Integrating ScratchCard Pro with Your Mobile App Backend

Promotional scratch cards (digital “scratch-off” experiences) are a powerful way to increase engagement and retention in mobile apps. ScratchCard Pro provides the front-end SDK and backend APIs to run timed campaigns, allocate prizes, and validate claims. This article walks through a robust, production-ready approach to integrating ScratchCard Pro with your mobile app backend, covering architecture, data flow, security, testing, and operational best practices.

What ScratchCard Pro integration looks like

- Front-end SDK: renders scratch UI, fetches available cards, reports user interactions.

- ScratchCard Pro service: manages campaigns, prize inventory, fraud detection, and business rules.

- Your backend: authorizes users, validates eligibility, records claims, fulfills prizes (wallet top-ups, coupon issuance, orders), and listens to webhooks/events.

High-level architecture and responsibilities

- Mobile app: authenticates the user with your backend, loads scratch card data via your backend (or directly from ScratchCard Pro if allowed by your security model), displays UI, sends claim requests when the user scratches and reveals a prize.

- Your backend: performs user authorization and eligibility checks, forwards or verifies claims with ScratchCard Pro, records the event in your database, triggers fulfillment (wallet, coupon, email), and responds to the mobile app.

- ScratchCard Pro webhooks: notify your backend asynchronously about finalized outcomes, fraud flags, or adjustments.

Why route through your backend?

- Security: keep API keys and HMAC secrets off the client.

- Business logic: enforce per-user limits, promotional rules, KYC checks, or geo-blocking.

- Fulfillment: connect scratch outcomes to internal systems (wallet, coupon engine, order system).

- Data consistency: single source of truth for user state and audit logs.

Core integration flow

1. App requests available card(s):

- App authenticates to your backend (token).

- Backend checks user eligibility and if an active campaign exists, optionally calls ScratchCard Pro’s “get card” endpoint to reserve a card.

- Backend returns the necessary card metadata (card id, campaign id, obfuscated prize data if needed) to the app.

2. User scratches and reveals:

- SDK reports local progress; when reveal threshold reached, SDK requests claim flow.

- App calls your backend: POST /scratch/claim { user_id, card_id, sdk_session_id }.

3. Backend validates & claims:

- Verify user session, rate limits, and eligibility.

- Option A: Call ScratchCard Pro API to finalize claim: POST /sc-pro/claim { card_id, user_reference } and parse response (prize id, amount, status).

- Option B: If ScratchCard Pro is configured to call your webhook for finalization, create a provisional record and wait for webhook.

4. Fulfill prize:

- On successful confirmed claim, record claim in DB, trigger fulfillment: credit wallet, generate coupon code, enqueue email/SMS.

- Return claim result to mobile app.

Key backend design elements

API authentication and secrets

- Keep ScratchCard Pro API keys and signing secrets in your server-side configuration or a secrets manager.

- Use least-privileged keys if ScratchCard Pro supports them: separate keys for sandbox/testing and production, and for webhooks verification vs. outgoing API calls.

- Rotate keys regularly and support rolling updates.

Webhooks and idempotency

- ScratchCard Pro will likely send event notifications (claim finalized, fraud flagged). Implement a secure webhook endpoint that:

- Verifies signatures (HMAC) and rejects unsigned/old requests.

- Uses idempotency: each webhook event should include a unique event_id; perform deduplication (store event_id in DB or use a distributed dedupe store).

- Acknowledge quickly (200 OK) and process heavy work asynchronously.

- Implement retries/backoff for downstream systems if webhook processing depends on other services.

Database schema suggestions

- scratch_claims: claim_id, user_id, card_id, campaign_id, scratch_pro_claim_id, status (pending | confirmed | rejected), prize_id, prize_amount, created_at, updated_at, processed_at.

- scratch_events: event_id, claim_id, raw_payload, received_at, processed_at.

- prize_fulfillments: fulfillment_id, claim_id, method (wallet|coupon|order), status, external_reference.

Concurrency, consistency, and race conditions

- Enforce single-claim-per-card semantics with a transactional lock or optimistic concurrency: check and set card/claim status in the same DB transaction.

- Use idempotency keys for claim endpoints so retrying from the mobile app won’t create duplicate claims.

- If ScratchCard Pro allows parallel reservations, coordinate finalization only after you’ve acquired confirmation from ScratchCard Pro.

Security and fraud prevention

- Validate user identity: ensure the authenticated mobile user is the claimant.

- Apply per-user and per-device rate limits to defend against brute-force probing.

