One of the most innovative advancements in gambling over the past couple of decades was the advent of sweepstakes casinos. This method of wagering has facilitated fully legalised gambling across Canada.
Sweepstakes casinos are a less conventional form of wagering, as one cannot categorise them within the classic gambling taxonomy. Unlike the standard online casinos that require cash deposits and real money to play, sweepstakes casinos use a fictive currency in the form of “gold coins” or “sweeps coins” to power their gameplay.
Here are five unique features of sweepstakes casinos that differentiate them from standard online casinos:
1. Sweepstakes casinos are 100% legal anywhere in Canada
The sweepstakes casino model is entirely legal in all Canadian provinces, as it is in the entire USA. The fact that you are buying fictive coupons with which to gamble for nominal prizes has circumvented existing rules that govern gambling policies since real money is technically not wagered.
Additionally, sweepstakes gambling can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home. All you have to do is purchase sweepstakes coins as many times as you want, make use of the free coins that accompany your purchases, and do so from any province within Canada.
2. Sweepstakes casinos do not make use of real money
As mentioned, sweepstakes casinos rely on sweeps coins and not on real money. This can be somewhat ambiguous to understand at first, but the logic behind it yields an understanding of why this form of gambling is entirely legal.
To sum it up, a standard online casino operates through real money deposits and real money withdrawals, that take place through a transacting medium like a credit card. On the other hand, sweepstakes casinos follow the sweepstakes model and don’t use cash directly but operate through a virtual currency, or sweeps/gold coins, the quantity of which you buy using real money.
You would then use these virtual coins, which are not cash but only display a specific value, to play any game that’s offered at the casino. Since these coins are used to play for fun and hold no exchangeable value, the player cannot redeem them for cash.
3. Most sweepstakes casinos offer signup bonuses
As with most online casinos, sweepstakes casinos offer generous signup bonuses to all new players. These bonuses come in the form of gold coins or sweeps coins, depending on the casino. Gold coins can be accumulated but cannot be exchanged for real money, while sweeps coins can often be redeemed for other prizes. Usually, any new signup will get up to ten free sweeps coins.
4. Sweepstakes casinos are an excellent place for practice
While sweepstakes casinos might not be your first port of call when it comes to winning big cash prizes, they provide a suitable platform through which you can hone your playing skills. Using your gold coins to play games like poker will allow you to experience first-hand a real gambling environment without having to worry about losing any money in the process.
Over time and with sufficient practice playing these free games will allow you to acquire adequate skills to be a pro at real-money games like poker.
5. You might get your free sweeps coins by mail
Sweepstakes casinos are alternative casinos, and they often make use of unconventional methods of communicating with their members, which often involves mail. The logic behind this is a legal one – to make use of the sweepstakes model, there has to be a way to acquire sweeps coins without making a purchase. While many sweepstakes casinos make use of contests as a generator of free sweeps coins, the mail method has to be available too.
Sweepstakes casinos will give you free sweeps coins each time that you mail them, although this comes with a few requirements attached. Should you not follow each rule correctly, you will not be eligible for your free sweeps coins.
At first hand, sweepstakes casinos do not qualify as real casinos as there’s is no real money gameplay involved. On the other hand, they offer games that you would find in any other standard online casino. Ultimately, sweepstakes casinos offer a fun environment where you can sharpen your casino skills for a minimal cost, while still having a whale of a time.
