Scratchcards are easier to win

A NEW range of scratchcards is going on sale with a one-in-three chance of winning compared to the previous one-in-four.

Around 23 million people play scratchcards regularly pocketing, on average, 4 euros a week - which participating tabacs say is usually spent straight away in their shop or bar.

Now, Loto organiser Francaise des Jeux is rebranding the cards with the family name of Illiko, but still using the traditional games such as Astro, Banco, Cash and Vegas. New games will also be launched, priced at one or two euros, with a better chance of winning. One, the two-euro 12 Mois Extra, will offer prizes of up to 500 euros a month for a year.

The aim is to bring in a million more players. Last year scratchcards - which sell for between one and 10 euros - amounted to 44% of total FDJ sales, bringing in a total of five billion euros through 1.9bn ticket sales.

Owned 72% by the state, FDJ has 35,000 sales points across the country and last year notched up 11.4bn euros of revenue.