Playing Pull-Tab Games Online

Pull-tabs are frequently sold at bingo halls, bars, social clubs, and charity fundraising events across the United States. They have proved popular with many players, as they are quick, simple, and affordable. Plus, they often support a good cause.

This page explains how pull-tabs have been adapted for online players. We will explain how online pull-tabs work, how they compare to other types of games, and where you can play them.

Pull-tabs are similar to scratch-offs sold by state lotteries at convenience stores, gas stations, bars, and other licensed lottery retailers (besides the fact that you pull to reveal your ticket rather than scratch). However, the sales are generally limited to just one event, and the number of prizes left is much clearer than with scratchers, as we explain in more detail below.

Pull-tab games also tend to be quicker and simpler than scratch-offs, with more opportunities to win prizes. By contrast, scratchers often have higher ticket prices and significantly larger prizes.

Pull-tabs are also known by several other names: Break-Opens, Cherry Bells, Instant Bingo, Lucky 7s, and Nevada Tickets. They are sometimes known by regional brand names, such as Pickle Cards in Nebraska or Pop Tabs in Georgia.

Can you win real money playing pull-tab games?

Yes, you can win real money playing pull-tab games. As mentioned above, you simply need to match certain symbols or numbers in order to win a cash prize. In that regard, pull-tabs are very similar to lottery scratch-offs.

Pull-tabs are typically sold in boxes containing a specific number of tickets, which can range from a few hundred to several thousand.

There will be a fixed number of prizes per box. Each time a prize is claimed, your chances of winning a prize will shift when you buy a pull-tab. In many setups, you can peer into the transparent box to see how many prizes remain, and you can use this to work out the likelihood of winning.

Here is an example:

• Let’s say there is a box with 1,000 pull-tabs. There are 10 winning tickets: one with a top prize of $500, four with runner-up prizes of $50, and five smaller prizes of $10.
• Tickets cost $1. That means the charity or game operator will sell $1,000 worth of tickets and return $750 to players, ensuring a $250 profit.
• At the start, your chances of winning a prize are 1 in 100, and your chances of winning the top prize are 1 in 1,000.
• Imagine 500 tickets are sold, and only two $10 prizes have been claimed. If that is the case, your chances of winning a prize are now far better. You have a 1 in 500 chance of winning the top prize, and your likelihood of claiming any prize has also increased.
• By contrast, if the largest prizes are claimed quickly, the box becomes less attractive, so you can decide when to play based on the live situation.

How can you play pull-tabs electronically?

Electronic pull-tab games do exist. The format is similar, but you will be presented with a digital interface instead.

Just make a deposit, choose an electronic pull-tab, and select the amount you would like to play for. Instead of pulling back the tab on a physical ticket, you simply press a button to reveal the results.

If the symbols or numbers form a winning combination, you will receive a prize. Electronic pull-tabs can be more flexible than their physical counterparts, as some offer smaller and more frequent wins, whereas others can deliver larger jackpots. Usually, however, they stick with the same rules of physical pull-tab games in that there is one batch per event, and that batch has a set number of winners.

Electronic pull-tabs also tend to offer different themes, more vibrant designs, and audiovisual effects and animations to heighten the experience.

Are pull-tabs available at online lotteries?

Pull-tabs are not currently available at online lotteries in the United States. However, most iLottery sites and apps run by state lotteries offer very similar “instant win” games, known as eInstants or Diggi games in certain states.

The format is almost identical, as you simply click or tap a button to reveal the results, and you win a prize if you unveil a matching pattern. However, these games do not come with a set number of prizes per box, so you cannot adjust your strategy based on the number of prizes that have previously been awarded.

In certain states, you will find electronic pull-tab machines, which are often referred to as e-tabs. However, they are not run by state lotteries. Just like physical pull-tabs, these are typically run for charity purposes. However, tribal gaming venues also offer e-tab machines in some states.

In some states, e-tabs can be more sophisticated than physical pull-tabs and start to resemble slot machines. However, this is controversial, and other states (such as Minnesota) have strict rules requiring e-tabs not to look like an online slot.

Pull-tabs at online casinos

In countries such as Canada and the UK, you will find pull-tab games at licensed online casinos. A UK studio called Realistic Games is the primary supplier of these online pull-tab games. They are designed to look like physical pull-tabs and follow a similar format. You just tap or click a button to pull back the tab and reveal the results.

However, online pull-tabs are not based on a finite pool of tickets from a “box.” As such, the odds do not shift according to the number of prizes that have previously been awarded. Instead, the results are determined by Random Number Generators, and they have consistent odds, just like online slots, keno games, scratchers, and bingo games.

Since online pull-tabs exist, we anticipate them coming to states with online lotteries soon. We would also expect to find online pull-tab games at social casinos. However, these are not available to people in the US right now.

Can you get pull-tab games through online lottery couriers?

Currently, no online lottery courier services allow you to buy pull-tab games. Some lottery couriers do allow you to buy scratch-offs. Some states (such as Iowa and Michigan) offer pull-tab games at retail locations in the same manner as buying a scratcher. However, as of now, no couriers have added pull-tab games to their service. Again, though, it seems to be on the horizon.

Best online pull-tabs

While you cannot track prizes and make strategic decisions when playing online pull-tabs, these games are still popular. They are quicker and more convenient than buying physical tickets, and they also offer greater variety in terms of gameplay and a wider range of prizes.

These are some of the best online pull-tabs we have found that are currently available at international online casinos:

• Pull a Cracker: This Christmas-themed pull-tab offers upbeat jingles and symbols inspired by Christmas tree decorations. You can win up to 750x your bet. There is a free games bonus round, which features random multipliers of 2x to 5x.
• Diamonds & Rubies: A simple online pull-tab that features symbols typically found on classic slot machines, including fruit, bells, diamonds, and rubies. This is a 3-symbol instant win pull-tab game, which features four tabs per game. Each tab is independent, and all prizes can be won on each tab.
• Tutankhamun Deluxe: An Ancient Egypt-themed online pull-tab with a 96.2% RTP rate. You can win up to 1,000x your bet on this 3-symbol, 4-line game. There are scatter symbols, which can unlock up to 100 free games, with re-triggerable free games and multipliers of up to 10x available during the bonus round.

Which states allow pull-tabs?

Most states allow charity pull-tab sales. We could only find five states that specifically prohibit pull-tabs: Alabama, Hawaii, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. They are some of the states with the strictest anti-gambling laws in the country.

Charities are authorized to sell pull-tabs, host raffles, or host charity bingo games under specific charity gaming laws in most states. Players must typically be 18 or older to buy pull-tabs, but the minimum age can be 16 in certain states.

Charities must also follow strict regulations in terms of maximum ticket prices and transparency regarding prizes. The regulations vary in each state, but the games are always tightly controlled.

Pull-tabs are often available at charity bingo events, as the quick, simple format of pull-tabs complements bingo’s slow-paced gameplay.

In certain states, such as Minnesota and Wisconsin, pull-tabs are also available at bars and taverns and do not benefit charities. These pull-tabs adhere to local sweepstakes and prize promotion regulations, similar to social casinos such as WOW Vegas, Pulsz, and McLuck, as well as sweepstakes like the McDonald’s Monopoly game.

Most parts of the country prohibit electronic pull-tab machines, which are often referred to as e-tabs. Still, they are widely available in states like Alaska, Minnesota, Ohio, and North Dakota.