Today, hundreds if not thousands of online casino sites offer real money gaming action to millions of players worldwide. However, a newer concept that has recently gained traction in gaming entertainment is sweepstakes casinos. Sweepstakes sites offer the same entertainment that real money casinos provide but for free. This begs the question of what sweepstakes casinos are and how they differ from real money gaming sites.
This article dives into the world of real-money gaming and sweepstakes casinos, exploring how they differ.
What are Traditional Real Money Online Casinos?
Traditional online real-money casinos are the digital versions of land-based casinos. These sites allow players to deposit money to wager on slots, blackjack, roulette, poker, baccarat, online betting app Aviator, scratch cards, and even live dealer options. The defining fact of these platforms is that winning brings real money payouts, which you can cash out anytime.
What are Sweepstakes Casinos?
Simply put, sweepstakes casinos offer a unique legal gambling-like model. Like traditional casinos, they also provide access to a wide range of exciting slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, etc. In fact, the newer top sweepstakes sites offer some exciting live dealer games.
To understand how sweepstakes casinos work, it is essential first to know that real-money casino gambling usually involves three key aspects. These include an element of luck or chance, winnable cash or prizes with real monetary value, and an entry fee.
With sweepstakes casinos, the third key is missing. These gambling sites don’t require real money deposits to play games. Instead, the sites use virtual currencies like gold and sweep coins to play for free.
How Sweepstakes Coins Works
As mentioned, all you need to play games on sweepstakes casinos are virtual gold coins and sweep coins. Players can get gold coins through promotional offers or by purchasing them from the casino. However, they don’t hold monetary value and cannot be redeemed. On the other hand, you can only get sweep coins from welcome bonuses, promotions, and other giveaway packages. These coins reward players with redeemable real-money winnings. As such, you can enjoy risk-free, fun gaming and still walk away with real winnings with these sites. What could be better?
Key Differences Between Sweepstakes and Real Money Casinos
While sweepstakes and real money casinos have a few similarities, they differ in many ways. Let’s explore some of these key differences.
Licensing Requirement
One of the key differences between sweepstakes casinos and real money casinos is the licensing status for legitimacy. An online casino is only legitimate if it holds a valid licensing certificate from an appropriate authority like the Malta Gaming Authority, the Gambling Commission of Great Britain, etc.
However, this is not so for sweepstakes sites. Since the activity doesn’t meet the threshold for what’s considered gambling, they are allowed to operate without a license in most gaming jurisdictions. This is especially true for many states in the US, even in regions where real money online casinos are prohibited.
Real Money Wagering
As we’ve already established, you need real money deposits to play games on traditional casino sites. However, you don’t need to deposit anything to enjoy the same casino entertainment in sweepstakes casinos. You can play for free using virtual currencies.
Gaming Variety and Quantity
Another key difference between the free and real money gaming of sweepstakes and traditional casinos lies in their game collections. With real money casinos, you can access a broader and more massive collection of top-quality games spanning different types and genres. In fact, the best sites house thousands of titles players can explore.
On the other hand, sweepstakes casinos usually come with a limited collection of games. While you will find several exciting slots, baccarat, blackjack, roulette, poker, etc, their libraries are often nowhere near that of real money sites.
Risk Factor
It is crystal clear that real money and sweepstakes casinos differ in the risk level attached to their gaming action. Real money sites are inherently risky, as you lose money if you lose a game. However, with sweepstakes casinos, you are playing purely for entertainment with no risks involved. You can even win real money with sweep coins if you play your cards right.
Conclusion: Which Should I Choose?
Both real money and sweepstakes casinos offer a fun and exciting way to enjoy casino gaming action online. The former is the usual go-to choice for risk-reward gaming, while the latter has emerged as an alternative that offers free casino games with the potential for real winnings.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer on which is right for you as a player. If you want the usual thrill of casino gaming, traditional real-money casinos offer a more immersive experience. However, if you prefer a less risky form of entertainment with more focus on fun, sweepstakes casinos are the ideal choice.