Sweepstakes casinos are a newer type of gambling platform that has become increasingly popular in the last few years. Instead of the traditional casino model where real money is used to gamble, sweepstakes sites work with virtual currencies and run on a sweepstakes or lottery-style format.
Surprisingly, the types of games on offer at sweepstakes casinos are very similar to those found in regular casinos. From slots to popular table games like blackjack and roulette, they’re all there. Fortunately, for anyone who has had experience playing at regular casinos, transitioning over to a sweepstakes casino is probably going to feel like a small change. For a first-timer stepping into completely unfamiliar territory in a sweepstakes casino, here is a guide on how to navigate such a platform.
What is a sweepstakes casino?
If you are not familiar with sweepstakes casinos, the look and the function of them is extremely similar to that of a regular casino. The difference is that you gamble with virtual coins instead of real money, so the same degree of risk isn’t there.
Because there is no real-money stake, it means that they offer free-to-play, casino-style games. As a player doesn’t have to buy anything or risk any real money at a sweepstakes casino, they fall under sweepstakes regulations instead of gambling.
It’s a fascinating niche area of online gambling, particularly as they do come with the potential of returning a cash prize.
Searching for a site
A good sweepstakes site is required for safe play, and because a search engine query will turn up hundreds and thousands of results, you can get a little help in choosing one from a review site which rates sweepstakes casino platforms. These sites provide in-depth insights about sweepstakes casinos in areas such as customer support, payout speeds, game variety and even highlight iPhone and Android accessibility.
These sites can be a great reference tool that can help narrow down selections, particularly for No Deposit Bonus offers. These are a popular format of welcome offers from Sweepstake Casinos directed towards new customers. This type of bonus means players can start their account immediately with a credit of Gold Coins (and in some cases Sweeps Coins too), without needing to make a payment to the platform.
Many of the leading sweepstakes casinos have a lot in common in terms of layout and games. So, it shouldn’t take that long to settle on a platform that works for you.
The coins
There are hundreds of free games to play at sweepstakes casinos, which are sometimes referred to as “social casinos”. Within them, there are virtual currencies. Gold Coins at sweepstakes casinos have no monetary value whatsoever, in that they can’t be exchanged for money.
They exist as a stake for playing regular games, from slots to live table games, and even special tournaments, where more of them can be won. Gold Coins (referred to as GCs) can be purchased in packages. For the purchase of Gold Coins, there is a direct 1:1 exchange for dollars, which can be done with bank cards and e-wallets, and very often the packages come with bonus Sweeps Coins.
Sweeps Coins (SCs) provide the opportunity to win real cash prizes. When playing with them instead of GCs, the winnings from games can be exchanged for real money or other prizes. Sweeps Coins are a lot harder to come by, and you will need to keep an eye out for special promotions like a weekly drop or a bonus code offer on social media to get them.
For a player new to sweepstakes games, it’s good to get familiarized with the currencies involved.
Getting registered
There is a registration process required for sweepstakes casinos. This is for security reasons, because purchases of Gold Coin packages can be made on the site. Registration at one of these social casinos shouldn’t take long and you can use an email address along with personal data and a strong password.
Account verification will be needed and just like at a regular casino, you upload any necessary documents, like a copy of a government-issued ID and utility bill. You will also need to verify that you are of legal age to play in your state or country.
Unlike regular online casinos, there are alternative ways to sign up for sweepstakes casinos. The first is through a Facebook account, which can be directly linked, or through a Google account, by just giving the sweepstakes casino site permission to use your credentials.
Is there a welcome bonus?
Many online sweepstakes casinos have welcome bonus offers. These are well worth taking advantage of upon your first visit because they usually give a good boost in the number of coins you get initially. Sweepstakes casino welcome promotions are no-deposit bonuses, where they just give you Gold Coins to start your journey. You’ll need them to get up and running on the site and to get into gaming immediately.
Look for other bonuses as well
Bonuses are going to be a big part of the sweepstakes casino experience throughout the journey. Because these sites follow the rule that “no purchase is necessary” (even though they can be made), keeping your Gold Coin account topped up for play is necessary.
Some of that will happen naturally through payouts from playing games – you put Gold Coins in, and the machine pays out Gold Coins.
Still, it is worth looking for rewards clubs to help with this, because they offer incentives just for regular play and are a good way to bank some extra Gold Coins. Further down the line, you can utilize other promotions like a first purchase bonus, prize wheels and a loyalty club to earn rewards.
Explore games
With your account set up and verified, it will be time to move on to the gameplay. It may take a few visits to the site to get to grips with where you want to go and to find games that suit you. Look for menus to help you along, because they will sort huge portfolios into more manageable chunks, like New & Exclusive, Jackpot Play, Live and Classic Slots.
To pick a game, you simply click on it to see its details, including the minimum and maximum Gold Coins per spin and the max multiplier. From there, you can just hit the play button and enjoy the game. As a registered customer, you will not be limited to what games you can play – if it’s there on the site, you can use it as long as you have enough Gold Coins.
Look for an app
Not all sweepstakes casinos have their own mobile app available, which can make gaming on the go difficult. You can get a little help in finding the best sweepstakes casino apps on WSN, which highlights the sweeps casino platforms that have mobile apps and rates each of them.
For a quick download, you can get immediate access to your game account on a device, without the hassle of opening a browser and logging in. Apps can be secured with two-factor authentication and in some cases, biometric logins as well, really keeping security tight.
Having responsible fun
For players looking for a modern way to gamble without the inherent financial risk of traditional online gambling sites, then sweepstakes casinos could be worth checking out. There’s also nothing wrong with just using them as a casual gaming option alongside your regular play at a traditional casino platform, so long as you’re gambling responsibly. The Gold Coin currency on social casinos is great for exploring new titles, and while you can make purchases, there is absolutely no need to do so.
