If you’re unfamiliar with casino gaming, there are so many avenues and facets that even avid gamblers may not know how specific terms and games work. A sweepstake is an excellent example of that, as there is a different version in the United States than in the United Kingdom.
In the UK, a sweepstake is usually a form of lottery where a group of people will pool their funds together. The most common form of a sweepstakes casino is a lottery where people will collectively and strategically put their money into one pot. Then they will share the winnings equally between themselves.
A sweepstakes casino is an entirely different type of gambling in the United States. Although we’ve started with some trivia from across the pond, we will break down eight key things about sweepstakes casinos that should help you broaden your knowledge.
If you’re new to the world of casino gaming, then online sweepstakes casinos may be a great starting point for you. You can sample a wide array of games that casinos offer without exposing yourself to some of the risks you would usually have to, in a standard casino, but we will explain that in more detail for you later on.
An in-depth look at how sweeps cash casinos work
Sweeps cash casinos are a specific corner of the sweepstakes gaming market. While you don’t need to spend your money on a wager, you can participate in various casino games using the in-game currency the casino provides. A sweeps cash casino operates differently, as you can win specific prizes. If you win enough in-game currency, you can swap it for prizes ranging from real cash to free spins and other casino-specific bonuses.
Sweeps cash casinos are like a prize draw; they’re a lighter version of gambling. They’re specifically designed competitions for players who would rather experience the games without having to stake any money. In addition, the possibility of winning a prize while not having to spend your money is a pretty high reward-to-risk ratio, which is rarely seen in casino gaming.
What are sweepstakes and sweepstakes casinos?
A sweepstakes casino is a special type of gaming that involves playing with tokens that only provide access to the games on that company’s website. Depending on the kind of game you play at a sweepstakes casino, you could be given gold coins to play a slot machine title or other branded tokens to use in games such as roulette or poker.
Sweepstakes casinos are defined by the fact you don’t use real money, and it provides more breathing space for people who would rather enjoy the game than have the added excitement or fear of winning or losing money.
Some gambling purists don’t have a high opinion of sweepstakes casinos. However, they’re a suitable middle ground for gamblers who want to play without losing money and for casinos who want to advertise their services to potential customers without immediately taking their money. It’s a method of indirect advertisement that helps increase the visibility of the casino and provides a look into how the site’s inner workings operate.
A general sweepstakes competition acts in the same format, but there’s no casino gaming involved. Usually, it will involve a free-to-enter competition to promote a product or bring publicity to a company. For example, a company may have a free competition that awards the winner a $250 gift voucher for a large online retailer, this is the textbook definition of a sweepstakes competition.
Can I play sweepstakes casino games with real money?
Finding an online casino where you can gamble with real money won’t take long; the market is very deep and saturated. However, a sweepstakes casino is an establishment where you can only gamble using the site’s in-game tokens. Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no; you cannot play sweepstakes casino games with real money.
However, if you win one of the prizes available at a sweepstakes casino or generate a big win which gives you a large number of in-game tokens, there are circumstances where you can cash in these coins for real money. This could technically count, but by definition, sweepstakes casinos are types of games that you enjoy without having to deposit your own money.
Are sweepstake casinos legal in the US?
More states are starting to reap the benefits of legalized, fully regulated online gambling and watching their tax bases swell due to its increasing popularity. However, sweepstakes casinos don’t technically fall into the gambling bracket because players do not have to part with their cash.
It’s always best to double-check the legislation where you reside; some states have strict anti-gambling laws, so even sweepstakes casinos may be restricted. However, as a general rule of thumb, sweepstakes casinos are legal in the US because they’re technically free to enter competitions.
Can you play casino games on mobile?
Yes, if you’re looking to play real money casino games or sweepstakes casino games, you can do so on a variety of mobile devices. Given the colossal explosion of growth in the sector, designing games that work on all devices that connect to the internet is paramount for casino companies to continue their exponential growth.
With billions of smartphones and mobile devices, such as iPads and Android tablets, you can play casino games on mobile with no issues.
Many casino gaming companies now have their own apps you can download, which help streamline your experience. However, if you’d prefer to just log in to a website and begin playing, many options are available online too.
The rise of mobile gaming has helped fuel internet gambling and turned it into an even more significant sector than land-based casinos, so much so that designers and developers now design casino and sweepstakes casino games solely for the mobile gaming audience.
Although these games can work on bigger devices such as PCs or laptops, mobile devices now dominate so much of the online casino industry that they’re the biggest standalone market.
The safety of sweepstakes and social casinos
The obvious benefit of sweepstakes and social casinos is that you do not have to hand over any financial information. Although casinos use incredibly sophisticated security and technology, you don’t need to worry about changing your card details or any other financially identifiable information if there is a breach.
If you gamble solely on sweepstakes casinos, you don’t need to worry about safe gambling tools such as deposit limits. As you are not using real money, you do not need to watch how much money you have lost.
Sweepstakes and social casinos help advertise the positive and fun nature of playing casino games without worrying about finances.
Key pros
The primary positive of sweepstakes casinos is that you can get a good feel of how a casino site looks, what gaming themes you enjoy and what casino games you prefer the most. If you go in and start spending your money before settling on these basics, you could lose money unnecessarily.
Sweepstakes casinos allow you to sit down, play a game with no stakes, and get an understanding of how it all works. Of course, not incurring any financial losses is a fantastic positive, but another positive of sweepstakes casinos is that you can focus purely on gaming. While you can use practical guides to learn how to play poker and other casino games, sometimes learning by doing is the most beneficial and effective way of imprinting it into your memory.
Key cons
One of the main criticisms that avid gamblers like to lay at the door of sweepstakes casinos is that they do not substitute for the real thing. While you can get a solid feel for how the game works and what to look for, the argument is that unless you’re wagering with real money, the experience isn’t authentic.
This isn’t always the case; of course, don’t feel compelled to spend money just for the sake of it. If you enjoy sweepstakes casino gaming and not losing money, continue doing what you want.
Another negative that people point out is that there’s far less selection than in standard casino gaming, but that’s to be expected. Online casino gaming generates billions of dollars of revenue, so naturally, there will be more selection, but that’s not to say there’s a shortage of sweepstakes slot games.
The best sweepstakes slots games
You can find a wide range of engaging slot machine titles online. They span across your favorite themes, including fruit, Ancient Egypt, TV and film. Once you have sampled the best sweepstakes slots games, you can also try out their real money-based versions and see whether you prefer that type of gaming or whether you’d like to stick to sweepstakes.
