If you’re like many players (me included), you probably didn’t know that.
You’ve likely heard of the term “Social Casinos”, and you may have played at one…or have you? If you don’t know the difference between a social casino and a sweepstakes casino then it’s possible you’ve been playing at the latter.
Confused? I certainly was. Since then, I’ve learned two facts:
- There’s an important difference between these two types of casinos.
- A lot of players seem to think that the terms mean the same thing.
I’ve created this post to clear up the confusion and provide you with the info I’ve learned about both types of casinos.* Hopefully, if you don’t know the difference now, you will by the end of this post and will be able to classify (with confidence) the type of casino where you play now or where you choose to play in the future.
*Note: I’m not an expert on either type of casino. This post is based on what I’ve understood from my own investigations and is for informational purposes only.
What’s the difference between social casinos and sweepstakes casinos?
Here’s gist:
Social casinos offer free-to-play entertainment via virtual casino coins/chips/tokens and social interaction without the chance to win (or redeem) a real money prize.
Vs.
Sweepstakes casinos offer free-to-play entertainment via virtual casino coins/chips/tokens and social interaction with the opportunity to redeem real cash prizes through a sweepstakes model.
Bottom line: If you’re currently playing at a free-to-play (no deposit) casino with both virtual gold coins and sweeps chips – and you have the chance to redeem/win a real prize with sweeps coins – you’re playing at a sweepstake casino (even if the casino is branding itself a “social casino”).
Why I think knowing the difference matters.
Before I dive into more details about these two casinos, I’ll explain why I decided to write this post and why I think knowing the difference between the two types matters.
Full disclosure, I haven’t played at a social casino or a sweepstakes casino. Social casinos never appealed to me*, and I never knew sweepstakes casinos existed.
Recently, I posted about social casinos on Reddit. 👇
I was wondering what people’s opinions were about it, wondering if I was alone in mine, and wondering if maybe there was something about it that I was missing that would perhaps intrigue me enough to try it (see full subreddit here).
This led to some interesting comments, including a few reddit users who were surprised that I (and a number of other people commenting) didn’t know what a social casino was. These surprised users all stated that social casinos offer real money wins, with some providing examples of social casinos where they’ve played and have won money.
This had me seriously confused, because everything I had known about social casinos up until that point was that you don’t win real money – ever. So, I checked out a couple of the social casino links the redditors provided. Low and behold, those casinos did declare themselves to be social casinos and did offer free-to-play games and the opportunity to redeem real money prizes. Huh.🤷♀️
This still seemed weird to me as it didn’t jive with the you-don’t-win-real-money-ever fact about social casinos that I’d always known. So, I had to investigate this further…and here we are.
So…why does it matter? Though the differences between social casinos and sweepstakes casinos may seem minor to some, they are important to know, especially since one offers real money prizes and one doesn’t. How these casinos operate and what they provide can impact your expectations and influence how you play (frequency and spending).
*I’ve never been interested in social casinos because there’s no chance to win real money. Yes, I do demo games free from time to time to either improve my understanding of them and my skill, but, for me, the fun of playing gambling games is to win actual cash.
What are social casinos?
Social casinos are free-to-play online games or gaming apps for adults, which simulate online gambling, such as slots, poker, roulette, jackpots, etc., but are not considered gambling. They are commonly played through social networks like Facebook (hence their name) and have been around for as long as gaming apps have existed. They can be played on traditional computer (desktop/laptop) or mobile (smartphone/tablet) platforms but are typically accessible via mobile apps.
An example of a social casino is Zynga’s Black Diamond Casino.
How do social casinos work?
- Download the app or play instantly online.
- Get free gold coins (virtual currency with no monetary value).
- Choose a game to play for free with the gold coins.
- You can win gold coins by playing the games.
- You can interact with, play with, and compete against friends and other gamers.
- No prize or feature that can be won or redeemed has monetary value.
- There are in-app ads.
- Gold coins are limited. Once they run out, you cannot play until you have more.
- You can obtain more coins by:
- Winning in the games you play
- Winning leaderboard competitions
- Waiting – social casinos typically award more coins each day (every 2 hours, every 24 hours, etc.)
- Watching in-app ads
- Completing a task (e.g. playing a certain number of spins)
- Buying more (micro-transactions) – coin bundles, etc.
- Social casinos make money via ad revenue and micro-transactions.
What are sweepstakes casinos?
Sweepstakes casinos – also called “sweeps casinos” – are free to join and free to play. They are recreational gaming sites and apps for adults that offer casino-style games and run a sweepstakes model. They simulate online gambling as social casinos do, giving players gold coins (with no money value) to play on games like slots, table games, jackpots, bingo, etc. However, they also offer players the chance to redeem money prizes or other bonuses with a virtual currency called Sweeps Coins.
An example of a popular sweepstakes casino is Chumba Casino.
How do sweepstakes casinos work?
- Download the app or play instantly from the site.
- Create an account to get gold coins (virtual currency have no monetary value) and sweeps coins (virtual currency that can be redeemed for real money prizes).
- Choose any of the available games to play for free with gold coins.
