What are Gold Coins at Sweepstakes Casinos?

The terms ‘Gold Coins’ and ‘Sweeps Coins’ often come up in discussions about social casinos, but many players aren’t sure how they differ. Gold Coins are one of the two virtual currencies used in sweepstakes casinos. They’re free virtual tokens, used exclusively for standard play with no real-world value.

This guide breaks down the key differences between the two virtual currencies sweepstakes casinos use, helping you understand how they work. We will also cover:

• When and how to use your Gold Coins
• Why and how you can purchase Gold Coins
• The best ways to get free coins from your favorite casino

We’ve also put together a list of sweepstakes casinos that hand out Gold Coins generously.

Gold Coins vs Sweeps Coins

Sweepstakes casinos are legal, free casinos that use two virtual currencies instead of real money: Gold Coins (GC) and Sweepstakes Coins (SC). They’re both used for entertainment but serve different purposes.

Gold Coins are virtual tokens that hold no real-world monetary value. They can only be used  to play games in standard mode, and any Gold Coins winnings earned cannot be redeemed as cash prizes. These coins simply allow you to play casino-style games for fun. There’s no way to convert them into Sweeps Coins, cash out in USD, or redeem them for gift cards. They can be obtained for free through various bonuses and promotions or purchased for their cash equivalent from the casino’s store.

Sweeps Coins are only used for promotional play (or Sweeps mode), and they cannot be purchased directly. The only way to obtain Sweeps Coins is through bonuses and promotions, like no deposit offers, daily logins, social media promos, or as a free bonus for purchasing a Gold Coin package. Sweeps Coins can be redeemed as real cash prizes or gift cards after certain requirements are met.

Note that some operators use different names for their virtual currencies. For example, Gold Coins are called Game Coins at High 5 Casino, while FunzCity Casino has the fitting name ‘Fun Coins’ for their Gold Coins. Nevertheless, they serve the same function.

How Are Gold Coins Used in Sweepstakes Casinos?

If Gold Coins have no cash value and can’t be exchanged for prizes, why bother collecting them?

As it turns out, Gold Coins serve several useful purposes in sweepstakes casinos. They may not be redeemable, but they’re a great way to explore, practice, and play thousands of casino-style games. Here’s a quick breakdown of their applications:

Try different casino-style games: The sweepstakes market has evolved massively, and you can now play thousands of different casino-style games from top studios like Pragmatic Play, Relax Gaming, Hacksaw, and many others. You can also play live dealer casino classics like roulette, blackjack, and baccarat with real dealers using GC.

Enjoy risk-free gaming: Social casinos are completely free, and no purchase is necessary to play at any site. So, if you’re just looking for casual fun, Gold Coins are a stress-free way to enjoy casino games purely for entertainment.

Assess new sweepstakes casinos: Gold Coins are free and easy to collect. Every social casino will provide you with some free coins after registration, so you can use your GC to assess each platform. Thankfully, there are dozens of great sweepstakes sites you can join and play for free. Some great picks include WOW Vegas, McLuck, Mega Bonanza, Kickr, and Pulsz.

How to Get Free Gold Coins?

There are different ways to claim Gold Coins on social gaming sites, and these are the standard options:

No Purchase Bonus: It’s awarded for completing your account registration. Social casinos will usually reward you with Gold Coins for verifying your account too, including your email and phone number. For example, at Chumba Casino, you’ll get millions of GC as a part of the no deposit bonus.

Welcome Offer: Most social casinos will provide certain GC packages for half or a third of the original cost on your first purchase.

Daily Refill: Every day you log into your social casino account, you can claim a daily bonus that awards free Gold and Sweeps Coins. Some operators, like LuckyBird.io, will even refill your GC balance automatically whenever it drops below a certain point.

Social Media Contests: Sweepstakes operators regularly host giveaways, tournaments, and other contests on their official social media pages. They’re a great way to get free GC by participating in fun contests or sharing a post.

Referral Bonus: Inviting friends to register at the casino through a unique link will earn you free coins. Sportzino is just one of the several operators that offer great refer-a-friend bonuses.

Coin Package Purchases: You can always buy Gold Coin packages if you don’t want to wait for free coin drops. Purchasing coins is entirely optional, but it’s a great way to get loads of free Sweeps Coins on top of Gold Coins. Packages usually start at $4.99, but at some operators, like Casino.click, you can purchase a Gold Coin bundle for just $2.

Loyalty: The majority of sweepstakes casinos have loyalty programs where you can earn rewards, including free Gold Coins, by playing regularly. The more you play, the more points you accumulate. For example, McLuck Casino offers increasing rewards as you progress through its VIP program.

Playing casino-style games using Gold Coins can also result in GC winnings, although this might also eventually deplete your balance. In any case, the main purpose of Gold Coins is to have fun playing casino-style games without necessarily making a purchase.

Purchasing Gold Coins at Sweepstakes Casinos

No purchase is necessary to play at sweepstakes casinos. This is the first rule of every policy page at social casinos, which means that purchasing Gold Coins is entirely optional.

The idea is to be able to top up your account with GC when you don’t want to wait for bonuses or promotions, and you have depleted your balance. By purchasing a GC bundle, you can continue your gaming session, and with the bonus SC that often accompany these bundles, increase your potential winnings.

You can use several safe payment options to purchase Gold Coin packages, like:

Cards: Mastercard, Visa, AmEx, Discover

Bank Transfers: ACH, Online Banking

E-wallets: PayPal, Skrill

Mobile wallets: Apple Pay, Google Pay

Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, USDC, USDT, Doge, Shiba Inu, BNB, etc.

Gift Cards: For redemptions only

To purchase a Gold Coins package, you can follow these steps:

1. Click the Buy button on your casino account to go to the coin store.

2. A list of available Gold Coin packages will appear on your screen, and you can select your preferred package.

3. Pick a package that offers a decent number of Gold and free Sweeps Coins (the latter is usually equal to or more than the USD price of the package).

4. A list of available payment options will appear once you select a package. You can find bank cards, e-wallets, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other options.

5. Select a suitable payment method, provide all the essential details, and submit the form to complete your purchase.

6. Complete your payment to receive the Gold Coins in your account.

To ensure your payments are stress-free, you can read our guides on the top social casino payment options or find more specific reviews like our best PayPal casinos or Apple Pay casinos to visit.

Conclusion: Are Gold Coins Worth It?

Gold Coins in social casinos are a risk-free way to play casino-style games, and they’re a great option for both beginners and experienced players. They provide a realistic casino experience without any financial commitment, and even industry experts like us use them to explore new platforms and games.

It’s important to remember, though, that Gold Coins can’t be redeemed for cash, so they function much like demo play. They’re best used for testing games and finding the best casinos in the sweepstakes sphere – your ultimate goal should be to collect as many Sweeps Coins as possible, which allow you to play for and win real cash prizes.