Sweepstakes casinos are a novel gaming platform that have been taking the online scene by storm. As a relatively new concept, it’s common to wonder “What is a sweepstakes casino?” – so, let me walk you through it.
Offering an alternative for those without access to traditional online casinos or don’t want to spend any money to enjoy casino games, they definitely live up to the hype. If you want to know how they work, what the benefits are of playing with them and how to make the most of your time, keep reading my in-depth sweepstakes explanation.
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Let’s get into it right away, because I know the reason you’re reading this is because you have one pressing question on your mind - “What is a sweepstakes casino?”. It’s pretty simple, so I’ll break it down for you in my handy sweepstakes casino guide..
Sweepstakes casinos operate under different rules than the online casinos you’ve likely heard about before. Instead of using real money, you'll be playing casino games with two types of virtual currencies – Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins (or whatever the casino chooses to call them – for example, if you read a WOW Vegas review, you’ll see that Gold Coins are called WOW Coins).
Gold Coins are free-to-play currency that you use to spin the reels and hit the tables – but they don’t hold any monetary value and can’t be redeemed. Sweeps Coins are virtual tokens that actually can be redeemed for different prizes once you’ve accumulated enough of them and met the relevant playthrough requirements.
Well, the redemption process varies a bit from site to site, but the general idea is the same. Once you've collected enough Sweeps Coins (100 SC at some sites, 50 or 75 at others), you'll be able to make a redemption request. I’ve highlighted the redemption thresholds and times of some of our top sweepstakes casinos in a handy table for you below:
| Sweepstakes Casino | Minimum Redemption Threshold (SC) |
|---|---|
| McLuck | 50 Sweeps Coins |
| Stake.us | 100 Stake Cash |
| WOW Vegas | 20 Sweeps Coins |
Some sweepstakes casinos let you request a real money prize to your bank account, your cryptocurrency wallet or an e-wallet like PayPal – and this can take up to 10 days.
Others also offer gift card prizes from popular retailers as an option, which is the instant redemption process since the cards are emailed to you right away. They also have a much lower minimum redemption requirement - for example, if you were to read a Chumba Casino review, you would find that their minimum for gift cards is 10 SC.
Unlike traditional online casinos, sweepstakes sites don't fall under the same strict gambling regulations and instead are regulated by sweepstakes laws. But don't worry, they aren't some sketchy back-alley operations; reputable sweepstakes casinos like the ones I play at pride themselves on transparency and fairness.
Sweepstakes casinos are currently permitted in most US states because they operate under sweepstakes rules that permit players to participate without having to spend any money – but there are some outliers. If you were to read a Fortune Coins review, you would see that the site isn’t available in Michigan, Idaho and Washington, but the restricted states may vary from site to site.
Now that you’ve had your question of “What is a sweepstakes casino?” answered, if you like the concept, it’s time to pick one to sign up with. There are countless options out there but I’ve done the legwork for you. Here are some of my top picks:
McLuck Casino is a popular sweepstakes casino that has only been around for a couple of years but has made itself known for its generous welcome bonus (7,500 Gold Coins and 2.5 Sweepstakes Coins), diverse range of games and huge selection of bonuses.
What I like best about McLuck is that it features a casino lobby full of games from the best studios out there (including live dealer games), and brand new titles are added on a daily basis. The site’s selection of promotions is also pretty sweet, with casino races, daily login offers and a fun loyalty program up for grabs.
WOW Vegas was launched in 2022 and, in this short amount of time, has really captivated players with its unusually scaled-back design. The site is more focused on offering top-notch games than encouraging players to use all sorts of different bonus modules - but it should be noted that the welcome bonus is one of the best around offering 250,000 WOW Coins and 5 Sweepstakes Coins.
In the lobby, the main focus is on slots - and that’s fine if that’s all that you’re after. At WOW Vegas, you’ll find slots from Pragmatic Play, NetGaming, Betsoft and other renowned studios - but there is a notable lack of table games and live dealer games.
Stake.us really stands out for me thanks to its innovative use of cryptocurrency and exclusive games. New players are welcomed with 25,000 Gold Coins and 5 Stake Cash, and the bonuses keep coming with login perks, tournaments and daily challenges.
The game selection here really can’t be matched. In addition to slots and table games, you’ll also find a live dealer and poker lobby - which is something you don’t see very often in the sweepstakes casino world. I’m also impressed with the brand’s exclusive titles, Stake Originals, which mostly consist of innovative crash games.
One of the biggest draws of sweepstakes casinos is the huge number of bonuses and promos available - way more than you would ever encounter at a typical online casino.
First, you’ll encounter welcome bonuses. They are pretty much the same no matter what site you register with, providing you with a number of GC and SC simply for signing up as seen in my Pulsz review. Alternatively, if you choose to buy a GC package, you may be offered a first purchase bonus, grating you extra Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins on your first purchase - something that’s only available to new members.
Most sweepstakes sites also feature daily login rewards, reload bonuses, tournaments and other useful perks. Social media promotions are common, too, so make sure you’re following your chosen sweepstakes casino on X, Facebook and Instagram so you don’t miss out on any giveaways.
The sweepstakes casino market is booming, and I predict that we’re likely to see even more sites popping up to meet the increasing demand from players. They really do fill the gap in the market, offering players a completely free way to play casino-style games - but also with the option to redeem prizes along the way.
I hope I’ve given you enough insight into your question of “What is a sweepstakes casino?” to help you decide for yourself if you like the concept and want to give them a try. With a unique gaming model, plenty of bonus opportunities and great game selection, it’s worth a shot checking out sweepstakes casinos.
A sweepstakes casino is an online gaming site where you can play a wide range of slots and table games completely for free. You play using virtual currencies—some of which can be redeemed for prizes.
Every sweepstakes casino has its own pros and cons, but a few definitely stand out above the rest. If you want to know which sites come highly recommended by gaming experts, read our in-depth guide on sweepstakes sites.
When it comes to sweepstakes casinos, the range of bonuses on offer is truly incredible—and that’s coming from someone who has seen it all in this market. Daily login bonuses, tournaments, casino races, social media competitions, and reload offers are just some of the bonuses you can claim. If you want to know where you can get the best sweepstakes casino offers, keep reading.
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