Sweepstakes casinos have a dual-currency system that makes them unique. One of the currencies, often referred to as Gold Coins (GC), is for fun play only, while the other, usually called Sweeps Coins (SC), can be redeemed for gift cards and real-money prizes.
Sweeps Coins Redemptions at Sweepstakes Casinos
However, claiming your winnings via Sweeps Coins is fundamentally different from withdrawing cash from traditional online casinos, and someone new to sweepstakes platforms might be confused about how it all works.
In this guide, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about SC redemptions, covering typical playthrough requirements, minimum balance limits, conversion rates, withdrawal options, pending times, and more.
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What are Sweeps Coins?
Before going into any details, let’s discuss the dual-currency system at sweepstakes casinos and list some major differences between the two coins:
Do Sweeps Coins Have Real Value?
Each sweepstakes casino defines its Sweeps Coins a bit differently, but this virtual currency does have real monetary value since it can be converted into real cash prizes after all the rules (playthrough and minimum redemption limit) have been met.
It’s also important to highlight that players don’t own the Sweepstakes Coins (or Gold Coins) in their account balance. Sweeps Coins are non-transferrable, non-shareable, and only usable at the sweepstakes casino issuing them. If you meet the following requirements, you can redeem Sweeps Coins for cash prizes:
- Create and verify a free account in a sweepstakes casino where you are eligible to play casino games (check player eligibility criteria in T&Cs);
- Wager Sweeps Coins you’ve received from the welcome bonus and other promotions when you play games to make your SCs redeemable (check Sweeps Rules to see the playthrough requirements);
- Accumulate enough redeemable Sweeps Coins (usually 50-100) to request a cash prize.
Recognizing Sweeps Coins at Sweepstakes Casinos
Certain casinos have named their Sweeps Coins differently, but they still serve the same purpose. For instance, Fortune Coins named its sweeps after the casino (Fortune Coins); Stake.us calls them Stake Cash, Chumba Casino refers to them as simply “sweeps”, and they’re called Secret Coins at TaoFortune. Whenever in doubt, consult your chosen casino’s T&Cs – all Sweepstakes Coins are usually defined as promotional entries.
Besides having different names at various sweepstakes sites, Sweeps Coins can have different monetary values. The majority of reputable platforms pegged them 1:1 to USD, such as WOW Vegas, Pulsz, or High 5 Casino, but several casinos have set the value of their sweeps a bit lower. For example, 100 Fortune Coins at its namesake casino are worth a single dollar; 100 Super coins at NoLimitCoins Casino are worth $1, while Bingoport pegged its Port Points to USD at a rate of 1,200:1.
Why Can’t You Buy Sweeps Coins at Sweepstakes Casinos?
Sweepstakes casinos don’t allow the direct purchase of their redeemable currency, as this is what sets them apart from real-money online casinos in the eyes of the law.
If you could buy Sweeps Coins, the system wouldn’t be too different from regular real-money casino deposits. Therefore, sweepstakes casinos would only be legal in a handful of states instead of the 40+ states they’re available in now.
A sweepstakes casino must allow the players free entries and a chance to redeem real prizes without having to make a purchase. That’s why there are multiple ways to obtain Sweeps Coins for free, including sign-up bonuses, daily login rewards, mail-in requests, giveaways, tournament prizes, and more.
However, keep in mind that Sweeps Coins often come attached to Gold Coins purchases as a bonus. For example, when you buy 100,000 WOW Coins at the WOW Vegas casino for $2.99, you will receive 3 free Sweeps Coins as a bonus.
How to Get Sweeps Coins for Free
1
7,500 Gold Coins + 2.5 FREE SC
- SGLA founding member
- 57,500 GC + 27.5 SC for $9.99
- SweepsKings Top Pick for July
2
1,000,000 Gold Coins + 2.5 SC No Deposit
- Live dealers and 2,300+ slots
- Exclusive: 20 Free SC for $4.99
- Free-to-play multiplayer slot
3
1.75 million WOW Coins + 35 Free SC
- Paris Hilton ambassador
- Slots, live, jackpots, and bingo
- Evolution Gaming partner
4
Up To 625k GC + 125 SC + 1,250 VIP Points
- Free SC on socials
- User-friendly website on all devices
- Low gift card redemption threshold
5
100,000 Crown Coins + 2 Sweeps Cash
- Slots and live game shows
- Available in 40+ states
- iOS app
Here are some of the most common ways to obtain free Sweeps Coins at top sweepstakes casinos:
SC Redemptions for Gift Cards or Cash Prizes
When you redeem Sweeps Coins, some casinos will ask you to choose between cash or gift cards. The gift cards are offered for different stores, depending on the casino, but the most common ones are Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy.
