Sweepstakes casinos are currently making waves in the US, and I understand why you would want to join one. The question is, how do sweepstakes work? It’s essential to understand the concept, so you know what to expect before registering.
Well, sweepstakes aren’t complicated. You can see them as promotional contests in which you participate for free, but with the opportunity to obtain prizes. Sweepstakes online casinos operate the same way, using virtual currencies known as Gold Coins (GC) and Sweepstakes Coins (SC). I’ve only provided a sneak peek, and as you continue reading, I’ll share more details.
I’ll begin my guide by addressing the key question. In the US, sweepstakes are promotional contests, and they work on one simple principle: no purchase or payment is necessary. Basically, it means you don’t have to pay to enter the contests.
The no-purchase-necessary modus operandi is what makes sweepstakes different from traditional gambling. At a conventional casino, for instance, you have to provide funds to play. Meanwhile, if a company asks for payment to enter its promotional contests, it’s not a legal sweepstakes.
Based on my expertise, sweepstakes provide free methods of entry via any of the following:
At the end of the promotional contests, the sweepstakes operator selects winners randomly, not based on skill. The winners are then awarded prizes, which can be gift cards, electronics, merchandise, cash, cars, or anything else.
Actually, sweepstakes gambling is not a thing. At online sweepstakes casinos, you play using GC and SC, which are only virtual currencies. They’re not traditional money, so the platforms don’t support conventional gambling.
The GC and SC available at sweepstakes casinos work differently. First, Gold Coins are only for fun and entertainment. You can use them to play games, but you can’t convert or redeem them.
On the other hand, Sweepstakes Coins are the promotional virtual currency. This makes sense, since we’re talking about sweepstakes casinos. When you play with SC, it’s equivalent to partaking in sweepstakes contests. Afterward, you can redeem eligible SC for real money prizes as gift cards, cash, or even crypto.
Before you redeem prizes, however, you must satisfy the following requirements:
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| SC playthrough requirement | Play with your SC a certain number of times to make them redeemable |
| Minimum SC | Accumulate a particular amount of redeemable SC before submitting a request |
| Account verification | Provide proof that you’re of legal age and not residing in an excluded state |
Sweepstakes casinos operate legally in the US because you don’t pay to receive SC. You can only receive the promotional currency from bonuses and promotions. Additionally, there’s the mail-in sweepstakes list option, where you send a note to the sweepstakes casino’s address.
Only GC can be purchased in bundles at sweepstakes casinos because they’re not redeemable. Still, these GC purchases are completely optional.
Considering how sweepstakes work with no purchase necessary, the promotional contests are legal in the US. That said, not all 50 states are friendly to sweepstakes. From my research, I found that Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and Michigan are the four main states where most sweepstakes don’t operate.
Some of these four states don’t totally prohibit sweepstakes casinos. They just have stricter rules that focus more on the game types than the virtual currency model. The regulations are pretty demanding, so most platforms simply exclude them to avoid falling short.
Besides the four I listed, different sweepstakes casinos also have other excluded states. It all boils down to the same reason that laws vary from place to place.
At this point, I’m sure you’re up to speed regarding how sweepstakes work in the US. If you’re interested in playing at the best sweepstakes casinos in the US, here are my top picks:
Stake.us merits the number one spot because the site has all the important features. First, after creating my account, I received a sizable welcome bonus of 56 SC, 560,000 GC, and a 5% rakeback. You can also get it using the exclusive promo code STSCODE.
When I checked the Stake.us lobby, I found 1,800+ games. The platform offers slots, table games, instant wins, live dealer titles, and more. What impressed me most were the Stake Originals, which are unavailable at other sweepstakes casinos.
Overall, my best games on Stake.us include Wanted Dead or a Wild, Tome of Life, Wheel, and Crash. After playing and meeting the requirements, I was able to redeem SC for real prizes within hours via crypto. You can see why the platform tops my list.
If you want a sweepstakes casino that offers a realistic gaming experience, McLuck is an ideal platform to consider. I found 18+ live dealer games on the site from top providers like Playtech, Vivo Gaming, and ICONIC21. Other Sweeps Coins casinos have live dealers, but their numbers don’t beat McLuck.
Upon signing up, I received the McLuck welcome bonus of 7,500 GC and 2.5 SC. The virtual currencies allowed me to play several rounds of Gravity Blackjack, Live Roulette, and Grand Bonus Baccarat. When it was time to redeem, I only needed 10 eligible SC for a gift card and 75 SC for a cash prize. These minimums are lower than those on most other platforms.
From my explanation on how sweepstakes work, I noted that you can only claim SC from promotions. Crown Coins Casino is a suitable sweepstakes casino for such bonuses, as the site offers a consistent daily login offer.
Each day you sign into your account, you’ll grab some SC and CC to play your favorite games. This is a progressive daily login bonus, so the amount changes each day. On day 1, for example, I received 5,000 Crown Coins. On day two, I received 10,000 CC and 0.5 SC.
Crown Coins Casino will first give you 100,000 CC and 2 SC as a welcome bonus after registration. With this offer and the daily rewards, I explored many games during my review. Some of the best ones are Buffalo King Megaways, Boogie Boom, and Coin Quest. If you’re wondering, you can use SC to redeem gift cards and cash prizes at Crown Coins Casino.
You may be skeptical about joining newly launched sweepstakes casinos. If that’s the case, allow me to introduce High 5 Casino, a platform that began operating in 2012. With 12+ years in the industry, you can rest assured that the sweepstakes brand is trusted and reliable.
Wondering how to claim free Sweeps Coins on High 5 Casino? You can get the welcome bonus of 700 GC and 400 Diamonds for $29.99. This optional GC will also unlock 55 SC as a bonus. However, there are free ways to get GC and SC here. With no GC purchase, I claimed SC via the daily harvest bonus. Subsequently, I played exciting games like Sweet Bonanza, Dangerous Beauty PowerPlay, and Ultimate Heist.
Sweepstakes contests are simple, and they have quite a number of pros. At the same time, cons exist, and I’ve outlined both sides of the equation below:
You should now have a good idea of how sweepstakes work. If you find it interesting and want to participate, sweepstakes casinos are your best options.
I’ve highlighted the best ones on this page, including Stake.us, McLuck, Crown Coins Casino, and High 5 Casino. You can visit to check out the platforms and sign up with any that are available in your location.
My overall best site remains Stake.us. If that’s your pick, make sure you enter the exclusive promo code STSCODE when registering to receive the 56 SC, 560,000 GC, and a 5% rakeback bonus.
Sweepstakes poker works using a virtual-currency system. You participate in the poker rounds and tournaments with free Sweepstakes Coins or their equivalent, and can redeem real money prizes based on your results.
Sweepstake winners are selected randomly after the promotional contest. At sweepstakes casinos, you also win redeemable SC randomly since the games like slots, blackjack, and roulette offer random results. No skill is involved.
One way to know if a sweepstakes casino is legitimate if you’re not asked to make an initial payment to participate. If GC purchases are supported, it should be optional and not mandatory.
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