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What are Scratch Cards?
Probably almost everyone in America knows what a Scratch Card is. How could they not? Everyone loves going to the nearby kiosk or to the 7-11 and getting Scratch Cards. They are instantly gratifying and a fun way to try your luck at quick gambling. Now, Scratch Cards can be played online as well. But, where did the idea come from and how did it turn into such a phenomena?
Scratch Card Origins
A creative thinker and computer scientist, John Koza first came up with the idea of the Scratch Card with a retail promotions specialist, Daniel Bower, in 1974. Before this, in 1973, purchasing lottery cards meant that you had to pick numbers and then wait several days to see if you were the winter. Koza and Bower intuitively realized that people wanted more instant gratification - they wanted to have a way to wager only a small amount of money and to quickly see if they'd won with it. Thus, the idea of the Scratch Card was born. Koza created the formula that ensured that the results of each card would be random, and Bower used his marketing background to make the cards appealing. The two were honored as charter members of the Lottery Industry Hall of Fame for their simple, and yet remarkable invention.
Scratch Cards Spread
Koza and Bower originally introduced their Scratch Cards in Massachusetts, and from there, the Scratch Card origins moved to Illinois, Michigan, Maryland, New York and to other state lotteries. At the time, Scratch Cards were often put behind the cash register at convenience stores or at newspaper stands. In 1985, Carl Tigner invented a smart idea to have a Take-A-Ticket Scratch Card dispenser in Oregon. With his invention, the Scratch Cards were displayed in a much more noticeable way so that people would see them, select the one they wanted, and purchase cards more often.
Scratch Cards Hit the Internet
In the 1990's, the online scratch card was finally invented. This meant that now there could really be instant gratification with Scratch Cards. Rather than driving to the store to purchase a Scratch Card, you could now just sit down at your computer and enjoy. Playing an online scratch card isn't the same as having a card in your hand, but it's certainly close! You use the mouse to "scratch" the numbers or symbols you want to expose and you can see the card just as clearly as one that would be in your hand.
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