Sweepstakes casinos have become a major hit in the US over recent years, offering players a genuine alternative to traditional gambling sites. Strict regulations keep the likes of the BetMGM and FanDuel casinos from operating in most states, whereas sweepstakes casinos such as Chumba Casino and the new favorite Stake.us have freedom to operate in over 40 states. Huge marketing deals with rapper Drake and popular streamers have also strapped a rocket to sweepstakes casino sites, leading to a billion-dollar market.
For those who haven’t stepped foot inside a virtual sweepstakes casino before, understanding how they work and why they’re different from regular online casinos can be confusing. But the sweepstakes casino model is actually quite simple and easy enough for beginners to get straight on board. Here’s what you need to know.
What is a Sweepstakes Casino?
A sweepstakes casino is a special type of platform featuring casino-style games without real-money gambling. As strange as it sounds, you don’t bet any money at all. Players are instead given virtual Gold Coins (GC) and Sweeps Coins (SC).
| Currency | Key Features |
| Gold Coins (GC) |
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| Sweeps Coins (SC) |
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Gold Coins are the fun currency designed just for casual play, whereas Sweeps Coins a more serious promotional currency which allows you to redeem prizes. 1 SC converts to $1, so winning 100 Sweeps Coins means you’re entitled to $100 worth of prizes. And these prizes typically include cash transfers and gift cards.
All sweepstakes casinos follow specific sweepstakes and promotional laws rather than traditional gambling ones, which is why they’re allowed to operate throughout most of the US. Many new sweepstakes casinos are also becoming extremely popular in Germany and Australia, too, so the global market is on the rise.
Playing In a Sweepstakes Casino
When you sign up with a sweepstakes casino for the first time, most operators give you free coins as part of a sign up bonus to get you started. Chumba Casino gives 2 million Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins, while Stake.us gives 250,000 Gold Coins and 25 Stake Cash. You get the idea.
You can then enter the games lobby and go one of two ways: play for free using Gold Coins or compete for prizes with your Sweeps Coins. Game categories usually range from slots to roulette, with plenty of casinos also offering plinko, crash games, and more. There are even live dealer games as well if you want a more ‘realistic’ experience.
If you play with Gold Coins, you can enjoy climbing on-site leaderboards and practicing your skills, whether you’re spinning the slot machines or playing blackjack. For those who play with Sweeps Coins, it’s recommended you treat it more seriously due to the fact that these coins can actually be redeemed for prizes, so you don’t want to waste them. In other words, bets should be placed carefully with Sweeps Coins.
Your account will show the available Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins balance you have. Whenever you reach the minimum prize redemption threshold, which is usually low for gift cards and high for cash transfers, you can head to the prize menu and start redeeming your Sweeps Coins. For example, if you redeemed a $20 Walmart gift card, it would get sent to an email address you provide.
Sweepstakes casinos are also excellent when it comes to weekly tournaments, challenges, and giveaways, so there’s plenty to keep you entertained whenever you’re logged in. Simply put, they’re sort of a gamified version of traditional online casinos, functioning more as gaming platforms than platforms for gambling. This is why they’re so popular with young players and Gen Z.
The Best Sweepstakes Casino Prizes
There are currently over 200 sweepstakes casino sites and some of their most most popular prizes are:
- Gift cards
- Cash transfers to your bank or PayPal account
- Merchandise
- Cryptocurrencies
Gift cards tend to be the player-favorite due to having lower minimum redemption requirements. At WOW Vegas, it’s just 25 Sweeps Coins (min) for a gift card but 100 Sweeps Coins (min) for a cash transfer, which gives you a little insight into what you can expect. Essentially, you need to win lots of SC for cash transfers but can get away with redeeming gift cards even if you only have smaller amounts.
Some sweepstakes casinos, like Stake.us, also offer merchandise such as caps and hoodies. On top of this, cryptocurrencies such as BTC and ETH are occasionally available in some sweepstakes casinos, requiring users to supply their crypto wallet addresses and wait anywhere from 24 to 48 hours to receive it.
Outside of that, it’s not unheard of for sweepstakes casinos to give away random prizes like holidays or bonus coins to their players, especially through social media giveaways. This is why being an active player is a good idea, as you won’t miss out on free prize-winning opportunities. The more you play, the higher your odds of rewards like prize drops are.
Loyalty Programs Are Worth It
A sweet perk of sweepstakes casinos is that many have launched their own loyalty programs. High 5 Casino has ‘Club High 5’, Crown Coins has ‘Crown VIP Club’, and the list goes on. These loyalty programs are designed to reward long-term players over time, with rewards growing as you progress through the different tiers.
Sweepstakes casino loyalty program rewards tend to involve free Sweeps Coins, exclusive game access, and entry into tournaments, so it’s important that you take advantage of these programs if you can. The more you play, the better. Otherwise, it can be difficult to progress through the tiers.
Most regular online casinos don’t offer these types of programs, so sweepstakes casinos have smartly found a way to keep players engaged more than they already are.
Sweepstakes Casinos Are a Dream for Casual Players
One thing for sure is that the sweepstakes casino model, where you have a choice between fun Gold Coins for or serious prize-chasing with Sweeps Coins, is perfect for casual casino fans.
There’s no pressure to bet real money and you essentially have the freedom to play for as little or as long as you like, all with the potential to still win prizes sprinkled on top.
It’s why sweepstakes casinos have been able to attract millions of players and the market looks set for even more success over the coming years, especially now that popular Kick and Twitch streamers are playing inside these casinos.