- You can win gold coins by playing the games and earn sweeps coins.
- You can interact with, play with, and compete against friends and other gamers.
- After accumulating a certain number of sweeps coins they can be redeemed for a cash prize or other feature.
- Gold coins are limited. Once they run out, you cannot play until you have more.
- You can obtain more gold coins by
- Winning in the games you play
- Winning competitions
- Waiting – sweepstakes casinos typically award more coins daily upon login.
- Winning a giveaway
- Buying more (micro-transactions) – coin packages and promotions.
- Sweeps coins cannot be directly purchased. They are typically awarded through gameplay and bonuses.
- Sweeps casinos make money from on-site purchases (micro-transactions).
Social casinos vs sweepstakes casinos – is one experience better than the other?
The ultimate answer is no. Like most things in life, when comparing two things, there are pros and cons of each. Whether or not you prefer one over the other depends on your personal interests and what you want out of the experience.
In the case of social casinos vs sweepstakes casinos, it boils down to your honest answer to this question:
Would I like to play just for the fun of it or would I rather play for a chance at getting a money prize?
Still not sure? Maybe having a look at the top pros and cons I’ve found for each casino type will help you to decide.
Social casinos pros and cons
Pros
✅ Free to join and play
✅ Good variety of casino-style games to play (e.g. slots, table games, jackpots, bingo, etc.)
✅ Social interaction with other players
✅ Fun, risk-free entertainment designed for the joy of simply playing
Cons
❌ Contains Ads
❌ Micro-transactions can increase the chances of converting gamers into gamblers
❌ Attracts minors and problem gamblers
❌ Gives players the option to purchase more virtual coins to continue playing
Sweepstakes casinos pros and cons
Pros
✅ Free to join and play
✅ Good variety of casino-style games (e.g. slots, table games, jackpots, bingo, Slingo, etc.)
✅ An opportunity to redeem/win a real money prize
✅ Social interaction with other players
Cons
❌ On-site purchases can increase the chances of converting gamers into gamblers
❌ Attracts minors and problem gamblers
❌ Not available in all jurisdictions
❌ Entices/incentivise players to purchase virtual coins through regular promotional offers
What’s my preference? Since I have yet to experience either, I couldn’t tell you. That said, I do plan to give both Zynga’s Black Diamond Casino and Chumba Casino a try and let you know my honest thoughts on both in later posts.
Social casinos and sweepstakes casinos FAQ
Why do people play at social casinos?
While I’m sure everyone has their own reasons, I’d say the top one is because it’s free and it’s fun. In addition to playing games like slots, blackjack, poker, etc. for risk-free fun, there is a social and competitive component that makes the experience enjoyable for many players.
Are social casinos free to play?
Yes. You can play at these casinos without having to deposit real money. However, when you run out of coins, you are given the option to buy more.
Are sweepstakes casinos free to play?
Yes. You don’t have to pay to sign up or play. Like social casino, you have the option to purchase virtual coins.
How are social casinos different from traditional casinos?
The main difference is that at social and sweepstakes casinos, you don’t wager real money on the casino games you play as you do at traditional casinos. Social casinos are also different from traditional casinos because you can’t win real money. However, at sweepstakes casinos it is possible to redeem/win cash prizes via sweeps coins. Since it is possible to obtain a real money prize, this makes sweepstakes casinos more like real casinos compared to traditional social casinos.
Are social casino games different from the ones at a regular casino?
It depends on the casino. In most cases, games offered at traditional social casinos are not titles you’ll find at a real-money casino. However, sweepstakes casinos often have popular games you can find at online casinos (e.g., Pragmatic Play’s Sweet Bonanza slot). Also, since they are designed for recreational purposes, the focus of social casino games is to enhance player enjoyment. As such, players are more likely to win than lose on these games compared to those offered in real casinos.
Should I play at a social casino if I have a gambling problem?
If you struggle with gambling addiction (or are concerned about your gambling behavior), it would be in your best interest not to play at these casinos. Even though you don’t play with or win real money directly from the games, the coins are limited, and these casinos encourage players to purchase more coins to keep playing, which can contribute to problem gambling.
Social casinos vs sweepstakes casinos quick facts
☑️ These casinos are designed for adults aged 18+.
☑️ Sweepstake casinos and social casinos are not the same. There is a chance to redeem/win real money prizes at a sweepstakes casino. There are no sweeps coins and no chance to win real money at a social casino, they are purely for entertainment.
☑️ Even if the casino claims to be a social casino, if there is an opportunity to get a real money prize, it is a sweepstakes casino.
☑️ Sweepstakes casinos are not legal in every jurisdiction.
☑️ Playing at social casinos and/or sweepstakes casinos can be addictive. Take care to practice responsible playing behaviours, even when you’re not paying to play.
☑️ These types of casinos should be avoided by individuals who are concerned about their gambling behaviors or who suffer from gambling addiction.
☑️ The best type of casino is the one that brings you the greatest enjoyment.
Until next time, good luck and have fun.
Mia 👩💻
**All links and images in this post are for informational purposes only. I am not affiliated with Zynga or Chumba Casino.
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