A sweepstakes casino combines casino games with sweepstakes promotions. They offer a legal alternative to real money casinos in places where real money gambling isn’t allowed. You can play your favorite casino games for free and win prizes like gift cards or cash.
You might wonder how this is legal. Sweepstakes casinos use sweepstakes laws to let players redeem virtual coins for prizes. This means you’re not using real money but can still win prizes using these virtual coins. This is the main difference between sweepstakes casinos and regular online casinos.
How Sweepstakes Casino Currency Works
A typical sweepstakes casino uses two types of currency: gold coins and sweep coins. Gold coins are used to play games like slots and blackjack for fun but can’t be redeemed for prizes.
Sweep coins, on the other hand, can be redeemed for prizes, but you can’t buy them. Here’s how you can get sweep coins:
- Bundling: Many casinos give sweep coins as a bonus when you buy gold coins. For example, buying 15,000 gold coins for $9.99 might come with 100 sweep coins as a free bonus. This is the most common way to get sweep coins and helps the sites make money.
- Daily Drops: Some sites provide a small number of sweep coins regularly, such as hourly, daily, or weekly.
- Free Entry: By law, sweepstakes must allow free entry. Many sites let you send in your information to a PO box to receive sweep coins and enter the sweepstakes without making a purchase.
Can You Win Real Money at Sweepstakes Casinos?
Eligible players can win cash prizes at sweepstakes casinos. Setting up an account is similar to joining a real-money casino.
After verifying your account, you’ll get a welcome bonus with free Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins (or the virtual currency used by the casino). You need to use Sweeps Coins on games like slots, table games, or live dealers to win real money. Fish table games are usually in a separate section.
You can earn Sweeps Coins through welcome bonuses, daily logins, social media promotions, or mail-in requests. Using Sweeps Coins in games can earn you more coins.
You can track your Sweeps Coins and balance from your account dashboard. Once you reach a certain amount, you can redeem them for electronic gift cards or cash. Typically, you need about 10-20 SC ($10-$20) for a gift card and 50-100 SC ($50-$100) for cash withdrawals to a bank account or e-wallet.
Gold Coins vs. Sweeps Coins
Gold Coins are the main virtual currency used at sweepstakes casinos. Some sites may have different names like Game Coins or WOW Coins. When you create a new account at a sweepstakes casino, you usually get free Gold Coins immediately.
These coins are for fun and can’t be cashed out. First-time players can get Gold Coins right after confirming their account. The only downside is that you might run out of Gold Coins if you keep playing slots, blackjack, roulette, or live dealer games.
Sweeps Coins, however, can be redeemed for cash prizes or gift cards. You win these coins by playing games, and you can exchange them for real rewards. This setup allows sweepstakes casinos to operate legally while offering the chance to win tangible prizes.
On your account dashboard, you can check how many Sweeps Coins you can redeem. Typically, SC 1.00 equals $1.00, and you need to meet a 1x wagering requirement.
How to use Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins
After verifying your new account in an eligible state (over 40 are included), you can start playing with Gold Coins just for fun. Most sweepstakes casinos offer hundreds of slots, but some only have a few table games or live dealer options.
Once you’re comfortable, you can switch to using Sweeps Coins from the casino’s home page or during a game. Gold Coins lets you bet in larger amounts compared to Sweeps Coins.
Sweepstakes Casinos Glossary of Key Terms
If you’re used to online casinos, the terms at sweepstakes casinos might feel a bit different. You won’t see options to deposit or withdraw, and you won’t be placing traditional bets.
Sweepstakes casinos have replaced common gambling terms with new ones to stay within legal limits. We’ve put together a list of the most common sweepstakes terms, explained them, and compared them to what you’d find at regular online casinos. Keep reading to master sweepstakes slang!
Alternate Method Of Entry (AMOE) – At sweepstakes casinos, there must be a free way to enter their contests. You can get free Sweepstakes Coins by sending a handwritten request by mail. Typically, you’ll receive 5 SC for each stamped envelope.
Buy – Instead of making deposits like in regular casinos, you “buy” Gold Coins to play. “Buy” and “purchase” are often used interchangeably.
Casino-Style Games – Sweepstakes casinos offer games like slots, blackjack, and roulette but call them “casino-style games” instead of just “casino games.” The gameplay is the same, often from the same game providers.
Converted – This means you’ve exchanged your Sweepstakes Coins for cash or prizes. It’s similar to the term “redeemed.”
Enter – At sweepstakes casinos, you don’t “bet” or “wager.” Instead, you “enter” a game, which is the same as playing or spinning in online casinos.
Free Play – Sweepstakes casinos offer free Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins to use on games.
GC (Gold Coins) – A virtual currency used at sweepstakes casinos for entertainment. Gold Coins cannot be exchanged for cash.
No Purchase Necessary – Sweepstakes casinos must allow players to participate for free to operate legally. You don’t need to buy Gold Coins to play, but optional purchases are available.
Prizes – When you redeem Sweepstakes Coins, you don’t receive traditional winnings. Instead, you get a prize, which could be a gift card or a cash prize through online bank transfer or e-wallet.
Play – Instead of “betting” or “wagering,” sweepstakes casinos use the term “play.”
Promotional Sweepstakes – This refers to a game mode where you can play using Sweepstakes Coins and win more of them.
Purchases – You don’t deposit money at sweepstakes casinos. You buy Gold Coins to play games.
Redeem – Instead of “withdrawing” money, you “redeem” your Sweepstakes Coins for a cash prize.
Redeemed – This means your redemption request has been processed, and you’ve received your prize.
Redemption – The action of redeeming Sweepstakes Coins for cash or prizes.
Responsible Gaming – Sweepstakes casinos promote responsible gaming, offering tools like self-exclusion and spending limits on Gold Coins, similar to real-money casinos.
SC (Sweepstakes Coins) – Virtual currency used at sweepstakes casinos. You can’t buy Sweepstakes Coins; they are earned through free bonuses or Gold Coin purchases. Unlike Gold Coins, Sweepstakes Coins can be redeemed for cash prizes.
Social Casinos – Sweepstakes casinos are also called social casinos. You play games for fun and prizes, not for direct cash winnings.
Social Games – Games offered at sweepstakes casinos that are not referred to as “casino games.”
Social Play – Playing games at sweepstakes casinos is called “social play,” not gambling.
Sweepstake – A sweepstake is a contest where winners are chosen at random. When playing at sweepstakes casinos, you’re entering a sweepstakes contest.
Sweepstakes Coins – The virtual currency used for playing games at sweepstakes casinos, which can be redeemed for real prizes but cannot be purchased.
Spin – At sweepstakes casinos, instead of “betting,” you “spin” in slot games. For example, a slot might have a minimum spin cost of 0.10 SC and a max win of 5,000x your spin.
Void Where Prohibited – This means you cannot play at a sweepstakes casino if it’s illegal in your location.
