Scratch Carnival Review | Best Alternative Sweeps Casinos

I was intrigued by Scratch Carnival when I first heard it was created by the same people who created Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots.

It promised a unique scratch-and-match format and the possibility to win real cash prizes via a sweepstakes model. However, after some digging, I discovered Scratch Carnival was shut down by VGW in September 2022 (although you can still the APK app).

The good news is that there are plenty of sweepstakes casinos that offer a top-notch player experience, and I’ll recommend some of the best alternatives to Scratch Carnival below.

My verdict on Scratch Carnival

I think Scratch Carnival had a fun setup, especially if you’re into quick, low-commitment games like scratch cards (that’s all it offered). From what I found while digging through old player comments and reviews, it looked like they added new games regularly, at least while the app was still up and running.

That said, as of late 2022, it’s no longer accessible, which makes it hard to recommend today. You can technically still find the APK, but since the platform is shut down, there’s nothing to to or play.

In the rest of this review, I’ll walk you through how the app used to work, how the prize system functioned, and why I still think there are better alternatives available now.

Scratch Carnival Sweeps Casino bonuses | 3.5 / 5

The brand had a bonus system focused on free Gold Coins and daily Sweeps Tickets, and players could win additional rewards through purchases, AMOE, and social media promotions. That said, the platform has been shut down since late 2022, which means that none of those bonuses are available anymore.

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For anyone looking for a similar experience today, I recommend WOW Vegas. You’ll get 5 free Sweepstakes Coins + 250,000 WOW Coins just for g up with code WOWBONUS, and the platform includes daily rewards, referral perks, and more variety overall. If Scratch Carnival was still live, I’d rate its bonus system as a great option for casual players, as it made it easy to keep playing without spending money.

Scratch Carnival bonus facts

Category	Details
Welcome Bonus	Free Gold Coins and Sweeps Tickets (exact amounts not publicly confirmed before shutdown)
Bonus Code	None required
Daily s Bonus?	2 free Sweeps Tickets per day
Game-Specific Bonuses?	Occasional boosted odds on select scratch cards
Other Promotions and Events	Seasonal raffles with prizes up to $2,500 and social media giveaways

Bonus rating — reviewer’s

I gave Scratch Carnival a 3.5 out of 5 for bonuses, not because the system lacked value, but because the app isn’t accessible. When it was live, getting free Sweeps Tickets through daily s, social promos, and even mail-in requests was easy.

There weren’t any over-the-top purchase bonuses, but that’s normal for sweepstakes casinos. The whole bonus system also felt fair, as you didn’t need to use any bonus codes or go through complicated steps.

Bonuses for existing s

The brand actually did a pretty good job of keeping its regular players engaged. Even though it didn’t have a VIP or loyalty program, there were quite a few recurring offers that made logging in worthwhile.

I also came across details about the kinds of promotions players used to get:

• Daily Sweeps Tickets: 2 free just for g in
• 7-Day Streak Bonus: 5 extra tickets if you logged in daily for a full consecutive week
• Facebook Giveaways: Contests and promotions that handed out more free entries
• Seasonal Promos: Holiday-themed games and limited-time raffles
• Big Raffle Draws: Prize pools ranging from $500 to $2,500
• Boosted Odds: You had higher chances to win on certain scratch cards
• Referral Gifts: Earned Gold Coins by inviting friends and sending gifts

Casino games at Scratch Carnival | 3 / 5

Scratch Carnival kept things simple with animated scratch-off games (the only gaming option on the app). Titles like Kitty UpRoar, Bubble Bounty, and Pharaoh’s Hoard offered fast-paced gameplay with some fun visuals.

New scratch-off games were released pretty regularly at Scratch Carnival, especially around holidays, so things didn’t feel too repetitive (at least at first). That said, the overall game selection was pretty limited. Once you got through a few of the main titles, there wasn’t much else to explore outside of the scratch card format.

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If you’re looking for a similar scratch card experience, plus more variety in your game options, RealPrize Casino is a much better fit. It offers a library of around 500 games, including scratch cards and instant win games, slots, table games, bingo, and even some live dealer titles. It did a good job for what it was: a casual, scratch-focused sweepstakes casino with fun themes and easy gameplay.

