Online gambling is an incredibly exciting and popular form of online entertainment, and as such, it is not surprising that so many people like to take part. Similarly, it is equally not surprising that there are so many organisations who are attempting to expand what constitutes only gambling, as different games are constantly being thought up that people can take part in. One of these new forms of gaming is the online scratch card.

What is an Online Scratch Card?

If you are interested in playing some different online scratch cards, then you should be sure to head over to websites such as https://www.legitgamblingsites.com/real-money/scratch-cards/. They are essentially a fun type of instant win game that is based both in form and structure of a real-life scratch card. The game itself is loved by millions as it is such a regular format but moved over to an online setting. This means that they are a lot more accessible to gamers when they are on the move, doing the daily work commute, or are unable to purchase an actual scratch card.

The History of the Scratch Card

You might see this format and think of it as brand new. Granted, a lot of the different forms of the game that you will see now are new due to the fact it has been more modernized to make it easier for current gamers to play. However, that being said, the electronic scratch card is not exactly brand new, and has been around since the 1970s. It was originally thought to have been invented by a group of American computer scientists who all came up with the idea. The first instant tickets went on sale somewhere around 1987 and are now a mainstream form of instant win gaming.

Of course, the inspiration behind the electronic scratch card came directly from the classic scratch cards that were available. This is where you would be given a card and would then scratch away at it which would then reveal an image. The aim of the game was to reveal a certain type of image or an image that would lead to a match as these were always the best ways to guarantee success. For other people, there was a reveal-all element which quickly let you know whether you have won without having the anticipation of scratching away and revealing images.

The Benefits of Online Scratch Cards

As previously mentioned, the online scratch card follows a similar format to the physical ones, but they are beneficial in that they can be bought instantly without trying to find the right shop that sells them. Not only that, but the different available themes remain fresh and adapt with the times a lot quicker than they do with physical ones, thanks to how quickly online graphic designers and developers work. This means that every single time you play, you are going to be met with a new style that will keep things exciting and up-to-date.

The minister of communications and digital economy, Isa Pantami, has condemned the plan by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to introduce a new 5% tax on telecom services.

Pantami made his belief known on Monday while speaking at the ongoing maiden edition of the Nigerian Telecommunications Indigenous Content Expo (NTICE) organized by the Nigerian Communications Commission in Lagos.

The minister argued that the ICT sector is becoming heavily burden with taxes than other sectors, promising to challenge the move.

“We will definitely challenge the decision. There are about seven sectors of Nigeria’s economy contributing largely, and these sectors are less than two per cent of Nigeria’s economic sector. ICT contributes more than other sectors, and it should be encouraged, while those sectors contributing less to GDP should be monitored properly and ensure they do more. If we fail to do this, we will continue to increase and increase tax by the day,” Pantami said.

Last week, the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, announced government’s plan to levy further excise duty on calls, data and SMS services. The decision has been largely decried. It is seen as an insensitive move that will compound the suffering of Nigerians.

But Ahmed defended the decision saying that the government really doesn’t have a choice but to explore other means to fill the revenue gap emanating from dwindling oil revenue.

“The issue of revenue is not something that needs to be shied away from. Our revenue can no longer take care of our needs as a country. Also, Nigeria is no longer making enough money in oil revenue; hence the attention is shifting to non-oil revenue,” she said.

In response, Pantami expressed concern that the decision, if it succeeds, will amount to further hardship as everyone depends on telecom services.

“You introduce excise duty maybe to discourage the consumption of certain products like alcohol, like tobacco and many pieces where you didn’t produce it.

“How can you do financial services in Nigeria without broadband? How can we communicate with ourselves? How can you, we, a hospital without Internet?” he asked.

Engr Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, said last week that the telecom industry won’t be able to absorb the impact of further taxes on behalf of subscribers.

“We currently pay a lot of taxes, running into 39 of them, so we can’t add more to our existing burden. We won’t be able to absolve this on behalf of subscribers. The five per cent excise duty will be paid by the subscribers. It will collected by the operators on all voice and data services including OTT and remitted to the Nigerians Customs”, he said.

The Nigerian government has failed to diversify the economy, making oil the main source of its revenue. With the oil market currently complicated for Nigeria due to lack of local refineries that is forcing the country to import refined petroleum products, thus making no profit as it pays subsidy to keep the products affordable, the government is shifting attention to the telecom sector that has served as the nation’s economy cash cow since 2020.