ShareIt could be argued that there are a lot of similarities, but also plenty of differences too. Let's start at the beginning: both poker (whether physical or online) and sweepstakes casinos (always online) are fun, engaging entertainment experiences that can (if you so choose) be played for real money stakes and prizes. They can also be played just for fun. Poker wagers amongst friends can be matchsticks, chips or, quite frankly, anything else. Sweepstakes casinos involve players using Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, and winnings can potentially be exchanged for real money prizes.
Ultimately, poker and sweepstakes casinos are both experiences you can play for fun or take more seriously. Poker can be taken extremely seriously, and there are many professional poker players who play for a living – some even have to pay taxes on their winnings. Sweepstakes casinos are a hybrid of social and real-money casinos and are unlikely to attract professional players anytime soon. The online versions of both are digital interpretations of familiar casino experiences that feature competitive communities. They both appeal to players seeking entertainment and rewards. They overlap significantly, but their models and mechanics differ.
Regulation and availability
Both sweepstakes casino and online poker sites are regulated differently than everyday real-money iGaming. Gambling in the US has three core components: the opportunity to win a prize, the outcome being based on chance, and there being a financial cost to entry. While poker involves skill and has been used to train entrepreneurial ability, it is still largely seen as chance-based and is regulated at the state level, but unlike other online casino games, it is legal in Las Vegas. Sweepstakes casinos also offer the chance for players to win real prizes, but by offering No Purchase Necessary options and operating a virtual dual-currency system, they can exploit a loophole and are covered by federal promotional laws.
Skill versus pure chance
Online poker and poker are great games to play, but they do require concentration, strategy, and, when played in person, the ability to bluff and ride out a not-so-promising hand. If you are looking for something a little less taxing, sweepstakes casinos offer an often-light-hearted alternative where the outcome is largely down to luck (and the random number generators).
While online poker for real money is only legal in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, West Virginia, Delaware, Michigan, and Nevada, sweepstakes casinos are much more accessible. In theory, sweepstakes casinos should be available everywhere, but some states have decided they are too close to actual gambling and have therefore outlawed them. Whether you are choosing an online poker site or a sweepstakes casino, it is often worth consulting an expert because it can all be a bit confusing.
Ask an expert
Independent review sites like Casino.org offer expert guidance on the world of online casinos, including sweepstakes casinos, helping players understand how they work and what to look for. This is hardly surprising, since sweepstakes casinos are available to far more Americans than real-money ones. As their experts point out, the best sweepstakes casinos let players explore casino-style games for free and redeem prizes for real cash. That certainly sounds like a win/win equation, but there are some drawbacks to watch out for.
As the sector is not regulated in the same way as real-money sites, players need to know that not all the sites available are up to the same standard. The decent ones not only offer great games from top-tier software suppliers like NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, and Hacksaw Gaming, but also have robust protections in place to ensure underage and vulnerable players cannot access their sites. Playing at a sweepstakes casino should in no way be an inferior one to playing at a real-money casino or poker site. It is a different experience, but it should be no less entertaining or secure.
What to look out for
Whatever you like to play, and wherever you reside, there are things to look out for when playing online. As more and more people choose to play on the go, a real app can make all the difference in the whole experience. Look out for ones that are available on the App Store or Google Play Store and check out the expert and store ratings too.
Unfortunately, not all sites have apps for all phones, so your hardware choice will also be part of the decision-making process whether you choose to play poker or other games. If you are playing in an app or an optimized version of the site, the same rules apply. The experience should be smooth, glitch-free, and easy to navigate. The screen and buttons should be calibrated so you cannot accidentally place a bet or take a turn you didn't mean to.
Poker sites and sweepstakes casino sites should both offer a great selection of games. After all, that is what you are there for. To play great games. While game library alone (and number of titles on offer) should not be the only reason for choosing to play on a particular site, it is a good indicator of how decent a site is. It is easy for sites to inflate their game libraries with hundreds of near-identical games; what matters is breadth, a lobby full of titles from named studios, exclusive titles you cannot play anywhere else, and plenty of new releases to keep the experience fresh.
Understand bonuses wherever you play
Online poker sites and sweepstakes casinos use promotions and bonuses to attract and keep players. Understanding one end of a promotion from another and calculating what the multiplier actually means can help ensure your bankroll goes further and lets you maximize the fun to be had.
