How Does Sweepstakes Gaming Work?
In short, they work like a real money casino; however, players are not required to make any real money purchases to benefit from its perks.
The very best social casinos will require players to follow the usual registration process and offer new patrons the chance to redeem a welcome bonus. Any bonus redeemed will often come in the shape of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins - the two preferred types of virtual currency used by most online social casinos.
Generally, the bulk of your bonus will be built up of sweepstakes gold coins. These coins hold no real money value but can be wagered across all games that feature on your chosen site. Sweeps coins, alternately, can be staked on specific sweepstake gaming titles or used to enter onsite tournaments and competitions, allowing players to grow their sweeps coins pot and redeem for various different prizes.
A recent surge in popularity has seen the social casino market becoming increasingly competitive. Now, it is not uncommon to find new sweepstakes casinos offering cash prizes, gift vouchers, merchandise and plenty more to its users. Bonuses and gifts aside, there’s been an increase in top software being used, too. So, not only can players unlock great bonuses and have the chance to redeem cash prizes but they can also play on some of the most popular casino titles today!
How to Play at Sweepstakes Casinos
As you’ve likely already gathered, sites like your favorite sweepstakes casinos will allow you to enjoy top casino action risk-free. If that sounds like something that appeals, you’ll be pleased to hear that this next section in this guide to online sweepstakes Casinos is focused solely on the registration process - let’s get you signed up!
- Register: The signup process is straightforward at a sweepstakes casino and requires players to enter some basic information, including an email address, or sign up by linking a Facebook or Google account. From here, players will be requested to verify their account before moving on to step number two.
- Receive bonus: Any top USA sweepstakes casino will look to offer players a sizeable starter bonus. Often, these will be gifted as soon as verification of your account has been completed. However, we would always suggest keeping your eyes peeled for any promotional codes.
- Play games and win more coins: Once you’ve unlocked your bonus, you can head straight to the gaming library. You can win more coins by getting lucky playing sweep slots online, redeeming further bonuses or making use of any social casino rewards program.
- Buy coins if you run out: There are no guarantees in the world of real money or sweepstakes gambling. So, if you find yourself short on coins after a few losses, most social casinos will offer players the chance to purchase further coins online. These will often come in batches or package deals and you may be fortunate enough to unlock some sweeps coins along the way, too!
- Withdraw money: When you reach a certain threshold, any sweepstakes casino that offers real money prizes will allow you to make a withdrawal. At this point, you will be required to forward KYC documentation to confirm your identity. Next, you’ll need to select your preferred method and await processing.
Alongside the methods mentioned above, players can also look to redeem further coins by making use of social media giveaways. The community and social element of sweepstakes casinos is huge and players will regularly see giveaways offering various amounts of gold coins and sweeps coins. Players may be required to forward screenshots of their recent activity, refer a friend or simply like and comment on a post to enter.
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Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal?
Sweepstakes casinos and social poker sites are considered legal across the US, except to those of you in Washington. However, that does not mean that your preferred sweepstakes casino site is guaranteed to be available in your state. Various sites are also unavailable to players in Idaho, Nevada and New York.
The reason that sweepstakes casinos are deemed legal across the bulk of the US is due to the way that they are categorized. Unlike real money casinos that are based on luck and skill, sweepstakes casinos are categorized as sweepstakes only. Any prizes obtained from playing at a sweepstakes casino are already predetermined and have no guarantees.
It is also worth noting that, depending on your current location, you may also find that there are strict rules regarding maximum payout limits from sweepstake prizes.
Sweepstakes Casinos vs. Regular Online Casinos
So, let’s get down to it - the battle between sweepstakes and regular online casinos. It all boils down to the kind of experience and reward you are after.
As mentioned earlier in this guide to online sweepstakes casinos, sweepstakes players can now make use of top software providers that were predominantly found only at real money casinos. With that being said, the size of the gaming portfolio is often far greater at real money casinos and you will often find live casino games and a greater range of table games, too.
If you are just searching for a place to play, then there is no doubt that the registration process at a sweepstakes casino is far smoother than a regular online casino. By simply entering your email address, or linking your Facebook or Google account, you can be up and running. Bonuses at a sweepstakes casino come with far less terms and conditions, too; however, they also hold no real money value. As times move on, accessibility and usability of both sweepstakes and real money casinos also seem fairly well matched.
If you live in a state where both regular online casinos and sweepstakes casinos are deemed legal, the choice depends on whether you wish to risk your own capital or hope to turn your sweeps coins into cash prizes!
