What Are Sweepstakes Casinos?
In the iGaming sector, sweepstakes casinos have emerged as an impressive alternative to traditional forms of online gambling. The popularity of sweepstakes casinos has been quite significant in recent years and is most peculiar in North America. Many of the best online sweepstakes casinos are based in the US due to the legality of them globally.
Considering that the legality of online gambling in the US varies, the buzz surrounding sweepstakes is understandable. As we move along this article, we’ll explore what sweepstakes casinos are about, how they function, and everything in between.
Sweepstakes Casinos: How They Work
The main goal of most iGaming operators is to create a profitable and sustainable gaming business. This is why technological innovations are an integral focus for key stakeholders within the industry. Through innovations, sweepstakes casinos can operate on legal gaming models that pose no financial risk.
Unlike traditional online casinos, sweepstakes casinos are considered legal in many states across the United States. The operators offer games similar to those you would typically find at conventional online casinos. These can include slots, poker, bingo, Keno, and most table games – but the gameplay mechanics differ significantly.
How To Play Sweepstakes Casino Games
Unlike standard casinos that use real money, players use virtual currencies at sweepstakes casinos. These currencies are often called ‘Gold Coins’ or ‘Sweepstakes Coins’ and are not equivalent to real-world currencies. This is how you can differentiate between them:
- Gold Coins: These coins hold no monetary value and are used to play casino games for fun. They are a great way for players to enjoy the social aspect of sweepstakes online casinos.
- Sweepstakes Coins: These coin types are unique because they can be earned and redeemed for cash prizes. Sweep coins are typically obtained via bonuses, daily logins, social media contests, mail-in offers, or free rewards.
Maximizing Your Gameplay At Sweepstakes Casinos
The most important point to note while playing at sweepstakes casinos is that real money isn’t wagered on any games. However, winnings earned in Sweepstakes Coins by players may be redeemable for exciting prizes. Here are a few pro tips you can use to maximize your gaming experience at sweepstakes casinos:
- Play high RTP games
The Return-to-Player (RTP) ratio is the expected percentage of wagers a specific game returns to players after extended play. It’s calculated as the total amount returned divided by the total amount wagered. Essentially, games with high RTP values of at least 96.50% are considered favorable for more wins over time.
- Look for slots with low volatility
Slot games are by far the main attraction at most sweepstakes casinos. Low-volatility slots are typically designed to payout smaller wins in very quick succession. Social gamers should take advantage of this to extend their gameplay and enjoy a stream of smaller but steady wins.
- Make good use of bonuses
Bonuses are readily available for free at most sweepstakes casinos. They usually come in the form of welcome offers, daily login rewards, mail-in offers, social media freebies, or leaderboard contests. If you take advantage of these perks, you could boost your coin balance and potentially extend your playing time.
Sweepstakes Casinos: Pros and Cons
Just as one would expect, choosing to play at a sweepstakes casino comes with a fair share of positives and negatives. While these platforms offer users a chance to enjoy casino-type gaming devoid of legal limitations, there are some ambiguities. Here, we’ll highlight the good and not-so-good aspects of sweepstakes casinos.
Pros
- Sweepstakes Casinos are legal in most states of the US, even in those where real money online gambling is illegal
- Many of the slot games featured on these platforms have high RTPs
- Players hardly get bored as most sweepstakes casinos roll out new games consistently
- The social component of sweepstakes gambling makes the overall gaming experience more engaging
Cons
- The game varieties are limited and mostly cover slot machines
- Sweepstakes casinos are not a great fit for casino high-rollers and big spenders
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the decision to play at sweepstakes casinos largely depends on individual preferences. Some people prefer to experience the adrenaline-fuelled feeling of real money gambling, while others just want to take things slower. For those who don’t mind the sweepstakes casino experience, ensure you have understood how best to maximize your gameplay.
