The Difference Between Social Casino vs. Sweepstakes Casino

Explore the difference between social and sweepstakes casinos and learn which one can be a better choice for you!
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Social casinos and sweepstakes casinos are highly engaging and lucrative alternatives to traditional real money casinos. Although both of these online gaming models involve no-purchase-necessary gameplay, social casinos and sweepstakes casinos have significant differences between them. In this blog, we will explore these differences and help you decide which one can be an attractive business model for you as an operator. Keep reading!
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What Is a Social Casino?

A social casino is an online platform or website that offers casino-style games to play for free. It doesn’t involve any real money betting, as the games use virtual currencies. The primary purpose of a social casino is to offer thrill and excitement to players through a casino-like setting. Moreover, it offers players a platform to interact with each other and enjoy the games together through multiplayer or live games. It is also a good entry point for players who are willing to explore regular online casinos but want to try them first without investing any money.

How Does a Social Casino Work?

Social casinos are entertainment-first social gaming platforms that let players play casino games using virtual currency rather than wagering real money. Players sign up and get a welcome bonus or a daily login bonus of virtual currency in the form of tokens or coins. Players wager these tokens to play card or table games. Every win adds more virtual currency to their balance, so they can keep playing again and again. The experience mirrors traditional online casinos — classic slot machines, video slots, table games, and leaderboards

Key Features of Social Gaming Platforms

  • Free daily bonus, free spins to boost retention
  • Leaderboards, timed tournaments, badges, and VIP tiers
  • Gifting, social sharing, and avatar customization for a community feel

List Of Popular Online Social Casinos

Below are some of the most popular online social casinos operational in the USA.

McLuck

McLuck is one of the most popular social casinos in the USA. It is the most famous for offering amazing slot games of various types. It integrates stunning casino games from popular providers like NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, and more.

Jackpota

Jackpota offers a mix of casino games, including slots, blackjack, roulette, slingo, etc, and includes 700+ free casino games to explore. It has robust customer service and a positive reputation among players for being user-friendly.

High 5 Casino

High 5 Casino is an exciting platform for both novice and experienced players because it includes games of different difficulty levels. Its offerings include slots, table games, dice games, and more.

Pulsz

Pulsz again focuses more on slot games, offering a Vegas-style experience for players. This platform has some of the most popular online slot games in the world and has a huge player base.

Clubs Casino

Clubs Casino is another free social casino offering non-stop entertainment for players. It offers games including slots, table games, mini games, bingo, and more. It also promotes responsible gambling.

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What Is a Sweepstakes Casino?

A sweepstakes casino software is a type of social casino that offers players a similar experience of real money gambling, but with virtual currency. It has a ‘no purchase necessary’ rule attached to it. The big difference between social and sweepstakes casinos is that in the case of sweepstakes casinos, players stand a chance to win rewards with real-life value and even cash prizes in some cases.

How Does a Sweepstakes Casino Work?

A sweepstakes casino runs on virtual currencies, and it has a dual currency system. One is Gold Coins, which are used by players for playing different casino games. Primarily, players are given Gold Coins for free, and they can also buy these with real money to play more. The other is Sweep Coins, which cannot be purchased. These are earned through winning casino games and bonuses. These Sweep Coins can later be used to redeem tangible prizes such as coupons, merchandise, and even cash prizes.

Key Features of a Sweepstakes Gaming Platform

  • Alternate Method of Entry (AMOE) for no deposit entry
  • Random Number Generator (RNG) integration for fair play and audits
  • Responsible gaming tools to encourage healthy play and prevent excessive spending
  • KYC module for identity checks for compliance

List Of Popular Online Sweepstakes Casinos

Below are some of the most popular online sweepstakes casinos operational in the USA.

Fortune Coins

Fortune Coins is one of the most popular sweepstakes casinos online in the USA. Established in 2022, it provides lucrative bonuses and rewards to players and offers several casino-style games to explore.

MegaBonanza

MegaBonanza is an attractive sweepstakes platform that offers thousands of casino games to play for free. Games include slots, table games, card games, poker, bingo, roulette, and more.

The Money Factory

The Money Factory attracts players with unbelievable rewards and bonuses, which also helps them keep the player engagement high. It has a secure, mobile-friendly platform that houses 1000+ casino-style games in different genres.

Wow Vegas

Another highly popular option in online sweepstakes, Wow Vegas offers you highly addictive games with advanced graphics. It also offers live dealer games for added excitement.

No Limit Coins

No Limit Coins is another famous sweepstakes casino known for its extravagant bonus system. It keeps the player interest high with engaging events like lucky draws, daily spin-the-wheel, login bonuses, and more.

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Social Casino vs. Sweepstakes Casino: Understanding the Key Differences

Although social gaming platforms and online sweepstakes platforms both run on virtual currencies, when it comes to social vs sweepstakes casinos, there are some significant differences between them. Below is a detailed description of the same.
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Legal Compliances

As sweepstakes casinos don’t involve direct cash wagering, it is not considered real money gambling in most jurisdictions. However, since it may involve real money prizes that can amount to higher values, it draws several legal and licensing requirements that are mandatory to fulfill.

Social casinos, on the other hand, neither involve real money gambling nor offer real money prizes. Therefore, no legal complications are applied.

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Entry Requirements

Social casinos don’t have any special entry requirements. They’re treated just like any other online gaming platform.

Sweepstakes casinos, on the other hand, might have some specific requirements based on the jurisdiction in which they operate. Most sweepstakes casinos require the players to be of a legal age of 18 or above (in some cases, 21 and above).

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Currency System

Social gaming platforms run on virtual currency. Players get Gold Coins as a sign-up bonus or a referral bonus to play slots, table games, and much more.

