The world of online gambling and casinos is constantly evolving. Innovations and games are arriving at the major providers almost weekly. Sometimes, this push for innovation evolves into a whole new genre of gaming, such as live casino. Sweepstakes casinos are part of this new wave, an emerging alternate way to play. Below, we discuss the exciting world of sweepstake casinos and help you understand the concept.
What Is a Sweepstakes Casino?
A sweepstakes casino is similar to a standard online casino. The difference is that it offers casino gambling through the use of game and sweep coins. These coins can then be redeemed for in-game purchases, upgrades, prizes and rewards. These may include gift cards, cash or merchandise.
In some cases, players can win rewards in a cryptocurrency such as BitCoin. By providing in-game tokens and not allowing players to gamble with real cash, sweepstake casinos have one distinct advantage: They can operate in areas where online casinos are not legally allowed.
Understanding Sweepstake Casino Currency
When you sign up for sweepstakes casinos, you will use two kinds of in-game currency. While the names may change, they generally fall under the umbrella of the game and sweep coins.
Game coins are the ones that let you play the casino titles on offer. Certain coins, or amounts, may also give you access to specific in-game features such as bonus rounds. Sweep coins are ones given when you play a game and win, or they may also be given by the operator as prizes. When accumulated, they can be exchanged for rewards.
If you are still getting to grips with casinos, then there is plenty of help online. These sites will look at a range of sweepstakes casinos for you and break down the opening offers they provide. It can be a great help when trying to navigate the new and often confusing world of games and sweep coins.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal?
The concept of sweepstakes gambling has its roots in the Japanese game of Pachinko. Here, gambling is illegal, yet Pachinko has provided a loophole around it. A game similar to a slot game in terms of low wagering and low strategy, the game pays out in Pachinko balls. These balls are not legally allowed to be traded at the parlour for money or removed from the premises. Instead, they are traded for special prize tokens.
Prize tokens can be taken off the premises and near every pachinko arcade is a vendor that will buy prize tokens for cash. They then sell them back to the arcade with a small added commission. This loophole makes trillions of yen each year. The concept is not that different from sweepstake casinos, with the game tokens replacing pachinko balls and sweep coins being prize tokens.
Sweepstake casinos in the United States use this premise, but their legal framework changes depending on the state and jurisdiction. Generally, how the provider structures rewards and prizes determines if they are legal in a certain area. Most sweepstake casinos that allow people to purchase tokens that can be changed into sweepstake awards and enter into contests are allowed.
The Advantages of Sweepstakes Casinos
The most obvious advantage is that sweepstake casinos can often operate in areas where other casinos can not. As they use a different format where in-game currency is won and not cash, they do not need to be classified as gambling. Thus, they can operate where casinos can not and can even work where crypto casinos are banned.
One major advantage is that you can win actual prizes. In other casinos, money won often goes back into the casino to win more money. With a sweepstake, wins have to be redeemed in a practical manner such as a gift card or prize. This means you end up with a physical reward for winning.
Many casinos will also have free-to-play options. Players can get to grips with a title or game before they change any of their funds into game currency. This can allow them to get a feel and decide if the casinos are for them.
What Games Are Available on Sweepstakes Casinos?
The games available on sweepstakes casinos are very similar to those offered in online casinos. You can find popular table games and slot games which will have the same features and functions. However, there is no incentive to use real money and players can play for free if they wish. Buying in-game currency is an optional extra.
As well as the two aforementioned, crash games have now become very popular at online casinos. This is where wagers are placed on a multiplier. The idea is to cash out your bet before the multipliers crash. You can find out what kind of games are offered at each casino by visiting a quality review site.