Best Sweepstakes Social Casinos in Illinois
The requirement to participate in social sweepstakes casinos as an Illinoisan is to be of legal age, which is 18+. Players are treated to a batch of free gold coins and sweepstakes coins after opening an account, which you can use to play all the games available on these sites for free. This includes slots, live casino releases, instant games, and more.
While social casinos do not require you to spend a dime, they give you an option to buy coin packs. These packages primarily award free-play virtual coins, known as gold coins. On top of that, the operators also throw in a couple of extra sweepstakes coins you can redeem for cash rewards if you win playing with them. If you run out of gold coins but still want to keep playing, topping up is possible.
Alternatively, you can take advantage of the daily login bonus, which awards free gold coins just for signing in each day. Along with welcome bonuses and regular daily login awards, sweepstakes casinos have other goodies, too, and they also organize tournaments and loyalty schemes, which reward you for sticking with a specific site long-term. Many social casinos also offer special purchase offers, letting you fill your balance with coins at a discounted price.
Some of the best sweepstake casinos for Illinois residents are Mega Bonanza, Fortune Coins, Zula Casino, and Yay! Casino. However, if these social casinos aren’t your cup of tea, you have many more options to choose from.
Quick Q&A
Are sweepstakes social casinos legal in Illinois?
Yes, they are. Sweepstakes casinos are perfectly legal in Illinois, allowing players from that state to enjoy everything these sites have to offer.
Can I win real money playing at Illinois social sweepstake casinos?
No, you cannot win real money from playing at Illinois social casinos. That said, you can redeem rewards earned by playing with sweepstakes coins and get cash prizes or vouchers.
Can I claim bonuses at Illinois sweepstakes casinos?
Illinois sweepstakes casinos do not provide bonuses in the same way traditional online casinos do. However, they do have other benefits that players can make use of. The most common ones are discounts for purchasing coin packages. Other common perks include loyalty programs, tournaments, refer-a-friend schemes, etc.
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Illinois Sweepstakes Social Casinos: Regulations and History
Illinois is a state with no shortage of entertainment options. Over the years, the state has opened the doors to in-person gaming establishments, lotteries, horse racing, and more. However, many of these options are only available in person.
Currently, Illinois residents cannot join and play games at online casinos. However, players who want to try their luck with casino-like games have an option – social casinos.
In this article, we will discuss current state laws regarding sweepstakes casinos, their history, and some standout sites we think should be on your radar.
Sweepstakes Laws in Illinois
As a general rule of thumb, social casinos are available in almost every US state. That is because they offer games of chance under sweepstakes rules, which means no purchase is required to participate. The state would have to restrict casino games in general, which, fortunately, is not the case in Illinois.
While the Prairie State does not accept real-money online gambling, it has no laws that would restrict players from participating in social casinos. Thanks to that, you can look forward to all kinds of casino games using both purchasable and redeemable sweepstakes coins, which you can trade for vouchers and cash prizes.
Several bills have been introduced to legalize online casinos in the state, but none have been successful so far. However, given that online sports betting has become legal in Illinois, it’s likely just a matter of time before online casinos also become available.
History of Sweepstakes in Illinois
Like many states, Illinois was much more restrictive on gambling back in the day. It wasn’t until the late 1920s that the state allowed people to wager on horse racing. For many years, this was the only legal way to enjoy betting.
The next crack in the ice would form in 1971 when the state made lotteries legal. As the years went by, more gaming options, such as playing on riverboats, video game terminals, sports betting, and more, became available.
The Illinois Lottery organizes most sweepstakes in the Prairie State. Its website lists all running events, their rules, and available prizes. The only requirement to participate is to have an account on the website or to register it through the Illinois Lottery app. That said, organizations can also set up their own sweepstakes, provided they follow the rules.
Social casinos using a sweepstakes framework started gaining popularity in the early 2000s. As more players turned to the internet to enjoy casino games, sweepstakes casinos provided a legal and low-risk way to enjoy casino-style games like slots and all kinds of table games. They remain a popular choice in the absence of online casinos.