Scientific Games Records High Ohio Lottery Scratch Connect Adoption
Clara Williams 
Scientific Games has announced a successful initial rollout of its Scratch Connect retail-to-digital bridging technology for the Ohio Lottery, recording double-digit adoption rates among early players. The deployment marks the third jurisdiction to launch the interactive platform, following previous integrations in Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Designed to create a cohesive transition between physical scratch-off tickets and mobile gameplay, the system allows players to access digital extensions of retail games through a single scan without requiring account registration.
Key Takeaways:
- Nearly 570,000 Ohio Lottery players scanned physical tickets to access digital gameplay.
- Forty percent of digital participants opted to enter an additional retail ticket immediately.
- All prizes won through the digital platform remain exclusively redeemable at physical retail locations.
Scratch Connect Mechanics and Retail Integration
The Scratch Connect platform functions by utilizing the physical lottery ticket as the primary entry point for extended digital entertainment. Players who purchase specific retail scratch-off games can use their mobile devices to scan the ticket, which instantly bridges them to a corresponding online game, similar to the experience offered by leading online lottery platforms. Scientific Games developed the system to eliminate friction in the digital transition, allowing users to engage with the mobile interface without the need to create an account or complete a registration process.
Despite the digital extension, the technology is structured to keep the traditional retail network at the center of the lottery ecosystem. Any prizes secured during the interactive mobile gameplay segment must be claimed at a physical retail point-of-sale. This closed-loop approach ensures that retail partners continue to benefit from foot traffic and prize redemption transactions, even as the lottery operator expands its digital footprint.
Bonus Cash Wheel Adoption by Ohio Lottery Players
In Ohio, the Scratch Connect technology was specifically tailored to support the lottery’s $5 Bonus Cash Wheel retail game. Scientific Games customized the digital interface to feature a wheel-style action that mirrors the physical ticket, incorporating matching visual cues and color schemes to maintain a unified brand experience across both mediums.
The implementation has yielded significant player engagement metrics during its early phase. According to the supplier, nearly 570,000 Ohio Lottery players have scanned a $5 Bonus Cash Wheel retail ticket to access the digital "Reach the Wheel" online game. Furthermore, the platform demonstrated strong retention and immediate replay value, with 40% of those users selecting the option to "play again by entering another ticket" during their session, tapping directly into the connected retail-to-digital loop.
Scientific Games Outlines Strategic Retail Support
The Ohio Lottery deployment represents a continued expansion of Scientific Games' interactive portfolio, building on the framework established in Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Each jurisdictional launch features distinct, customized elements tailored to the specific lottery operator's game mechanics and branding requirements.
Charlie Scannella, Vice President of Customer Success and Relationship Management for Scientific Games, highlighted the strategic value of the platform for state lotteries. “The early response to Bonus Cash Wheel demonstrates the opportunity lotteries have to connect retail and digital play in a way that feels natural to players,” Scannella stated.
He emphasized that the technology serves dual purposes by modernizing the player experience while safeguarding traditional sales channels. “Scratch Connect extends the entertainment of a physical scratch game to mobile while keeping the retail network central to the experience. Players can move easily from the ticket to digital play without an account or registration, giving lotteries a simple way to introduce a connected experience while supporting their retail business,” Scannella concluded.
