Strictly speaking, a sweepstakes is a form of competition that doesn’t require any purchase to enter. Some do have entry requirements, but there are many types of sweepstakes classified according to their frequency, the prize awarded, entry requirements, and other factors.
The line between sweepstakes and contests has blurred in recent years, especially with the introduction of sweepstakes casinos. But, regardless of the type, sweepstakes competitions can present a good opportunity to win prizes without requiring much investment.
Sweepstake Casinos
In some jurisdictions, online casino gambling is prohibited or restricted. Some companies have managed to get around this prohibition by offering sweepstakes casinos. These sites must offer some means of playing their prize games without having to make a purchase, which means they will offer free coins for mail-in participants, daily drops that yield free sweepstakes coins, or free plays.
Otherwise, players can purchase site coins, which also give some free sweepstakes coins. These coins are used at table games and slots and reward the player with more sweepstakes coins when they win. Sweepstakes coins can be turned in for prizes, which may include cash prizes.
Online casinos such as Discasino also make it easy for gamblers to win big prizes without having to deposit much. This platform allows gamblers to add funds and withdraw winnings in cryptocurrency, which makes it a secure gambling option. It also offers significant bonuses, such as a 200% new player bonus.
Instant Wins
Instant win sweepstakes are competitions that enable players to play and immediately find out if they have won. Prizes can range from discounts or special offers on the website to big jackpot prizes like cars, holidays, or even cash prizes.
The game itself may work similarly to scratch cards, wheel spin games, or any other type of competition prize game. The key element to these games is the instant win element.
Social Sweepstakes
Social sweepstakes have become very popular with the introduction and increased popularity of sites like Facebook and Instagram which are most often found on social media sites. Social media accounts ask their followers to like, comment, or share their posts.
Meeting the criteria means the individual receives entry into the sweepstakes with the chance of winning the prize on offer. This type of sweepstakes is commonly used by local businesses, for example giving away seasonal hampers, a free meal, or another prize relevant to the company, but it can also be used as part of a larger social media campaign from a major organization.
Daily Sweepstakes
Daily sweepstakes encourage visitors or customers to keep engaging with a business. A common use is to give players a free sweepstakes entry every day they log in to their account.
The prizes can be relatively inexpensive, but players get access to bigger potential prize pots if they log on for 7 consecutive days. This means the business gets daily visits while the player has the opportunity to win smaller daily prizes on the way to being entered into a bigger prize pot.
Competition Sweepstakes
Competition sweepstakes cross the line between competitions and random sweepstakes. Potential entrants are asked to write a tagline or write a photo that meets specific criteria. All the entries that meet the criteria are then put into a pool and a winner is selected randomly from those entrants.
These do have higher entry requirements than a standard sweepstake, which means there will be fewer entrants and, in turn, a greater chance of winning for the player. You may also see this type of sweepstakes on social media or email, where the player receives a sweepstake entry if they share a post with 10 of their friends.
Discount Sweepstakes
Not all sweepstakes have to offer a physical prize or cash jackpot. Some provide discounts or access to exclusive bonuses as a main prize. For example, if a social media follower shares a post, they are entered into a draw to receive 50% off a luxury holiday.
Considering overheads, businesses may be able to offer these prizes without losing any money on the prize and still engage their users and potential customers online and the winner enjoys an exclusive bargain.
Conclusion
Sweepstakes are competitions that offer free entry to players. They can vary in the prizes they offer, the methods used to enter, and their frequency, but they are commonly used by businesses and websites to encourage greater user engagement and to attract people to sites.
Prizes can be relatively low value because the company doesn’t get any money directly from entry fees, but players enjoy them because they tend to have very low requirements for entry. Businesses recognize they can be very beneficial additions to marketing campaigns.