- For high-value prizes, enforce stronger controls (e.g., KYC, manual review workflow).

- Monitor for abnormal patterns: multiple wins from the same device, rapid repeat claims, or claims outside expected geographies.

- Ensure all communication uses TLS, and reject weak ciphers.

Testing strategy

- Use Sandbox mode from ScratchCard Pro and separate test keys.

- Simulate edge cases: lost webhooks, duplicate events, delayed finalization, and partial failures in downstream systems.

- Implement end-to-end tests that exercise the mobile SDK, your backend, and the ScratchCard Pro sandbox.

- Use feature flags to roll out campaigns gradually and perform A/B testing.

Monitoring and observability

- Track metrics: claim attempts, successes, failures, average claim latency, webhook delivery latency, and fulfillment errors.

- Log full request/response for debugging (mask PII and secrets).

- Alert on anomalies: sudden spike in fraud flags, elevated claim failure rates, or fulfillment backlogs.

Operational considerations and go-live checklist

- Pre-launch:

- Complete integration with sandbox keys and pass QA.

- Verify webhook signature validation and deduplication.

- Implement monitoring dashboards and alerts.

- Prepare fulfillment connectors (wallet, coupon system).

- Launch:

- Enable feature flags and release progressively (canary or staged cohorts).

- Monitor closely first 24–72 hours for spikes and errors.

- Post-launch:

- Review aggregated data for business KPIs (engagement uplift, redemption rates, cost per redemption).

- Iterate on prize mix and fraud rules.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

- Putting API keys in the mobile app: never store server or ScratchCard Pro secrets on the client.

- Not handling duplicate webhooks: leads to double fulfillment—use event dedupe and idempotency.

- Blocking on webhook processing: acknowledge early and handle heavy work asynchronously.

- Missing transactional boundaries: ensure one-claim-per-card using transactions or distributed locks.

- Poor observability: lack of metrics will make it hard to respond to outages or fraud.

Conclusion

Integrating ScratchCard Pro into your mobile app backend requires careful attention to security, idempotency, and reliable fulfillment. Architect the flow so your backend controls eligibility and prize fulfillment while relying on ScratchCard Pro for campaign and prize mechanics. Invest in robust webhook handling, monitoring, and test coverage. With those building blocks in place you’ll be able to run engaging scratch-card promotions that scale, remain auditable, and minimize fraud risk.

