Instant-win scratch cards have been a huge hit all around the world for over 50 years. Created by the Atlanta-based Scientific Games Corporation in 1974, the first week of sales topped an incredible $2.7m for the Massachusetts State Lottery. 

Back then, the jackpot prize was a ‘modest’ $10,000. But we’ve since seen hundreds of instant millionaires created by the simple scratch of a coin. With the rise in popularity of internet gambling, it’s only natural that online scratch cards would find their way into the product offering of the very best U.S online casinos. 

Although players don’t get to enjoy peeling off the foil coating, online scratch card developers still manage to recreate the experience with realistic graphics and immersive sound effects. Much like online slots and other gambling games, online scratch cards are mathematically crafted to achieve a house edge. 

The RTP% (Return to Player) is the amount expected to be paid to players over a large sample and is often used to identify how ‘generous’ a gambling game can be. 

We’ve scoured the best US online casinos to bring you the top scratch cards with the highest RTP:

Witch Pickings Scratch (95.7%) 

Developed by NextGen Gaming, Witch Pickings Scratch is a simple, yet mesmerizing scratch card that’s based upon their popular slot of the same name. Themed around three colorful witches and set upon a backdrop of an enchanted fairytale castle, you need to match 3 of the same witch for a prize of 10x, 50x or 100x your stake. 

Magic potion and bubbling cauldron symbols make up the lower end of the pay table, while matching 3 golden orbs pays a whopping 5,000x your stake. Using the magic wand, you can reveal each symbol individually or for the impatient among us, ‘pop’ them all at the same time. 

Scratch off 3 Bonus Symbols to trigger the Ladder Bonus Round, which is where the real big money can be won. Find the mushroom symbols to climb the ladder and increase your win - all the way up to 10,000x your stake!

Play Witch Pickings Scratch at Caesars Palace & DraftKings

The Golden Grand (95.6%)

The Golden Grand from Design Works Gaming is inspired by the Gold Rush with gold pans and oil lanterns set upon the rocky and mountainous background. This charming scratch card offers realistic graphics with perforated edges and a seemingly dot-matrix printed serial number running vertically up one side. 

The graphics are intentionally not very sharp - and almost sepia-toned - which gives the impression that it came off a dated printing press. Using the gold coin cursor to choose, pick a gold pan to scratch off and reveal a number along with a cash amount beneath. 

Once completed, scratch off the 4 oil lanterns above and if any of these numbers can be found below, you’re onto a winner. There are random 5x and 10x multipliers that can be awarded on any win. Your actual prize is the cash amount of any matching numbers, which can be up to 500x your bet.

Play The Golden Grand at BetRivers

Merlin’s Millions (95.17%)

NextGen Gaming are very adept at creating popular scratch cards based upon their most successful slots, and Merlin’s Millions Scratch is another great example found at some of the best payout online casino sites. If the artwork seems familiar, that’s because it’s come straight from that series of Merlin’s Millions slots. The symbols consist of wizard staffs, spell books and of course, Merlin.

Once you’ve chosen a stake, scratch off the 3x3 grid to hopefully reveal 3 matching symbols to bag yourself a prize. Matching 3 of the bonus symbols will trigger the Free Games bonus where you’ll receive 5 free scratch cards where all prizes are doubled. And it’s here where you really want to see 3 matching Merlins for a 5,000x payday!

Play Merlin’s Millions at Borgata & BetMGM

Medusa Scratch (95.17%)

As the ancient Greek myth would have you believe, Medusa would turn onlookers to stone when they gazed directly upon her hair of hissing snakes. But don’t let that put you off this popular online scratch card - simply peel away the virtual foil to reveal 3 matching symbols for a win. 

The lower paying symbols consist of winged sandals, gold earrings and those venomous snakes. A war-ready Greek gladiator and an Acropolis-style monument make up the higher end of the pay table symbols. But scratch off 3 Medusa’s and you’ll be handsomely rewarded with a payout of 1,000x your bet. 

More than one prize can be won per scratchcard which can make for some very profitable game rounds. Reveal 3 of the free games symbols and you’ll be guaranteed wins in all free games. 

Play Medusa Scratch at BetMGM & Borgata

Ghost Pepper Scratch (94.48%) 

Probably the most simple scratch card to feature on our list, Ghost Pepper still attracts many players due to its 94.48% RTP. Scratching off the panels reveals a variety of numbers and potential cash awards. 

Use the coin cursor to scratch off the foil or click Auto Scratch and let the game do it for you in a much speedier manner. Multiple wins are possible on Ghost Pepper Scratch - potentially up to 9 on the same card, although 4 is the most we encountered while playing. 

However, fail to bag a single win and you’ll be taunted with messages of ‘So Close’, ‘Next Time’, ‘Sorry’ and ‘Try Again’.

Play Ghost Pepper Scratch at DraftKings & BetRivers

Summary

This is just a small selection of some great scratch cards available. Most online casino sites allow you to play scratch cards in demo mode, even without registering an account. 

This is a great way to try new games and slots without putting your own cash on the line. Once you’ve discovered a great new scratch card or online slot to play, don’t forget to check out our list of the best casino bonuses for U.S players.