Author:
Matt
Last Updated:
25/11/2024
Experiences:
LV native and table games whizz
Experiences:
LV native and table games whizz
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Online casinos offering welcome bonuses is nothing unusual, but tracking down a no deposit bonus at a real money casino is not an easy task. However, it is a whole different story when it comes to finding a no deposit sweepstakes casino and that is the subject of our guide.
We’re also going to explain more about how sweepstakes casinos work, who can play at them and clarify some areas of confusion. Then we’ll go through what you can expect from a sweepstakes casino with no deposit bonus and show you how to find the right one for you.
The really good news is that sweepstakes casinos are legal for a remarkably high percentage of US residents, so plenty of you will be eligible to claim a no deposit bonus. Only Washington State outlaws them at the present time, because it still considers that the virtual currency tokens used to play casino games online have an intrinsic value.
Even though US laws do not consider sweepstakes to be gambling in the true sense, there is still a minimum legal age applicable to players. This does vary between different states and operators. For some, it is 18 years of age and for others it is 21 years, so it’s worth checking that out in advance to avoid disappointment when you attempt to sign up.
There are two separate issues which have a tendency to confuse anyone who is exploring the world of these relatively new sweepstakes casinos for the first time. So in this section we will run through some important facts you need to be aware of.
It is not entirely surprising confusion arises here, simply because of the names of the casinos themselves. The easiest way to explain is to say that playing at a social casino is the same as playing any other online game, a match three like Candy Crush is one example.
Firstly, you don’t have to complete any type of registration or make a payment to play sweepstake gambling; you are given free virtual coins to start you off, and you can win more coins as you play, or you can purchase a package of coins. At no time is there any way to exchange your virtual coins for fiat currency.
Conversely, a sweepstakes casino is much closer to a real money online casino option. You’ll need to register as a member, provide proof of your age and location and also complete a KYC. You’ll often find a much better choice of games on offer, including popular titles from some of the world’s best software developers and if you win, there is the opportunity to exchange your virtual currency for cash.
In a nutshell, social casinos are not permitted to offer sweepstakes games, but sweepstakes casinos almost always offer social only games as well.
There are two types of virtual currency in use on a typical sweepstakes site. They come under various guises and names, but they always have two different purposes. The most common names for these virtual currencies are gold coins and sweeps coins, so for the sake of clarity we will stick with those here as we move on to explain how they work.
These coins are strictly for recreational casino play only and there are many different ways to obtain them, one of which is simply to log in to your account every day. They can also be purchased in predefined packages should you happen to exhaust your supply, but want to continue to play.
These packages can range in value from around $2 up to about $500 and will always include a small number of sweeps coins as a bonus.
This type of currency is used specifically to enter sweepstakes contests. These are usually on offer for slots, casino table games and poker games, depending on what an individual site makes available. If you win a contest, your prize is awarded to you in sweeps coins. You then have the choice of retaining them in your account for future play, or waiting until you have accrued enough to enable you to exchange them for cash.
It is important to note that you cannot buy sweeps coins, as that would contravene sweepstakes regulations, but there are a number of different ways to obtain them free of charge.
Only a handful of real money online casinos have these types of bonuses on offer and they are usually only for very small amounts. On the other hand, there are plenty of no deposit sweepstakes casinos to select from, with much more lucrative bonus offers up for grabs. The T&Cs applied to them are a doddle by comparison to real money options and it’s rare to need a sweepstake casino promo code to get your hands on them.
Exactly as you would imagine this type of bonus does not require you to place a deposit or make any type of purchase from the casino. In most cases, once you have signed up as a member and your account has been verified, you will receive your bonus package automatically. However, there are a few sweepstakes casino sites that require you to actively claim the bonus, so don’t miss out by not reading the instructions carefully.
One really great thing about a sweepstakes casino with no deposit bonus, is that it will usually be offered to you with very few terms and conditions, unlike its real money counterparts. Any gold coins or sweeps coins allocated rarely have an expiry date or any playthrough requirements and in many cases your winnings will include the original bonus coins as well.
It would be fair to say that the majority of the top sweepstakes casinos stick with the ever-popular no deposit bonus as their promo for new sign ups. But once you are signed up as a site member, you’ll find plenty more bonus opportunities coming your way to encourage you to continue playing there.
One of the most popular offers is free spins, but these do often come with a caveat. For example, you might find that they can only be used to play on selected slot titles, or that they come with a short lifespan. Which only goes to underline the fact that you always need to read the T&Cs for any promotion very carefully to avoid disappointment.
Although these are not strictly speaking bonuses, you are certain to receive communications from your sweepstakes casino offering ‘special deals’ on certain gold coin packages. They might be offering a reduced price for one of the larger packages of coins available, or an increase in bonus sweeps coins for certain packages. They are almost always time-constrained, so if you like the look of them, you may need to react fast.
It is worth following your sweepstakes casino on its social media outlets in addition to logging into the website or app every day. These sites thrive on the social side of the enterprise and often feature contests or offers that are only available to you by interacting with them via social media channels. The most popular are Facebook and Twitter, so it’s worth making sure you have an account open with both.
Don’t think for a moment that it’s OK to overlook the reputation of a sweepstakes casino on the basis that the currency you play with isn’t ‘real’ money. It’s just as important to check out an online social casino as it is any other online casino. Here are a few reminders of what you need to do before you sign up.
Bearing in mind that there are always two types of virtual currency to use at a sweepstakes casino, the deposit you choose needs to reflect your intentions going forward. If you are only interested in playing socially, then a bonus which includes plenty of gold coins to play on any game may well be your best option.
Those of you who only play slots might prefer a bonus with a good number of free spins. But for anyone who wants to take their casino experience to the next level by concentrating on sweepstakes contests needs to seek out the bonuses with the most abundant sweeps coins up for grabs.
There will come a time when you have used up your initial sweepstakes casino no deposit bonus. Once your initial gold coin stash is gone, you don’t want to find that the only way to get any more is to pay an overinflated price to top it up.
You’ll also want to be sure that the games available on the site are sufficient in number and quality to ensure your continued entertainment. You might also be wise to select a site that has an active loyalty program in place. Alongside the satisfaction of working your way up through the ranks, you will also benefit from rewards like bigger daily bonuses and new games or contests to test your skills.
As you have seen, by finding the right site, your online sweepstakes casino experience can easily match that of many real money options. In addition, the fact that you can still indulge your passion for casino play in almost every US state where other forms of gambling are illegal is yet another massive plus-point.
A no deposit sweepstakes casino can give you the chance to play casino table games, slots, and sometimes even live dealer games developed by some of the very best software providers in the world. Better still, you can play them entirely free of charge using virtual currency, but still have the opportunity to convert your sweeps coins to cash further down the line. Surely that’s a win-win situation and one that we feel is worthy of your time.