Coinboards
and Flares
are variations on pull-tab games. A game board of this type
typically comes with a registered package of pull-tab tickets, a
signers card, and a pay-out slip.
When a ticket is sold, the player opens the
ticket to reveal its hidden numbers. If a number on the ticket
matches a number on the game board, the player wins a prize and/or a
chance at one or more seal prizes, which are revealed at the end of
the game.
The game board displays the winning numbers along
with the prizes. Some of the winners receive instant cash only,
while some of the winning numbers match numbers on coins, wallets,
or small panels that are built into the board. When a player opens a
ticket containing one of these numbers, the game manager removes the
coin or panel and gives it to the player. When the coin or panel is
removed, a prize is revealed that may consist of instant cash,
merchandise, and/or a chance at a seal prize. Instant cash or
merchandise winnings are given to the player immediately by the
manager.
If a player wins a chance at a seal prize, that
player's name is added to the signers card. When the game ends --
all the tickets sell out, or all the prizes are won -- the manager
opens the seals on the game board (or, in some versions, scratches
off) to reveal the winning numbers. The players whose names appear
next to the winning numbers on the signers card win a seal prize.
The seal prizes are usually the most valuable prizes.
United States collector coins are embedded in
most coin boards sold in the US. Sometimes they are visible, and
sometimes they are hidden behind panels. Coinboards contain
only coin and cash prizes. Merchandise (Flare) boards also contain
coins, but some or all of the prizes consist of merchandise rather
than cash.
