Did Thrillzz Just Solve the Sweepstakes Casino Problem?

Sweepstakes operators claim that the dual-currency system meets sweepstakes laws. Lawmakers and regulators argue that the system is merely two-step gambling. Recently, I came across a site that may have an alternative that could help alleviate some of the issues with the sweepstakes model.

Today, I’ll talk about how Thrillzz offers sweepstakes gaming, including how it has eliminated all monetary value for tokens. Could such an approach help to “legitimize” sweepstakes casinos, and would you play at such a site?

The Problem With Sweepstakes Coins

For the majority of sweeps casinos, players can redeem a cash prize only by exchanging sweepstakes coins (or whatever clever variant casinos use). Casinos claim that players cannot purchase coins. They provide coins only as bonuses or free rewards.

The reality is that most players purchase GC primarily to obtain SC. Some sites ignore the GC component in marketing packages, despite arguments that the purchase price is intended only for SC. 

Also, players must wager their SC at a casino to cash out. Most sites require a low 1x rollover, but the requirement still exists. Why should a prize or reward require a rollover? 

But the issue that also destroys the illusion of sweepstakes is that you can recycle your SC in games. If you win 5 SC in 5 Wild Buffalo, you can use them to play other slots or table games. How many sweepstakes do you know that allow you to replay your winnings before receiving a payout? 

So how do you address this problem? Just ask Chuck E Cheese. 

At Thrillzz, SC Has No Monetary Value

Thrillzz answers the SC problem by making SC worthless. SC have no monetary value and cannot be exchanged for cash or anything of value. Instead, SC works more like tokens at Chuck-E Cheese. When customers purchase tokens at Chuck-E Cheese, they can play games with them. Some games award tickets as prizes, and players can exchange those tickets for prizes.

Thrillzz does the same thing with SC. Players can use SC to play online casino games, and the games pay out winnings in prize tickets. Players can redeem each full ticket for either $1 in cash or use it toward a coin package purchase. Prize tickets cannot be recycled directly into games. 

Could Prize Tickets Fix the Sweeps Model?

Thrillzz may have a model that could offer a solution for sweepstakes casinos. When you look at the arguments against sweepstakes casinos, the dual-currency system is similar to what you used to see at bars with candy gambling machines. The difference is that you can’t recycle candy through machines like you can SC. 

SC could be the equivalent of digital candy. You can exchange it for money, like bars would let you exchange candy for money. 

With the Thrillzz sweepstakes ticket model, play resembles Chuck-E Cheese. Players buy GC and SC (with no pretense that SC are bonuses) and play games. As with Chuck-E Cheese, players can win tickets and exchange them for prizes upon reaching a certain threshold, or buy coin packages and continue playing to win tickets. 

The only way to cash out is to win prizes. No recycling of coins. No need to meet a rollover to redeem. You win, get tickets, and hopefully get enough to exchange for prizes at some point. This turns sweepstakes casinos into more straightforward gaming rather than two-step gambling. 

Should Sweepstakes Casinos Adopt the Thrillzz Model

If sweepstakes casinos hope to become more “legitimate,” they should strongly consider adopting a model more like Thrillzz's. Most sweepstakes casinos currently use a model similar to exchanging money for chips at a live casino. However, casino chips are never portrayed as having “no monetary value.”

Thrillzz has essentially eliminated the monetary value of its digital currencies. Players can only obtain prizes by actually winning prize tickets, not by accumulating and rolling over SC. This system requires players to use SC exclusively for gaming. 

Some people will not like the Thrillzz model, as you can’t recycle winnings to increase your stack. However, that would be a small price to pay if it meant you could continue to have access to this form of gambling and not worry about lawmakers or regulators shutting it down at a moment’s notice. 

What do you think? Would you play at a sweeps casino that uses the Thrillzz gaming model, or do you prefer to take your chances with the current setup at most casinos?