Some forms of gambling are very well understood. Even people who don’t know the value of each hand can tell you the rough rules of poker, and the same goes for games like blackjack, roulette and baccarat. Slot machines are even more obvious in how they work and how you win. Sports betting may be complex, but the basic premise is easily understood. These types of gambling take place at casinos, and racetracks in the case of sports betting.
Other types of gambling are a bit less obvious. Lotteries and scratch cards are technically only authorized by local, state or federal governments but many people don’t realize that. Some people wouldn’t even consider these a real form of gambling! Sweepstakes are even less understood. Are they a lottery? A competition? A fancy raffle?
Everything gets even more confusing when sweepstakes casinos are added into the mix. The reality is that sweepstakes are a specific form of prize competition and sweepstakes casinos are gambling sites that follow the basic sweepstakes premise.
Continue reading to learn all about traditional sweepstakes, their online counterparts and the key differences between the two. By the end you’ll be a sweepstakes expert.
What is a sweepstakes?
A sweepstakes is a particular form of competition, similar to a contest or lottery. A sweepstakes is defined as having a prize, an element of chance and no required consideration. Chance means that winning isn’t based on skill, it’s based on luck. Consideration usually means making a purchase. With sweepstakes, there must be a way to enter for free, even if players can also enter by making a purchase or in some other way.
One of the most famous examples of a sweepstakes is the McDonald’s Monopoly promotion. Most participants enter by buying food at McDonald’s. Participants can also enter by mailing in a request for game pieces. It fits all the elements of a legal sweepstakes as there are prizes that are awarded at random, and participants can enter for free or by making a purchase.
Recently the intricacies of sweepstakes laws have been under discussion online due to allegations surrounding popular YouTube creator James Donaldson, known professionally as MrBeast. Conversations are being held about the differences between lotteries and sweepstakes and whether sweepstakes law applies to internet competitions.
While we don’t yet know the reality behind these YouTube competitions, these discussions have raised interesting questions about sweepstakes in the internet age. As with other forms of gambling, the government will need to catch up on how it regulates sweepstakes to make sure the scope of the internet is factored in.
What is a sweepstakes casino?
A sweepstakes casino is an online casino that functions under sweepstakes rules. The games they offer are the same as any other online casino, though they do focus primarily on slots. The main difference is that sweepstakes casinos typically use two in-game currencies instead of real money. In most cases, these are referred to as Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins.
Gold Coins can only be used to play games, while Sweeps Coins can used to play games and can be redeemed for prizes with a real value. This is where the sweepstakes element comes in. Gold Coins can be purchased because they have no relation to the prizes. Sweeps Coins cannot be purchased because they are the “consideration”. They can be won or awarded. They can also be requested for free from the casino. This can typically be done by mail, just like with a traditional sweepstakes.
Sweepstakes casinos are very popular in the United States because they aren’t covered by the strict gambling laws that most states have. In some states, they are the only place that players can play casino-style games legally. In Canada, the legal landscape for online gambling differs by province, with many regions offering regulated online casinos through government-backed platforms. While sweepstakes casinos are not as widespread in Canada, the country’s more lenient gambling regulations allow players to access both domestic and international online casino sites more freely compared to the U.S.
These casinos operate on a unique model, allowing players to enjoy casino-style games without directly wagering real money. If you’re interested in exploring some of the top sweepstakes casinos available to Canadian players, you can visit this page: https://www.playcasinos.ca/sweepstakes-casinos/. Continue reading to learn more about how these top sweepstakes casinos work and what they offer.
Zula Casino
With 750 games, Zula Casino has one of the most impressive libraries in the sweepstakes casino world. All their games are slots, so keep that in mind if you prefer to mix in a few table games. If a player decides to make a coin purchase, they can use credit/debit cards or Skrill.
The no deposit welcome bonus includes 100,000 Gold Coins and 10 Sweeps Coins. The daily login bonus of 10,000 Gold Coins and 1 Sweeps Coin is automatically credited to the player’s account when they login. Players can be awarded additional coins for consenting to email or text communication, and by participating in tournaments.
Loyal Royal Casino
Loyal Royal Casino makes players feel like they’ve always got a royal flush. The site has several hundred games, most of which are slots. They are lacking any live games, which is disappointing. Players who are interested in purchasing coin bundles can use credit/debit cards or e-wallets.
The welcome bonus for new players is available when their account is verified. Once verified, new players receive 2,000 Loyal Coins and 2.5 Royal Rubies. The daily bonus involves a prize wheel with prizes that start at 500 Loyal Coins and .25 Royal Rubies. There are also special daily promotions, including a Hump Day promotion on Wednesday.
Chumba Casino
Chumba Casino was launched in 2017 and has been entertaining players ever since. They have a library of 150 games. Most are slots, but they also have a handful of table games, jackpot slots and bingo. They have both a website and an app. Players can make purchases at Chumba using credit/debit cards, Skrill, Instant ACH and Paysafecard.
The welcome bonus at Chumba Casino is 2m Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins. Other promotions include a daily login bonus, loyalty programs and social media competitions. Customer support can be reached by email or by filling out a contact form on the site.
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