Online gaming has consistently shown it can innovate and reinvent itself. The most recent version of this innovation is the emergence of dual-currency-based platforms. 

Instead of using players' actual money to play games, dual-currency-based platforms use two different forms of coinage, one type used solely for entertainment purposes and one type which may be redeemed for prizes. While, on its surface, the platform appears to resemble an online casino, there are considerable differences in the way the platforms operate legally and financially. 

Those differences in operation provide substantial evidence as to why sweepstakes-style platforms are currently gaining popularity and why additional operators continue to enter the industry.

Most websites are based on an entertainment system using 2 forms of currency. The first form of currency (play coin) is provided to entertain users, and the second form of currency (sweepstakes coin) is provided with certain stipulations in order to win cash prizes. For example, when you sign up at most sites, you will receive a "free" supply of coins; also, many sites provide free coins as part of your daily log-in process, they have promotional codes available, and some even give away free coins via social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

The main reason these sites operate as sweepstakes rather than gaming is that players do not have to purchase anything to participate. This is one reason why the dual-currency format has become so popular throughout the United States, because real-money gaming laws vary from state to state.

 As the number of dual-currency gaming sites grows, there is also a greater need to compare the various options available. One source that monitors this area provides information about all dual-currency gaming sites and compares their coin systems and promotions.

(source: https://igamingfuture.com/sweepstakes-casinos/sites-like/) 

The legal structure behind these platforms sets them apart from standard online casinos in a real way, not just a marketing sense. Redemption coins aren't purchased directly; they're earned or given away, which changes how the entire model is classified.

For readers comparing different platform types and looking for other gaming options along the way, Ten Ton Hammer's games section covers a wide range of titles worth browsing.

The biggest distinction between the two types of online gambling is that you don’t have to make an advance payment to gamble. Players will be able to sign up, claim their free coins, and begin playing immediately – they do not need to give the site access to their bank accounts or credit cards. For many casual players who may have been hesitant to try an online casino because of the risks involved with wagering real money online, this offers an alternative route into gaming.

In contrast to the free cash bonus, where your winnings were credited automatically as soon as you met certain criteria, redemptions using sweepstakes dollars typically involve some sort of "play-through" (i.e., how much you must bet), which may differ depending upon what type of games you play. In other words, while both sweepstakes and regular online casino bonuses are subject to terms and conditions governing when you can withdraw your winnings, these tend to apply differently to each type of game.

Additionally, like sweepstakes, availability depends upon the states in which online sweepstakes sites can legally operate, as the laws regulating sweepstakes sites are determined on a state-by-state basis and enforced unevenly across jurisdictions. Thus, there may exist considerable variability among states as to whether a given online sweepstakes site can offer the same type(s) of promotions as another.

This model seems to attract players who want to experience the format, but who are unwilling to take the risk associated with initially wagering actual money. By eliminating the requirement for a down payment to enter into play and thus allowing a player's first step into gaming to be free, this model provides an attractive option for players who would otherwise be discouraged from taking the leap due to fear of losing actual money.

Sweepstakes platforms don't exist in isolation; they're part of a much larger gaming industry that keeps expanding year over year. The ESA's most recent data on the US video game industry gives useful context for just how large the overall audience for interactive entertainment has become, sweepstakes-style platforms included.

While most websites offering free slots claim "free" as their marketing feature, nothing is completely "free". In general, you have to meet some form of a "playthrough" condition in order for your free coins to turn into real money. 

The problem is that each website operator offers different terms of service. For example, some websites may limit how many times you can redeem coins in a single day. 

Others will change the number of coins you receive based on what promotions they offer during a particular week. Therefore, reading the terms and conditions of the website before you begin playing online slot machines is more important than ever due to the variations that exist.

Sweepstakes-based platforms have an entirely new format for online gambling compared to traditional online casinos. These formats use dual currencies, varying redemption rules, and are entered into at no cost. 

Therefore, understanding their format in comparison to a standard casino is one of the most important things you can do when approaching this type of platform. It is a certainty that many additional platforms will adopt this format in the near future due to its rapid growth; therefore, competition in this market is expected to increase dramatically.