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Social Casino vs Real Money vs Sweepstakes: Compared
Social, real-money and sweepstakes casinos compared on cash value, regulation, age and risk, with a 60-second test to tell which kind an app is.
Three kinds of online casino get confused: social casinos, sweepstakes casinos and real-money casinos. They look similar and differ in the one thing that matters, what happens to the money. Cashout Arcade is a social casino: one virtual currency, no cash-out, no prizes.
The three kinds side by side
| Item | Social casino | Sweepstakes casino | Real-money casino |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency | Virtual coins | Two currencies, one redeemable | Real money |
| Can anything be cashed out | No | Yes, prizes through the second currency | Yes |
| Regulation | Consumer, advertising and app-store rules | Sweepstakes law, now restricted in places | Gambling licence |
| Main risk | Overspending on coins, long sessions | As real money, plus legal uncertainty | Losing real money |
| Cashout Arcade | This is us | Not us | Not us |
The rows summarise our detailed guides, Social Casino vs Real Money Casino: Key Differences and Social Casino vs Sweepstakes Casino: What Is the Difference?, which give the sources.
Which is which: a 60-second test
- Open the app's terms and search for "redeem", "prize", "withdraw" and "cash".
- If coins cannot be withdrawn or redeemed, it is a social casino.
- If a second currency can be redeemed, it is a sweepstakes model.
- If you deposit money and withdraw money, it is a real-money casino and your local gambling law applies.
If an app is vague, assume the strictest answer and read the terms before paying.
Our comparisons
We do not rank other apps. Our guide on how to choose, Best Free Casino Apps for iPhone: How to Choose, gives you six checks to run yourself.
Social casino basics / 5 min read
Social Casino vs Real Money Casino: Key Differences
Social casinos run on virtual coins that cannot be cashed out; real-money casinos take deposits and pay cash. Money, odds, rules and risks compared.