The world of online casino gaming has been growing at a very fast rate over the last several years. This can mostly be attributed to the fact that online mobile casino gaming makes it easy to enjoy the thrill of casino games from anywhere and at any time. However, regulations over online gaming are strict in some regions, and some players want to enjoy the thrill of online gaming without risking their finances.
These two have contributed to the popularity of social casinos (otherwise known as sweepstakes casinos), especially in regions such as the US, where the regulations vary from one state to another. But exactly are these casinos, and how are they different from regular online casinos?
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The Essence of Social Casinos
At their core, social casinos are just like regular casinos in that they try to bring the thrill of traditional casino games to the virtual world. These casinos can therefore let you enjoy a wide variety of games, such as poker, roulette, baccarat, and slots.
However, social casinos don’t involve playing with real money, which is the essence of regular online casinos. Instead, social casinos let players enjoy games using virtual coins that don’t hold any value in real life. When you register at a casino, you’ll get a number of these coins for free, meaning you can play at a social casino without spending actual money. However, to continue playing for a long time, you will need to purchase more coins.
Social casinos don’t involve winning actual money, as that is directly against their mode of operation. Instead, you win more coins that let you enjoy gaming, and you can also win various prizes.
How Social Casinos Work
Social casinos operate on a number of principles.
Virtual Currency
Virtual currency is the basis of social casinos, and it’s also what makes them legal in regions where regular online casinos are not permitted. Using a virtual currency that doesn’t hold real-life value significantly reduces the risk associated with these types of online casinos.
When you create an account, you will get a wallet for two types of virtual currencies – Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Gold Coins are usually many, and they are what you use to play. These are also the type of coins that you can purchase. Sweep coins, on the other hand, are rare. You only get a few as you start, but you can win them from gaming. Sweep Coins usually hold some value, unlike Gold Coins, as you can use them to redeem a few rewards.
In-App Purchases
Social casinos still have to make money that can support their operations. They achieve this by making it possible for players to purchase Gold Coins, which can be done using various methods such as credit cards, e-wallets, and cryptocurrencies. You can also spend real money to unlock premium content or access exclusive features within the platform.
Gamification and Progression
While players still enjoy the thrill of casino games, the extra dimension of the chance to win a jackpot is not present. However, social casinos have gamification elements and progression mechanics that make up for this. These are usually integrated into every aspect of the casino, from creating an account to playing a game and making a purchase. Every action helps you level up, which in turn unlocks new and bigger rewards. This kind of gamification usually adds an extra dimension of excitement, so players can keep coming back to unlock new achievements, challenges, and milestones. This means that although you won’t win real money, you will still get a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
If you are new to the world of casinos and are concerned about your finances, you can always use social casinos as your stepping stone before moving on to real-money online casinos.
