Is there a difference between social casinos and sweepstakes casinos with real money prizes?
For the purpose of this guide, we will use them interchangeably, so don’t get confused when we say sweepstakes instead of social casinos. Although there are some nuances between the two terms, you will find them being used in the same way on most of the Internet, so we’ll keep it simple here.
What separates social casinos with real money prizes and real money online casinos?
Many factors that go into the
best social casinos online
will be similar to real money online casinos. After all, both aim to offer great casino games. However, there are a few key differences between them.
- A real money casino
sees you deposit funds and then bet using that money. Depending on your bet’s success, you can also win or lose money directly. You can withdraw any remaining balance using one of the available payment methods at the casino.
- A social casino
– or a
sweepstakes casino
does not work this way. Instead of real money, you play with in-site tokens that are given for free. These tend to be known as gold coins and sweepstakes coins – although do note that names may vary depending on the operator. When you win, you win extra coins, and some of these coins can be redeemed as real money prizes if you fulfill the requirements. We’re going to explain everything in more detail below!
Gold Coins vs Sweepstakes Coins
Gold coins can be provided in various ways, often just for signing up and logging into your account. You can also purchase more if you want. However, this is just for entertainment, as gold coins have no cash value and cannot be traded for cash prizes.
Social casinos that have only Gold Coins are there purely for fun play, with no chance for real world gift redemption.
On the other hand, there are casinos that use a second virtual currency: Sweepstakes Coins. You can never purchase Sweepstakes Coins. Instead, you will get them for free as part of bonuses, daily promos, or as free coins alongside a purchase of a Gold Coins bundle. You can even mail a request to the casino using traditional mail to acquire some free Sweepstakes Coins.
The distinction between the two coins is important because Sweepstakes Coins
can be redeemed for cash prizes, subject to terms and conditions.
How do I switch between the two coins?
This is easy. Look at the top of your screen when you’re logged in. You will always find a toggle to switch between the two different coin modes. You will also see the available coin balance for the two versions.
Can I win real money prizes if I use Gold Coins?
The answer is no. Only use Gold Coins to play for fun and test the games. If you want to have a chance to win real money prizes, use only Sweepstakes Coins by activating the mode as described a few lines above.
What type of real money prizes are available?
With online real money casinos, it’s pretty simple. Deposit cash, win, withdraw cash. Sweepstakes casinos can be a bit trickier because there are different prizes on offer. These include:
- Online gift cards, for ex. Amazon Gift Cards
- Special merchandise, for ex. branded t-shirts
- Equipment, for ex. kitchen or BBQ equipment
- Crypto, for ex. Litecoin
- Cash, paid in your selected account
While some sweepstakes casinos will stick to gift cards and merch, the vast majority of the brands offer cash prizes as well.
How to redeem real money prizes at social casinos
Let’s say you’ve selected your favorite sweepstake casino, you’ve played, and accumulated some Sweeps Coins. How do you go about redeeming them? This is a simple process:
- Make sure you’ve verified your account by uploading verification documents. This is an important step as it complicates the redemption process otherwise.
- Go to your Account section and click the ‘Redeem’ button.
- Choose the prize you wish to redeem and what payment method.
- You might be redirected to a third party payment method login page. Follow the prompts there.
That’s it. You’re done and your prize should be arriving in a few hours, depending on which prize you chose.
Why can’t I redeem my Sweepstakes Coins?
If the social casino is not allowing you to redeem your coins, it might be due to two factors:
- You haven’t reached the minimum redemption value. If you go to the brand’s T&Cs, you might find a minimum redemption of for example 50 SC before you’re allowed to redeem real money prizes.
- You haven’t completed the playthrough requirement. Sweepstakes Coins will always have some sort of playthrough, usually to play their value once before you can redeem them.
If it’s for any other reason, do reach out to customer support so that they can handle the situation.
Things to watch out for when selecting social casinos with real money prizes
Want to know how to discover the finest examples of the best social casinos with real money out there? Here are the top 10 things our experts look for:
Safety and legitimacy
The best social casinos don’t require the same licensing considerations as a real money casino. However, they must still be safe and legitimate. For instance, they must protect your data, prevent underage use of the site or app, and deliver what they promise regarding prizes.
Game quality and variety
The best social casinos come in many different designs, but one thing they all have in common is great games. We’re greedy regarding games – we want as many world-class titles as possible.
A vital factor for us is the variety available, whether you’re just playing for fun or enjoying
social casino games with the possibility of real money prizes. Some people like slot games, while others prefer video poker, blackjack, keno, bingo, etc. The more options there are, the more people can enjoy them.
