Best Sweepstakes Social Casinos in North Dakota
The reason sweepstakes social casinos are allowed in North Dakota, despite banning online casinos, is the free-to-play model. The goal of these sites is to provide entertainment without risking the player’s money. How do they do it?
Sweepstakes casinos work with digital currencies that are (generally) free to claim. These are usually named Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins, although some casinos give them different names. Gold Coins have no monetary value, so they’re only used to play for fun. Sweepstakes Coins, on the other hand, can be used to play and redeem cash prizes.
Another difference is that you can purchase GC but can’t purchase SC. The way to get SC is through sign-up and daily/weekly/monthly bonuses, buying Gold Coin packages, or using the alternative method of entry (for example, mail-in entries).
Other than that, North Dakotans can enjoy the same perks as at an online casino - joining game tournaments, referring friends, climbing the loyalty ladder, etc. If this sounds like something you’d like to try, we suggest you join Stake.us, Spree, Hello Millions, Pulsz, or Yay! Casino.
FAQ
Are sweepstakes social casinos legal in North Dakota?
Yes, sweepstakes social casinos are legal in North Dakota, i.e., there are no state laws that explicitly ban these platforms. However, they need to comply with the general promotion laws, miss one of the aforementioned elements, and exclude purchase requirements.
Can I win real money playing at North Dakota social sweepstakes casinos?
No, winning real money while playing in North Dakota social sweepstakes casinos is not possible. However, if you play games with Sweepstakes Coins and collect enough, you can redeem them for various prizes, including cash and gift cards.
Can I claim bonuses at North Dakota sweepstakes casinos?
No, you can’t claim real money bonuses at sweepstakes casinos in North Dakota. However, you can claim regular promotions, like a daily login bonus, with Gold and Sweepstakes Coins or purchase coin packages to play and redeem prizes.
North Dakota Sweepstakes Social Casinos: Regulations and History
With online gambling still illegal in the state of North Dakota, players are constantly trying to find other ways to enjoy spinning the reels. Fortunately, in recent years, social casinos have emerged as a popular alternative to real-money casino gaming.
The Peace Garden State is among the many US states where this pastime is not explicitly regulated, meaning they can operate as long as they stick to certain rules.
In this article, we’ll tell you more about the ND legal framework and how sweepstakes came to be. For those looking for some fun, we’ll also share the top online sweepstakes casinos accepting North Dakota players.
North Dakota Sweepstakes Laws
North Dakota is a late bloomer when it comes to legalizing gambling. In fact, the first lottery within the state happened in 2004, while sports betting was allowed just a few years ago (back in 2021).
According to the North Dakota Century Law Chapter 12.1-18, gambling “means risking any money, credit, deposit, or other thing of value for gain, contingent, wholly or partially, upon lot, chance, the operation of gambling apparatus, or the happening or outcome of an event, including an election or sporting event, over which the person taking the risk has no control.”
As such, only a few forms of gaming are allowed within the state. Aside from betting, which can only happen in tribal casinos, casino gaming is also only permitted on Native American reservations. Horse and dog racing are also on the table, as are any other games of skill, such as bingo.
However, online gambling is not allowed. Players who are looking to spin the reels or play against an online dealer can do so in social casinos.
Currently, the legal framework in North Dakota doesn’t include any special rules for online sweepstakes aside from the general promotion law and the requirements to set itself apart from a private lottery.
Namely, all operators must be transparent with their offers and eligibility criteria, as well as exclude any purchase requirements. Moreover, they need to miss one of the three elements that make up a private lottery:
• Valuable prize
• Consideration
• Random winner choice
Of course, players must be at least 18 years old to participate in sweepstakes and be a resident of North Dakota.
The History of Sweepstakes in North Dakota
One investigation in 1890 led to decades of refusal to accept any form of gambling within the state. Namely, on February 7, 1890, an investigation by an undercover detective exposed the bribery and behind-the-scenes deals that were happening concerning the establishment of the Louisiana State Lottery in North Dakota. The revelation was so shocking that people refused to accept another form of this pastime year after year.
It wasn’t until 2004 that the lottery lobbyists finally won the voters, and a State Lottery was created on March 25, 2004. However, the past stain is still present since in-state games are not allowed. Instead, the North Dakota Lottery is part of the multi-state lottery and can only offer multi-jurisdictional games, such as 2by2, Mega Millions, and Lucky for Life.
Opening the doors to a state lottery allowed players to experiment more, thus looking for online options. Right now, online sweepstakes are part of the deal, so North Dakotans can join these sites and play their favorite casino-like games.
