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Clamp downs but growth still strong
Earlier in the year two of the most populous US states clamped down on sweepstakes casinos on the basis that their dual-currency systems were not sufficient to differentiate them from gambling platforms. With California and New York taking this action, you might have thought that sweepstakes casinos would have been thrown off course and taken a step back. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sweepstakes casinos are massively popular throughout the USA, with more sites launching all the time.
As we know, the US has a complicated relationship with gambling. Unlike some of the more pragmatic approaches in jurisdictions like Canada or the UK, the US has not adopted the approach that as people are going to gamble, they might as well do so safely. Instead, there is a patchwork of different rules and regulations with full on gambling bans in some states to a virtual ‘free-for-all’ in others. The recent arrival of federally regulated prediction markets has added more confusion.
Keeping it legal
Sweepstakes casinos operate legally because in most states the argument holds up that they are not gambling but promotional activity. To be classified as gambling a game has to offer prizes, involve a financial transaction to enter and the outcome has to be based on luck. Sweepstakes casinos offer daily bonus deals that allow players to take part without paying to do so. Players receive Gold Coins to play online casino games. If they are lucky enough to win, they receive Sweeps Coins which they play with again. Prizes from Sweeps Coins can be converted to physical prizes which can include cash.
While people in a small number of states can play online casinos for real money, most cannot and Social and Sweepstakes casinos are an attractive alternative. Despite recent restrictions, the Sweepstakes sector is larger than the real-money one. While they might face long legal odds to survive in the long run, for now the operators and punters are ‘cashing in’ on a very popular trend. With more and more operators realizing the potential, the rewards for the players are becoming increasingly attractive.
Safety first
The big question for players is how to find the best sweepstakes casinos. While it might be tempting to chase the biggest rewards, safety is also a really important factor to consider. You might not be playing for real money, but you still want to play on the fairest and most secure platforms. Independent online review platform Casino Guru rates sweepstakes casinos across a wide range of criteria and has a carefully crafted Safety Index to guide players to the best ones. At the same time, it does not forget the importance of great rewards and a fun and entertaining experience.
Best offers
From niche beginnings, Sweepstakes casinos have become popular and sophisticated operations. Some offer the full gamut of games including live dealer and gameshow style play alongside the more traditional slots and video versions of table games. There are many ways to play at these online casinos, and you will find a range of offers and bonuses to choose from.
Sign up bonuses
Sign up bonuses these days include generous quantities of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins; in addition, there are daily sign in bonuses. Most sweepstakes casinos give players between 1 and 10 Sweeps Coins at sign-up and around 10,000 Gold Coins. However, some sites offer up to 100,000 Gold Coins. This initial bonus is a one-time, no-purchase-necessary offer to allow players to explore the site.
The Sweeps Coins are the valuable asset, so do not get blind-sided by the quantity of Gold Coins (unless you are intent on only playing for honor). It is important to prioritize the number of Sweeps Coins because these are the ones that give players a real chance to try the games that have the potential of a cash payout without having made a purchase.
Daily login bonuses
Unlike traditional gambling sites, sweepstakes casinos offer daily login bonuses that allow players to collect coins to play for free just for visiting the site. Daily logins can earn players around 1,000 to 5,000 Gold Coins and the possibility of a Sweeps Coin to boot. Players can maximize daily bonuses by logging in consecutively as some casinos increase the offering based on the length of your streak. However, it is important to play responsibly and not allow the daily ‘streak’ requirement to become a driver that feels excessive or harmful.
Welcome deals
While many people only ever play for free, a small (but significant) percentage buy coin packages. If there were no purchases at all, it would be hard for the sector to be a business model. As it is a very successful business sector, there are clearly plenty of people who want to extend their fun and their chances by buying coin packages. The online casinos are very keen for players to make a purchase so offer attractive welcome deals.
Welcome deals reward the first coin purchase with usually a 100 – 150% boost. A first $10 purchase will yield Sweeps Coins, Gold Coins and some free spins. It is these deals that are becoming increasingly attractive and McLuck offers 25 SC and 50,000 GC for under $110. A strong deal will see welcome deals of at least 2.5 SC for every $1 spent.
Loyalty bonuses
With so many attractive sign up and welcome bonuses, the sector is now having to work hard to keep players loyal. Look out for loyalty programs with tangible benefits and not just cosmetic badges. The best ones are now offering higher SC boosts and dedicated support – real VIP programs!
Going social
As the market hots up the online platforms are coming up with more creative ways to attract and keep customers. Social media bonuses are now a massive opportunity with platforms like Instagram and Facebook offer 1-20 SC and up to 50,000 GC for very little interaction. If you follow your favorite casinos on social media and turn on notifications, you will be the first to see these competitions as they usually close pretty quickly. It is definitely first come first served with these.
If you love playing Sweepstakes casinos many of the platforms will reward you for telling others about them. You can find some generous refer-a-friend schemes with some casinos offering a percentage of future purchases and not just a one-time bonus.
Keep your eyes peeled for some great giveaways, offers, and rewards!