Are online casinos legal in your country?
The legalities of
iGaming sites
come down to national and sometimes province or state-level regulations. In other words, each country has a right to decide what is legal within its boundaries. As a result, there are a great deal of distinctions across the world in terms of what’s available – but there’s still an online casino available to almost everyone.
This is possible through what are known as
sweepstakes casinos. These can offer a vital alternative for countries, provinces and states where real money gaming is not permitted. The way they work, and how they stack up alongside online casinos with real money options, is simple.
Online casino free play social casino sites
Sweepstakes casinos: Pros & cons
- Much more broadly legal
- Lets you play for free
- Potential to win cash prizes
- Frequent promotions for coins
- No loss of quality
- No real money wagers
- Small learning curve
To begin, it’s worth pointing out that the terms ‘sweepstakes casinos’ and ‘social casinos’ are broadly used interchangeably, as will be the case here – although we’ll explain the minor differences between them momentarily.
This is a type of casino where you’re not playing for real money but rather virtual currencies. These must be offered by the operator without the need for deposit or any form of purchase.
As a result, sweepstakes casinos are not considered gambling. As such, they’re legal in many countries where online casino real money options cannot be offered to players. For many people, the only options on their top casino website list will be social ones, as the rest will not be available.
Further sweetening the deal is the fact that cash prizes can be won on many social casinos. Yes, some of the virtual currencies are sweepstakes entries and you can therefore win prizes – even cash – legitimately. Hence the term ‘sweepstakes casinos’.
Do note that some social casinos may not offer prizes, and they would not be considered sweepstakes casinos. This is the key difference between the terms but they’re typically used to mean the same thing.
Online casino real money options
Real money casinos: Pros & cons
- Availability has improved recently
- More countries may relax laws
- Sportsbooks often available legally
- Promotions can be excellent
- Prohibited in many countries
- Rarely any free access
For many people who want to bet online with real money, it’s simply not legally possible in many countries. It doesn’t matter much what the top casino ratings are if you can’t access them, after all.
National gambling laws are always changing and it seems more likely than not that additional countries will legalize the activity. That said, it’s undeniable that
real money casinos
aren’t available to the overwhelming majority of the world.
On the plus side, for those who can use them, many of the best online casinos in the world are available in more and more countries, including Bet365 and Unibet.
How sweepstakes casinos work: Online casino with minimum deposit not required
So, for most people reading this, their top casino website list might only consist of social/sweepstakes casino options. This isn’t just a point of preference but a point of legal necessity. To put it simply, it doesn’t matter how highly we praise something in our online casino reviews if they’re not available in your country.
And if a social casino is the only option you face, you’ll need to know how they work. With that in mind, here’s a list of all the key practicalities broken down so you know how to get started:
- Social casinos and sweepstakes casinos broadly mean the same thing – a casino with games played via virtual currencies and no cash betting allowed.
- There must also be no need for any form of deposit to get started, with all payments for extra coins being completely voluntary.
- The virtual currencies used are typically known as Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, although this can vary by operator.
- Both types of coins must be available for free. They can be offered via a registration
online casino bonus, daily log-ins, social media giveaways and competitions, or by winning more through regular play. These are just a few examples.
- They are largely just for fun. That said, Sweeps Coins also count as sweepstakes entries, meaning they may be exchanged for prizes, including cash.
- Gold Coins can be purchased, whereas Sweeps Coins cannot. Nonetheless, the latter may be given away with the former as a bonus.
- For all practical purposes, the way virtual coins are used in play should be the same as how real cash works. They are a stand in for cash, after all. The only difference is that they do not have monetary value.
- The other key practical difference outside the games is redemption. Typically, this would require you to play through your Sweeps Coins at least once, meet a minimum requirement, and then redeem them at the rate offered.
An online casino sweepstakes example
Not only are social casinos capable of being among the best casino websites, but there are already operators which fit the bill. This is in large part thanks to the games themselves. Many sites will include games from leading developers and have an in-house team to craft satisfying casino libraries. All of these games should be easily available, thanks to consistent and generous coin giveaways. Backing this up should be a solid foundation of strong customer service and site design, providing a deep but accessible experience.
Speaking of accessibility, it’s important to note that a few of our featured operators boast cryptocurrency options. This is key for those who wish to purchase more virtual credit. Plus, you may get even more chances to win prizes when you use fantastic promotions when you sign up.
