Acebet.cc has done the impossible by skirting current airtight sweepstakes restrictions in four states. As someone who lives in NY (and has admittedly been missing the thrill of my favorite sweepstakes platforms), I had to see for myself whether it was the real deal or simple hype.
I’m reporting my findings here, showing you how to legally play with SC at Acebet if you live in a previously restricted state, and exploring whether this business model is actually sustainable for the brand over the long haul.
Acebet.cc Unveils New Ways to Play in Four States (CA, ID, NY, TN)
While sweepstakes casinos are currently banned in Tennessee, California, Idaho, and New York due to sudden regulatory changes like NY’s Bill S 5935A, it’s now possible to obtain and use Sweeps Coins for promotional play at Acebet.
And yes, you can redeem prizes once you’ve at least 15 SC from gameplay. Call it a Christmas miracle that came about six months early.
As per the site’s newly updated T&C’s, “residents of California, Idaho, New York, and Tennessee can only receive SC by purchasing physical goods.” In this case, the “physical goods” are just a pack of cards that you can have shipped to your house. The SC are given to you as a free gift.
The only major difference between getting SC here and getting it from any other sweepstakes casino is that you won’t receive any Gold Coins with your purchase. These are often reserved for practice play anyway, so you’re not missing out on much.
My Personal Experience Playing at Acebet From New York
In order to play with SC at Acebet.cc from New York, all you have to do is create a new account.
Unfortunately, players in restricted states won’t be able to claim a standard no-deposit bonus or the first-purchase bonus that usually comes with sweepstakes casinos.
After clicking the plus sign at the top of the menu, you can choose from a bevy of card packages priced from $5 to $500. As expected, every dollar you spend on Starter to Mythic packages nets you exactly 1 SC as a free gift.
If you’re familiar with sweepstakes gaming in general, this is a good thing to see.
Once you’ve bought your cards on Breeze.cash using Visa, Mastercard, GPay, or Apple Pay, you can play games with your SC. The process feels identical to signing up and buying GC to get free SC at other sweeps casinos.
Of course, before you can redeem prizes, you have to finish KYC verification to confirm your age and eligibility to play. I’m discussing the steps you’ll need to take below.
Step-by-Step Guide: Playing at Acebet Using SC from NY
I’m shocked at how easy it was to sign up with Acebet.cc, grab a $5 card package, and play games. The entire process took me just a few minutes, and I’m showing you how to get started right here.
Step 1: Create a new account
Open Acebet.cc, click “Register” at the top-right corner, and enter your email address before creating and confirming a new password. You could also sign up with another social network like Google, Discord, Steam, or Telegram.
Enter your date of birth, choose your state of residence from the dropdown menu, and type your mobile phone number in the appropriate field. Then, check the box to confirm that you’re at least 18+ years old and agree to the Terms of Service/Privacy Policy.
Once you’re done with this, click “Complete Registration” to finish signing up.
Step 2: Verify your email address
Tap your profile avatar, open “Settings,” and select “Send Verification Email” underneath where it says “Email Address.”
Open your inbox, look for a new message from Acebet, and click “Verify my e-mail.” You’ll be taken back to the homepage, where you can make a purchase to quickly boost your balance.
Step 3: Make a Card Package purchase for SC
Because it’s not possible to get your hands on a traditional no deposit bonus in NY, TN, CA, or ID, you’ll need to make a purchase in order to play here.
Click “Purchase” next to your balance, then choose a card package on the next screen.
I bought $5 worth of cards just to test the waters, but you can spend up to $500 at once with a daily purchase limit of $2,500. After selecting a package, click the payment method you want to use.
No matter which method you choose, you’ll need to click “Pay With Card” to proceed using Breeze.cash. This is the third-party provider who handles your personal and financial info.
Once you click “Pay With Card,” you’ll be redirected to a new webpage and prompted to enter your card details. If you want to use GPay or Apple Pay instead, this saves you the hassle of typing in your card number/CVC code from scratch.
After you’re finished filling out the details, click “Pay” to complete the purchase. You can also save your payment card for future use by checking the box, but this requires you to create an account with Breeze.cash by confirming an OTP email code. I personally chose not to do this.
My coins were credited right away, but I found it difficult to locate my physical goods. If you want to request your cards, open “Settings,” toggle to “Physical Cards,” and click “Request Shipping.”
Then, enter your shipping address and click “Confirm Shipping Request.” Your pack of cards will be sent to you in the mail.
Step 4: Complete KYC verification
It’s not a requirement to complete KYC verification before you start playing games with your SC, but it’s good to get this step out of the way ahead of time (preferably before you’ve won enough to redeem prizes).
Tap your profile avatar again, open “Settings,” and toggle over to “Verification” on the next page. From here, click “Start Verification” to begin the KYC process.
You’ll be prompted to agree to Sumsub’s Terms & Conditions before continuing. Click “Agree & Continue,” then click “Start Verification” again.
At this stage, I clicked “Continue on Phone” because it’s much easier to verify your ID and take a selfie on mobile.
