Abstract: A card is disclosed that incorporates a removable scratch-off coating to hide printed symbols. The card is constructed so that the scratch-off coating is selectively retained by the card, in the form of symbols, or as a background for symbols, when the scratch-off coating is removed. The selective retention of scratch-off coating material to the card is accomplished by incorporating into the card, between the substrate and the scratch-off coating, a clear release coat patterned to form symbols. When the scratch-off coating material is applied to the card during construction, it either adheres directly to the substrate in the form of symbols, or it adheres to the substrate in the background for the symbols, depending on how the release coat is applied. When a player rubs the scratch-off coating material, it releases from the release coat and remains adhered to the substrate to create either symbols or the background for symbols.