What are the Pros and Cons of Sweepstakes Casinos?

It’s not all plain sailing for sweepstakes casinos, though. They’ve encountered quite a few legal difficulties across the country and have even been banned in states like Michigan and Washington. Some players also feel they lack the same variety of options found at other casinos.

A Quick Guide to Sweepstakes Casinos

Sweepstakes are an alternative to the traditional casinos we all enjoy, where players are able to use gold or sweeps coins, rather than actual money. You could also hear them referred to as social casinos, as many have extra interactive features like chatrooms and community hubs. They’re a popular choice for anyone who wants to play their favorite games without having to spend a thing.

It’s actually possible to never have to spend as much as a dime at sweepstakes casinos. Usually, players are given a healthy balance on sweeps and gold coins to start off with, which they can replenish through bonuses, competitions, and loyalty programs. The prizes on offer also look a little different, with players able to exchange their coins for things like gift cards, rather than just money.

Why are Sweepstakes Casinos Becoming So Popular?

There are a number of advantages to hopping on board the sweepstakes casino train, including probably the most important, better value for money. At these alternatives to traditional casinos, you can play your favorite games, and even win prizes, without ever opening your wallet. Players are usually given a haul of gold and sweeps coins to get them started, which refresh through bonuses, tournaments, and competitions, meaning they don’t have to spend a thing. 

Of course, not having to invest any money also means that players don’t put any of their own funds at risk. Sweepstakes casinos can be very appealing to those who want to play their favorite casino games without having to risk losing anything, which, it’s important to remember, is always a possibility at an average casino. They also provide a valuable opportunity to players who haven’t got as much experience playing the more complex casino games—like blackjack and poker—to get to grips with the mechanisms and rules.

Better Spending Control

It’s pretty self-explanatory that games that don’t require players to pay a thing are a big positive when it comes to controlling spending. For all players, gambling has an inherent element of risk, but for some, their activity can develop into a problem and lead to harmful behavior like overspending and chasing losses. It can be all too easy for players with a problematic gambling relationship to lose track of their budget—sending their spending spiraling out of control.

Sweepstakes casinos can be an effective way for these players to regain control over their spending, as they can still play the games they want, simply without the financial element. On top of this benefit, most sweepstakes casinos include responsible gambling content, with things like self-exclusion and helplines easily accessible.

Wide Range of Bonuses and Rewards

Given that bonuses are one of the main ways for players to replenish their coin supplies at sweepstakes casinos, they’re a pretty fundamental part of the experience. As a result, there’s often a wide variety of bonuses for players to choose from.

Players can often find incentives sent directly to their email, offering free spins and heaps of gold coins for things like daily logins. On top of these, there’s all the usual bonuses you’d expect to see—like referral, seasonal, and birthday bonuses. Leading comparison site SweepsChaser is one of the most trusted tools for finding the top sweepstakes casinos and the ideal place to compare all the different bonuses on offer. Their expert team—who boast over a decade’s worth of experience and insightful real players like Joseph Fallon—ensure players are recommended only the top options.

The rewards don’t stop at just bonuses at most sweepstakes casinos, with coins available from daily challenges and tournaments. Players might be rewarded with a stack of coins when they try out a certain game or win a number of poker hands in a row, for example. It’s also common to see things like leaderboards, which add another way for players to get their hands on coins, as well as an extra social element.

Focusing on Community and Interaction

That leads us pretty neatly to the next big advantage of playing sweepstakes casinos, which is their focus on the social side of casinos. It’s been a real struggle for online casinos to capture the same electric atmosphere and social vibe found in their land-based counterparts. You’ll likely notice that sweepstakes casinos focus on interactive elements like chatrooms, leaderboards, and community hubs.

Legal Battles for Sweepstakes Casinos in the USA

In recent years, sweepstakes casinos have found themselves on rocky footing in terms of the law in many states. Just recently, the California Assembly voted unanimously (0–63) in favor of bill AB831, which bans sweepstakes from operating in the state. It’s not yet law, as the bill has to head to Governor Gavin Newsom for approval before coming into effect. However, given the strong support throughout the assembly, it’s unlikely Newsom will overturn.

Which Other States Have Banned Sweepstakes Casinos?

California isn’t alone in going after sweepstakes this year, with a number of other states looking to close the legal casino loophole. On the 30th of June, New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill into law that banned sweepstakes casinos in the state, making them the sixth state of the year to ban sweepstakes. The other states that banned the casino alternatives were Connecticut, Montana, Nevada, New York, and Louisiana. Although sweepstakes still remain legal in most states, the recent bans will be concerning for providers, who could easily find themselves pushed out of the country entirely in the upcoming years.

A Lack of Game Choices

Another disadvantage of sweepstakes casinos you might hear about is that they lack the variety of game options found at their traditional counterparts. As sweepstakes casinos use their own type of currency instead of real money for playing, there are a number of the most popular casino games that simply don’t work with their model.

As a result, most sweepstakes casinos focus on more niche games—like plinko and mines, as well as slots—over the classic table games. However, if you’re after cutting-edge options like virtual reality or live games, sweepstakes casinos probably aren’t the best option for you!

Are Sweepstakes Casinos Worth Giving a Spin?

Sweepstakes casinos are a completely different form from that of their traditional counterparts, which is why things like game options vary between the two. It’s impossible to say whether one is inherently better than the other, as it completely depends on what you’re after. Sweepstakes offer the ability to better control your spending and play your favorite games without actually having to spend a thing. There’s also a wide range of bonuses and rewards to make the most of to keep topping up your coin tally, and an appealing focus on the social element of casinos with enhanced interactive elements.

It’s not all positive, though, and sweepstakes are facing a turbulent legal future in the USA, which could see them forced out of the country. Given the strength of the recent vote in California, it seems that the state will be next in line to ban sweepstakes from operating. Sweepstakes aren’t for everyone, but they’re an excellent option for those looking to control their spending or wanting to capture the same social vibe as a buzzing casino floor.