In recent years, the US gambling sector has experienced the rise of social casinos, also known as sweepstakes casinos, which give players the chance to play online casino games without risking real money. These sites, which focus on social interaction and gaming, have proven extremely popular, particularly in states that do not currently have a legal online casino sector.
Although overshadowed by the fast-growing sports betting industry in the US, there is also a flourishing social sportsbook sector, offering sports betting fans the opportunity to interact with others and win prizes by predicting the outcome of sports events at sites such as Fliff.
The history of social sportsbooks
The history of social sportsbooks can be traced back to the social sweepstakes that are common in workplaces and neighborhoods, often associated with major sports events such as the Super Bowl or the annual March Madness college basketball competition.
At a time when betting on sports was largely illegal, this was a fun way for people to get together and enjoy a big sports event, while also testing their knowledge. In the internet era, even though sports betting is now legal in many states, there is still room for the fun and social element of sports prediction that the sweepstake can offer.
The social sportsbook model
If you’re new to the concept of social sportsbooks, it is important to note that these sites are not gambling portals. Technically, it is possible to earn real money through social sportsbooks, but not directly. Sports fans who want to wager on their favorite sports will generally only be able to do so at standard sportsbook sites in states where the sports betting sector is regulated.
Social sportsbooks can operate across the US, even in states where sports betting is not legal, as they are not classified as gambling sites. Instead, site users compete with one another to win prizes, using tokens that they purchase or earn for free by signing up. Some of these tokens can technically be exchanged for real money, but this is not the primary purpose of the social sportsbook.
Gold Coins and Sweep Coins
As mentioned above, when you sign up to a social sportsbook, you don’t play with real money. Instead, there are two main types of virtual currency available for use on these sites:
Gold Coins
At a social sportsbook site, Gold Coins are a form of virtual currency that holds no monetary value and cannot be exchanged for real money. They are used purely for taking part in competitions on the sportsbook site and are often awarded when you sign up for a new account, although you can also buy gold coins through the site.
Sweep Coins
This is the other main form of virtual currency used on social sportsbook sites, and like Gold Coins, Sweep Coins can be used to take part in the site’s competitions. It is also possible, however, to exchange Sweep Coins for real money or prizes.
How do social sportsbooks work?
A social sportsbook site functions in a very similar way to a standard sportsbook. Registered players can use their virtual coins to wager on all the main sports events, across a variety of markets, including moneyline, spread and prop betting. There are also regular competitions that can land you prizes for correctly predicting the outcome of sports events.
Sign up process
Signing up to a social sportsbook is usually straightforward, and involves completing the online form, providing personal details, choosing a username and password and deciding which form of payment method you wish to use if you choose to purchase additional virtual currency.
Claiming bonuses
Most social sportsbooks will offer bonuses for those who sign up for a new account, in the form of either Sweeps or Gold Coins. Sometimes these will be credited automatically to your new account, although in some cases you will need to tick a box or enter a promo code to claim them.
Using the site
Once you’ve registered and claimed your coins, you can use these to wager on the various sports betting markets or enter competitions through the site. You can also take the opportunity to interact with others, which is one of the pleasant features of social sportsbooks compared to traditional sportsbooks, which tend to offer a very solitary user experience.
Winning and losing
Since you do not play with real money at a social sportsbook, you will not be taking any significant risk when you wager on the various sports betting markets, which makes using a social sportsbook site less stressful and more enjoyable than a standard sportsbook platform. If you win a significant number of Sweep Coins, you may wish to exchange them for a prize or real cash.
Conclusion
The US is a sports-obsessed nation, but sports betting involves risking real money and there are problems and concerns associated with that. For those who don’t wish to spend real money on sports betting or who live in states where sports betting is not legal, social sportsbooks offer an ideal platform to enjoy predicting the outcome of sports events, without any of the risk, making them a better option for many people.
By Chris Bates
