Dmytro Kryvorchuk, COO at Infingame, chats about the growth of the sweepstakes casino model in the last two years. He outlines that shifting consumer demands have fuelled the rise of the nascent vertical and explores how Infingame’s new Sweepstake solution allows operators to capitalise on this rise and engage their players in a new and exciting way.
Sweepstakes mechanics are gaining traction globally. What is driving their rising popularity in iGaming?
We see it more like a shift in how people want to interact with gaming products.
Traditional gambling has its rules and necessities like deposits, verifications, real-money pressure from the start. A lot of users today aren’t necessarily looking for that. They want something more flexible, something they can try without committing right away. Sweepstakes naturally fit that mindset as they allow you to jump in, play and only later decide if you want to engage deeper.
There’s also a product angle. Sweepstakes mechanics allow you to build a different kind of engagement with dual currencies, progression systems and more room for social and retention-driven features. It’s not just about sessions anymore but about keeping users in the ecosystem longer.
And from the player’s perspective, it feels different. Less pressure, more control, more of an entertainment-first experience. That shift in perception is a big reason why adoption is growing so fast.
How do sweepstakes differ from traditional promotional tools in terms of player engagement and retention?
The main difference is that sweepstakes aren’t just a promo layer. They act as a part of the core product experience.
Traditional promotions in iGaming are usually short-term by nature. You give a bonus, run a campaign, maybe boost activity for a few days, and then it drops off. Players have learned how to consume those offers pretty quickly, so the long-term impact is limited.
With sweepstakes, it works differently. You’re not just giving a one-off incentive but building a system the player interacts with all the time. This allows players to create a habit instead of making activity spikes.
Another important point is how it feels for the player. Classic promos often come with conditions such as wagering requirements, expiry and restrictions. Sweepstakes mechanics are usually more transparent and easier to understand, so users engage more naturally without feeling like they are navigating rules.
From a retention perspective, sweepstakes give operators more tools. You can re-engage users through ongoing mechanics rather than constantly launching new campaigns. It’s more sustainable and, honestly, more efficient. So instead of chasing short-term activation, you’re building a longer relationship with the player.
What role do sweepstakes play in markets with stricter regulatory constraints?
In markets where real-money gambling is heavily restricted, operators don’t have much room to maneuver. Sweepstakes give them a framework that works within those limits, because they are not offering direct wagering in the traditional sense. So instead of trying to work around regulation, operators can build a product that actually fits it. That is why sweepstakes act as a great entry point.
More than that, in strictly regulated markets users are usually underserved. There is demand, but not many compliant products that feel engaging. Sweepstakes can fill that gap if they are done properly.
It also changes how you think about the product. You can’t rely on the usual monetisation logic, so you focus more on engagement, retention, and long-term value. In a way, it pushes operators to build better, more balanced experiences.
From what we have seen, in stricter markets sweepstakes become the foundation. And if you approach them seriously, they can perform on the same level, sometimes even better, than traditional models in more open regions.
How do sweepstakes mechanics integrate with Infingame’s broader gamification ecosystem, such as tournaments and challenges?
For Infingame, sweepstakes are not a separate thing as they fit into everything else we already do in gamification.
If you look at tournaments or challenges, they are about giving players a reason to come back and a sense of progression. Sweepstakes mechanics just add another layer to that. Instead of playing only for leaderboard positions or prizes, users are also interacting with dual currencies, collecting, redeeming, and it makes the whole loop feel more natural.
For example, you can tie sweepstakes currency into tournaments, where participation or performance feeds into rewards on both sides. Or you can use challenges to drive specific behaviors, and reward them in a way that fits the sweepstakes model. It becomes less about isolated features and more about one connected system.
This combination works especially well for retention. A player might come in for a tournament, stay for the progression, and keep returning because there is always something running.
What kind of player behaviours or segments respond best to sweepstakes campaigns?
Sweepstakes usually resonate more with the broad and casual audience. First, they appeal to players driven by entertainment. They are not coming in with a strict intent to play as they want something engaging and low-pressure. Sweepstakes work really well here because the barrier to entry is low and the experience feels more exciting.
Second, there is a segment that responds a lot to progression and rewards. These are users who like completing challenges, collecting bonuses, and unlocking things over time. The dual-currency setup and ongoing mechanics fit them perfectly as they always offer a next step.
As a third segment I can name hesitant users. These are the ones who might not be that engaged with traditional models. Sweepstakes give them a way back in without that immediate financial pressure, and once they are comfortable, engagement tends to build quite naturally.
And don’t forget about a younger, mobile-first audience that’s already used to similar mechanics from other digital products.
Looking forward, how do you see sweepstakes evolving as part of a broader player engagement strategy?
I think we can expect sweepstakes to be much more integrated, not just treated as something additional or separate. Probably, there will be a shift to more dynamic experiences where there is less focus on the mechanics themselves and more on how they connect with everything else.
Personalization will definitely improve. Right now, a lot of sweepstakes setups are still quite universal but the next step is tailoring the experience based on behavior: for example, how currencies are distributed or what kind of rewards users see.
I also think we will see more hybrid models between social gaming, sweepstakes, and traditional iGaming. And, of course, regulation will keep shaping things. As markets evolve, operators will need to stay flexible and adapt their setups without breaking the core experience.
