Digital technology has permeated almost every part of our lives, and the online gaming industry is no exception. Sweepstakes and social casinos have gained immense popularity in recent years, mostly due to the exciting platforms that offer online free-to-play games. Even though these casinos offer players the chance to indulge in some risk-free wagering, players must still be aware of the various factors that can affect their personal and financial well-being.
Post the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 in 2018; there has been a tremendous shift in the gambling market in the country. Prior to that, Nevada was the only state where people could indulge in sportsbook wagering. However, now, more than 30 states have legalized sports wagering while others are discussing the possibility of legalization. This momentum has given an immense boost to the online gambling and casino industry.
It is estimated that the global gambling market will reach a whopping US$ 546 billion by 2028. Even though the US is considered part of the global gambling market, online casinos still face a lot of legal challenges if they wish to participate. However, with Sweepstakes, the legal scenario is completely different, and players can participate if they live in any state in the US other than Washington.
Sweepstakes casinos offer the perfect mix of social gaming with the thrill of traditional gambling while adhering to the bounds of Sweepstakes laws. Many would say that sweepstakes casinos promote responsible and safe online gaming. In this article, we are going to explore the various fundamentals concerning sweepstakes casinos and try to understand if they promote responsible and safe online gaming.
Responsible Gambling
In recent years, sweepstakes casinos have been considered to be a unique and innovative platform that can facilitate responsible gambling as long as they are operated in a structured and legal manner. One of the most distinguished features of sweepstakes casinos is that players do not wager with real money. Instead, they have to purchase virtual currencies or tokens to participate in the games, which greatly eliminates the risk of significant financial losses.
Most responsible sweepstakes casinos also offer their players a chance to restrict their access to the games so that players can proactively control their gaming addiction. Players can use the tools provided by the platforms to limit their purchases, time spent, and losses. A player can also set predefined boundaries so they can follow responsible gaming practices and not get addicted to the games.
Players also find sweepstakes casinos to be much more transparent in terms of declaring the game odds and payout percentages. These casinos often employ random number generators (RNGs) that reduce the chances of players having unrealistic expectations about winnings while allowing them to make informed decisions.
Most sweepstakes casinos also subject themselves to third-party audits and regulatory authorities so they can maintain their legitimacy and trust among their patrons. However, it is also a player’s responsibility to ensure that the platform they are using is legitimate. There have been instances where a scamming platform has asked individuals to pay money to receive their winnings.
Thankfully, several online platforms dedicatedly offer information about the best Sweepstakes casino sites available in the United States. Players can find detailed ratings, which can help them make informed decisions. Platforms like the Lucky.me site have detailed analysis and promo codes for every major Sweepstakes casino to help players choose a platform.
Players can also find valuable resources on these websites, such as the quality of games, security measures, and user experiences, so they can indulge safely and enjoyably.
Sweepstakes Casino Bonuses
Like most online casinos, sweepstakes casino bonuses are designed to attract new gamers to the platforms, which might make some people question the integrity of these casinos. However, the mechanics behind Sweepstakes casino bonuses are distinctly different from traditional casinos. First of all, players do not use real currencies in Sweepstakes casinos. Instead, players can buy virtual coins, often called “gold coins” or something similar, and use them to play various games.
On most platforms, users receive “Sweeps coins” as a bonus when they purchase virtual coins to play games. These “Sweep coins” can also be used for actual gameplay, and players can redeem them for cash prizes while adhering to the Sweepstakes laws. Since players receive “Sweeps coins” as a part of promotions or signup bonuses, they can play games without purchasing any “virtual coins.” Obviously, players may need to wager a certain amount of Sweeps coins before they can withdraw any winnings, just like traditional casinos.
Players can also get these Sweeps coins as part of daily log-in bonuses, tournaments, special events, or referrals. Most Sweepstakes casinos have a VIP loyalty program that rewards frequent players with Sweeps coins. It means that players can receive Sweeps coins and play on these casinos without making any actual purchases. This shows that the Sweepstakes casino model is a much safer and more responsible gaming model than traditional casinos.
Now that we have more or less established that Sweepstakes casinos offer a safer and more responsible online gaming environment to their players let’s look at some of the most frequently asked questions regarding these platforms.
What Are the Differences Between Sweepstakes Casinos and Social Casinos?
As mentioned before, sweepstakes casinos offer “Sweeps coins” as bonuses that players can use to play games and redeem those coins for cash prizes or other rewards. Players can also purchase virtual currencies to continue playing on these platforms. Sweepstakes casinos also have to adhere to specific legal requirements of their area of business so they are not classified as traditional gambling operations.
On the other hand, social casinos are not about gambling with real money in any way whatsoever. Players can only use virtual currency for gameplay, which cannot be converted into real money, even in the form of prizes. Social casinos are just for entertainment, and players do not have the opportunity to win anything real. The casinos also operate under different regulations than traditional casinos or Sweepstakes casinos.
Having said that, social casinos are not always risk-free. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recently indicted five “consent farm” networks that were scamming people from the United States to sign up for their telemarketing call lists. They were tricking these people by making promises of gifts, special offers, or jobs.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legit?
Sweepstakes casinos are usually legitimate and have to adhere to specific regulations within the bounds of sweepstakes and contests laws. These casinos must also meet certain conditions, such as the provision to participate without making an actual purchase and ensuring that the outcomes are based on chance and not skills.
Sweepstakes casinos must be transparent about how they operate, including information about how players can purchase virtual currency, win bonuses in the form of sweep coins, and play games on these platforms. They also declare specific details on the odds of winning and how to redeem Sweeps coins for cash prizes.
Also, as mentioned before, many Sweepstakes casinos go through third-party audits to ensure their legitimacy in front of their users. But at the end of the day, it is the responsibility of a player to conduct adequate due diligence while choosing a legitimate platform to play on.
Are Sweeps Coins Real Money?
Sweep coins do not have any intrinsic monetary value outside the platform they are offered on. Players can only use them to play games on the respective platforms and can exchange them for cash prizes or other rewards as specified by the casino while adhering to Sweepstakes laws.
Do Sweepstakes Cost Money?
Participants do not have to pay upfront to play Sweepstakes games in online casinos. Instead, they can use the sweep coins they received as a promotional bonus when joining the Sweepstakes casino. Some casinos may not offer Sweepstakes coins as a bonus but will offer a demo mode to the players so they can play without spending any money. This is one of the primary aspects where a Sweepstakes casino differs from a traditional one.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos the Same as Gambling?
People may see Sweepstakes and traditional gambling in the same light because they both involve the potential to win prizes. However, as I mentioned above, players do not have to pay anything if they want to play on a legitimate Sweepstakes casino platform. Also, the winners of Sweepstakes are usually determined by a factor of chance rather than the skills possessed by the player.
So, as we can see, even though Sweepstakes platforms have a lot in common with traditional gambling casinos, there are a lot of inherent differences. Unlike traditional casinos, players do not have to buy anything upfront if they wish to play on Sweepstakes. Also, the winners are chosen randomly rather than based on their gambling skills.
Sweepstakes casinos are a lot more transparent and offer the players significantly more control. Therefore, I believe it is safe to say that Sweepstakes are the more responsible and safer online gaming options. However, as with any online gaming option, the responsibility of due diligence to choose a legitimate platform lies with the player without any exceptions.
