Time2play's Experts Guide to Sweepstakes Casinos
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When we think of sweepstakes, we often think of a work or social bet on a sporting event or other upcoming activity. For example, when the Women’s World Cup took place, a group of friends or colleagues might have paid a relatively small stake and drawn a team out of a hat. Whoever’s team won the tournament won the pot of money. In this sense, a sweepstakes is an informal bet with all the money staked going to the winner. Some people might devise more complicated variants with prizes for second or third places, but the concept is the same.
Sweepstakes casinos, however, take the word to a whole new definition. Rather than all the money going to the winner, they work based on winning without any real money being staked at all. Because no real money exchanges hands, they are legal virtually everywhere in the USA and not covered by the same strict gambling and wagering laws. However, rest assured, because they are operated by the big name casino operators, they are fun and safe places to while away some of your downtime. Whether you choose to play on a phone, tablet, laptop, or even virtual reality headset, here’s a deeper look into the ins and outs of sweepstakes casinos.
Sweepstakes casinos are, excuse the pun, sweeping the nation, and everyone can enjoy a flutter and play their favorite casino games. Understanding how these casinos work takes a little bit of ‘getting your head around’, but once that is done, you can easily play games like blackjack, poker, keno, and slots. In addition, just as you would at a brick-and-mortar or online casino, you will be reassured to see the big-name software guys providing the games. Look out for Net-Ent, Everi, Pragmatic Play, and Greentube games, which are behind some of the most well-known titles.
At the sweeps casinos, you can find classic slot titles like Starburst. Aloha Fortunes, Gonzos Quest, Atlantis Slot, Gladiators, and Almighty Reels. Rather than playing with real money, however, you need to get your hands on some Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins, get ready to spin the reels, and watch the symbols line up for a jackpot. If you are lucky enough to win using Sweeps Coins, you can exchange them for cash prizes. The question is, how do you get your hands on those coins in the first place?
There are two types of virtual coins: Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. You need to pay attention to the options so you do not get confused over which currency can be used for what purpose or how to get your hands on them. Most sweeps cash casinos will be kind enough to give you a thorough run-down of the information if you need a refresher, but here’s the basics of it:
Gold Coins are the primary currency these casinos run on and exist for anyone to play games for good old-fashioned fun. No matter how many a player has, they can never be cashed in for real money. If they are won as part of a social media experience, they can be used to unlock areas of a game or possibly make in-game virtual purchases.
Sweeps Coins are a system of free coins that are either given out by sweepstake casinos or come free with packs of Gold Coins. However, they cannot be bought directly. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to get them for free, including social media bonuses and special events at the casinos themselves. If you win Sweeps coins by playing with ones you have been gifted, you can then trade these in for cash prizes.
As you can see, there are a few hoops to jump through to turn the free money into real money. However, the main reason sweepstakes casinos are so popular is because they are fun environments rather than them being places where fortunes are made and lost. Big rolling gamblers might still want to book a trip to the pleasure palaces of Las Vegas or New Jersey or get to a state like Pennsylvania where real money online casinos are legal. However, sweepstakes casinos are an excellent choice for those who enjoy casino games for the sheer fun of playing.
Most sweep sites will give players a free bonus when they sign up. Usually, a player will be invited to buy a deeply discounted pack of Gold Coins, and they will get a massive pile of free Sweeps Coins as a bundle promotion. Some pages on social media sites like Facebook also tend to give away free coins at least a couple of times a day; it is an excellent way for them to make you come and visit their page. You might need to complete a task or spin a wheel to access your coins.
In order to turn Sweep Coins into cash, you have to play with them. You cannot just claim them from a promotion and cash them out. However, if you use them to play at the casino and find yourself on the right side of Lady Luck, you will be in a position to exchange your winnings for prizes. Most sweeps casinos have a minimum amount you can redeem, so if you only win the odd one here and there, you will not be able to turn it into a physical prize.
