Social casino (definition)
A social casino is a free-to-play app with casino-style games and virtual coins that have no cash value. What that means, what it costs and how it differs.
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A social casino is a free-to-play app or site that offers casino-style games, such as slots, roulette or blackjack, played with a virtual currency that has no cash value and cannot be withdrawn. You do not win or lose real money. Money enters only if you choose to buy more virtual coins.
Cashout Arcade is a social casino. It is for adults aged 18 and over and is entertainment only.
What makes it "social"
The name comes from the origin of the category: games on social networks where you could play with friends and compare progress. Modern social casinos usually add leaderboards, shared tables, gifts and chat. The common elements are:
- virtual coins you can earn by playing or by daily rewards,
- optional purchases of more coins,
- no payout in money, goods or prizes of cash value.
How it differs from other casino types
| Item | Social casino | Real-money casino | Sweepstakes casino |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you stake | Virtual coins | Real money | Virtual coins, in some cases a second type |
| Can you withdraw winnings? | No | Yes | Yes, for the second type, under sweepstakes rules |
| Where does the money flow? | You may buy coins | You deposit and withdraw | You may buy coins; a second currency can lead to prizes |
| Regulated as | Usually as a game | Gambling | Contested and varies by place |
The right-hand column is described in more detail on Sweepstakes casino (definition). Cashout Arcade sits in the first column.
What you should know before playing
The games use the same mechanics as real casino games: chance, payout tables and a house edge. Cashout Arcade publishes its odds, and most games return 97 percent. Even with no cash value, the games are designed to be absorbing, and spending real money on coins is real spending. Setting a budget and taking breaks is sensible.
Apple classifies this kind of app as containing "simulated gambling", described on Simulated gambling (Apple's definition).
Common misconceptions
- "Social casinos are the same as gambling." The games mimic gambling, but with no real-money stake or prize there is nothing to win or lose in money. How the law classes them varies by place, and the question is covered in Are Social Casinos Gambling? What the Law and Research Say.
- "Doing well at one prepares you for the other." Success in a free game does not imply success in real-money gambling, because virtual odds and stakes differ.
- "Free means no cost." Playing can be free; extra coins cost money.
For the full guide see What Is a Social Casino? Plain-English Guide. Coins are virtual and have no cash value.