With these gaming sites seeming to be all the rave right now, I’ve had many players ask — what is a sweepstakes casino? Put simply, these sites offer casino games where you don’t directly spend real money.
Instead, you use virtual coins called Gold Coins (GC) and Sweeps Coins (SC). Stake.us, High 5, Sweeptastic, and Fortune Coins are some of the best sweeps casinos, and I’ll review them in this guide. Whether real money gaming isn’t yet legal in your state or you just want to play risk-free, this guide is your go-to.
Not every gaming enthusiast is willing to put real money on the line to play casino games. No wonder the question — what are sweepstakes? — is being thrown around a lot lately. These gaming platforms are a lot like standard online casinos, but instead of real money, they use a virtual currency system.
The virtual coin names may be slightly different from site to site, but you generally have Gold Coins (GC) and Sweeps Coins (SC). You can purchase GC but these coins don’t have any real-world value. SC, on the other hand, are only obtainable through bonuses, but you can later redeem them for real cash prizes. Both Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins are available to play all sorts of game types you’d ordinarily see at a conventional casino. You can play from slots and table games to arcade games like Plinko.
Why play at sweeps casinos?
I’ve explained what sweepstakes are, but why play there? As I said, sweepstakes casinos offer risk-free gaming which comes with the following perks:
Play for free:
Sweeps casinos present an opportunity to play top-quality casino games without paying a cent.
Redeem cash prizes:
You have a chance to redeem real money prizes without directly staking your own money.
Learn new games:
Sweeps casinos allow you to try out new casino titles and get comfortable with different game mechanics at zero cost.
Social fun:
You’re likely to have a more enjoyable gaming experience when you don’t have to worry about losing money.
What sweepstakes casinos are the best?
You now know what sweepstakes casinos are and why it’s a good idea to play at one. You have dozens of options, but how about a look at the best sites, offering exciting games and rewarding bonuses?
Stake.us
Stake.us casino mobile
Stake.us casino original games
Pros & Cons
Decent welcome bonus
Fast withdrawals
Exclusive games
No redemption limits
Top software studios
Crypto-only platform
Stake.us is the very definition of what sweepstakes casinos are. For one, it gives out 250,000 GC + 25 SC to new players. It’s not a bad start, but I noticed other casinos offer 4x that amount. The grass is still green here, though, as players can pick more coins as they go in promotions like the Daily Bonus which offers 10,000 GC.
These coins give you access to 300+ games powered by top studios like Pragmatic Play. I’ll admit, the game count is on the lower side compared to other sweeps casinos. But it’s undoubtedly a plus that Stake.us includes unique in-house games like Crash.
When redeeming prizes, Stake.us strictly uses crypto, excluding players who'd prefer eWallets or bank cards. But I give the site full points for removing prize redemption limits. You can withdraw as little or as much as you like.
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High 5 Casino
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Pros & Cons
600+ games, including fish games
Affordable coin packages
No hidden fees for purchases
Reputable payment methods
Small welcome package
High 5 is one of the bigger sweeps casinos on my list in terms of game variety, boasting over 600 casino games, which is well above the industry average. I found that besides slots and table games, it’s among the few sites with fish games, making it stand out from the competition. All games are free to play.
When you register, you get a small supply of 250 GC, 5 SC, and 600 Diamonds to kick off. I’m a big fan of the Diamond boosts that you can use to increase your chances of hitting multipliers and bonuses, adding fun to your overall gaming.
If you decide to purchase a coin package, credit cards, online banking, PayPal, and Skrill are the platforms to use. The minimum coin package starts at only $2 and there are no extra hidden fees, so it’s a thumbs up from me. A minimum of 100 SC is required before you can request for prize redemption, which is standard with most sweepstakes casinos.
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High5Casino Highlights
1200+ Games, Slots & Live Dealer Games!
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Sweeptastic
Experience fun casino gaming at Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Casino Games
Pros & Cons
1,000+ games
Intuitive interface
Decent welcome bonus
Accepts digital and crypto banking methods
Rewarding VIP programme
No mobile app
Sweeptastic delivers an incredible game selection comprising more than 1,000 titles. That’s even way more than what some real casinos offer. Upon profile completion, you receive a welcome package of 27, 777 Lucky Coins plus 2 Sweeps Coins. Though fairly new, Sweeptastic has managed to whip up a small VIP programme that offers personalized rewards such as coin package discounts.
As I said, purchasing coins at sweepstakes casinos is optional, but Sweeptastic gives you extra free coins on your first purchase. If you purchase GC, the casino accepts digital and fiat payment methods. That's a great initiative that accommodates all players regardless of payment preference.
I like how the site is highly intuitive and incredibly easy to use. The best part is this user-friendliness extends to the mobile casino. That’s why I wasn’t too disappointed not to spot a native mobile app, even though I’m not oblivious to the convenience the
best sweepstake casino apps
bring.