Integrating ScratchCard Pro with Your Mobile App Backend Promotional scratch cards (digital “scratch-off” experiences) are a powerful way to increase engagement and retention in mobile apps. ScratchCard Pro provides the front-end SDK and backend APIs to run timed campaigns, allocate prizes, and validate claims. This article walks through a robust, production-ready approach to integrating ScratchCard Pro with your mobile app backend, covering architecture, data flow, security, testing, and operational best practices. What ScratchCard Pro integration looks like - Front-end SDK: renders scratch UI, fetches available cards, reports user interactions. - ScratchCard Pro service: manages campaigns, prize inventory, fraud detection, and business rules. - Your backend: authorizes users, validates eligibility, records claims, fulfills prizes (wallet top-ups, coupon issuance, orders), and listens to webhooks/events. High-level architecture and responsibilities - Mobile app: authenticates the user with your backend, loads scratch card data via your backend (or directly from ScratchCard Pro if allowed by your security model), displays UI, sends claim requests when the user scratches and reveals a prize. - Your backend: performs user authorization and eligibility checks, forwards or verifies claims with ScratchCard Pro, records the event in your database, triggers fulfillment (wallet, coupon, email), and responds to the mobile app. - ScratchCard Pro webhooks: notify your backend asynchronously about finalized outcomes, fraud flags, or adjustments. Why route through your backend? - Security: keep API keys and HMAC secrets off the client. - Business logic: enforce per-user limits, promotional rules, KYC checks, or geo-blocking. - Fulfillment: connect scratch outcomes to internal systems (wallet, coupon engine, order system). - Data consistency: single source of truth for user state and audit logs. Core integration flow 1. App requests available card(s): - App authenticates to your backend (token). - Backend checks user eligibility and if an active campaign exists, optionally calls ScratchCard Pro’s “get card” endpoint to reserve a card. - Backend returns the necessary card metadata (card id, campaign id, obfuscated prize data if needed) to the app. 2. User scratches and reveals: - SDK reports local progress; when reveal threshold reached, SDK requests claim flow. - App calls your backend: POST /scratch/claim { user_id, card_id, sdk_session_id }. 3. Backend validates & claims: - Verify user session, rate limits, and eligibility. - Option A: Call ScratchCard Pro API to finalize claim: POST /sc-pro/claim { card_id, user_reference } and parse response (prize id, amount, status). - Option B: If ScratchCard Pro is configured to call your webhook for finalization, create a provisional record and wait for webhook. 4. Fulfill prize: - On successful confirmed claim, record claim in DB, trigger fulfillment: credit wallet, generate coupon code, enqueue email/SMS. - Return claim result to mobile app. Key backend design elements API authentication and secrets - Keep ScratchCard Pro API keys and signing secrets in your server-side configuration or a secrets manager. - Use least-privileged keys if ScratchCard Pro supports them: separate keys for sandbox/testing and production, and for webhooks verification vs. outgoing API calls. - Rotate keys regularly and support rolling updates. Webhooks and idempotency - ScratchCard Pro will likely send event notifications (claim finalized, fraud flagged). Implement a secure webhook endpoint that: - Verifies signatures (HMAC) and rejects unsigned/old requests. - Uses idempotency: each webhook event should include a unique event_id; perform deduplication (store event_id in DB or use a distributed dedupe store). - Acknowledge quickly (200 OK) and process heavy work asynchronously. - Implement retries/backoff for downstream systems if webhook processing depends on other services. Database schema suggestions - scratch_claims: claim_id, user_id, card_id, campaign_id, scratch_pro_claim_id, status (pending | confirmed | rejected), prize_id, prize_amount, created_at, updated_at, processed_at. - scratch_events: event_id, claim_id, raw_payload, received_at, processed_at. - prize_fulfillments: fulfillment_id, claim_id, method (wallet|coupon|order), status, external_reference. Concurrency, consistency, and race conditions - Enforce single-claim-per-card semantics with a transactional lock or optimistic concurrency: check and set card/claim status in the same DB transaction. - Use idempotency keys for claim endpoints so retrying from the mobile app won’t create duplicate claims. - If ScratchCard Pro allows parallel reservations, coordinate finalization only after you’ve acquired confirmation from ScratchCard Pro. Security and fraud prevention - Validate user identity: ensure the authenticated mobile user is the claimant. - Apply per-user and per-device rate limits to defend against brute-force probing. - For high-value prizes, enforce stronger controls (e.g., KYC, manual review workflow). - Monitor for abnormal patterns: multiple wins from the same device, rapid repeat claims, or claims outside expected geographies. - Ensure all communication uses TLS, and reject weak ciphers. Testing strategy - Use Sandbox mode from ScratchCard Pro and separate test keys. - Simulate edge cases: lost webhooks, duplicate events, delayed finalization, and partial failures in downstream systems. - Implement end-to-end tests that exercise the mobile SDK, your backend, and the ScratchCard Pro sandbox. - Use feature flags to roll out campaigns gradually and perform A/B testing. Monitoring and observability - Track metrics: claim attempts, successes, failures, average claim latency, webhook delivery latency, and fulfillment errors. - Log full request/response for debugging (mask PII and secrets). - Alert on anomalies: sudden spike in fraud flags, elevated claim failure rates, or fulfillment backlogs. Operational considerations and go-live checklist - Pre-launch: - Complete integration with sandbox keys and pass QA. - Verify webhook signature validation and deduplication. - Implement monitoring dashboards and alerts. - Prepare fulfillment connectors (wallet, coupon system). - Launch: - Enable feature flags and release progressively (canary or staged cohorts). - Monitor closely first 24–72 hours for spikes and errors. - Post-launch: - Review aggregated data for business KPIs (engagement uplift, redemption rates, cost per redemption). - Iterate on prize mix and fraud rules. Common pitfalls and how to avoid them - Putting API keys in the mobile app: never store server or ScratchCard Pro secrets on the client. - Not handling duplicate webhooks: leads to double fulfillment—use event dedupe and idempotency. - Blocking on webhook processing: acknowledge early and handle heavy work asynchronously. - Missing transactional boundaries: ensure one-claim-per-card using transactions or distributed locks. - Poor observability: lack of metrics will make it hard to respond to outages or fraud. Conclusion Integrating ScratchCard Pro into your mobile app backend requires careful attention to security, idempotency, and reliable fulfillment. Architect the flow so your backend controls eligibility and prize fulfillment while relying on ScratchCard Pro for campaign and prize mechanics. Invest in robust webhook handling, monitoring, and test coverage. With those building blocks in place you’ll be able to run engaging scratch-card promotions that scale, remain auditable, and minimize fraud risk.