What is a sweepstakes casino?
In its simplest form, a
sweepstakes casino
is an online casino that allows you to play for free. They are considered legal throughout the majority of the US, as they are deemed to offer games of skill. In turn, sweepstakes casinos fall under different laws to real money gambling and are available to all players over the age of 21, except those residing in Washington.
Many of the best sweepstakes casinos now mimic the experience found at a real money online casino, allowing you to enjoy top casino games from some of the best software providers around.
Although cash cannot be won directly, you can use your Sweepstakes Coins –
a kind of virtual currency
– to enter competitions and play on promotional titles.
How does a sweepstakes casino work?
As noted, sweepstakes casinos allow you to play without ever making a purchase. In order to do this, you’ll find that bonuses are available at every step of your journey, releasing virtual currencies along the way.
Sweepstakes casinos use two virtual currencies to allow you to play for fun or cash prizes as follows:
- Gold Coins are for entertainment purposes only and do not hold any real monetary value
- Sweepstakes Coins can be redeemed into cash prizes.
You can toggle how you plan to play on your chosen site before heading to the casino lobby and loading up your favorite slots and table games as usual.
For those of you who play with Gold Coins, you’ll find that you can stake and spin as you would at any online casino; however, any wins or losses will hold no cash value. Those of you using your Sweepstakes Coins will be able to enjoy a similar experience; however, you’ll need to meet a minimum playthrough and withdrawal requirement before the prize conversion process can take place.
Can you win real money at sweepstake casinos?
No, you cannot directly win money at sweepstakes casinos. This is because they don’t contain any form of real money gambling.
However, you can redeem a variety of real-world prizes including cash when you play at sweepstakes casinos. You can only do this by playing with the Sweepstakes Coins form of virtual currency.
If you win back enough Sweepstakes Coins, then you may be able to redeem a prize. Just note that these Sweepstakes Coins will usually have play through requirements and that you will need to have a verified account before you can put in a prize redemption request.
Are sweepstake casinos legal in the US?
Yes, sweepstakes casinos are legal in most states across the US. After all, the fact that sweeps casino don’t feature any form of gambling means that they can legally operate even in those states where real money online casino gaming is outlawed.
Just note that every state will have the power to set its own sweepstakes gaming laws and decide which brands to operate within its borders. This means that you could face tougher restrictions if you want to play in the states of Washington, Idaho, Nevada and Michigan.
Sweepstakes casinos vs real money casinos
While sweepstakes casinos look a lot like their real money counterparts, there are few important differences in how these gaming platforms operate. Check out the table below to find out more:
| Sweepstakes casinos | Regular online casinos |
| Play with virtual currencies called Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins | Play with your own US dollars |
| Play with no requirement to make a purchase | Usually requires you to spend your own money to play |
| Optional purchases of Gold Coins packages | Make deposits with your own money |
| Redeem prizes including cash, gift cards or merchandise | Win real money |
| Available in most states | Only available in seven states |
How to sign up with sweeps casinos
Most sweepstakes casinos will let you register your accounts in roughly a similar process. Here is a step by step guide for what you usually need to do:
- Load up the sweepstakes casino website from your browser or download the brand’s app
- Click in the Register or Sign Up icon
- Fill in the registration form with personal information such as your name, email and date of birth
- Enter in any promo codes to get your welcome offer
- Submit your account application
All of that should be enough to get your account set up. However, you will probably need to verify your account before you can do things like purchase Gold Coins packages and redeem prizes. This can usually be done just by submitting a selfie along with some kind of photo ID such as a passport or a driver’s license.
How to judge the best new online sweepstakes casinos
Now you know what a sweepstakes casino is and what they have to offer, let’s take a closer look at how we judge the very best of the
new Sweeps Cash casinos
today.
- Security:
Sweepstakes casinos are not required to obtain state-specific licenses. However, any legitimate site will be regulated by a statewide body. Once confirmed, we’ll also take a look at the additional security features utilized across the site, including data encryption technology, the verification process, and available payment methods.
