The gambling world accommodates a myriad of interests, all with different rules, laws, and enthusiasts. Sweepstakes are incredibly common, and you may have seen them advertised on screen or in shops. Real money casinos equally have as much advertising but different regulations, which affect access.
However, if it’s all gambling, what’s the difference? Does it matter if you participate in sweepstakes or real money casinos? Read on to discover the differences between real money casinos and sweepstakes casinos.
What are Sweepstakes?
Sweepstakes are gambling events often organized for promotional purposes. Instead of playing for real money, players use virtual money, which they purchase with real cash. You can then redeem the currencies for cash prizes or other physical prizes, depending on the sweepstakes rules.
There are also sweepstakes with zero entry fees, depending on who and why they’re organized.
Sweepstakes Legality
It’s not unusual to find sweepstakes casinos in zones where playing casino games for real money is prohibited. This allows casinos and players to remain within legal limits. Most land-based casinos offer sweepstakes to their customers. In the U.S., sweepstakes are legal in all 49 states except Washington.
Sweepstakes Identity Verification
Since sweepstake casinos don’t undergo the same rigorous vetting casinos do, it’s crucial to always vet credibility before participating. While sweepstakes generally have less demand than physical and online casinos, you may still be required to provide your ID and proof of address to access your cash prizes.
Sweepstakes Games
Sweepstakes focus on limited card games, slots, and random games. They generally have fewer game options than casinos. They often operate with two types of virtual currencies: Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Gold coins usually operate without any monetary value and are great for fun play.
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Sweeps coins are usually rewarded to players through promotions and can later be redeemed for real cash or physical prizes. Organizers focus on simple card games or slots to draw in as many players with little effort in game development.
Sweepstakes Payments
Payment methods vary depending on the sweepstakes. However, most players are expected to reach a specific coin threshold to access cash withdrawals. Redemption or reward is also limited to specific days.
What are Real Money Casinos?
Traditional casinos are physical and online establishments that provide casino games for real money play. Real money casinos often require more rigorous processes, including identity verification for players during registration, licensing for physical and online casinos, and regulation of payments.
Real money casinos use real cash, hence the red tape around their operations.
Casino Legality
Usually, casinos must operate strictly within their physical jurisdictions. However, the prevalence of online casinos has altered the landscape.
In the U.S. casino legality varies per state. Land-based casinos are legal in 24 states, including the six riverboat casino states. Most casinos only support card games, slots, and lotteries. Some states do not allow any other form of gambling besides sweepstakes, so it’s best to check the available options in your respective location.
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Sports gambling is also not permitted in all states, and until 2018, it was illegal at the federal level. However, there are now 39 states that support sports gambling in retail establishments and online.
However, online sports betting is a separate issue altogether. While some states support sports gambling, they don’t all support mobile gambling across the state, with some requiring that players be within the physical premises of the casino to gamble online. Some of the states that support sports betting but don’t allow online sports gambling include:
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
Casino Games
Since land-based and online casinos often collaborate with huge game developers such as SpinLogic, NetEnt, Evolution, Playtech, and more, you can expect a wide variety of games. Most casinos offer slots, card games, and live dealer games, both offline and online.
Casino Identity Verification
Casinos face stricter regulations, and you should, therefore, expect to go through a standard Know-Your-Customer procedure before you can place cash bets and withdraw wins. Casinos enforce laws to help the federal government prevent fraudulent activities, and failure to do so attracts fines.
Since casinos often include real money play, they work with payment processors for cards, cash deposits, checks, and cryptocurrencies. Players can choose their desired payment methods and process payment as long as they verify their identity.
For most casinos, the verification process requires you to provide your full name, government-issued ID, bank statements, and utility bills.
Casino Promotions
Just like sweepstakes, traditional and online casinos offer bonuses and promotional rewards to encourage you to play. For example, after Spinstopia casino login, you’re welcomed with a three-part welcome package.
The first is Coinhead’s Exclusive, which includes a 250% bonus up to $1,000 with no maximum cashout. The second is a Lucky Stem’s Special that includes a 100% extra bonus plus 100 free spins with no maximum cashout. The last is Coinette’s Spin which is 150 free spins on 3 popular slots.
Usually, casino offers come with a list of requirements that you should always check before committing to a promotional offer. The list of requirements often includes:
- The minimum deposit amount to qualify for deposit bonuses.
- The minimum wagering requirements. i.e., the number of times you need to bet a bonus plus the deposit amount before you can withdraw your wins.
- The validity period of the bonus from the date of redemption.
- The casino games you can gamble the bonus amount on.
- If different games contribute different weights to the wagering requirements, the casino will list qualifying games and their percentage contribution.
- The maximum bet size.
- The maximum cashout from the bonus amount.
- The number of times you can redeem a welcome coupon. Most welcome offers are only redeemable for new players.
It’s best to read the fine print and understand casino rules, especially around offers, to ensure you understand what you’re signing up for, especially if you want to make real money wins. Usually, if you fail to comply with casino rules, the establishment has the right to revoke your wins.
Play It Your Way at Spinstopia Real Money Casino
As earlier mentioned, sweepstakes and real money casinos are different forms of gambling. If you’re looking to gamble in the U.S., you’re better off first identifying which form of gambling is available in your state. In most cases, you’ll find sweepstakes near you, but always check if the rewards suit your style.
If not, real money casinos may be better suited to your needs. Traditional land-based casinos allow you to face the dealer and your opponent face-to-face and enjoy tapping on real buttons at the slot section. Online casinos are best if you wish to gamble from the comfort of your home, but remember, some states limit gambling to the land-based casino’s grounds.
Overall, always check the games available to choose a casino with a broad and quality selection of casino games. If you prefer to play for real bucks, Spinstopia online casino USA is an excellent place to start.
