Sweepstakes casinos (also called social casinos with a sweepstakes component) let US players use casino-style games without placing a real-money bet. They do it with two separate virtual currencies and a promotional sweepstakes that sits alongside the games.
Two currencies
Gold Coins (the name varies by operator) are for entertainment only. You can get them free or buy packs of them. They have no cash value and can never be redeemed.
Sweeps Coins — sometimes called Sweepstakes Coins, Stake Cash, Spree Coins or similar — are the sweepstakes entries. You can’t buy them directly. Operators give them away free with Gold Coin purchases, as daily login rewards, and through a free entry method. Sweeps Coins won through gameplay can be redeemed for prizes once the operator’s conditions are met.
“No purchase necessary”
US sweepstakes law generally requires that anyone can enter without paying. That is why every sweepstakes casino publishes an alternative method of entry. It is often a handwritten mail-in request, though some operators use an in-app photo of a handwritten card instead. Each casino’s rules set out the exact steps and how many Sweeps Coins a valid request is worth. Our reviews record the method where the operator publishes it.
Before you can redeem
The official rules set conditions that must all be met before a prize is paid. The details differ between casinos — which is the point of comparing them:
- Playthrough. Sweeps Coins usually must be played at least once (1x) before they become redeemable. Some rules let the operator require more.
- Minimum balance. Each casino sets a minimum for a cash or bank prize and, sometimes, a lower one for gift cards.
- Identity verification. Expect to verify your identity, age and address before your first redemption.
- Eligibility. You must be of age (18 or 21, depending on the operator) and located in a state the operator doesn’t exclude.
- Limits and expiry. Some operators cap daily or monthly redemptions, and unused Sweeps Coins can expire after a period of inactivity.
Why the state matters
Each operator publishes its own list of excluded states, and a growing number of states have passed laws banning the sweepstakes model outright. A casino available in Texas may not be available in New York. Check both the operator’s list and our state law tracker before signing up.
How to compare casinos
Start with the rules, not the welcome offer. Our directory lets you filter by state and by redemption method, and each review links every fact to the document it came from. Where an operator doesn’t publish something, we say “Not published” rather than guess.