“Are sweeps casinos legal?” is something I hear all the time. Let’s face it, the United States gaming laws are complex and vary by state, so it’s easy to feel a little overwhelmed. Don’t worry, I’m here to offer clarification.
Not only are sweepstakes casinos legal, but they also allow you to enjoy free casino-style games with a chance to redeem real cash prizes with Sweeps Coins. It might sound too good to be true, but I’ll break it all down for you in this article, as I provide an insight into the legal landscape.
In short, yes – sweepstakes casinos are perfectly legal in most US states. I’ll go into more depth about why sweeps casinos are legal shortly, but the majority of states will have safe access to a broad range of free-to-play sweepstakes casinos. Instead of playing with cash, you will use virtual currencies, known as Gold Coins (GC) and Sweeps Coins (SC). With the latter being redeemable for real-world prizes.
Sweepstakes casinos can legally operate, including in many states where real casinos are illegal, because they comply with sweepstakes regulations. This compliance allows them to operate in a majority of US states.
How do these platforms stay compliant? Well, sweepstakes rules are complex. And while there are overarching federal sweepstakes laws, some states have also stacked specific rules and regulations on top of those.
In general, however, there are a few things all sweepstakes casinos must do to stay compliant. They can’t allow real money play. They must make every player go through KYC verification before they can redeem prizes. And they must make it possible to join and play on their sites for free.
As a result of this, all legal sweepstakes casinos operate on a no-purchase-necessary model. You’ll be able to sign up and play casino-style games for free. And since real money play is not allowed, you’ll be playing using virtual currencies instead. Let’s talk about those and how you can redeem sweepstakes cash prizes.
Now you know that sweeps casinos are legal, let’s take a closer look at how the virtual currencies work. Most sweeps casino sites operate using a dual virtual currency system, with Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. While there are some similarities between the two virtual currencies, here’s what makes them a little different:
| Virtual currency | Purpose | How to claim |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Coin | To play casino-style games for fun | Unlock GC in promotions and purchase them in optional GC bundles |
| Sweeps Coin | To play games and redeem real prizes like cash and gift cards, once you meet the relevant requirements | Exclusively available for free through promotions and bonuses |
It isn’t possible to win real money by playing games at sweepstakes casinos. On the other hand, you can collect Sweeps Coins to redeem real-world prizes, such as cash and gift cards. Just keep in mind that you will need to meet any applicable SC playthrough requirements and minimum SC redemption amounts first.
To give you a better idea of how SC redemptions look, let’s take a closer look at Baba Casino’s real money prizes. In this case, all you need to do is collect a minimum of 50 Sweeps Coins for a gift card prize, or 100 Sweeps Coins if you would prefer a cash prize. Just make sure that you have also played through your SC at least once to convert them into redeemable SC.
As the majority of states permit sweepstakes gaming activity, it is a lot easier to highlight which states sweepstakes casinos are not legal in. While sweeps casinos are legal across the USA, Washington and Idaho are the only states that specifically prohibit them.
Having said that, you must clarify the rules at your chosen sweepstakes casinos. Just because sweepstakes casinos may be legal in your region, that doesn’t mean that all brands will be available. For example, Nevada and Michigan are regularly excluded from sweepstakes casino brands.
If you want to play at sweepstakes casinos, you must be over a certain age, which varies by state. While many states accept those over the age of 18 to enter these sites, you may need to be 19+ or even 21+ years old in some cases.
You must also be located in a permitted state, which is why many sweepstakes casinos use geolocation technology. And one of the reasons why they all require a full know-your-customer (KYC) verification check. In most cases, if you attempt to visit a sweepstakes casino outside a permitted state, your access will be blocked automatically. It’s important to note that many sites also block the use of VPNs, even if you are in an accepted state.
To make sure that players are safe, reputable sites require verification checks to take place either at the time of registration or before your first SC redemption. This check will confirm your identity, age, and address by completing the following:
Now that you know all about the legality of sweepstakes casinos and even how to claim free Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins through promotions, you should have an idea of whether or not these sites are for you. Of course, you should make sure that you are located in a permitted state first, after which, you can follow the steps below to open an account:
As you can see, the registration process is quite straightforward. While all sweepstakes casinos will vary, this is a rough guide of what you can expect. Some sites may require a few additional steps, such as verifying a contact number or connecting a social media page, but there usually isn’t much to it.
Before you go ahead and create an account at a sweepstakes casino, you need to do your research to make sure it’s a legitimate brand. To help you stay safe while playing online, here’s a quick guide on things to look out for:
You should always read some genuine customer reviews, as these will give you an accurate description of the real player experience. Reviews will provide details on the things you need to know as a player.
Trustworthy brands are transparent when it comes to who owns the site. You shouldn’t have to dig too deep to find the registered company address, for example.
Take a look at the T&Cs to make sure everything is above board and reasonable. Look out for anything that might be hiding in the small print that you might not like or agree with, as you will be bound by these rules after creating an account. Make sure you check any local restrictions to make sure you’re in an accepted state.
Depending on where you are based in the United States, sweepstakes casinos provide a great alternative to regular online casinos. Whether you prefer not to access traditional casinos or they are restricted in your state, sweepstakes casinos are a fantastic option in their own right.
Sweepstakes casinos feature a wide array of casino-style games, including slots, table games, live dealers, and niche games such as scratchcards and bingo. Whatever it is that you like playing, you can be sure to find a sweepstakes casino out there for you.
If you are interested in joining a sweepstakes casino, just make sure that your chosen site is available in your state. You can check out a range of highly rated sites by clicking the promotional banners and links on this page.
Yes, sweepstakes casinos are perfectly legitimate, provided that you play on a reputable site. You should be mindful about only joining sites that are highly recommended and have a solid reputation among their customers.
Whether you can legally access sweepstakes casinos or not depends on where you are located in the United States. It can also depend on the sweepstakes casino you choose, as they may not cover all permitted states. Either way, you will need to do plenty of research to make sure that you are eligible.
No, you will not have the opportunity to play real money casino games at sweepstakes casinos. Sweepstakes casinos operate under the US sweepstakes law, which means they only offer casino-style games that are played with Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. While you can redeem prizes with Sweeps Coins, you do not win the prizes directly by playing games.
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