Sweepstakes casinos have been slowly overtaking online casinos in the US. These sites feel a lot like social casinos supporting gameplay via currencies instead of dollars, but feature games by prominent iGaming developers and pay out real money.
The reason behind their popularity is their availability. By following this model, sweepstakes casinos are legal in almost every US state. In contrast, real money gambling sites currently accept players from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Connecticut, and Michigan only.
If you too want to play online casino games and stand a chance of winning real money, read below to learn what sweepstakes casinos are and how they work.
What Are Sweepstakes Casinos?
To quickly paint a clear picture of sweepstakes casinos you can think of them as social casinos with prizes. They often look fun and innocent (see Fortune Coins Oriental-themed), but they can payout massive prizes.
Sweepstakes casinos are not gambling sites, since users do not bet real money there. Similar to social casinos, they host casino-style games like slots, blackjack, roulette, and poker, and users can sign up and play for free. Gameplay is done through two virtual currencies, usually gold coins and sweeps coins. Gold coins are free tokens that are hard to deplete and give access to standard play without any winning potential. Sweep coins give access to promotional play, and any winnings in this format can be traded for real cash.
The implementation of virtual currencies and the constant flow of free coins ensure purchases of coins are optional, making sweepstakes casinos primarily free. Those two boxes result in their classification as sweepstakes and therefore legal in all states except WA and ID under federal law.
Key Principles
- They don’t use real money – users play with gold or sweeps coins, or the equivalent virtual currency (Wow Coins, Tao Coins, etc).
- Sweepstakes casinos are legal almost everywhere – only Washington and Idaho currently have laws forbidding promotional sweepstakes, although each social casino might restrict additional jurisdictions.
- You can play for free – gameplay is done for free through regular bonuses, including no deposit bonuses, social media promos, mail-in sweepstakes, and daily login promos.
- You can even request more sweeps coins – sending a letter at a sweepstakes casino requesting free coins actually works.
- Free play never ends with gold coins – sweeps coins are scarce since they are equal to $1, but you get thousands and even millions of gold coins without even spending any cash.
How Do Sweepstakes Casinos Work?
An online sweepstakes casino doesn’t differ much from the typical real money online casino. You can find a registration form, banking methods, bonuses, terms and conditions, customer support, and a huge variety of games.
The main differentiation is in the way you play these games. Sweepstakes casinos work with two virtual currencies:
- Gold Coins or Standard Play: These credits are virtual coins you can use to play games for free. Additionally, you can purchase more gold coins through bundles by depositing real money.
- Sweeps Coins or Promotional Play: This currency is usually equal to $1, so be cautious when you play games with SCs. They can be redeemed through the cashier or wagered on the games for a chance of increasing your balance. Unlike gold coins, you cannot purchase sweeps coins directly but only get them through GC purchases as a bonus or through social casino promotions.
Because sweeps coins aren’t provided directly, another point where sweeps casinos differ from real money online casinos is their bonuses. To abide by sweepstakes rules, such operators provide no deposit bonuses on sign-up, free coins when you send a mail, and daily login rewards.
Does every sweepstakes casino work in the same way?
All sweepstakes casinos work based on the principles described above. Some operators might brand their currencies differently (see Fortune Coins), while a few sweepstakes casinos develop their games in-house rather than renting them from professional iGaming developers (see Chumba).
The banking methods, restricted states, availability of apps, etc. are other areas where slight differences might be apparent, but the basic concept remains – sweepstakes casinos are free casinos with cash prizes.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal?
If a sweepstakes casino complies with the three main principles covered above, it is legal in all states except Washington and Idaho. The factors to consider include:
- Do you need to pay to play?
- Are you betting with credits or money?
- Is free play maintained or limited?
Additional criteria should be evaluated when searching for a top sweepstakes casino, but the main ones highlighted above concern their compliance with sweeps rules.
Do Sweepstakes Casinos Pay Real Money?
Sweepstakes casinos don’t pay real money directly and you don’t deposit money (technically).
Users can buy gold coins by spending real money and they can redeem sweeps coins for real cash.
To redeem sweeps coins, you must first play them 1x in the games. All can be redeemed for real cash at a 1SC for $1 rate, as long as you exceed the minimum threshold and have a verified account.
Sweepstakes Casino Games
Sweepstakes casino games and casino games don’t differ much. Any sweepstakes casino we recommend is powered by the same companies as real money casinos. You will find popular gaming categories like slots, table games, and live dealer rooms from companies like NetEnt, Yggdrasil, Pragmatic Play, BGaming, and Evolution Gaming.
Some areas where the lobbies of online sweepstakes casinos can deviate include:
- They are allowed to produce in-house games; this can be a positive thing because you play original tiles, but also means there are no public data or outside regulations on the games’ operations.