- Gaming portfolio:
As the main selling point of any sweepstakes casino is entertainment, we will take plenty of time working our way through the gaming library. Here, we will be looking closer at which software is used, the range of gaming categories available, whether new games are added frequently, and much more.
- Usability:
Sticking with the theme of fun and entertainment, it is well worth finding a site that is fast-loading and user-friendly. If your chosen sweepstakes casino offers a range of top games from top software providers but is slow to load and provides a glitchy gaming experience, you’ll find the overall experience is dented. Plus we’ll be checking to see which brands have
sweeps casino apps
that give you an even more convenient way to play.
- Bonuses:
In order to maintain its legal status, a sweepstakes casino will be required to release bonuses full of Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins. With this in mind, we’ll check out the welcome bonus and put it to the test before making our way to the promotions section, working through the rewards program, and checking out whether any social media giveaways are running.
- Customer support:
The service received by the customer support team is often overlooked; however, there is no doubt that this can prove crucial to your overall experience. If you have issues with your bonus, winnings, or prize conversions, then you’ll want to ensure that you receive prompt and professional support at all times
Things to consider before joining an online sweepstake casino in the USA
We’ve discussed some of the key attributes that we consider when reviewing the best sweepstakes casinos around. In this next section, we offer up some things to consider before making your final decision.
- Prize conversions:
If playing with Sweepstakes Coins, then you’ll want to know how to convert your coins and what prizes are on offer. Most sweepstakes casinos will allow you to redeem cash prizes. Some, however, will provide vouchers, merchandise, or Gold Coin bundles.
- Payment processing:
Although payment isn’t required to play at a sweepstakes casino, the option to purchase Gold Coin packages is still available. So you’ll want to make sure that all methods are safe. When it comes to withdrawals, you’ll want to pass your checks and receive your withdrawal promptly, so understanding the
sweepstakes casino verification time
is important too.
- Mobile accessibility:
For those who like the idea of enjoying some top online casino action on the go, we suggest finding a site that offers a dedicated app or optimized mobile experience. Many of the best sweepstakes casinos now offer this as standard; however, this is all detailed in our sweepstakes casino reviews.
2M Gold Coins + 2 Sweeps Coins
Find an online sweepstakes casino today
As sweepstakes casinos are considered to offer games of skill and do not require a purchase to play, they are deemed legal in all US states, bar Washington. Many of the best sweepstakes casinos will now provide gaming libraries backed by the best software around, providing an immersive experience that allows you to leave with cash prizes.
When searching for a sweepstakes casino that suits your preferences, be sure to make use of our dedicated reviews. Here, you’ll find that we cover all bases and provide a complete overview of what to expect.
Check out our picks of the best sweepstakes casinos
1.
$55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Players from Virginia accepted
2.
Up to 105 SC FREE + 575K Golden Coins + 1000 VIP Points
Players from Virginia accepted
3.
38 SC FREE and 2.6M Gold Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
4.
35 SC FREE and 1.75M WOW Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
5.
Claim Your Free 650,000 Gold Coins & 1,400 Fortune Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
What is a sweepstakes casino FAQ
🔓︎ How do I unlock a bonus to use at the best social casino?
It depends which social casino you are playing at, but most brands will give you a bonus for doing anything as simple as signing up to their sites for the first time to logging into your account every day.
⭐ What is the best sweepstakes casino with real money prizes?
It depends on what kinds of prizes you want to redeem along with what kinds of games you want to play. However, most gamers will be pretty with what they find at sweepstakes casinos like Stake.us, McLuck and Wow Vegas.
💰 Do social casinos pay real money?
No, you cannot directly win real money at social casinos. However, you may be able to redeem cash prizes if you play with the Sweepstakes Coins form of virtual currency. Check out this guide to see
how to win on sweepstakes casinos
to get an easier way to redeem those real money prizes.
