Skill-Based Games vs. Luck-Based Games in Sweepstakes Casinos

Sweepstakes casinos are one of the hottest gaming trends right now. Even casual gaming fans — the type who usually only play on console or mobile — have started signing up with these sites. This has led to the likes of Chumba Casino, Stake.us, and WOW Vegas reaching huge player counts that go well into the millions. 

What’s the attraction? Well, it’s largely to do with the fact that every single game you find inside a sweepstakes casino is free-to-play. Yep, free. As everyone in the gaming world already knows, when you make games available for free, people are going to enjoy them no matter what. 

The interesting thing about this is that the game libraries themselves are huge. With Stake.us alone, they have close to 1,000 (and counting) games to choose from, which is an insane amount of choice. And if you take a close look at these games, you’ll find that most of them are either skill-based or luck-based. 

Skill-Based Games vs. Luck-Based Games: What Are Sweepstakes Casinos Offering?

One of the real kickers with sweepstakes casinos is that they offer a combination of both skill and luck-based games. This way, there’s something for every type of player. What’s important, though, is that you choose the right type of game for you. 

You probably know already that sweepstakes casinos let you win prizes. We’re talking cash transfers, gift cards, and a whole lot more. This is why choosing the right games is vital, as you’ll give yourself a better shot at grabbing those all-important prizes that people chase after.

Remember, though, that you can only win prizes if you play with Sweeps Coins. These are the coins with genuine on-site value. If you want to play for free just for fun, use Gold Coins instead. 

So, for those planning on joining a sweepstakes casino sometime soon, here’s a closer look at the skill and luck-based games that most of them currently offer. Once you’re up-to-scratch, you can then start playing. Let’s go!

Skill-Based Games Sweepstakes Casino Games

♦️ Poker

SweepsKings are the experts on all-things sweepstakes casino-related and they say poker is the #1 skill-based game. For example, the popular Stake-us — which currently sponsors Drake on a $100 million-per-year deal — has its site-exclusive ‘Stake Poker’. The rules, gameplay, and mechanics are exactly the same as regular online poker, with the only difference being you’re playing with virtual coins instead of real money. Plus, you’ll even find that some sites — like Global Poker — offer sweepstakes poker tournaments that you can buy-in to if you’re looking to compete against more players for bigger prizes. 

🃏 Video Poker

Next is video poker. In a nutshell, it’s like the slot machine version of poker but with an added element of skill. Here’s how it works: 

➜ You enter Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins into the machine 
➜ You’re dealt 5 cards
➜ Choose hold or discard 
➜ Whichever cards you discard will be replaced by new ones 
➜ You’ll then have your final hand and will receive rewards based on how good it is 

The better the hand, the better the reward. For example, a Straight Flush or a Full House will win you a lot more than a Two Pair. Make sense? Great. 

This is where the skill element comes from. In order to be good at sweepstakes video poker, you need to know all the poker hands, understand the paytable, and have a good feel for which cards to take a risk on and exchange. It’ll make you a much better player. 

🐠 Fish Tables

Fish tables are the last of the skill-based games that you can find in a small number of sweepstakes casinos. They’re a lot of fun because they let players take control of weapons to shoot at different fish swimming across the screen. The more fish you kill, the more coins you collect. It’s classic arcade-style fun that players are hooked on (pun intended). 

The benefit of fish tables — which are sometimes called ‘fish shooting games’ — is that the power is in the player’s hands. If you aim, shoot and play well, you’ll win some coins back. And if you misfire and don’t time your shots correctly, you’ll lose. Simple. 

This ultimately creates a level playing field where players don’t have to rely on luck to win. Plus, if you’re a fan of arcade-style video games to begin with, you’ll definitely get a kick out of the gameplay. So, if your chosen sweepstakes casino offers games like KA Fish Hunter, make sure to check them out. 

Luck-Based Games Sweepstakes Casino Games

🎰 Slots

Here’s a fun fact: slots are officially the most popular type of sweepstakes casino game. Surprised? Probably not. After all, they’re also the easiest type of game, too, as all players have to do is hit the spin button and hope for the best. Plus, most of today’s sweepstakes slots come with awesome features like tumbling reels, free spins, and more, making them perfect for the new generation of players coming through (this is why slot streams are especially popular on Kick and Twitch at the moment). And if you don’t know which slots to start with, we recommend jumping on Sugar Rush or Sweet Bonanza, which are two epic candy-themed slots that you can find in most sweepstakes casinos. 

🎡 Roulette

It’s impossible to talk about luck-based games without mentioning roulette. Even if you’ve never played inside a sweepstakes casino before, you’ll know what roulette is. It’s an all-time classic casino game where you choose red, black, odd or even and wait to see where the roulette ball lands. If it lands on what you chose, you’ll win some Sweeps Coins back. If it misses, you can always play again. There’s zero skill required and all you have to do is hope that luck is on your side whenever you smash that spin button. 

🎁 Prize Wheels

Last but not least are prize wheels. Some — but not all — sweepstakes casinos offer them, including Chumba Casino, Pulsz, and WOW Vegas. The way it works is that you login to your account, tap the prize wheel, and wait to see where the arrow lands. If it lands on a prize, you win. Simple. And with Chumba Casino in particular, you have a daily bonus Prize Wheel, meaning you get at least one free spin every 24 hours. It’s definitely something to be excited about for the players out there looking to stack up on some free coins. 

Which Sweepstakes Casino Should You Join?

It’s reported that there are close to 100 sweepstakes casinos on the internet. It’s a huge amount and so you should choose carefully. We recommend joining any of the big-hitters: 

✔ Chumba Casino • 200+ games 
✔ Pulsz • 1,000+ games 
✔ Stake.us • 900+ games
✔ McLuck • 1,000+ games 
✔ WOW Vegas • 1,500+ games 

All of these sites come with their own special sign-up bonuses, too, allowing you to get your hands on some free Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. No catch, no hidden fees. From a player perspective, it’s a no-brainer. 

Summary: What To Do Next

You’re finally up-to-date on the different skill-based and luck-based games that sweepstakes casinos have to offer. 

If you’re the type of player who likes to have maximum control over the outcome, we recommend brushing up on your poker skills or testing out fish tables. This way, you won’t be relying as much on luck to get wins. 

However, if you’re someone who prefers a casual type of gaming experience where you don’t have to be skillful or learn anything complex, stick with luck-based games like slots and roulette. Sure, the outcomes will be more unpredictable, but it gives you the benefit of not having to focus as hard when you’re playing. 

Good luck!