Sweepstakes casinos vs Social casinos: What’s the difference?
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If you’ve ever hopped online to find casino games or similar forms of entertainment, you’ve likely encountered a sweepstakes or social casino. But what is a sweepstakes casino? Is it different from a social casino? We’re here to answer that question and provide some of our top recommended sites to play at which can all be found
Let’s start simple: what is sweepstakes gaming? It’s a form of promotional online play. Players can play with Gold Coins or a similar base in-game currency at a sweepstakes casino. Gold Coins or their equivalent can never be redeemed. They can only be used to play games. While purchases are never required, they are always an option. Players can purchase more Gold Coins at sweepstakes casinos.
Additionally, these sites offer a premium currency, often called Sweepstakes Coins, Sweeps Coins, or similar and abbreviated to “SC.” When you play with Sweeps Coins, any winnings can be redeemed for cash prizes or gift cards. Playing with SC is usually called Sweepstakes Play or Promotional Play.
Notably,Sweeps Coins can never be purchased. They are doled out as promotions, bonuses, or free add-ons when you make a Gold Coin purchase.
Social casinos are by definition slightly different from sweepstakes sites. At a social casino, players can only play for fun. There is never an opportunity for redemption or cash prizes. These sites are purely for entertainment purposes.BetRivers.netand Gambino Slots are two of the biggest social casinos operating today.
One big advantage of social casinos is that they tend to have dedicated mobile apps, while sweepstakes casinos do not.
Here’s where things get a little complicated. Despite a definitional difference between the terms, in reality, both “Sweepstakes Casino” and “Social Casino” are used interchangeably.
You might see a casino such as CrownCoins or McLuckrefer to itself as either a social casino or a sweepstakes casino. So while the terms are different in what they mean, their functional use is identical.
Social and sweepstakes casinos are legal and available in most US states with only a few major exceptions. Idaho, Nevada, and Washington state all prohibit most sweepstakes or social casinos if not all of them.
Players in other states, however, have access to such sites. Before you play, it’s important to know how to identify a reputable and trustworthy site.
Sweepstakes and social casinos should meet the following criteria, among others:
- Purchases are never required, though they may be allowed/optional
- Sweepstakes Coins or equivalent currency can never be purchased
- The casino offers purchases and redemptions and not never deposits and withdrawals
- Verification is required to request a prize redemption
Additionally, look for licensing information on the sweepstakes or social casino’s website.
Even though they aren’t real money online casinos, social and sweepstakes sites offer a plethora of similar games.
Slots are by far the most common game type on offer. Big-name developers such as NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, and others offer games at various sweepstakes sites. Look for popular features such as megaways, jackpots, and respin bonuses.
Table games are slightly more rare than slots, but many sweepstakes or social sites are offering them. Blackjackand roulette are the kings of the table game world, though more niche titles such as baccarat, craps, and poker variants are available as well.
Live dealer games have historically been relegated to the real money online casino world, but that’s starting to change. A handful of sweepstakes casinos and social casinos are offering live dealer games.
Finally, there are various side categories offered by our recommended sites, including bingo, slingo, keno, scratchcards, fishing games and other novelty titles.
More sweepstakes casinos and social casinos are popping up rapidly. It helps to have somewhere to start if you haven’t yet tried one. While we have a whole slew of sweepstakes casinos to recommend, three currently stand out from the pack.
It may be new to the scene, but Crown Coins Casinois already a strong contender in the social and sweepstakes casino space. New players get a welcome bonus of 100,000 Crown Coins plus 2 free Sweeps Cash.
At McLuck Sweepstakes Casino, new players get up to 57,500 Gold Coins and 27.5 free Sweepstakes Coinsas part of a welcome bonus and a first purchase offer. McLuck stands out against the competition thanks to McJackpots. These jackpots are not limited to a specific game or selection of games. Instead, they can hit on any slot game at any time, either with Gold Coin play or Sweepstakes Coin play.
At Scratchful Sweepstakes Casino, there are plenty of slots to enjoy just like at any other sweepstakes casino. But this site also has a wide variety of scratchcards, which emulate the experience of a lottery-style scratch-off. Because they’re built for online play, these games have stylish animation and fun art incorporated into the experience.
Signing up for Scratchful earns players 15,000 Gold Coinsand 5 free Sweepstakes Coins.
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