Technical site design
If a site is well-designed enough, most people will barely think about it. That’s because great technical design means a seamless experience. Everything loads quickly, logically laid out, and there’s no sign of a slowdown.
Terms and conditions
There’s no set way for coins to be provided by social casinos. They’re set out in terms and conditions. That means these need to be easy to understand, alongside being fair, because the ability to understand and use those coins is vital to your gaming experience.
Customer service
Ideally, you won’t need to contact customer service. Things should be easy to understand on social casinos. However, sometimes help is necessary – even for the world’s finest. Customer service should provide good advice and information and be easy to contact through various methods.
Our top-rated social casino reviews
1.
Up to 125 SC FREE + 625K Golden Coins + 1250 VIP Points
Players from Virginia accepted
2.
Get 150% More Coins on First Purchase: 40 SC FREE + 800K Crown Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
3.
$55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Players from Virginia accepted
4.
150% Purchase Offer: 25 SC FREE and 50K GC
Players from Virginia accepted
5.
27.5 SC FREE and 57.5K Gold Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
Gold and sweepstakes coins are often made available through promotions. Therefore, the generositya, accessibility, and simplicity of coin promotions are vital to any candidate for the best social casino with real money prizes.
Value for money
One way in which you can get coins is by buying them. The more coins you get for as little money as possible, the better.
Minimum coin redemption
We’re referring to sweepstakes coin redemption when discussing the best social casino with real money possibilities. You get these coins, play them, and then can redeem them for cash gifts when you meet certain terms. However, almost all social casinos that offer real money prizes – from
new sweeps cash casinos
to established operators – have a minimum redemption amount. Therefore, the minimum you can redeem is vital to the accessibility of these prizes.
Banking options
Buying free sweepstakes coins means you’ll need trustworthy, accessible banking options. Fair limits, transaction times, and fees are also vitally important.
Mobile availability
All the above criteria are not just for the browser version of the casino, but also any mobile options. Not only are mobile options expected, but we’ve found that social casinos are often ahead of much of the gaming world regarding high-quality
social casino apps. So, our expectations for the best social casino app options are sky-high.
Plenty of sweepstakes casinos with real money prizes to choose from
Many factors should be considered when distinguishing the best social casinos that offer real money prizes. However, the good news is that most of those things are simple – such as having good customer service, excellent games, and quality mobile options. Even better is the fact that an amazingly large number of social casinos already go above and beyond most expectations.
Not only that, but finding the best real money social casinos is made easy with our recommendations. We consider every factor discussed here, alongside anything else we think might impact your enjoyment. That way, most of the legwork is removed from finding your favorite. Check out our recommended brands and sign up today!
Sign up for a decent social casino bonus
1.
Up to 125 SC FREE + 625K Golden Coins + 1250 VIP Points
Players from Virginia accepted
2.
Get 150% More Coins on First Purchase: 40 SC FREE + 800K Crown Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus
3.
$55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 3x Deposit
4.
150% Purchase Offer: 25 SC FREE and 50K GC
Players from Virginia accepted
5.
27.5 SC FREE and 57.5K Gold Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus
FAQs
❓ What makes a social casino different from traditional casino options?
While social casinos require no real cash to play games, traditional casinos do. Social casinos use a currency known as Sweeps coins and Gold coins to play games. However, traditional casinos require real cash to wager on online casino games. To determine whether a social casino might suit you better than a traditional real money casino option, you should check out our guide. It will help you figure out the best way to find your ideal online casino adventure.
📱 Can you win real money on social casinos?
Not exactly. You play with virtual coins on social casinos and will win more virtual coins. However, a lot of casinos will allow you to redeem some of these coins as real money prizes.
✅ Do social casinos require the same licenses as real money casinos?
No, they don’t. Because wagers and winnings are traded in virtual currencies and no real money is involved in the process, social casinos are exempt from US gambling laws. This allows them to operate within States that haven’t legalized gambling.
🎰 Are social casinos with real money prizes available in all states?
No, they are not. Although sweepstakes casinos with real money prizes are widely available in the US, they are banned in some states. These include the states of Washington, Idaho, Michigan and Nevada.
💵 Do I have to buy anything to use social casinos?
Since social casinos are considered some of the best no deposit casinos, you don’t have to buy anything to use them. You’re not required to spend any money when you visit a social casino. However, if you choose to purchase gold coin packages, there are several reliable banking options available to help you do that.
