Out of the many different game types played on cell phones by both new and older online casino fans online sweepstakes casinos have proved particularly popular.
The growing popularity of social casinos is a particularly interesting development as they are quite different from traditional online casino games, with some even arguing that they aren’t really casinos at all!
But what exactly are sweepstakes casinos, how do they differ from traditional casinos, and do you need to purchase anything to play them? For answers to these questions and more, keep reading!
Sweepstakes casinos: what are they?
Of the many different gaming experiences you might encounter online, sweepstakes casinos truly are the most unique! For many newer players, however, the format might seem somewhat confusing.
Sweepstakes casinos differ from the traditional online casino games you might be used to as you don’t necessarily bet with real money. In fact, in some parts of the US, they aren’t even classed as gambling at all!
Sweepstakes or social casinos get their name from a much older form of contest called a ‘sweepstakes’ competition. In this contest, prizes are given to a winner picked at random from a pool of participants. There have been many different examples of this game type throughout history, though one of the most well-known was the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes.
Sweepstakes casino format
In terms of how this classic format from real-life sweepstakes competitions has been adapted for the modern age, sweepstakes casinos take some elements of traditional sweepstakes competitions and combine them with online casino games.
The difference between sweepstakes casinos and regular online casinos is that in the former, you are not placing wagers directly with cash. Rather, you play with units of virtual currencies – which can sometimes be purchased – though your winnings are not necessarily ‘cashed out’ in the traditional sense.
An interesting consequence of this format is that sweepstakes casinos are not considered ‘gambling’ in the conventional sense of the term. As such, they are fully legal across the US, even in states where other forms of gambling might be unavailable.
Sweepstakes casinos also tend to be much more social in nature and are often fully integrated with social media platforms. This contrasts with many more traditional online casinos, which don’t tend to integrate with or support social media functionality and other similar technology.
As such, if you are looking for a fun, social game where you don’t need to put up real cash to play with your friends, sweepstakes casinos are a great choice!
Do I need to use real money or make a purchase at sweepstakes casinos?
With most online sweepstakes casinos, you do not need to place a real-cash wager in order to win money – unlike traditional casinos.
There are usually two types of virtual currency at sweepstakes, and understanding how each of them work is key to understanding how sweepstakes casinos work.
With that said, if you are playing at an online sweepstakes casinos, you can use either:
- Gold coins: This is the free currency that most sweepstakes sites use. You will often receive these for free, though some sites allow you to purchase them.
- Sweeps coins: Sweeps coins are usually harder to come by and you often win more sweeps coins by wagering with them. Other times, you will get awarded sweeps coins if you purchase gold coins as part of a package.
The main difference between the two is that sweeps coins are usually redeemable as real-money prizes, while gold coins are not.
This difference means that sweepstakes casinos tend to be much more readily available both across the US and the rest of the world.
Nevertheless, if you are thinking about signing up to a sweepstakes casino for the first time, it is still important to make sure that it follows all local laws relating to the handling of client funds and online security. You should also check out what policies the casino has in place and whether there are any terms and conditions you need to be aware of.
Overall, sweepstakes casinos make a great alternative to the more traditional online casino games you might be familiar with. They provide a great blend of fun games, social media functionality, and a safe gaming environment, which is truly unique. Sweepstakes casinos are also a great option if you want to avoid making a purchase to play. If this sounds like something that you are interested in trying out, then we would highly recommend giving them a try today!
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