You will probably be familiar with sweepstakes. The sweepstakes concept has been around for many decades. In fact, some sweepstakes still in existence were started way back in the 1950s and 1960s.
If you’ve ever taken part in a Super Bowl betting pool with friends or work colleagues, you’ve probably been playing a form of sweepstakes. In a way, these are a form of gambling, even if the stakes and prizes are very low or non-financial. In fact, informal sweepstakes are common around many major sports events and can be as easy or as complicated as you like.
There is, however, a more organized and formal type of sweepstakes, which has arisen with the development of the online economy. Sweepstakes casinos are increasingly popular across the US and are set to become one of the main forms of online social gaming in 2023.
What Is a Sweepstakes Casino?
At a regular casino, you sign up, deposit money and then play the games on offer. Mostly you lose money since all casinos are designed with a clear house edge, but if you win from time to time, you get to cash out real money.
A sweepstakes casino does not work in the same way. Although you provide similar details when you sign up, you don’t play the games with real money. Instead, you play with gold coins, which are a form of virtual currency that you then use to enter contests or play games.
Usually, after signing up, new players are awarded some of these coins, but you can also purchase bundles of coins through the site, which is how the site makes a profit. Using the coins, you can play casino games of all kinds, from video slots to roulette. When you win, you will earn more coins.
The important factor to note is that since these coins have no value, sweepstakes casinos are not considered to be gambling platforms. It is, however, possible to turn these coins into real money, which you can read more about below.
Wide Range of Games and Betting
Sweepstakes casino offers the same range of games that you can find at any regular online casino. Most sweepstakes casinos will offer at least the following gaming options:
- Video slots
- Retro slots
- Roulette
- Blackjack
- Baccarat
- Craps
- Video poker
You may also find sweepstakes sites that offer you the chance to bet on sports events. As with the casino sites, you will only be able to bet with tokens.
Social aspect
Sweepstakes casinos are sometimes also known as social casinos because one of their main attractions is the social element that they can offer.
Along with all the traditional casino games that you can find at a sweepstakes casino site, you will also find contests and competitions that anyone can enter, with prizes in the form of tokens, enabling you to compete with others in a friendly environment.
This ability to interact with other players is something that you simply won’t find at standard casinos. It is particularly popular with players who are used to the concept of online gaming and interacting with other players.
Safe and legal
The model for sweepstakes casinos is closer to bingo or lottery competitions than to casino gaming, which is why it is legal for operators to host sweepstakes. In fact, you can play sweepstakes casino games in every state of the US aside from Washington.
Although the US gambling sector is going through a legalization process, not every state has reached the same stage of regulation. In many states, online casino gaming is still illegal. Sweepstakes casinos offer an alternative way of playing casino games without taking the risk of playing at an illegal site, which is not recommended as illegal casino sites operate without any oversight and are not regulated.
The fact that sweepstakes casinos are legal also means that, unlike the heavily regulated real money casino sector, it is a lot easier for operators to launch new sites, resulting in an ever-growing list of sweepstakes casinos available in 2023.
Chance to Win Real Money
It is, in fact, possible to win real money at a sweepstakes casino. To do so, you need to convert your tokens into real money and then make a withdrawal. For that process to be authorized, you must verify your identity. Depending on which state you are playing in, this can require you to upload a copy of some form of ID, such as a driver’s license, and some form of proof of address.
It is important to remember, however, that the games at sweepstakes casinos are games of pure chance. This form of online casino gaming can never be a source of income or a solution to financial problems. Although sweepstakes casinos are set to become even more popular in 2023, they should only ever be seen as leisure or social platforms, not as a way to win money.