability and odds calculation and retail promotion, respectively, to develop and sell the concept to the lottery commission.
The premise was simple: Building on the promotional gaming cards the pair helped produce for grocery stores throughout the United States, the cards would feature numbers concealed by a silicon coating (complete with its own secret recipe to ensure security and reduce the risk of counterfeiting). Lottery fans could then get the tickets, known as “The Instant Game,” and win up to $10,000 instantly, with the option to join three monthly $100,000 drawings as well.
The tickets became a near-instant hit, expanding from Massachusetts first, then to California, before sweeping the nation as lottery enthusiasts fell for the chance of an instant prize. By the year 2000, less than 30 years after Koza and Bower launched The Instant Game, more than 30 billion scratch cards were purchased worldwide each year, generating more than $50 billion in sales annually.
How Are Scratch-Off Tickets Made?
The process of making a scratch card may vary depending on the manufacturer. However, it typically involves five main steps.
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Card Design. Generally speaking, the first step involves designing the card’s graphics, choosing an eye-catching color scheme, and picking a compelling theme for the card.
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Printing. Manufacturers start by printing the first of several layers. Known as the base layer, this layer features the card’s basic design as well as the numbers or symbols that will later be concealed.
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Special Ink. After printing the base layer, a special ink is applied to the cards to conceal the numbers or symbols. This, combined with the silicon or latex coating applied in the next step, is what lotto lovers ultimately scratch off to reveal their lucky numbers.
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Silicon or latex coating. Next, a latex or silicon coating is layered over the base print, and the special concealing ink is used to allow lotto fans to scratch away the top layer without damaging the numbers or symbols below it.
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Final security measures. Finally, some manufacturers may incorporate additional security measures like barcodes, serial numbers, or hidden inks visible only under UV light, for instance, to ensure the cards are legitimate and secure.
Power-Up Your Lotto Play With Jackpocket
Scratch-off tickets have become a best-selling lottery game for numerous reasons, from easy access to low cost — and, most importantly, the chance to win big prizes instantly. Scratch-off tickets are also convenient to order, with many convenience stores, grocery stores, and even pharmacies selling them.
Jackpocket makes it even easier to order your favorite scratch-offs, too. Simply create and fund your account, then choose your favorite games and order your tickets right on your phone.
Learn more about the benefits of Jackpocket and power up your play today.