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Top tips to finding the best casino websites
Ultimately, you want to find a casino which works for your needs and our online casino reviews are here to help. This means you can just get to enjoying all those great games without delay. The fact that there are so many worthy examples means more people can find exactly what they’re looking for. But it also means finding your top casino website list requires some guidance.
Top Casinos List
1.
Up to 125 SC FREE + 625K Golden Coins + 1250 VIP Points
Players from Virginia accepted
2.
$55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Players from Virginia accepted
3.
150% Purchase Offer: 25 SC FREE and 50K GC
Players from Virginia accepted
4.
27.5 SC FREE and 57.5K Gold Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
5.
35 SC FREE and 1.75M WOW Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
These top 10 tips should help point you on your way:
Consider our top casino ratings
We picked the sites in our banners as our recommendation for anyone looking for a social online casino because we think they’re as good as any alternative. With that in mind, we recommend them to anyone as a place to start, so long as they’re geographically available.
Take into account the laws of your country
You’ll need to know whether online casino real money options are legal in your country to fully grasp the options available to you.
Think about the games you want to play
The bottom line of any casino is the quality and variety of the games. But first, you’ll need to know the kind of games you’re looking for to ensure your search is a fruitful one.
Ensure that any candidate has top security credentials
Your security is something you should never compromise on, so be sure that any casino you’re considering is legal, legitimate, and safe. Keep an eye out for things like a clear privacy policy, encryption, reputation and transparency.
Review your banking needs
If you’re in a country that offers real money betting, or if you’re using a social casino and would like to take part in the redemption process or buy more Gold Coins, you’ll need banking options that suit you.
Check on the customer service options
Any option worthy of top casino ratings should provide assistance for any users facing issues. This means not just a contactable, competent and fast customer service team (typically via live chat, and ideally 24/7) but also a useful ‘Help’ and ‘FAQ’ section.
Ask yourself what aesthetic design you would prefer
Some points on design can be agreed as objectively good by everyone. We all, for instance, want a site that works as it should. Everything should also be easy to find and well structured.
Beyond that, things become more stylistic and preferential. Some may like a late night Vegas feel, while others may prefer something a bit more colourful. Think about what would bring you the most enjoyment. Take your mobile needs into account too.
See what promotions interest you
Promotions may be a practical necessity – especially for a social casino – but they should also be good fun. Whether it be competitions or the spin of a wheel, make sure that whatever promotions are available add to your enjoyment and not just your haul of coins.
Cash prizes: how do they work for you?
For some, cash prizes are an enormous part of their enjoyment of social casinos. Meanwhile, others are just happy to play the games. Ensure your pick is suitable for however you like to play.
Keep your primary interest in having fun
Online casinos should always be about having a good time. Always make that your top priority when looking for a site, and keep it in mind when playing for maximum satisfaction.
Conclusion: Can you gamble online in your country? Social casinos make it possible for most
We think that there will be an online casino that is perfect for you. Despite the often complicated legal situation in many countries in the world, there remains a truly star-studded collection of options for all kinds of players. It may take a little thought to make your way to that perfect gaming match. But with great games, cash prizes and fabulous promotions – often available for nothing – even the journey can be a fantastic time for casino fans. So check our top casino website list to find your perfect gaming site.
1.
Up to 125 SC FREE + 625K Golden Coins + 1250 VIP Points
Players from Virginia accepted
2.
$55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 3x
3.
150% Purchase Offer: 25 SC FREE and 50K GC
Players from Virginia accepted
4.
27.5 SC FREE and 57.5K Gold Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus
5.
35 SC FREE and 1.75M WOW Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: 9.99
Online casino FAQ
🎰 Are there online casinos legally available in my country?
You can easily find out if an online casino is legally available in your country by visiting the operator's website and checking out their list of available countries and regions. Should an operator be unavailable in your region, you'll usually see a message at the top of the website.
✅ What are the pros and cons of a sweepstakes casino?
There are many advantages to playing sweepstakes casino games, such as the great variety of free games, exciting prizes and bonuses as well as many hours of fun. On the flipside, however, you should be aware that you cannot win any real money in a sweepstakes casino.
👍 How should I go about finding the right online casino for me?
Finding the right online casino can be difficult. You should always have a clear idea of what it is that you want to find in a good online casino and specifically look for those things, when conducting your research. Our guides and reviews are a great starting point for you as we provide you will all the essential information you may need when looking for your new favourite online casino.