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Sweeptastic Highlights
Great welcome offer
Accepts cryptocurrencies
Great range of games
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins casino mobile
Try your luck at Fortune Coins wheel
Pros & Cons
Massive welcome bonus
Rewarding ongoing promotions
Low SC minimum balance for redemptions
Accepts renowned payment platforms
Responsive customer support
Fewer games
Despite being one of the
new sweepstake casinos, Fortune Coins is still top of my list in terms of incredible rewards. The up to 1,230,000 GC + 3,900 FC welcome bonus confirms just as much. While no purchase is necessary, you must complete the full registration process to receive them.
Even then, Fortune Coins allows you to rake up more free coins via repeat promos like the Daily Bonus which hands out 30,000 GC + 100 SC. But for such magnificent bonuses, the 200+ games are a bit of a letdown.
To top up your account — if you have to — bank transfers, cards, and popular eWallets like Skrill are the banking options available. The casino allows you to redeem funds when you have at least $50 — half what most sweep casinos offer. I must warn you Fortune Coins is strict about its KYC. It only processes prize redemptions once it verifies your identity and proof of income.
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Comparing the best sweepstakes casinos
To help you figure out what sweepstakes casinos are best for your specific preferences, I’ve put together a quick comparison highlighting key features from my top recommendations:
Casino
Bonus
Number of Games/ Genres
Payment Methods
Cash Prizes
Stake.us
250, 000GC + 25 Stake Cash + 5% Rakeback
300+ Slots, Table Games, Crash, Plinko
Bitcoin, Binance Coin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Tether, Ripple, Tron
✔️
High 5
250 GC + 5 SC + 600 Diamonds
600+ Slots, Table Games, Live Dealer
Credit/ Debit Card, Bank transfer, PayPal, Skrill, Trustly
✔️
Sweeptastic
27,777 LC + 2 SC
1,000+ Slots, Table Games, Poker
Mastercard, Visa, American Express, PayPal, Bank Transfer, PayNearMe, Cash App
✔️
Fortune Coins
Up to 1,230,000 GC + 3,900 FC
330+ Slots, Table Games, Fish Games
Bank transfers, Skrill, Credit Cards
✔️
Are sweepstakes casinos legal?
You can’t define what sweepstakes casinos are without touching on the legalities involved. Sweepstakes casinos are legal, as their operations lean towards promotional contests as opposed to traditional casino play. Sweeps casinos aren’t classified as gambling platforms, since players don’t wager cash directly. As such, you’ll mostly find them in areas where real money gambling is deemed illegal or heavily regulated.
Sweepstakes casino coin systems
When I get asked what are sweepstakes casinos, I always explain the payment system used by these platforms. As I mentioned, you use Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. I’ll differentiate them below.
Gold Coins
Gold Coins are primarily used to play games for fun. They don't have any monetary value, and you can't swap them out for real cash prizes. You can get these for free as part of welcome offers or ongoing promotions. Players can also purchase GC. A casino like Sweeptastic names GC Lucky Coins (LC), but they are one and the same.
Sweeps Coins
Sweeps Coins act more or less like raffle tickets or entry tokens into prize draws and competitions. You can get these from regular promotions, completing challenges, mail requests, or as a bonus when you purchase Gold Coins. One thing you can't do is buy them directly.
Sweeps Coins are far less abundant than Gold Coins, but when you win them playing different games, you can redeem cash prizes. As with GC, some sweepstakes casinos brand their Sweeps Coins with slightly different names, although they function pretty much the same. For example, Stake.us calls them Stake Cash, while Fortune Coins refers to them as Fortune Coins.
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Can I win money at sweeps casinos?
So, how does sweepstakes work, and can you win money? Well, when you join sweeps casinos, having fun is the primary goal, or at least it should be. But yes, as I said, most
sweepstake casinos for real money
allow players to exchange Sweeps Coins for cash prizes after satisfying a few conditions.
For instance, you can only redeem prizes using coins you win after playing games and not ones you’ve just claimed from a bonus. You also have to verify your account by uploading identification and proof of income documents.
How to choose the best sweeps casinos
Having an idea about what sweepstakes are is one thing, knowing which one to pick from the hundreds of available options is another. I’ve relied on the following evaluation criteria for a while now to sieve the wheat from the chaff.
Reputation
Sweepstakes casinos aren’t subject to the same strict regulations imposed on traditional casinos. This can leave a lot of room for unfair practices since fewer protections are in place for players. That said, your best bet is to do a little due diligence of your own before jumping in. I’d advise you to read a few reviews to ascertain what other players have to say on the site.