You can scan the QR code with your phone’s camera or copy/paste the link in your browser to open the webpage on your mobile device. In my opinion, scanning the QR code is easiest.
Choose the kind of document you want to verify from your phone. You can upload your driver’s license, ID card, or passport. I opted to verify my driver’s license. Take a picture of the front and back of your license; then, upload both to Sumsub’s portal.
The next step is to take a real-time selfie. Be sure to remove your baseball cap, glasses, and/or headphones before continuing. You’ll be asked to rotate your head slowly in a circular motion to prove you’re real. Finally, you’ll need to enter some personal information.
I was asked for my address, city, state, ZIP code, and nine-digit Social Security Number (SSN). My personal information was verified within 30 seconds of clicking “Continue.” I then closed out the webpage and returned to my computer to play some games.
Step 5: Play games and redeem prizes
Before you can redeem your bonus SC for prizes, you have to spend it on gameplay once. You’ll also need to win at least 15 SC to get a cash prize delivered via Push-to-Card, ACH, or instant bank transfer.
Each SC you win has $1 in prize value, making the minimum redemption a very accessible $15.
Pros/Cons of Acebet’s Alternative Model
There are more pros than cons when it comes to signing up with Acebet.cc in California, Idaho, New York, or Tennessee. The following table has all the details:
- Fully legal to use in NY, CA, ID, and TN
- You get 1 SC per dollar spent on cards
- Play all the games you know and love at Acebet.cc, including slots, tables, and live dealer options
- KYC is safe and secure through Sumsub
- Prize redemptions start from 15 SC ($15)
- If you want, you can request that cards be shipped to your house as a collectible
- You will need to make a purchase before you can play in order to comply with state laws
- Not possible to claim free bonuses, such as the Daily Vault or Rakeback
- There’s a possibility this move will prompt lawmakers to ban the exchange of physical goods for Sweeps Coins in the near future
Comparison of Acebet vs Other Alternatives Like Card Crush
- Competitive postal bonus
- Boutique gaming providers
- Faucet + solid daily bonus
- Legal in 48 states
- Collectible card battles
- Slots & live dealers
Acebet.cc isn’t the only casino gaming site to try something bold in New York, but it is the only sweepstakes casino that’s rebranded itself as a hybrid platform to comply with state regulations.
Its main competitor at the moment is Card Crush, a similar hybrid platform that also does away with a dual-currency model based on GC and SC in favor of something else: RNG-style card battles and gameplay fueled by Mystery Coins.
The premise is simple – you buy Mystery Coins and Virtual Cards in a single package. You can also buy Cards individually. Each day, you’ll automatically finish ten card battles paired against random players. If your cards beat theirs, you’ll receive comp points for the site’s Loyalty Club.
You also have the option to customize your card collection, which can give you an edge in those automatic battles I just mentioned. At the same time, you can use Mystery Coins to play games and redeem prizes, similar to how the process works using SC at a traditional sweepstakes site.
Acebet.cc doesn’t offer virtual cards, instead preferring to ship them as a collectible item straight to your doorstep. There’s no way to participate in battles of any kind. In other words, cards only exist as a vehicle by which you can get Sweeps Coins.
Still, when it comes to pricing, Acebet.cc has a better deal. Card Crush charges $2 per Mystery Coin, while Acebet.cc gives you 1 SC per dollar spent. Both MC and SC are redeemable for $1 each, so you’re paying double for much the same thing at Card Crush.
Acebet’s business model is more of an objective workaround for state regulations, whereas at Card Crush, your cards play a major role in the user experience. For example, as you progress through the Loyalty Club by winning battles, you can expect larger discounts on MC packages.
Does the New Model Hold Ground?
Based on current sweepstakes regulations, Acebet.cc’s new business model is legally valid in NY. It’s done away with Gold Coins completely, thereby complying with the New York stipulation against dual-currency sweepstakes casinos.
Instead, you’re purchasing a pack of cards and getting Sweeps Coins as a gift. You can still essentially “buy” SC packages with your debit/credit card, and there’s really no incentive to get your cards delivered unless you want a collectible item to show off.
You do have to spend money before getting SC, putting Acebet in a weird legal gray area that classifies it as something other than a sweepstakes casino for New Yorkers.
It still gives NY players a real, bona fide sweepstakes experience while undoubtedly aggravating the politicians who took the time to construct a framework in hopes of driving prior sweepstakes revenue back to brick-and-mortar casinos.
This maneuver shows that Acebet.cc isn’t going down without a fight (and several hundred more pages of legislation banning the exchange of Sweeps Coins for physical goods).
If this holds up over time and doesn’t simply trigger an updated ban from NY’s state chambers, I’d expect nearly all sweepstakes casinos to follow suit. It’s a bold move, but it doesn’t fly in the face of existing legislation right now.
In this game of chess, Acebet.cc has the King in check. It remains to be seen how (or if) New York’s bigwigs will respond.
Author: Bogdan Lunkan
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