You might wonder why you should choose gift cards over cash — after all, cash offers unlimited flexibility, while you can only use gift cards in specific stores. Well, gift cards usually have a lower minimum redemption limit than cash redemptions, which makes them easier to claim. There’s also less waiting time, and you don’t need any specific payment method to complete the redemption.
SC Redemption Rules: Playthrough Requirements, Minimum Balance, Conversion Rates, and More
Now that you know what Sweeps Coins are, how to obtain them, and which main redemption options you have, we can finally get to the good part: what it takes to redeem your hard-earned SC for real-money prizes.
But before we go into the redemption process itself, let’s talk about a few more rules that you need to be aware of.
Playthrough Requirements
One of the most important things to know about Sweeps Coins is that you can’t redeem them right away. Otherwise, this would lead to bonus abuse, and the players will be less incentivized to actually play.
That’s why sweepstakes casinos put playthrough requirements on their redeemable currency, requiring you to play the coins at least once before they become redeemable. Say you get 20 Sweeps Coins with 1x playthrough — this means that your collective plays must amount to 20 SC. Once that’s completed, the remainder of your SC will move from your “unplayed balance” into “redeemable coins”.
While 1x playthrough is the norm, bear in mind that some casinos have higher requirements. For example, Stake.us has a 3x playthrough on their redeemable Stake Cash.
Minimum Balance
All sweepstakes casinos have a minimum SC redemption limit — that is, a certain amount of Sweeps Coins must be accumulated and played through before you can redeem your winnings.
The minimum balance varies between casinos and depends on whether you’re redeeming cash or gift cards. Cash redemptions usually have a minimum balance limit of between 50 and 100 SC, while gift card limits tend to be lower, being as low as 10 SC.
Conversion Rates
Each sweepstakes casino determines the real money value of its redeemable currency. To keep things simple, most casinos have a 1:1 conversion rate, meaning that one Sweeps Coin is equal to one US dollar.
There are a few exceptions, though. For example, Fortune Coins (both the name of the casino and its redeemable currency) have a 100:1 conversion rate, and so do Promotional Entries at Funrize Casino.
Maximum Redemption
Another key redemption rule is the maximum redemption limit. Each casino states how much money you can redeem per transaction, with limits set on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
Your max redemption limits may also depend on the state you’re in. For example, New York and Florida players can’t be awarded prizes that exceed $5,000 during any given period.
Identity Check
Sweepstakes casinos require identity verification before your first redemption. This usually involves submitting a government-issued ID, proof of address, and sometimes a payment verification document. This process ensures compliance with legal regulations and prevents fraudulent activity.
How to Complete SC Redemptions Step-By-Step
Once you’ve obtained free Sweeps Coins through a promotion, played them at least once, and gone over the minimum balance limit, you can finally claim your hard-earned prize. This process only requires a few simple steps:
1. Go to the cashier: Navigate to the casino’s redemption section. You can usually find a redemption tab somewhere on your account page or at the casino’s coin store.
2. Choose your redemption option: Choose between cash redemption or one of the available gift cards. If you select cash, pick between available payment methods, which may include credit/debit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, or even cryptocurrency.
3. Enter the redemption amount: Type in how many SC you want to redeem, as you don’t have to redeem the entire amount.
4. Provide payment details: Depending on which payment method you’ve selected, fill out the payment details, such as your debit card number, for example.
5. Complete the redemption request: Double-check the information and submit your redemption request. Typically, you will receive a message saying that your request has been sent to the casino’s financial team for review.
After the casino reviews and approves your request (which may take a few days), the money will be sent to your bank, e-wallet, or digital crypto wallet. The time it takes for the money to arrive will largely depend on the method. Crypto redemptions are usually the quickest, with most transactions being completed within minutes after approval. In contrast, bank transfers can take several business days and up to a couple of weeks.
Things to Consider When Requesting SC Redemptions
- Check the playthrough requirements to see how difficult it is to convert your unplayed SC into a redeemable balance.