Pros and Cons of Sweepstakes Casinos
Here, our experts take a closer look at the pros and cons of joining a sweepstake casino.
Pros
As we’ve already detailed, sweepstakes casinos provide a straightforward registration process that can often be completed within a matter of minutes. Bonuses are simple enough to redeem and often have zero wagering requirements. The type of software used across social casinos is slowly getting better and better, allowing for a much smoother gaming experience. Players can also turn their sweeps cash into redeemable rewards, without ever having to make an online purchase.
- Simple signup process
- Great bonuses
- Ongoing rewards and perks
- Solid Software
Cons
Although slowly being introduced, dedicated sweepstakes apps still seem to be lacking for most social casinos. Of course, you can always play through your mobile browser or link to your Facebook account. Also, the number of available games can be quite limited, with very few offering any form of live casino experience. Naturally, we lament for those in Washington who are unable to make use of sweepstakes casinos, too.
- Less likely to have a mobile app
- Smaller gaming portfolios
- Unavailable in Washington
How old do I need to be to play?
You may already be aware that the laws and legislation surrounding online gambling in the US differs from state to state. However, for those of you looking to make use of sweepstakes casinos, these laws do not directly apply. Instead, all players looking to join a social casino need to be at least 18 years old, reside in a state where their chosen sweepstakes casino is available and verify their account.
With that being said, we have found a few sweepstakes casinos that will only take players over the age of 21. Make sure you pay close attention to our detailed sweepstakes casinos review before attempting to sign yourself up!
Can I win real money from Sweepstakes Casinos?
Absolutely! Our community spends a lot of time trying to find the best sweeps cash casinos with real money prizes. As you’d expect, not all sweepstakes casinos offer players the chance to redeem these cash prizes but they can almost always be used to redeem further perks, free sweeps coins and gold coins or official merchandise.
As a rule, any free online casino with cash prizes will provide players with a minimum limit that they must hit before any withdrawal can be made. Once they have acquired enough sweeps coins, the withdrawal process can begin. As detailed earlier in our guide to online sweepstakes casinos, players will be required to pass relevant identity checks and select a preferred withdrawal method, too.
What kind of social casino deals can I expect to find?
The penultimate section of this guide to online sweepstakes casinos looks to offer a greater insight into the wonderful world of social casino deals. As already stated, sweepstakes bonuses and promotions are readily available and often fairly sizeable, too.
- Welcome bonus: The new customer offer is often the largest bonus players can receive and will be used as a way to encourage new players onsite. There is rarely a need to enter a promotional code to unlock a sweepstakes casino bonus; however, it always pays to make use of our sweepstakes casino reviews and double-check.
- Daily free spins: Free spins at a sweepstakes casino are slightly different to that of a real money casino. At a real money casino, free spins will allow players to try new games with bonus credits. At a sweepstakes casino, a free spin is often related to a prize wheel and will provide a simple way for players to top up their virtual coin pot.
- Coin Packages: This next type of social casino deal requires an onsite or in-app purchase. Coin packages often provide players with an abundance of gold coins and the chance to unlock sweeps coins, too. Unfortunately, they do require a real money purchase to unlock.
Summary - Online sweepstakes casinos are legal and risk-free!
If you take anything away from today, it’s that sweepstakes casinos are legal across almost all of the US, present players with the chance to play top-quality casino games risk-free, and offer users the chance to win real-world prizes, too! Although you are less likely to find a mobile app, you are just as likely to find top software providers and an abundance of bonuses to help you along the way!
Our favorite social casino bonuses!
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Get up to GC 360,000 + Free FC1,000
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Get $5 extra in FREE play
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Guide to online sweepstakes Casinos FAQ
🎲 How can I join a sweepstakes casino?
In the latest guide to online sweepstakes casinos, our community details exactly how you can register at a sweepstakes casino. The sign up process, how to redeem your bonus and discuss why KYC is so important are all covered.
💯 Are sweepstakes casinos legal?
Sweepstakes casinos are proving increasingly popular due to their accessibility, safety and enjoyment. Find out more by making your way through the latest guide to online sweepstakes casinos here at SweepstakesCasino.com.
⭐Can I win real money from a sweepstakes casino?
Sweepstakes casinos will often make use of two virtual currencies. One will be used for entertainment purposes only while the other will be used to enter sweepstakes competitions and to wager on specific titles. Find out more in our latest guide.