Bonuses
Sweeps casinos are big on bonuses, so my expectations are sky-high on this one. The moment you have plenty of offers, it means you can hold off on purchases. So, when trying to figure out what sweepstakes casinos are the best, look at how big the bonuses are, and whether players get daily free coins. Also check if bonuses are easy to claim, and come with the best terms.
Game Quantity and Selection
A sweeps casino’s games lobby should be like what a candy store is to a child — filled with lots of fascinating options. Why? More games equals more fun, and you can't argue with that logic. Even then, go with the site with popular games across different genres and check how often new games are added.
User interface
The
best sweepstake casinos
have clean designs, user-friendly layouts, and easy-to-navigate interfaces complete with readable filters. If you have to take more than 30 seconds to make head or tail of what’s going on the site, you’re on the wrong platform.
Customer Support
Finally, I can't overemphasise the importance of having a responsive support team to count on when in need. Anytime you face a challenge, be it with signing up or redeeming coins, you want to reach the support team ASAP. A site with multiple communication portals like live chat, email, or telephone ensures this.
How to play at sweepstakes casinos
Ready to start playing? I’ll walk you through the process, from signing up to prize redemption.
1. Sign-up
Firstly, pick a sweepstakes casino that appeals to you the most from our list, and register an account. Usually, you share a few details like your name and date of birth.
2. Claim Bonus
Typically, the welcome bonus automatically hits your player account when you complete all the verification steps stipulated by the casino.
3. Play Games
Armed with your playing coins, head straight to the games lobby, pick a game, whether that’s slots or table games, and play away.
4. Purchase Coins
If I’m being honest, playing coins usually depletes quickly, and you may have to purchase more to up your balance. The good thing is these packages don’t cost an arm and a leg, with the lowest available for only a dollar. Just remember, purchasing coins is optional.
5. Redeem prizes
When you play using Sweeps Coins and win, your Sweeps Coins balance goes up. You can redeem these Sweeps Coins for different prizes.
Sweepstakes casino bonuses
Sweeps casinos run regular bonuses to attract new players and ensure existing players keep coming back. Below, I’ve included a list of the best
sweepstakes casino bonuses
to look out for.
Welcome bonuses
Sweeps casinos award welcome bonuses to new players when they sign up. Typically, you get a fixed amount of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins for free to start playing. A good example is the 27,777 LC plus 2 SC offered by Sweeptastic.
Referral
Casinos like Fortune Coins rewards its existing customer base for bringing in new players to sign up, and handsomely at that. If you successfully convince a friend who has been enquiring which sweepstakes sites to join, you can get up to 120,000,000 GC plus 4,500 SC for the referral.
Leaderboards
Leaderboards are common sweepstakes promos that allow players to earn points based on their gameplay to win exciting prizes. Some sweepstakes casinos run referral leaderboards promos where players get a share of the prize pool when they refer friends to climb the leaderboard.
Log-in promotions
To me, this is one of the most lucrative and easier bonuses to claim at a sweepstakes casino. Each day you log into the casino, free coins land on your lap. For example, Fortune Coins gives you 30,000 GC + 100 SC each day you log in.
Purchase bonuses
As the name implies, you get this bonus when you make your first purchase on the platform. For example, you get a discount on your first purchase at Sweeptastic.
Rakeback
A rakebake promotion is another great way to passively earn some free coins. You essentially get a certain number of coins back from every wager you place on the site. Stake.us is popular for its 5% rakeback promo available to new players as part of the sign-up bonus.
What are the top sweepstake casino games to play?
One would assume that because you’re playing free games, you won't have the best selection to work with. On the contrary, some sweepstakes casinos offer a wider variety of exciting gaming options than traditional casinos because they aren’t restricted by the same laws and regulations. Below are some of the
best sweepstake casino games
available:
Slots
Slots are revered for their ease of play and wide availability, and I’m sure that’s why they’re the most popular at sweeps casinos. It helps that top software studios like NetEnt are now part of the sweeps casino industry and are represented by their top titles.
Table games
Even though most sweepstakes casinos are slot-focused, some feature a decent number of table games to provide variety. But to be frank, many sites only feature the basic blackjack and roulette variants, and none of the unique titles with bonus bets and extras.
Arcade games
Most US states don't consider arcade games as gambling, so they fit perfectly into the sweepstakes games model. That's why you'll find several titles available to explore, with some casinos designing their own arcade games for added exclusivity. Games like Plinko and Crash are great examples.
Fish games
Fish games offer a fun alternative to traditional slot games. Emily's Fortune at Fortune Coins is one of my personal favorites with several playing levels. The game gives you a shot at winning one of the four jackpot prizes.
What are some sweepstakes casino sign-up requirements?
Contrary to popular belief, social play doesn't necessarily mean all gaming rules go out the window. In fact, sweeps casinos have distinct regulations on who can play.