Online sweepstakes platforms use a dual virtual currency model. Gold Coins for regular play and Sweeps Coins to redeem cash prizes, cashback, merch, sponsored products, discount coupons, vouchers, etc.

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Rewards System

In sweepstakes gaming, players stand a chance to win real-value rewards by redeeming Sweep Coins that they earn by winning casino games. But social casinos don’t offer any such rewards to the players. The outcomes of social casinos are limited to virtual rewards.

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Gaming Purpose

Sweepstakes gaming offers real-value rewards, so players are driven by the motivation to win real money and attractive prizes. However, in the case of social casinos, the gaming purposes include recreation, social interaction, and entertainment without any monetary gain.

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Pros & Cons of Social Casino

Pros:
  • No financial risk involved. Play for fun without losing money.
  • Wide variety of game categories.
  • Social interaction through chat, leaderboards, multiplayer & social media sharing.
  • Accessible anytime on multiple devices.
  • Opportunity to learn and practice casino games.
Cons:
  • No real money prizes or cash rewards.
  • Potential for excessive play due to engaging social features.
  • In-app purchase pressure for virtual currency and bonuses.
  • A lesser authentic casino experience without real stakes.
  • Privacy concerns due to social media account linking.
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Pros & Cons Of Sweepstakes Casino

Pros:
  • Chance to win real prizes redeemable for cash or gifts.
  • Legal in many jurisdictions under sweepstakes laws.
  • Provides a safe alternative to traditional online casinos.
  • Uses dual currency systems for versatile gameplay.
Cons:
  • Entry requirements like age restrictions.
  • May have regulatory compliance complexities.
  • Prize-winning depends on sweepstakes rules and luck.
  • Rules of redeeming rewards can be confusing.
  • Potential for high engagement leading to addiction.
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Social vs Sweepstakes Casino: Which One Is a Better Business Option?

New to social and sweepstakes casinos? Read the short breakdown below to pick the model that suits your audience, monetization strategy, and compliance needs.
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Legal Complexity:

Social casinos are simpler to launch. They’re treated like regular social gaming platforms and typically don’t need casino-specific licenses. But online sweepstakes platform operators face more regulatory steps because Sweep Coins can be redeemed for real-value rewards, so special licenses and registration may be required depending on different jurisdictions.

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Revenue Generation:

Both models earn from ads, in-app purchases, VIP memberships, and special offers, but the sweepstakes casino model usually converts better. Offering Sweep Coins that can be redeemed for cash prizes or tangible rewards increases player intent to buy Gold Coins or join promotions, so many consider sweepstakes among the best sweepstakes casinos for monetization.

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User Engagement:

Online sweepstakes platform drives higher engagement and retention with real-value incentives, while social casinos rely on virtual currency, social features, and casual play. Choose sweepstakes for stronger engagement and revenue. On the other hand, choose social casinos for easier compliance and lower legal risk. In either case, build clear terms and responsible gaming safeguards.

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Key Takeaways

  1. A social casino is a platform that offers online casino games for free. It is free-to-play, but it also has in-game purchase options. However, it doesn’t offer any rewards or prizes with real-life value.
  2. A sweepstakes casino looks similar and follows a no-purchase-necessary rule, but uses a dual-currency model where sweep coins or equivalent can be redeemed for real-value rewards.
  3. Legally, social casinos are treated like regular social gaming platforms and rarely need special licenses, while sweepstakes operators may face additional regulatory requirements depending on jurisdiction.
  4. From a business view, sweepstakes casinos generally deliver stronger revenue generation because real prizes drive higher player engagement and spending.

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Are you planning to venture into the lucrative business of social and sweepstakes casinos? Start your journey on the right note with GammaSweep’s turnkey sweepstakes casino solutions that are compliant, scalable, and offered on competitive GGR terms. With over 600 specialists and over 14 years of experience, we offer the best sweepstakes casinos integrated with advanced, future-ready features. Ready to launch in just 5 weeks? Get in touch now!
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between sweepstakes casinos and social casinos?
The main difference between social and sweepstakes casinos lies in the reward structure. While social casinos don’t offer any real-life prizes, sweepstakes casinos offer real-life prizes of a significant amount.
What are the advantages of playing at a sweepstakes casino?
Sweepstakes casinos offer the thrill and excitement of gambling, but spending money is not mandatory here.
What kinds of games are available on sweepstakes casinos?
Sweepstakes casinos’ game categories are similar to those of traditional online casinos, such as slots, poker, bingo, blackjack, roulette, jackpot games, and more.
How can I develop my own sweepstakes casino?
Developing sweepstakes casinos is now easier than ever with GammaSweep’s ready-to-launch offerings. Contact our team, and they’ll offer the best solutions to meet your requirements.
Can I customize the turnkey sweepstakes platform?
Yes. With GammaSweep turnkey sweepstakes software, you can customize attributes of your sweepstakes platform easily.
Are sweepstakes casinos legal?
Yes, sweepstakes casinos are legal under sweepstakes laws, provided they offer no-purchase-necessary entry methods. However, compliance can vary by location.
How do social casinos generate revenue if games are free?
Social casinos monetize through in-app purchases, ads, and VIP memberships. Players often spend money to buy virtual coins for extended play, but prizes have no real-world value.
Can I play sweepstakes casino games for free?
Yes, players receive free sweeps coins through daily login offers and referral bonuses. You can play without purchases, but buying gold coins often comes with bonus Sweep Coins.
Which is more profitable for operators, social casino or sweepstakes casino?
While social casinos are easier to launch legally, sweepstakes casinos generally offer stronger revenue generation and user engagement due to their real money prize model.