- You will be able to play skill games for cash prizes; fish games, puzzle games, shooter games, and more unique gaming categories can be featured at online sweepstakes casinos.
Do they provide the same games as real money casinos?
You will find the same gaming categories but usually fewer table games than what online casinos host. Also, only a couple of sweepstakes casinos host live dealer games as of today, Stake.us and High 5 Casino.
The good news is that sweepstakes casinos feature games from international iGaming companies that haven’t yet been introduced at real money gambling sites. Pragmatic Play is a prime example, exclusively featured at US sweepstakes casinos.
Differences Between Sweepstakes and Social Casinos
Sweepstakes and social casinos are not the same, although you will see the term being used interchangeably in many cases. Social casinos operate everywhere in the world as free gaming apps with purchases, while sweepstakes casinos are exclusively available under US and Canadian law.
The main difference between the two, other than accessibility, is the potential to win real money at sweepstakes casinos. Social casinos have been around for ages, but never really picked up. Sweepstakes casinos are fun and engaging because they blend free play and promotional play to cater to the needs of all players.
Is A Sweepstakes Gambling?
Sweepstakes are not considered gambling and this is the reason such sites are available in almost every state.
But this doesn’t mean sweepstakes casinos cannot result in compulsive play and excessive spending habits. You should treat sweepstakes gaming as gambling to avoid spending too much or playing more than you enjoy.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Safe?
A sweepstakes casino doesn’t require a state license or outside regulation to be considered legal in the US. This is their main drawback since anyone can set up shop and start selling their services.
Our website is dedicated to this space to protect players by helping them find and play at legit online sweepstakes casinos. Here are the main aspects we consider before we recommend an operator:
- The company behind the sweepstakes casino
- Website encryption and banking methods
- Terms of use and sweeps rules
- Range and quality of bonuses
- The company powering the games
- KYC process and responsible gambling tools
If you aren’t sure about who owns the platform or the company developing the games, you should steer clear of the casino and pick one from this list.
Conclusion
This guide should have helped you understand how sweepstakes casinos work and what types of platforms they are. This concept might sound controversial, but it is perfectly legal and you are safe playing at legit online sweepstakes casinos. Some of the best platforms include:
Unlike offshore casinos, players do not have to wait for weeks for their winnings, and you can play legit games not titles developed by some unknown company.
Ultimately, sweepstakes casinos operate with two modes, and you can just have fun and avoid promotional play altogether.
How Sweepstakes Casinos Work
The reason behind their popularity is their availability. By following this model, sweepstakes casinos are legal in almost every US state. In contrast, real money gambling sites currently accept players from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Connecticut, and Michigan only.
If you too want to play online casino games and stand a chance of winning real money, read below to learn what sweepstakes casinos are and how they work.
What Are Sweepstakes Casinos?
To quickly paint a clear picture of sweepstakes casinos you can think of them as social casinos with prizes. They often look fun and innocent (see Fortune Coins Oriental-themed), but they can payout massive prizes.
Sweepstakes casinos are not gambling sites, since users do not bet real money there. Similar to social casinos, they host casino-style games like slots, blackjack, roulette, and poker, and users can sign up and play for free. Gameplay is done through two virtual currencies, usually gold coins and sweeps coins. Gold coins are free tokens that are hard to deplete and give access to standard play without any winning potential. Sweep coins give access to promotional play, and any winnings in this format can be traded for real cash.
The implementation of virtual currencies and the constant flow of free coins ensure purchases of coins are optional, making sweepstakes casinos primarily free. Those two boxes result in their classification as sweepstakes and therefore legal in all states except MI, WA and ID under federal law.
Key Principles
- They don’t use real money – users play with gold or sweeps coins, or the equivalent virtual currency (Wow Coins, Tao Coins, etc).
- Sweepstakes casinos are legal almost everywhere – only Michigan, Washington and Idaho currently have laws forbidding promotional sweepstakes, although each social casino might restrict additional jurisdictions.
- You can play for free – gameplay is done for free through regular bonuses, including no deposit bonuses, social media promos, mail-in sweepstakes, and daily login promos.
- You can even request more sweeps coins – sending a letter at a sweepstakes casino requesting free coins actually works.
- Free play never ends with gold coins – sweeps coins are scarce since they are equal to $1, but you get thousands and even millions of gold coins without even spending any cash.
How Do Sweepstakes Casinos Work?
An online sweepstakes casino doesn’t differ much from the typical real money online casino. You can find a registration form, banking methods, bonuses, terms and conditions, customer support, and a huge variety of games.
The main differentiation is in the way you play these games. Sweepstakes casinos work with two virtual currencies:
Gold Coins or Standard Play: These credits are virtual coins you can use to play games for free. Additionally, you can purchase more gold coins through bundles by depositing real money.
