At Sweepstakes Advantage, we are dedicated to bringing you the latest and most exciting updates from the world of sweepstakes and gaming. We recently had the opportunity to chat with Jordan Marly and discuss all things sweepstakes. Casino.us provides online players with expert information on the best sweepstakes casinos in the US, and Jordan Marley uses his extensive sweepstakes knowledge to decide which casinos meet their strict criteria and which don’t. He spends numerous hours each day assessing the sweepstakes landscape in the US, including the latest laws and regulations, the best player offers, casino safety and security, and more.
Sweepstakes Advantage: What is it that makes a sweepstakes casino differ from a regular or brick-and-mortar casino?
Jordan Marley: The major difference between the two is the type of currency you use to play. At an online or land-based casino, you play with real money, including deposits and withdrawals. At a sweepstakes casino, all currency is virtual, and you aren’t required to spend a single dime to enjoy their games.
Their virtual currencies are often Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins, although some casinos may rebrand these names. Gold Coins hold no monetary value and are used to play your chosen game. You can purchase some if you wish, but many casinos will offer free Gold Coin bonuses, either through joining or as a daily reward. I’ve played at many sweepstakes casinos solely through bagging their bonuses! On the other hand, Sweepstakes Coins can’t be purchased and are used to redeem winnings for cash or gift cards.
Sweepstakes Advantage: How is the legal landscape changing around sweepstakes casinos in the US?
Jordan Marley: Many states are clamping down on sweepstakes casinos, which they see as attempts to evade laws on regulated gambling. The virtual currency used by sweepstakes casinos allows them to operate outside of regulations and not require a state license. Obviously, this has thrown a spanner in the works!
Eight states have effectively banned sweepstakes casinos, with four more either filing bills or having had them pass through the chambers. Some states have even taken to issuing cease-and-desist letters to sweepstakes casinos, threatening them with lawsuits or hefty fines. I spend many hours researching the constantly changing laws, and I expect many more states will follow by either banning or heavily restricting sweepstakes casinos in the coming years.
Sweepstakes Advantage: How would you rank a sweepstakes casino over another?
Jordan Marley: For me, it’s all about transparency at any sweepstakes casino, especially if they’re new to the scene. The ‘unregulated’ aspect can rightly scare off many potential players, so why should I play there if it’s difficult to find information on your casino, or if your terms and conditions are vague? Once we ensure their site is safe, we then go on to test their major aspects, from their bonuses to their localization by state to their variety of games. I even contact their customer support team to judge for myself whether or not I found their responses timely and helpful. Any sweepstakes casino that consistently ranks highly on each test will likely feature on our top list.
Sweepstakes Advantage: Are sweepstakes games just as good as games at regulated casinos?
Jordan Marley: Yes! Sweepstakes casinos offer the same variety as your regular online casino. Both provide similar mechanics, themes, and popular titles, such as Megaways. You may find many sweepstakes casinos lean more towards slots, but more are expanding their libraries with table games and a live dealer casino. Personally, I feel like the variety at a sweepstakes casino is often more than enough to keep me entertained.