The US online casino industry is extremely limited at present, with only seven states offering licensed operations. The success of the industry and online sports betting has led to more states considering bills that would change legislation.
Until these changes are made, American consumers must make do with offshore alternatives or sweepstakes casinos. Offshore casinos bypass strict regulations that prohibit operations from setting up in certain states, while sweepstakes casinos allow players to use in-game currencies that can then be exchanged for prizes.
Sweepstakes Casino Currencies
Sweepstakes casinos will typically offer their players two types of currencies that they can play with: gold coins and sweepstakes coins.
Gold Coins
Gold coins are the in-game currency that allow players to play for fun and have no intrinsic value. Gold coins can only be used to play games and are like other computer game currencies that don’t translate into real-world value.
Sweeps Coins
Sweeps coins are where players can win real prizes and are attained through promotional events or rewards for topping up gold coins, taking part in social media giveaways, and carrying out other tasks like sharing content and referring other players.
Sweeps coins can be gambled and then swapped for real prizes, and work similarly to tickets at arcades that are won by playing games and then traded at a counter for prizes.
Sweepstakes Tournaments
Players can enjoy playing sweepstakes games as normal, and they can also take part in tournaments and monitor performances on leaderboards.
The benefits of taking part in competitions like this are that top-ranking players are often rewarded with gold coins and sweepstakes coins, helping players save money and increasing their chances of big wins.
Sweepstakes Prizes
The best sweep slots will offer players a good variety of enticing prizes, with all manner of physical goods, experiences, and prizes to be won. Having a selection of prizes allows players to enter different games or aim for specific prizes, while others just enjoy the excitement of the games.
Cash
Probably the most popular prize to win at sweepstakes casinos is cash, with players able to trade their winning sweeps coins for a pre-determined amount after playing. This gives the player an experience as similar to real money casinos as possible.
Winners will trade their coins and have a set balance that can then be transferred to their bank. All online sweepstakes casinos will have detailed terms and conditions for cash prizes, detailing how much can be won and how it can be transferred to the winner.
Vouchers and Gift Cards
While cash prizes give players the ability to spend their winnings on anything they want, some players enjoy the better value offered by vouchers and gift cards that can be won.
In many cases, the value of a gift card or shopping voucher can exceed that of a cash prize, and if the player has plans on how to spend it, they can enjoy bigger wins.
Gift cards and shopping vouchers will determine exactly where and how they can be spent, with some cards including Amazon gift cards or vouchers for specific restaurant chains or brands.
You should always read the terms and conditions of gift cards or vouchers to see if there is an expiration date or exclusions on what they can be spent on.
Brand Specific Merchandise
Promotional prizes can often focus on a specific brand as a great way for sweeps casinos to offer top prizes and businesses to enjoy strong brand awareness. This is especially popular if new products are being released and brands want to get their names out there.
Some sweepstakes casinos even have their own branded merchandise that is used as prizes for players. While there are often bigger prizes to go for, these deals can often be easier to win and just as fun.
Tech and Other Physical Products
Tech can be a massive draw to consumers, and the opportunity to win the latest mobile devices, tablets, laptops, state-of-the-art TVs, and other products is something that a lot of consumers appreciate. The best sweepstakes casinos will keep up with developing technology and the latest trends to offer players the latest products.
While tech prizes are popular, players will also find a lot of home, garden, and fashion-related prizes. This massive selection of winnable items makes it easy for people to find the things they need or want.
Big Ticket Prizes
When it comes to casino players, especially those playing slots, the lure of winning a life-changing amount of money is what usually attracts people. Sweepstakes casinos can operate in a similar way, with big-ticket prizes usually being used in promotions and grabbing the headlines.
Once-in-a-lifetime holidays at luxury hotels in exotic locations are some of the most eye-catching prizes. Family or private holidays that would usually cost thousands of dollars can be won by players who will experience a vacation they might never have dreamed of.
Other big-ticket prizes include luxury cars and even homes that players can win. While the odds of coming away with one of the top prizes are slim, it gives players that added excitement like multi-million-dollar slots jackpots.