Scratch Carnival game facts

Category	Details
Expert’s Top Pick	I would have liked Bubble Bounty because it combined puzzle-solving with classic scratch-off mechanics.
Number of Slots	0
Popular Slot	N/A
Jackpots	Up to $2,500 in digital gift cards
Live Dealer Games	0
Traditional Table Games	0
Average RTP %	N/A

Games rating — reviewer’s

The platform focused entirely on animated scratch cards, with zero slots, no live dealer games, and no traditional table games. If you love variety, this probably wasn’t the place for you. But it definitely had a unique appeal if you enjoy quick, casual games with a chance to win small prizes.

Still, the lack of casino staples meant Scratch Carnival wasn’t a complete experience.

Software providers at Scratch Carnival | 3 / 5

All of the games at Scratch Carnival were developed in-house by Virtual Gaming Worlds, the same team behind platforms like Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots.

VGW has been deg games for nearly two decades, and this is evident in the smooth animations and graphics of the scratch cards. However, the big limitation is that only one provider was behind every game. That means no diversity in design styles, features, or game mechanics.

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That leaves me wanting to identify a better alternative—High 5 Casino. With a lineup that includes NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Relax Gaming, and more than 20 other top-tier developers, High 5 is miles ahead when it comes to variety and innovation. While Scratch Carnival’s offerings were smooth and consistent, the lack of outside providers really capped the game library’s creative potential.

Scratch Carnival software facts

Category	Details
Number of Software Providers	1
Most Popular Software Provider	Virtual Gaming Worlds
Number of Live Game Providers	0
Most Popular Live Game Provider	N/A

Software rating — reviewer’s

Scratch Carnival only used one game provider: its parent company, Virtual Gaming Worlds. Now, that’s not necessarily bad. VGW has been creating games for nearly 20 years.

But when I look at what other sweepstakes casinos offer, especially ones with multiple providers, it’s hard not to feel like Scratch Carnival missed a big opportunity.

Coin purchases and prize redemptions | 3.5 / 5

When Scratch Carnival was operational, I could purchase Gold Coin packs using a credit card or ACH e-check. I liked that Gold Coin packs were priced accessibly, starting at just $1.99, and some bundles included bonus Sweeps Tickets for a chance to win real gift cards.

On the other hand, redemptions were done via email in the form of e-gift cards, which included brands like Starbucks, Uber, and Home Depot. It was a smooth system overall, but definitely lacked variety when it came to payment options.

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For a better payment system, I like Apple Pay, and even gift cards. Redemptions are available through Skrill, bank transfers, or digital gift cards, giving players much more flexibility than Scratch Carnival ever did.

The purchasing experience inside the Scratch Carnival app was -friendly, but the lack of alternative payment types held it back.

Scratch Carnival purchase and prize facts

Category	Details
Number of payment methods	2
Most popular payment	Credit cards
Maximum Purchase	$99.99 for 1,079,500 Gold Coins
Minimum Purchase	$1.99 for 8,400 Gold Coins
Best Coin Deal	$19.99 for 139,700 Gold Coins + bonus Sweeps Tickets
Average Purchase time	Instant
Prize Redemption	Available (via digital gift cards)
Minimum Cash Prize Redemption	Not available
Minimum Gift Card Redemption	50 Sweeps Tickets
Average Prize Redemption time	~72 hours

Purchases and prizes rating — reviewer’s

You could buy Gold Coin packs using credit cards or ACH e-check. There was no for modern payment tools like PayPal, Apple Pay, or Skrill, which I’ve come to expect at many other sweepstakes casinos.

When it came to prize redemptions, I liked how straightforward the system was. If you won using Sweeps Tickets, you could choose from a list of digital gift cards and get your code emailed directly to you.

The minimum redemption was reasonable at 50 Sweeps Tickets, with no strange rules or hidden fees. Still, the lack of cash redemptions was a downside.

Prize likelihood at Scratch Carnival

I couldn’t try the prize system myself, as the app has been offline since September 2022. However, I gathered details from reliable sources that covered the platform before it was shut down.

Based on that information, it seems the prize policies were fairly player-friendly. The minimum redemption for a digital gift card was 50 Sweeps Tickets, which lines up with what I typically see at top sweepstakes casinos. There didn’t appear to be any extra playthrough requirements, which suggests a simple 1x system.

Licensing, safety, and security | 3.5 / 5

Scratch Carnival was operated by Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), an Australia-based company that has been operating sweepstakes casinos like Chumba and LuckyLand Slots since 2012.

The platform followed the standard sweepstakes model, making it legal to play in 49 out of 50 US states (Washington being the only exception). Reliable sources confirmed that the games available on the app were powered by a certified random number generator (RNG), with regular testing by external agencies to ensure fairness.

