The traditional online casino is slowly dying. Since 2020, it’s started to be overtaken by the sweepstakes casino.
This is a brand-new type of online casino that (on the surface) is pretty much exactly the same.
However, if you dig a little deeper, there’s one major difference: sweepstakes casinos don’t let you bet real money.
Instead, you use Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins. Then, any player who collects enough Sweeps Coins can redeem their coins for awesome prizes like cryptocurrencies, gift cards, and even cash transfers.
Essentially, what sweepstakes casinos have done is throw the traditional gambling method – where you use real money to place wagers — out the window.
In its place, they’ve added virtual coins, which is something that appeals a lot to modern Gen Z and Millennial players.
After all, it means players can ultimately play for free but still have the opportunity to win prizes, too. What’s not to like?
This has led to a sweeps casino phenomenon in the US. The likes of Stake, Chumba Casino, and WOW Vegas have all attracted countless players to sign-up with them, producing some explosive market growth in the process.
It’s got many people wondering if sweepstakes casinos are indeed the future of gambling in the US — so we’re going to take a closer look at exactly what’s going on.
The Growth of Sweeps Casinos in the US
The sweepstakes casino industry is booming in the US. Over the next two years, Nadiya Attard — CEO of Elantil — predicts that the number of sweeps casinos on the market will double (at the moment, the number sits just below 100).
And last year alone, Stake — one of the most popular sweepstakes casinos on the market — generated $4.7 billion in revenue.
When you throw on top the likes of Chumba Casino and WOW Vegas all have over 1 million users, you begin to see that the sweepstakes casino movement isn’t just a trend — it’s the start of a new era for casinos in general.
Why Are Sweeps Casinos So Popular?
A Legal Loophole — No Gambling Laws
Sweepstakes casinos have a major advantage over traditional online casinos. What is it?
They can legally operate in 48 out of 50 US states, whereas online casinos can only operate in six of them.
The reason for this is because sweeps casinos use fake virtual coins — not real money — so they can’t technically be classed as gambling sites.
As a result, this new type of casino can reach millions of more players, which has contributed to its booming popularity.
Lots of Sign-Up and Bonus Offers
Since sweeps casinos started to explode back in 2020, operators have kept pumping out special sign-up and bonus offers to keep new players coming in.
Most of the time, these offers are related to free coins. For example, Chumba Casino currently gives 2 million Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins to all new sign-ups.
It’s a smart way to get players engaged and has started a trend where the bonus offers on sweepstakecasinobonuses.com seem to be getting bigger and bigger.
The Games Are Free-to-Play
Every single game you see in a sweeps casino is free-to-play. Yep, free.
These games typically include slots, blackjack, poker, and even scratchcards. You don’t have to bet a single penny if you don’t want to, either, so it’s extremely appealing to the modern player, who would much rather play for fun than put their own money at risk.
And for the more competitive players out there, even though the games are available for free, you can still win legitimate real-life prizes, which we’ll discuss next.
Prize-Winning Opportunities
Sweeps casinos are stacked with prizes. We’re talking cash transfers, gift cards, merchandise, cryptocurrencies, and more. But to win them, you’ll need to bet Sweeps Coins.
If you collect enough SC by playing the available games, you can then redeem them for prizes.
As a general example, 30 SC might allow you to redeem a $30 Amazon gift card (or something similar).
Simply look at the prize catalogue in your chosen sweeps casino and hit redeem on the prize that you want.
Weekly Tournaments and Giveaways
Let’s not forget that sweeps casinos also go all-out when it comes to weekly tournaments and giveaways.
Whereas traditional casinos are pretty much only interested in taking your money, sweeps casinos have a genuine interest in keeping players entertained and happy, so they hold regular tournaments that players can enter.
Just recently, WOW Vegas held its ‘Thanksgiving Thriller’ tournament, where there was 50,000 SC up for grabs, so these are the types of tournaments you don’t want to miss out on.
At the same time, sweeps casinos also conduct giveaways that you should look to enter, too, as the prizes can be huge.
What’s the Difference Between Gold Coins (GC) and Sweeps Coins (SC)?
Whether you join Chumba Casino, Stake, or WOW Vegas, you’ll have the option to play with two different virtual currencies: Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins.
The difference is that Gold Coins are used for free-play (they have no value and you can’t win any rewards).
Sweeps Coins, on the other hand, are for prize-winning purposes and have genuine on-site value, which is why you should only use them on casino games that you’re good at.
This way, you’ll have a better shot at walking away with some prizes.
Conclusion
Sweeps casinos are quite literally sweeping across America at the moment. Players are hooked, there’s no doubt about that.
And all signs point to the growth of sweeps casinos continuing over the next decade.
So now is the perfect time to sign-up with one, especially if you’re interested in winning cryptocurrencies, cash transfers, and other similar prizes without the pressure of betting your own money.