The Rise and Popularity of Sweepstakes Casinos

You’ve probably been hearing a lot about sweepstakes casinos in the past few months. They’ve been growing steadily in popularity over the last five years but that popularity has gone totally mainstream since the start of 2024.

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They are a part of the wider interest in online gambling. They are very similar to regular online casinos with one very important distinction – players don’t have to spend real money to play the games. Instead, sweepstakes casinos have two special currencies, Gold Coins (GC) and Sweepstakes Coins (SC). GC can be used to play games and SC can be used to play games or be redeemed for prizes with real-world value. 

Sweepstakes coins are also known as social casinos because they have a community component. Unlike traditional casinos, which are very solitary environments, sweepstakes casinos encourage conversation and community building. Most have very active social media pages and some have live chat features for players built into the site. 

Today, we’ll break down why sweepstakes casinos have become so popular and what factors have contributed to their rise. At the end, we’ll discuss some of the sweepstakes casinos that have recently been attracting a lot of positive press.

United States Gambling Laws

The United States has been the main driver behind the rise and popularity of sweepstakes casinos. This is in large part due to the complicated nature of gambling laws across the country. Each state is able to set its own gambling and online gambling laws, while states with tribal casinos have an added layer of complexity. Add in the fact that so many Americans cross state lines regularly for work, travel or as snowbirds and those are a lot of laws to remember.

Sweepstakes casinos don’t require players to spend real money to play, which means they don’t fall under the same laws as regular online casinos. Instead, they are regulated as sweepstakes that are legal in almost every state. There are some requirements that need to be met, including the possibility of getting free SC, which can usually be done through the mail. Currently, Washington is the only state that has completely banned sweepstakes casinos but there are a few other states that are trending in that direction.

Not having to worry about knowing all of the local laws and regulations surrounding online casinos is one of the most important reasons why sweepstakes casinos have become so popular in the United States. 

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Community Element

As we mentioned above, the typical online casino experience is a lonely one. With the exception of roulette and craps, most casino games are completely solitary. There isn’t even usually the thrill of competition, since you’re only playing against the dealer or the slot machine algorithm.

Sweepstakes casinos, on the other hand, have a community element that many people find attractive. Players can discuss their favorite games, their betting strategies and even non-gambling topics. They can build friendships from their shared hobby. 

Most sweepstakes casinos also use social media to organize competitions where players can win SC and GC. Combined, these social elements are a huge reason for the rise of sweepstakes casinos.

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Continuing reading to see which sweepstakes casinos have been generating the most buzz lately.

Fortune Coins

Fortune Coins are at the top of the sweepstakes casinos game. They have a great games library that includes a better balance of slot machine games and card games than most of their competitors do. They also have a selection of progressive jackpot games to add to the variety.

Fortune Coins have a fully optimized site but they do not have a mobile app. This may be an issue for players who prefer app-based gaming.

High 5 

High 5 is one of the best sweepstakes casinos and is able to compete with regular online casinos. They have a library of nearly 700 games, which is impressive. Many titles are from top studio Pragmatic Play. They even offer live dealer games. 

While they do have a good customer support team, High 5 do not have a live chat feature. Live chat features have become standard, so hopefully this will soon be implemented. 

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WOW Vegas

WOW Vegas was launched in 2022 and has rapidly become one of the leading sweepstakes casinos in the United States. They have a great games library with a focus on slot games, and some table games. They run many social media contests that give players plenty of opportunities to win SC and GC.

Despite having a large library, WOW Vegas doesn’t have any live dealer games, which is an unfortunate oversight. There is also no loyalty program, despite there being great welcome bonuses for new players. 

Pulsz

Pulsz has a great library of over 300 games. They also do a great job of rotating their games so it’s easy for players to find their new favorite slot or table game. Though they don’t have an app, the site is fully optimized for both desktop and mobile. 

Though they have 24/7 customer support, there is no live chat feature. This is frustrating for players who prefer to immediately be able to speak with someone to solve an issue.

By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Adobestock