- Go through the list of available redemption payment methods.
- Check the minimum and maximum redemption limits.
- Inform yourself of the typical pending times to see how long you’ll have to wait for your winnings.
- Look for any transaction fees.
- Use the same method employed for purchases for faster payouts.
- Play and redeem coins before they expire – most sweepstakes casinos will void any coins after 60 – 90 days if left unused.
Best Way to Use Sweeps Coins
Using Sweeps Coins at a sweepstakes casino requires careful consideration and responsible play. Since these coins can be redeemed for real prizes or cash, and you can only acquire a few of them per promotion, managing them wisely is essential to maximizing your chances of winning while also avoiding unnecessary losses.
Players should familiarize themselves with the platform’s rules, redemption requirements, and wagering conditions to make informed decisions. While sweepstakes casinos offer a risk-free way to enjoy casino-style games, the strategic use of Sweeps Coins ensures a more enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Since the vast majority of sweepstakes casinos use a dual-currency system, it is recommended to start using Sweeps Coins for wagers only after you’ve thoroughly tested and memorized the rules of your favorite casino games with Gold Coins.
Additionally, you should prioritize playing games that have the potential of netting huge wins, such as high RTP slot games or jackpot slots. To meet playthrough with minimal losses, low volatility games or bets with close to 50/50 odds are perfect.
We also strongly recommend checking out the Bonus Rules to see which games contribute toward the rollover progress; for example, you can play live dealer games and table games for sweeps, but that won’t make them redeemable if the rules state that you can only play slot games to meet the wagering requirements.
Are Sweepstakes Casino Winnings Taxable?
Even though sweepstakes prizes do not qualify as “gambling winnings”, they are still taxable and should be reported via the winnings form 1099-MISC (miscellaneous). Even if you don’t receive a tax form, you are still required to report winnings on your tax return. Currently, the taxes have a flat 24% rate, excluding major winnings (usually above $600), which can go up to 37%.
FAQs
How long does it take to receive my redeemed winnings?
The processing time for Sweeps Coins redemptions depends on two things: the casino’s internal review process and the selected payment option. A casino will usually take between 24 and 48 hours to review your request, but it might take longer on weekends. Once approved, your winnings will be delivered based on the chosen redemption method. Gift cards typically arrive within a day, cards and e-wallets take several days, bank transfers can take up to a couple of weeks, while crypto transactions are by far the quickest, often completed within minutes after approval.
Do I need to verify my identity before redeeming Sweeps Coins?
Know-your-customer (KYC) protocols are mandatory at sweepstakes casinos in the United States. Before you’re allowed a prize redemption, you will need to upload a few documents on the casino’s website, including a copy of your valid ID, proof of address, and payment verification document. The casino will provide clear instructions on what exactly you need to submit and how to upload it to the website’s secure servers.
Can my Sweeps Coins expire?
Some sweepstakes casinos will deem your account inactive and take away any Sweeps Coins from your balance if you’ve been away from the casino for a long time. Sweeps Coins typically expire if you haven’t logged in to your account for more than 60 days.
What happens if my redemption request is denied?
Your redemption request can be denied for several reasons. Perhaps you haven’t met the playthrough requirements, you’ve failed the identity check, or you’ve attempted to redeem an amount that exceeds the casino’s limits. The casino will usually notify you of the exact reason, but if you’re sure you’ve done everything right and your request is still denied, it’s best to clear things up with customer support.
Can I redeem Sweeps Coins in any state?
While sweepstakes casinos are legal in most U.S. states, redemption rules may vary. Some states, like Washington, restrict sweepstakes casino participation altogether, while others, like New York and Florida, have specific limits on maximum prize redemptions. Always check your state’s regulations before playing.
Author: Ross Timmins
Updated:
When Ross Timmins isn’t playing at sweepstakes casinos and redeeming cash prizes, he’s writing about them. Ross is our master bonus hunter who continues to impress us with his uncanny ability to find the best promos out there. He also produces incredibly in-depth reviews, if a casino gets Ross’ thumbs up, it’s worth checking out!
When Ross Timmins isn’t playing at sweepstakes casinos and redeeming cash prizes, he’s writing about them. Ross is our master bonus hunter who continues to impress us with his uncanny ability to find the best promos out there. He also produces incredibly in-depth reviews, if a casino gets Ross’ thumbs up, it’s worth checking out!
