A woman won 5 thousand euros on a scratch card bought in Barcelos, but during the first moments she believed the prize was 10 times smaller. The episode took place this week at a kiosk in the city and put the scratch card back in the spotlight, at a time when it continues to be the most popular game among the Portuguese.
According to the newspaper, the winning bet was registered at the Casa Costa kiosk, located on Avenida dos Combatentes da Grande Guerra, in Barcelos. The customer, described as a regular visitor to the establishment, purchased a “100 X” scratch card, costing R$10, without immediately realizing the real value of the prize won.
Surprise only arrived after the bills
The kiosk owners, Ricardo and Pedro Costa, told the newspaper that the winner initially interpreted the award wrongly. “It went to a lady who usually comes here. She thought she had 500 euros, she hadn’t done the math yet, she was very happy”, they explained.
When he realized that the total amount reached 5 thousand euros, his satisfaction became even greater. The prize came from an establishment that has been operating for more than two decades and, like many points of sale throughout the country, receives customers daily who seek their luck through scratch cards.
Game that continues to lead the betting
The case takes place in a context in which the scratch card maintains a dominant position in the Santa Casa Games universe. According to a 2025 report by SIC Notícias, this product represents close to 60% of total gaming revenue and continues to attract millions of bettors across the country.
The same source says that, in 2024 alone, revenues associated with scratch cards reached almost 1,850 million euros. During this period, the Portuguese bought more than 700 million tickets, numbers that help explain why it continues to be considered the most sought after form of gambling.
Between luck and risk
Despite occasional prizes, the scratch-off phenomenon also raises concerns regarding excessive gambling behavior. In the SIC report, some bettors admitted difficulties in controlling spending.
“I play and I already ruined my life in two days”, reported a man interviewed by the television station. “If anything comes out there tends to be more and more and when you see it you won’t gain anything, you always lose”, he added.
The same statement reveals that there are days when expenses exceed 20 euros, a reality that experts and entities linked to the sector monitor carefully due to the potential for addiction associated with this type of instant game.
Habit that spans generations
Those who work daily selling these products say that demand remains high, although more stabilized than in previous years. Older customers continue to represent a significant part of purchases, especially during periods when salaries and pensions are paid.
While thousands of gamblers continue to try their luck every day, stories like that of the Barcelos woman show the more visible side of prizes. In this case, it all started with a 10-euro scratch card and a sloppy calculation, which turned a seemingly modest prize into a surprise 5,000 euros.
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