Why Lascuarenta.es (The Forty) does not involve betting money

Lascuarenta.es (The Forty) is for playing traditional Spanish card games, not betting money. Although many websites use the familiar look of Spanish cards to dress up a casino as a traditional game, that is not how Lascuarenta.es works.

What are Sotas?

Sotas [literally 'Knaves' or 'Jacks', here referring to a virtual currency] are a decorative virtual currency. They are used to unlock illustrated decks, card backs, table mats, frames, and soundscapes, and to activate the ad-free plan for a week, a month, or a year.

They have no monetary value and cannot be exchanged for money, transferred between players, or risked in games. Nor do they alter the rules: using a different deck provides no advantage.

Are they lost when you lose?

Your Sotas balance only decreases when you decide to buy something with them. A defeat does not cost you Sotas, nor is there any mechanism that pushes you to play 'one more' to recover what was lost.

There is also no guaranteed initial balance or fixed daily payment. Occasionally, the website gives a random gift upon entry, and the story mode distributes rewards as you progress. Nothing more.

How is this paid for then?

With advertising and with the sale of decorative items. Advertising is only loaded if you accept advertising cookies, and it is never placed over the table mat or over the cards on mobile or tablet: the blocks are outside the playing area, because an advert on top of a trick [cards taken in a round] ruins the game.

Those who prefer not to see adverts can remove them with Sotas. And all games are free and complete: there are no paid games or daily limits.

Is it also an aesthetic decision?

We wanted a website with the atmosphere of a village pub table, far from the appearance of a slot machine. That is why there is wood, a table mat, large cards and calm, instead of flashing lights, aggressive countdowns or treasure chests.

If anything you see on the website reminds you of a casino, please write to us: it is probably our mistake, and we will change it.