If you are curious to explore the world of online casinos and without breaking potential state gambling regulations, sweepstake casinos could well be the solution you didn’t know you needed. These types of casinos offer a great opportunity for people who live in areas that may have tight regulations on gambling to also partake in the thrill and the fun of the activity. Even if you don’t live in such a place, sweepstakes casinos are still a fun alternative to traditional online casinos. So, without further ado, read on to learn all about sweepstakes casinos and identify which ones are the most legit.
Sweepstakes Casinos: What does it mean?
Sweepstakes casinos are a type of online casino platform. What sets them apart is that no wagers are made with real money, instead, you use in-game tokens to place your bets. Owing to the fact that players wager with virtual tokens rather than real money, this means that sweepstakes casinos are able to adhere to strict laws on gambling. However, just because virtual tokens are used it doesn’t mean players are left without the thrill of winning real money and or valuable prizes.
The virtual token system
As aforementioned, sweepstakes casinos use virtual casinos for wagering rather than real money. Here is exactly how the virtual token system works and the terms that are generally used:
- Game Coins (GC): Game coins are a type of in-game token that is freely available with the option of purchasing additional. The fact that game coins are freely available means that they adhere to the “no purchase necessary” of sweepstakes laws, setting them apart from regular online casinos. The function of game coins is somewhat similar to play money. They can be used to access games, enjoy different in-game features and even place bets.
- Sweep Coins (SC): Sweep coins are acquired when you win a game or at least have some success. If you’re lucky, you may even be the benefactor of promotions that distribute sweep coins. Sweep coins can be used as entries for prizes which is essentially the way that you win something tangible when playing at sweepstakes casinos. Prizes, as well as other options, can be equivalent to cash money, gift cards or merchandise.
While other names are sometimes used in place of game coins or sweep coins, their function is generally the same regardless of which sweepstakes casino you choose to play at.
Choosing a legit sweepstakes casino
For the most part, sweepstakes casinos are no different from regular online casinos. They simply have a different betting and payout mechanism than regular casinos. This means that the process of identifying which ones are legit is very similar to the same process with regular casinos. Here are a few tips you can use:
- Check the sweepstakes casino’s license: Licensing is one of the key ways to determine the legitimacy of any online casino. Regulating authorities are experts in how to keep you safe online and they have already done the hard work of researching the online casino to make sure it is safe to play at. This saves you time and provides you with greater peace of mind. If your specific state or location has anti-gambling regulations, look for licenses from reputable gambling authorities in other states or countries.
- Check online casino reviews: Reviews of an online casino provide valuable insight into the experience other players have had at the same sight. This means that if there are any red flags, other casino players are likely to have made you aware of them before you have to experience them for yourself.
- Check the security of the payment gateway. This may not apply to every player because as aforementioned, sweepstakes casinos adhere to “no purchase necessary” regulations. however, many players may choose to buy additional game coins to enhance their overall playing experience or extend their game time. To do this, it is necessary to choose an appropriate payment method and input your payment details onto the platform. Before doing so, check the security of the payment gateway by making sure the sweepstakes casino platform has SSL encryption technology which protects your financial and personal details.
- Good customer support: the importance of having good customer support can often be overlooked. However, having good customer support ensures that any difficulty you encounter will remain a minor inconvenience rather than become a very annoying problem. Ways to check that a sweepstakes casino has good customer support is to look at the customer support hours; 24/7 is best. Also, look at the communication methods. Email, phone, chat, the more the better!
Conclusion
So there you have it. Sweepstakes casinos can be played even if you live in a state or area with strict regulations, allowing you to have practically the same experience as players at a regular online casino. Choose to play at a legit sweepstakes casino by looking at the licensing details, casino reviews, the security of the payment gateway and how good the customer support services are. Most importantly, have fun!
