While many of us enjoy a flutter, some worry that they might overspend or lose too much. In addition, as online real-money casino gambling is still only available in a handful of US states, many Americans who love to play casino games cannot play at real-money online casinos.
Fortunately, for both scenarios, help is at hand in the form of social casinos, which are becoming increasingly popular across the nation, both in states where you can and cannot legally gamble online. If that sounds a little confusing, we sat down with the expert team at Casino.org to ask them a few questions about social casinos and why they are one of the biggest gambling crazes around at the moment.
The first question we had to ask was, “What exactly are social casinos?”
The team told us that social casinos provide a unique mix of online social interaction and casino entertainment without any risk of losing real money. It is all about the feel-good factor, with people vying to get to the top of leaderboards and all wins being virtual. What people get out of playing at a social casino is gifting and sharing experiences.
They explained that the definition of social casinos is changing because while they still offer the chance to play for free, many now offer the option to win real money by redeeming virtual coins won for real money. This dual functionality makes them more like sweepstakes casinos.
Content editor William MacMaster told us,
“I love social casinos because while they offer competitive gameplay with low budgets, they allow you to take it up a notch and win real money prizes. Knowing I can log in daily and find a new gift waiting for me also makes me feel appreciated as a player in a way other casino types have not. My personal favorite social casino is Hello Millions. It delivers in all these areas, and I know they will continue to look after me. Want to learn more about how social casinos work? You’re in the right place.”
The next question we asked was, “Are social casinos legal?”
As we heard from Hannah Cutajar, and those who love online slots will be delighted to hear, the answer is a resounding yes for traditional social casinos! However, things get slightly more complicated when you start looking at sweepstakes and hybrid casinos. She explained,
“All social casinos are currently legal in the US. There has recently been a debate about whether they should or should not be, as the lines between social and sweepstakes casinos are increasingly blurred. Many sweepstake casinos now offer free play and real-money casino options. They can be played in non-regulated states, so some argue that because they provide real-money prizes, they should be bound by the same regulations as casinos in states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania.”
“There could be a time when the state you live in decides to try and outlaw them, but most people agree that this is unlikely to be done at a federal level as they are trying to do again with sports betting. However, you still need to be twenty-one or over to play at most social casinos. Because gambling is mostly regulated at a state level, we recommend players check their local state regulations for full details before playing.”
We wanted to get clarification on the difference between social, sweepstakes, and real money casinos, and here is what William told us.
“Social and sweepstakes casinos are different, but people often use the terms interchangeably, which can cause some confusion. However, social casinos do not offer the chance to win real money, while sweepstakes casinos do. Social casinos are all about the thrill of the win, status, and glory. Traditional social casinos limit players to free play with no ‘cash-out option. Sweepstakes casinos focus on winning virtual currency prizes, which can then be played on the sites and cashed out to win real money prizes.”
“However, there are now hybrid social casinos which offer the best of both worlds. The focus is still on the free play experience, but rather than all the funds remaining on site as playable currency, some now offer a ‘cash-out feature. As it varies from social casino to social casino, we do recommend that you check out our guides and only play at recommended sites”.
“Obviously, if you are in one of the states that have regulated real money gambling, you have the choice of those too where you deposit, play, and withdraw using real money. These online casinos are only available in states like Michigan and New Jersey, but many people still prefer social casinos for all kinds of reasons”.
“Social casinos are popular because you get the fun without the risk. Anyone who remembers the thrill of playing the penny falls as a child (or maybe as a grownup) in a vacation amusement arcade will know that often the fun is playing, winning, and losing, not the amount won. While some online gamers are looking for the chance to win big, many are more than content to get the feel-good buzz that social casinos bring’.
Content editor Lewis Crane adds,
“Our mission at Casino.org is to find you the best social casinos available. Our top-rated sites are updated regularly, so it is always worth returning here to get an updated list of the latest bonuses you can claim. Our expert team provides personal insights and experiences to give you the most personal and relatable information about social casinos.”
Hannah concludes,
“It really is horses for courses. Like any other form of entertainment, online gaming should be about enjoyment. You can have heaps of fun playing on your favorite titles when you find games and sites you love. We have checked out the sites to make sure that they are legitimate so our readers can just get on with the gameplay. Our team analyses every element of the sites we review to ensure they are top quality. Our team has been providing insights into casinos since 1995, making us the most experienced team in the business. All you have to do is kick back, follow our advice, and enjoy the ride.”
