In recent decades we’ve witnessed a big boom in the iGaming sector, but there are still regions or jurisdictions where online casinos are illegal. That said, even if you live in a state, province, or country that prohibits online gambling, you can still find online casinos. If that’s the case then that is most likely a sweepstakes casino, and it’s very similar yet very different to a regular gambling site.
In essence, sweepstakes gambling is similar to regular gambling, but the stakes aren’t as high, which makes it a safer option. In truth, casual players shouldn’t be bothered by these subtle differences; high rollers on the other hand might not find it as appealing. In case you don’t know how sweepstakes casinos operate make sure to stick around. We’ll provide some much-needed context for these gaming sites in detail, and that should help you tell them apart from real money casinos.
Games at Sweepstake Casinos
As far as games go, they are pretty much identical. Sweepstake operators use the same studios or software providers to power their websites. This means you will likely see the following: brands there:
- NetEnt
- Pragmatic Play
- Playtech
- Play’n GO
- Microgaming
- NoLimit City
- Red Tiger
So, if you specifically want to play popular golf betting games or popular variations of certain table games, you’ll find them. Once again sites that post reviews on various brands will be your best friend. They allow you to find sites that host games from a specific studio, and they tell you which one would be the best fit for you.
Virtual Currency
The core difference between regular and sweepstake gambling sites is the currency. Instead of real money, Sweepstake casinos use virtual currency or gold coins. Usually, when you sign up you immediately get a certain number of these coins, and you can spend them to play games on the site. If you run out of these gold coins the easiest way to replenish them is through in-app purchases.
If you downloaded the casino app from Google Play then it will be easy to purchase more coins via Google Pay. That said, modern casino sites and apps are also compatible with this payment method, even if they aren’t on Google Store. In other words, it will be easy to find Google Pay gambling sites, especially if you rely on online reviews. In general, reviews are a great way to find any type of casino site, as you can know what to expect in terms of game repertoire, player perks or promos, and how other players feel about it.
In addition to buying virtual currency, you can always win more by playing the games, and there are usually user incentives that award currency. Things like friend referral, liking or sharing specific posts on social media, and following pages or joining communications channels will all award extra currency.
The main idea behind sweepstake gambling sites is to give users all of the social aspects of online casinos. This means that you’ll be able to compete in tournaments, play with other players, and even meet new people. What’s more, if competitions don’t feel as thrilling when you only use gold coins, there is a way to slightly up the stakes, and win real money, sort of.
Can You Win Real Money on Sweepstake Casinos?
Although you primarily use virtual currency or gold coins for playing, there are also so-called. Sweepstake coins (SC). When you choose a game the default option for wagering is gold coins, but in the upper menu, you can always switch to SC. The catch is that you have significantly less SC, but SC is exchangeable for real rewards or even cash vouchers.
The rewards you get by exchanging SC can vary, but it will likely be a gadget, gaming device, house appliance, or something similar. In some instances, you might even win a trip to Vegas if the operator is doing a generous promotions. But the point is you can get both real money awards and valuable items with SC.
What’s the Catch Then? – Main Difference Between Regular and Sweepstake Gambling
You might wonder how come is gambling with SC different compared to gambling for real money. And it’s understandable if you find this confusing, but these two aren’t the same. First off, players can also get SC for free whenever they sign up, through user incentives, and again through in-app purchases.
Usually, whenever you buy extra virtual currency or gold coins, there will be some extra SC in that bundle. However, you don’t get the amount of SC equal to the amount you use to purchase gold coins. Whereas in real money casinos, when you deposit money that’s the amount that is added to your account.
Also, the terms for using SC will typically state that you need to wager them at least once. In other words, all the SC you get through bonuses, purchases, or other user incentives need to be fully wagered. You can only exchange them for rewards if you win SC while playing casino games.
Another important thing to note is that the amount of SC you can bet on games is significantly lower compared to betting limits in licensed casinos. Therefore, it’s more difficult to go on an unchecked spending spree and lose a lot of money on a whim.
Conclusion
All things considered, if you love social gambling with low stakes then playing on Sweepstake sites will be very fun. Of course, one of the main appeals of these sites is the possibility of winning real money even in small amounts. Of course, the social aspects play a big role as well, but if that’s what you are after there are some solid alternatives.
For example, there are immersive casino video games that also have the same if not better social features. Not only that but the virtual currency you win there can be spent on other in-game goodies. Many triple-A games like GTA V and GTA Online also have gambling mini-games. You can’t win any real money but the in-game currency you win can be spent to upgrade your gear or get new cars.