Sweeps Coins or Promotional Play: This currency is usually equal to $1, so be cautious when you play games with SCs. They can be redeemed through the cashier or wagered on the games for a chance of increasing your balance. Unlike gold coins, you cannot purchase sweeps coins directly but only get them through GC purchases as a bonus or through social casino promotions.
Because sweeps coins aren’t provided directly, another point where sweeps casinos differ from real money online casinos is their bonuses. To abide by sweepstakes rules, such operators provide no deposit bonuses on sign-up, free coins when you send a mail, and daily login rewards.
Does every sweepstakes casino work in the same way?
All sweepstakes casinos work based on the principles described above. Some operators might brand their currencies differently (see Fortune Coins), while a few sweepstakes casinos develop their games in-house rather than renting them from professional iGaming developers (see Chumba).
The banking methods, restricted states, availability of apps, etc. are other areas where slight differences might be apparent, but the basic concept remains – sweepstakes casinos are free casinos with cash prizes.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal?
If a sweepstakes casino complies with the three main principles covered above, it is legal in all states except Michigan, Washington and Idaho. The factors to consider include:
- Do you need to pay to play?
- Are you betting with credits or money?
- Is free play maintained or limited?
Additional criteria should be evaluated when searching for a top sweepstakes casino, but the main ones highlighted above concern their compliance with sweeps rules.
Do Sweepstakes Casinos Pay Real Money?
Sweepstakes casinos don’t pay real money directly and you don’t deposit money (technically).
Users can buy gold coins by spending real money and they can redeem sweeps coins for real cash.
To redeem sweeps coins, you must first play them 1x in the games. All can be redeemed for real cash at a 1SC for $1 rate, as long as you exceed the minimum threshold and have a verified account.
Sweepstakes Casino Games
Sweepstakes casino games and casino games don’t differ much. Any sweepstakes casino we recommend is powered by the same companies as real money casinos. You will find popular gaming categories like slots, table games, and live dealer rooms from companies like NetEnt, Yggdrasil, Pragmatic Play, BGaming, and Evolution Gaming.
Some areas where the lobbies of online sweepstakes casinos can deviate include:
- They are allowed to produce in-house games; this can be a positive thing because you play original tiles, but also means there are no public data or outside regulations on the games’ operations.
- You will be able to play skill games for cash prizes; fish games, puzzle games, shooter games, and more unique gaming categories can be featured at online sweepstakes casinos.
Do they provide the same games as real money casinos?
You will find the same gaming categories but usually fewer table games than what online casinos host. Also, only a couple of sweepstakes casinos host live dealer games as of today, Stake.us and High 5 Casino.
The good news is that sweepstakes casinos feature games from international iGaming companies that haven’t yet been introduced at real money gambling sites. Pragmatic Play is a prime example, exclusively featured at US sweepstakes casinos.
Differences Between Sweepstakes and Social Casinos
Sweepstakes and social casinos are not the same, although you will see the term being used interchangeably in many cases. Social casinos operate everywhere in the world as free gaming apps with purchases, while sweepstakes casinos are exclusively available under US and Canadian law.
The main difference between the two, other than accessibility, is the potential to win real money at sweepstakes casinos. Social casinos have been around for ages, but never really picked up. Sweepstakes casinos are fun and engaging because they blend free play and promotional play to cater to the needs of all players.
Is A Sweepstakes Gambling?
Sweepstakes are not considered gambling and this is the reason such sites are available in almost every state.
But this doesn’t mean sweepstakes casinos cannot result in compulsive play and excessive spending habits. You should treat sweepstakes gaming as gambling to avoid spending too much or playing more than you enjoy.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Safe?
A sweepstakes casino doesn’t require a state license or outside regulation to be considered legal in the US. This is their main drawback since anyone can set up shop and start selling their services.
Our website is dedicated to this space to protect players by helping them find and play at legit online sweepstakes casinos. Here are the main aspects we consider before we recommend an operator:
- The company behind the sweepstakes casino
- Website encryption and banking methods
- Terms of use and sweeps rules
- Range and quality of bonuses
- The company powering the games
- KYC process and responsible gambling tools
If you aren’t sure about who owns the platform or the company developing the games, you should steer clear of the casino and pick one from this list.
Conclusion
This guide should have helped you understand how sweepstakes casinos work and what types of platforms they are. This concept might sound controversial, but it is perfectly legal and you are safe playing at legit online sweepstakes casinos. Some of the best platforms include:
Unlike offshore casinos, players do not have to wait for weeks for their winnings, and you can play legit games not titles developed by some unknown company.
Ultimately, sweepstakes casinos operate with two modes, and you can just have fun and avoid promotional play altogether.