Age:
In most states, you must be at least 18 years old before you can even ask what a sweepstakes casino is, let alone play at one. Of course, you'll find other states that push the minimum age to 19 or even 21.
Location:
Sweepstakes casinos are available in over 40 US states, and you’re required to access one while in the geographical confines of approved states. If you decide to use a VPN to access a site, you risk having your gambling account revoked.
Identity:
Some sweepstakes like Fortune Coins will insist on verifying your identity as an account holder. In this instance, you need to provide a copy of your ID before the operator can process any prize redemptions from your end.
What sweepstakes casino payment methods are the most popular?
After figuring out what sweepstakes are, the next step is to figure out how to purchase and redeem coins. Most sweeps casinos provide fast and convenient options like debit and credit cards. Cards are widely accepted and known for their reliability.
Electronic wallets are also an excellent option if you're looking for fast and private transactions. Purchases are instant, while redemptions can take up to 24 hours to process, and you don't need to share your banking details on the platform.
Bank transfers are also popular payment methods for both purchases and redemptions. I’ll admit they aren’t the fastest option around, but they are highly secure. Then you have cryptocurrency options available at leading casinos like Stake.us. Purchases are processed at lightning speeds, and withdrawals can take between 24 and 72 hours. But they have the lowest transaction fees, if you’re hoping to save a few pennies.
Payment Method
Purchase/Cash Redemption Speed
Fees
Best for
Best Sweeps Casino for Method
Debit/Credit Card
Instant/1–3 days
3%
Wide acceptance
Fortune Coins
Bank Transfer
1–3 days/3–5 days
4%
Security
Sweeptatic
eWallets
Instant/24 hours
2%
Privacy
High 5 Casino
Crypto
0–1 hour/24–72 hours
4%
Low fees
Stake.us
Expert tips for playing at sweepstakes casinos
Understanding what sweepstakes casinos are is a good start, but you then need to know how to make the most out of your gaming experience. Here are a few of my expert tips:
Understand the casino
Instead of diving head first into the first game after you join, slow your roll and have a look around. Study how the casino works with regard to its features, coin system, prize redemption processes, and the works.
Claim daily promos
Don’t miss any opportunity to earn your daily dose of playing coins. Even if they are just Gold Coins, they’ll keep you playing for much longer.
Scout for deals
When purchasing coins, look for the best deals, including discounts, and free SC to get a better bang for your buck.
Accumulate loyalty points
Gather as many loyalty points as you can, if available. They are your gateway to earning more coins and gaining access to exclusive bonuses.
What are sweepstakes casino terms to know?
If you’re new to sweepstakes gaming, you’ll be met with all sorts of jargon you must get familiar with to understand how it works. As part of my guide, I’ve put together a quick mini-glossary you can refer to time and again as you navigate your journey.
Sweepstakes casino:
A platform where you play casino games using virtual currency rather than real cash. Sweeps casinos allow players to redeem prizes.
Gold Coins:
A type of virtual currency provided by sweepstakes casinos for free but can’t be redeemed for real cash. They can also be purchased and are typically used to play games for fun.
Sweeps Coins:
A form of virtual currency that can be converted into real cash prizes. They can't be bought and can be obtained from promotional giveaways, participating in social media contests, or through mail requests.
Prize redemption:
The act of converting Sweeps Coins into cash prizes.
Play for free and win big
If you were itching to know what sweepstakes casinos are, hopefully, I’ve fully answered the question. The biggest takeaway is joining one gives you a fun and exciting way to pass time while possibly getting tangible rewards at the same time.
It’s a good alternative for players whose locations haven’t legalized gambling yet or for those looking to enjoy casino games without necessarily putting money on the line. You have tons of games to play from some of the best studios using free coins you unlock at every turn. When you accumulate enough coins, you can exchange them for cash prizes. What’s not to love?
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What is a sweepstakes casino? FAQ
🤔 What are Sweeps Coins?
You can’t define what a sweepstakes casino is without discussing Sweeps Coins. These are essentially free-entry tokens offered by a sweepstakes casino that you can use for promotional play. You can't purchase them and can get them from different promotions. SC can be redeemed for cash prizes or gift cards.
💰 Can you win real money at a sweepstakes casino?
Once you know what sweepstakes casinos are, you probably want to know if you can win some money. Well, winning isn't the goal at a sweepstakes casino but it's possible. The process isn't as direct as at a traditional casino. Rather you play with Sweeps Coins to win more coins that you later redeem for real money prizes after satisfying a few conditions.
⚖️ Are sweepstakes casinos legal?
Yes, they are legal, but their legality varies depending on individual state laws. It also depends on how the casino structures its operations to comply with the sweepstakes gaming model and contest regulations.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
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