Social gaming is an exciting trend in the gaming world. However, it operates very close to the edge of the law. Find out more…
Whether you’re a PC, console, or mobile user, you’ve probably heard about social gaming.
If you haven’t, social casino games are free-to-play games available on different platforms, such as online sweepstakes casinos offering free play. After joining one of these platforms, you can start playing slots, roulette, and other classic casino games without having to spend anything – and that’s where the appeal comes from.
Here’s where things get a little exciting. Instead of just playing for free, social games also provide you with the opportunity to compete for real prizes using sweeps coins. For example, you might win at online slots and get yourself a nice Amazon gift card or cash transfer. Normally, this would enter into the territory of “gambling”, which would mean bad news for the operators of social gaming sites. However, it doesn’t.
How the Biggest Social Casinos in the US Are Able to Operate Legally
The creators of social casinos in the US are really smart. This is because the likes of Chumba Casino and WOW Vegas have adopted what’s called a sweepstakes model. To sum it up, here’s how the sweepstakes model works:
➡️ Players deposit money from their bank accounts in exchange for sweeps coins
➡️ Any sweeps coins they win can then be redeemed for real prizes
As players are using a type of virtual currency to compete for prizes, it means that social casinos aren’t technically classed as gambling platforms. After all, sweeps coins have no value in the real world. This is completely different to how traditional online casinos work, where you place bets using actual real money.
Due to the simple fact that social casinos use a sweepstakes model, it means they’re allowed to operate legally almost everywhere in the US. The same applies with other countries throughout Africa, Europe, and Asia. Effectively, social casinos can operate almost anywhere they like.
However, there is a small catch. If you want to play inside a social casino, you must still be above the legal gambling age. Why? Because you have to use a bank account or PayPal to exchange money for sweeps coins. Therefore, anyone below the legal gambling age isn’t allowed to play.
The Appeal of Social Gaming to US and Global Players
Naturally, the biggest appeal of social gaming is that you get to play casino games for prizes without having to bet any real money. This is something that casual gamers appreciate, as not everyone wants to gamble. Sprinkled on top of this are a host of other appealing benefits, too, such as:
🔥 Interact and socialize with other players
🔥 Climb leaderboards
🔥 Discover new and classic casino games
Essentially, social gaming is just like your traditional online casino experience but with two major differences: there are more social elements involved and you aren’t allowed to bet real money. Unsurprisingly, this has led to millions of people making the switch to social casinos and social networking sites so that they can see what the hype is all about – especially in the US.
Are Social Casinos Legal?
Yes – social casinos are 100% legal in most places, despite the fact that they follow a concept that’s extremely similar to regular gambling.
As mentioned previously, if you take a look at the United States, social casinos are legal in every state except for:
❌ Nevada
❌ Washington
❌ Idaho
America is a rare exception, though. In most countries, social casinos are legal everywhere, like the United Kingdom. The reason for this is because there are no laws that prohibit social gaming or the use of virtual currencies like sweeps coins. Ultimately, what this means is that social casinos can continue to operate pretty much anywhere they like, even though they’re walking a tightrope between gaming and gambling.
Moving into the future, new laws and regulations could possibly be introduced that restrict the use of virtual currencies to win real cash prizes. If this was to happen, it’d mean social casinos (and other relevant sites) would face the same laws as traditional online casinos. For now, though, social casinos can continue to operate as-per-usual while having a major advantage over traditional online casinos, which (as you probably know) are subject to much tougher legal restrictions.
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