Quick Stats
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Provider | Eyecon |
| Game Type | Instant Win / Scratch Card |
| RTP | 90%–95% (variable by casino; demo plays at 95%) |
| Volatility | Medium |
| Grid | 3 × 3 |
| Min Bet | $0.10 |
| Max Bet | $12.50 |
| Max Win | 1,000x stake |
| Features | None |
| Theme | Classic Noughts and Crosses / Retro |
| Release Date | 23 May 2023 |
| Platform | Desktop & Mobile |
What Is Noughts and Crosses?
Noughts and Crosses is a scratch card game, not a traditional pokie. There are no spinning reels, no paylines, and no RNG draw on each spin. Instead, each round is a pre-determined outcome revealed by scratching nine squares on a 3×3 grid. You scratch the squares — manually or with the instant reveal button — and if three identical symbols appear in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line, you win the prize shown on the prize panel below the grid.
This game suits players who want the fastest possible session format with no mechanics to learn beyond the rules of tic-tac-toe. It does not suit players who need bonus features to stay engaged, or anyone comparing this against standard pokies — the RTP range of 90%–95% sits below the 96%+ you find on most quality video slots, and there is no feature potential to offset that gap.
RTP and Volatility
The RTP is variable, which means the exact figure depends on which casino you are playing at. Eyecon publishes two configurations: 90% and 95%. The demo version runs at 95%. In practical terms, at 95% RTP, the game returns $95 per $100 wagered over a long run. At 90%, that drops to $90. Both figures sit below the industry standard for online pokies — most quality video slots sit at 96% or above.
The volatility is medium. On a scratch card, that means you will see a spread of small wins relatively regularly, with the occasional larger payout mixed in, rather than long dry runs followed by one big hit. Medium volatility is a reasonable call for a scratchie with a capped 1,000x max win — there is not enough upside to justify high variance, and not enough base frequency to run low.
Before you play for real money, check with the casino which RTP configuration they are running. That 5% difference matters more than it sounds across an extended session.
Betting Range
The minimum bet is $0.10 per round and the maximum is $12.50. Note: the source page lists the max as $10.00, but Eyecon’s own game documentation and multiple independent review sites confirm $12.50 as the actual ceiling.
The range is narrow but practical for a scratchie. Casual players can run through rounds at $0.10 without burning through a session budget fast. At $12.50 max, the 1,000x top prize translates to a $12,500 win — achievable but unlikely, and with no published probability figure for how often that top multiplier lands.
How to Play Noughts and Crosses
- Set your stake. Use the bet control at the bottom of the screen. Adjust between $0.10 and $12.50 using the arrows.
- Check the prize panel. Before scratching, look at the prize panel below the grid. It lists the multipliers available for the current round: 1x, 2x, 3x, 5x, 10x, 25x, 50x, 100x, 200x, 300x, 500x, or 1,000x your stake.
- Scratch the grid. Click or tap each of the nine squares individually to reveal either a nought or a cross underneath.
- Or use instant reveal. Press the Reveal All button to uncover every square at once. Same outcome, faster.
- Check for a winning line. Three identical symbols in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line means you win.
- Collect your prize. If you have a winning line, the prize panel shows your payout. Press Play Again to start a new round.
Try this: Play your first five rounds in demo mode to get a feel for how often a winning line lands before committing real money. Each round takes under 10 seconds, so five rounds costs you less than a minute.
Symbols and Prize Panel
The game uses two symbols only — a nought (O) and a cross (X). Both are rendered in bold primary colours against a yellow background: neon pink crosses and electric blue noughts in most version descriptions, or red and black depending on the display. There is no paytable in the traditional sense. The prize panel below the grid holds a single hidden multiplier per round, scratched to reveal your payout once the game is complete.
The possible multipliers, as confirmed by Eyecon’s own game page, run at: 1x, 2x, 3x, 5x, 10x, 25x, 50x, 100x, 200x, 300x, 500x, and 1,000x your stake. Lower multipliers appear far more frequently than the upper range. Eyecon has not published individual probability figures for each prize tier.
There are no scatter symbols, no wild symbols, and no bonus symbols. The prize panel is the only path to a payout.
Bonus Features
There are none. Noughts and Crosses does not include free spins, multipliers, bonus rounds, or any feature triggered by special symbols. That is a deliberate design choice — Eyecon built this as a pure scratchie, and the product does exactly what it promises. If you are coming from video pokies expecting a bonus to fall every 100 rounds, reset your expectations before you play.
The closest thing to a feature is the instant reveal button, which removes the manual scratching step. It does not change the outcome — every round is pre-determined — but it speeds up play significantly for anyone who wants to run through sessions quickly.
Is Noughts and Crosses Worth Playing?
Pros:
- The fastest session format available in the scratchie category — each round resolves in under 10 seconds, making it genuinely quick entertainment.
- No mechanics to learn. If you know how tic-tac-toe works, you already know how to play.
- Medium volatility means you are not grinding through long cold streaks the way high-volatility pokies demand. Wins come often enough to keep things moving.
- Mobile-optimised with a clean interface that works without any fuss on phones and tablets.
Cons:
- The RTP range of 90%–95% is the biggest issue. At the lower end, 90% is genuinely poor value compared to most video slots. Always confirm which RTP the casino runs before you deposit.
- No bonus features at all. If you want a scratchie with a multiplier trail, a pick-me bonus, or a progressive jackpot, this game cannot deliver any of that.
- The max win of 1,000x exists but carries no published probability. You have no way to assess how realistic chasing that top prize actually is.
- Thin variety — two symbols and a single prize panel means every round looks and feels identical. This can get repetitive fast.
Noughts and Crosses is a clean, functional scratchie that does one thing reliably. It suits players who want fast, low-stakes entertainment with no learning curve. Play it for fun and nostalgia — just confirm the 95% RTP configuration is active at your casino before you do, and do not expect it to replace a video pokie for session depth or feature excitement.
Responsible Gambling
Noughts and Crosses uses a certified Random Number Generator (RNG). Every round outcome is determined before you scratch a single square — revealing symbols faster or slower does not influence the result. Set a fixed session budget before you play and stop when you hit it. If gambling stops feeling like entertainment, contact your local responsible gambling support service for free, confidential help.