Online casinos are not all created equal — and understanding the distinction between traditional online casinos and social sweepstakes casinos like Gains.com is key to knowing what you're getting (and not getting) as a player.
Traditional Online Casinos
A traditional online casino offers real-money gambling. Players deposit money, wager it on games like slots, blackjack, and roulette, and can cash out winnings. These platforms:
Require gambling licenses and are only legal in a few U.S. states
Are regulated like real-money gambling operators
Often involve risk of loss with each wager
Offer financial returns (and financial losses)
Social Sweepstakes Casinos (like Gains.com)
A social sweepstakes casino is a free-to-play, entertainment-first alternative. Instead of wagering real money, you use two types of virtual currency:
Gold Coins (GC): Used for standard play with no cash value.
Sweeps Coins (SC): Can be used in sweepstakes contests for a chance to win real prizes.
Key characteristics:
No purchase necessary to play or win
Available in more U.S. states (excluding certain restricted jurisdictions)
Focused on fun, community, and fairness
Players receive daily login bonuses and can earn SC through giveaways, promos, and AMOE (mail-in requests)
Winnings from SC are redeemable, but only after fulfilling a 3x playthrough requirement
Bottom Line
If you're looking to gamble with real money, a licensed online casino might be for you — but it comes with financial risk and geographic limitations.
If you're looking for fun, fair, and free-to-play casino-style games with the chance to win real prizes — without ever needing to deposit — Gains.com is your next-generation alternative.