Digital mystery boxes featuring collectible cards are gaining traction in the online gaming industry, as highlighted by iGamingToday. Users deposit funds, open a virtual set containing physical cards (such as Pokémon or sports cards), and randomly receive one of them. They can then choose to have the card delivered, store it with the service, or sell it back for cash withdrawal.
These services operate without gaming licenses, with most functioning outside regulatory oversight. They typically impose an age limit of 18, lacking options for setting limits or self-exclusion.
One of the largest services in this segment, Courtyard, has seen its monthly turnover skyrocket from $50,000 to $50 million in just a year and a half. In July 2025, investors injected $30 million into the platform, according to American business magazine Fortune. The service purchases cards that users receive for 90% of their market value, and a single card can change hands up to eight times within a month.
Another app in this space, Rips by Triumph, offers cards priced over $10,000 in sets and instant cashouts via PayPal and Venmo. Remarkably, it secured the top spot in its category on the American App Store just seven months post-launch.