Online gambling is increasing in popularity;it offers a chance to play a variety of games via your mobile or desktop, from home or on the go. Online slots and online scratch cards are two of the most popular types of games – just like the physical versions, you can play them for a chance to win a real-money prize. There are thousands of online slots and scratch cards to choose from, with a huge variety of themes.
If you’re not sure whether online slots or online scratch cards are best for you, you’re in the right place. In this article we compare the two types of game, so that you can see what suits you best. We’ll discuss what the gaming experience is like for each, plus how the games work and the kinds of payout that may be available. We always recommend trying both types of game to see which you prefer – keep reading to find out more.
What Are Online Slots?
Online slots are the online version of physical slot machines. They offer players the chance to enjoy playing slot machines from the comfort of their own home, and there are hundreds of thousands of online slots to choose from. Whether you’re an animal lover, a fan of adventure films, you’re into Greek mythology or you love classic fruit machine-style slot games, there’s something for you.
Traditional slot machines have three or five reels, and the aim is to match up symbols on the reels on a payline for a chance to win a cash prize. Many games also have bonus features, such as free spins rounds, multipliers to increase your prize, bonus trails and more. You’ll also come across cluster pays slots – where wins are paid for clusters of matching symbols, rather than lines, and those with non-standard formats – for example, reels can expand or shrink, and some Megaways slots can offer hundreds of thousands of ways to win.
Some slot games feature progressive jackpots, which increase in value the more people that play the game, and others have fixed prizes. Many slots have innovative graphics, sound effects and interactive gameplay to bring the games to life, and some have their own storylines and characters.
It’s important to remember that in both online slots and online scratch cards (and all other online gambling games) outcomes are random and cannot be predicted. Random Number Generators (RNGs) are used to randomise outcomes – they use complex algorithms to ensure that games are fair and wins or losses are completely down to chance.
What Are Online Scratchcards?
Online scratchcards are, of course, an online version of traditional paper-based scratch cards available at supermarkets and newsagents across the UK (and in other countries too).
The basic idea remains the same: the aim is to scratch off covered positions, with the hope of revealing matching symbols to win a prize. The experience of interacting with digital scratch cards is slightly different than with traditional scratch cards: you reveal the potential prizes with a mouse (if you’re playing on a desktop computer) or your fingertip (for mobile-based gaming), instead of a coin or similar for traditional scratch cards.
Despite this difference, the fundamentals of actually playing scratch cards online like Scratch Ted Scratchcard will be familiar to anyone who has ever purchased a paper-based scratch card. This is one of the reasons they’re so popular: players know exactly what to expect when they decide to try a scratch card online.
Many players are attracted to the simplicity of scratch card game design, and its instant results. There are no complex rules to follow, or strategies to try to understand. You just reveal hidden areas on the scratch card for a chance at landing a win.
This is a real benefit for players looking for a quick, straightforward gaming experience, especially newcomers who may feel intimidated by more traditional casino titles available online.
Comparing The Payouts of Online Slots and Scratch Cards
Online slots and scratch cards have different types of payouts. Let’s compare the two:
Online Slots
Online slots have a huge range of payouts – for example, some games might have a fixed maximum prize of 5,000x your bet, while others may be up to 20,000x your bet or higher.
In general, online slot games tend to have a higher volatility than online scratch cards. This means that they are higher risk – in a nutshell, they usually have bigger prizes on offer, but your chances of winning them are lower. Players who have a larger appetite for risk and are excited by the chance of winning a potentially huge prize are typically more likely to play online slots than online scratch cards.
Online Scratchcards
Online scratch cards also have a variety of payouts available, although it’s likely that the maximum prizes will be smaller than in online slots. However, they tend to be lower volatility – this means that you may be more likely to win smaller prizes more frequently, rather than bigger prizes less often.
Scratch cards are known for being a bit more ‘what you see is what you get’ – they are designed to be simple and easy to understand, in terms of gameplay, payouts and the overall gaming experience. If you’re looking for instant wins, you have a lower risk appetite and you’re not necessarily looking for a huge prize, you may find that online scratchcards appeal to you more than slots.
Playing Online Slots vs Online Scratch Cards
The experience of playing slots compared to scratch cards can be quite different. Slot games tend to offer more immersive gameplay – they might have characters or storylines, some of which may appear in a series of games within the same franchise. For example, the Immortal Romance series follows Sarah, a scientist researching immortality, her vampire lover Michael, and a host of other characters.
This type of game appeals to players who enjoy longer gaming sessions, and many slots have bonus rounds. Lots of players enjoy spinning the reels over an extended period of time, in the hopes of eventually triggering a bonus. To some players, this can feel more rewarding than shorter games.
By contrast, scratch cards are more simplistic in design. Although some of them may have bonus rounds, lots of them are more straightforward, and appeal to players who enjoy quick games that may only last a few seconds. They tend to have a lower minimum bet than slots, and many players play multiple scratch card games in quick succession.
Pros and Cons of Online Slots vs Scratch Cards
Like everything, there are pros and cons for both online slots and scratchcards. Here’s a quick summary to help you decide:
|
Pros | Cons | |
|
Slots |
Immersive gameplay |
Higher risk |
|
Bonus rounds and special features |
Can be a little complicated | |
|
Larger prizes on offer |
May be required to play for longer for a chance to win | |
|
Scratch cards |
Simple and easy to play |
Limited bonus features |
|
Lower minimum bet |
Less complex themes and design | |
|
Instant wins |
Smaller payouts |
Play Online Slots and Scratch Cards Here at Slingo
Online slots and scratch cards each have their own appeal, so we recommend trying both to see which you prefer. However, as a general rule of thumb, if you’re looking for immersive, longer games and the chance to land bigger wins, you might prefer slots. If you love fast, no-frills gaming with the opportunity to win smaller prizes more frequently, scratchcards could be right up your street.
Find them all here at Slingo– a safe, secure online casino with all the freshest games. Take advantage of our exclusive welcome bonus for new players and get 133 free spins when you sign up (min. £10 deposit). Always play responsibly, and never spend more than you can afford to lose.