Players could sign up as long as they were 18+ and met the location requirements. In of safety, all data and transactions were encrypted.

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In my view, Pulsz goes a step further when it comes to player protection. The platform uses SSL encryption with advanced elliptic-curve cryptography, and all s must complete full KYC verification. It also offers spending limits, temporary self-exclusion, and long-term self-ban tools.

Scratch Carnival seemed to guarantee fairness by providing RNG games and maintaining basic protections, like encrypted data. On the other hand, it seems that it didn’t offer responsible gaming tools, which are becoming standard across the sweepstakes casino market.

Scratch Carnival safety facts

Category	Details
Legal Age	18+ (except in Washington state, where play was not allowed)
Two-factor Authentication	Not available
SSL encryption	Yes
Self-exclusion tools	N/A
Cooling-off period	N/A

Safety and security rating — reviewer’s

For a sweepstakes casino, it checked off the essentials: age verification, encrypted data, and fair outcomes via a certified RNG. Where it fell short was in its player protection tools.

As far as I could find, Scratch Carnival didn’t offer any self-exclusion or cooling-off features, and two-factor authentication wasn’t ed either. I now expect these basic features from any sweepstakes casino that wants to take player safety seriously.

Customer at Scratch Carnival | 3 / 5

Most top platforms offer a mix of live chat, email , help centers, and even social media channels to stay connected with s. Unfortunately, Scratch Carnival didn’t quite meet that standard.

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You know which site excels at live chat ? Stake US Casino. Their customer service is among the best I’ve seen at any sweepstakes casino. There is a live chat available 24/7, email , a chatroom, and a Help Center packed with 100+ useful articles. At Scratch Carnival, was only available via email at @scratchcarnival.com. While there was an FAQ powered by ZenDesk, it wasn’t as detailed as what you’d find on more developed platforms.

Scratch Carnival customer facts

Category	Details
Customer Availability	N/A
Live Chat	No
Email	@scratchcarnival.com
Number	Not available
On-Page	FAQ

Customer rating — reviewer’s

Back when Scratch Carnival was still running, the only way to get help was by sending an email to @scratchcarnival.com. They also had a simple FAQ section through ZenDesk, but that was about it. No live chat, no phone number, and nothing to suggest round-the-clock .

Now that the app’s been offline since 2022, I obviously couldn’t reach out myself, but it’s important to mention this for anyone who might stumble on the APK and think the service is still working—it’s not.

Scratch Carnival experience | 3 / 5

Scratch Carnival had a decent layout overall. However, it wasn’t the most polished experience I’ve seen in this industry. Since the platform was app-only, browsing games or ing directly through a desktop or browser was impossible.

Once inside the app, the navigation was pretty straightforward. Game icons, coin balances, and store access were all laid out clearly, and everything important was tucked into the menu or pinned to the bottom navigation bar. It was clean enough, but not especially dynamic.

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I’ve found that Chanced Social Casino offers smoother navigation and faster loading times. This casino offers one of the best interfaces I’ve tested. Games load almost instantly, and the site features dozens of filters and categories to help you sort by game type, feature, or provider. Games were easy to find at Scratch Carnival and clearly marked with entry costs and potential prizes. You could tap the “info” icon to see gift card values, and the layout for raffles and draws was intuitive.

Scratch Carnival usability facts

Category	Details
Mobile App	APK
Mobile games available?	Yes
Ease of navigation	Easy
Game filters	No
Search function	No

Usability rating — reviewer’s

From what I could find, the layout was pretty straightforward, and features such as game access and information were easy to find once you were logged in.

Still, it had some noticeable drawbacks. You couldn’t filter or sort through the games, which made scrolling through the list feel a bit repetitive after a while. Also, since it was an app-only platform, there was no way to use it on a desktop or even in a browser, which definitely made it less convenient than other sites that both.

What are other players saying about Scratch Carnival?

I wasn’t able to use Scratch Carnival myself since it’s been offline since 2022, but I did dig into while putting this review together. There weren’t any ratings available on places like Trustpilot or the app stores, most likely because the platform’s been removed from those listings.

That said, I found a mix of opinions on the brand’s Facebook page from people who played while it was live. Some really liked it and mentioned redeeming real gift cards without spending a dime.

Others were less happy, saying they had trouble redeeming their prizes or had their s banned without warning. It seems like people either had a smooth experience or ran into issues, which tells me the concept was solid, but the execution wasn’t always consistent.

• ? PlayUSA: 3.2 out of 5
• ? Facebook: 80% recommend it