Online Sweepstakes Casinos in the US

Our team at SweepsKings made this guide to help players with valuable information and tips about locating and winning at sweeps casinos. We will show you how to register, claim bonuses, get your cash prizes, and more, so let’s start from the top.

What Are Sweepstakes Casinos?

I sometimes jokingly call sweepstakes casino sites “hybrid gambling venues” because they’re bringing elements of social and online casinos to the table in almost equal measure. You can play for free by using Gold Coins or stake your Sweeps Coins for real cash prizes.

What makes them substantially different from real-money and online casinos is that sweeps casinos are required by law to make all purchases optional. All sweeps casinos must provide some free currency for players to enjoy while the best sweepstakes casinos allow users to consistently claim free GCs and SCs via daily refills, mail-in bonuses, and similar promos.

Another distinctive feature of sweeps casinos is how their banking systems work. Instead of making “conventional” deposits, you can purchase Gold Coins in the casino’s in-game store. Various legal loopholes allow such casinos to essentially “gift” players some free Sweeps Coins on any Gold Coin purchases, but they’re not allowed to sell SCs directly.

Regarding who can play, the lowest legal gambling age limit is 18, although some sites may set restrictions at 21. Always make sure to check the Player Eligibility clause in your chosen casino’s T&Cs.

In terms of gaming, sweeps casinos often have the same games you’d see in online casinos from reputable i-gaming vendors like Pragmatic, Hacksaw, or Yggdrasil.

This may be somewhat confusing for new players, but we’re here to help you understand how online sweepstakes casinos work and enjoy comfortable gaming sessions.

Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in the United States?

Sweepstakes casinos are legal in almost all US states, with notable exceptions being Washington, Michigan, Idaho, and Nevada. I must emphasize that online sweepstakes casinos choose where they operate and can make their sites inaccessible to players from other states as well. For example, Stake.us is unavailable in Kentucky and Vermont in addition to the aforementioned states.

I mentioned a “loophole” that makes sweeps casinos legal a second ago. Real money gambling laws in the United States are quite strict, and only a handful of states support casinos that deal with “real” cash. That’s why sweepstakes casinos use virtual currency (SC) that is exclusively giftable via promotions or GC purchases, which can be redeemed for real money prizes (or gift cards) after all the bonus rules have been met.

Standard Sweepstakes Casino Currencies Explained

While social casinos only use Gold Coins as their primary currency, sweepstakes casinos have spiced things up with “Sweeps Coins”, which hold monetary value and can be redeemed for cash prizes.

The standard in the sweeps casino industry revolves around GCs and SCs. Gold Coins are the free-play currency used to play for fun while Sweeps Coins are the equivalent of “bonus funds”. They must be wagered a certain number of times (1-3x in most casinos), and a minimum redemption threshold (typically 50 or 100 SC) must be met before they become cashable.

Some sweepstakes casinos have different names for their sweeps currency. For example, Stake.us calls it “Stake Cash”; Fortune Coins calls it “Fortune Coins”, and TaoFortune calls it “Secret Coins”. I should also mention that several sweepstakes casinos have secondary currencies that typically serve as “boosters on demand”. A great example of that would be Diamonds that are exclusive to High 5 Casino.

Another important factor to consider, especially when you’re comparing sweepstakes casino bonuses, is the currency conversion rate. Most sites peg their Sweeps Coins to USD at a 1:1 rate, but there are exceptions like:

• Fortune Coins: 100 FC = $1
• Funrize: 100 PE = $1
• Carnival Citi: 1,000 SC = $1

Do Sweeps Casinos Pay Real Money?

To comply with state gambling laws, sweeps casinos pay cash “prizes”, which must be won. You win by wagering Sweeps Coins and meeting the redemption threshold, which allows you to redeem SCs for real money.

Once you register at a sweepstakes casino, you’ll typically receive a decent amount of Gold Coins, and enough Sweeps Coins to get you started. However, you’ll need to claim promotions, participate in contests, and earn more Sweeps Coins through randomized gameplay to reach the redeemable limit.

Sweepstakes vs Online Casinos

Sweepstakes casinos are gaming platforms (with possible cash prizes) while online casinos are gambling sites. Even though there are numerous online casinos in the US, not many of them are legal. Currently, the only states where online casinos have been legalized include Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.  In comparison, sweepstakes casinos are legal in nearly all states.

Another important difference between sweepstake platforms and online casinos relates to the legal gambling age. As I mentioned, you can register and play at most sweepstakes casinos if you’re 18+ years old while only some platforms set the bar at 21. All US states where online gambling is legal require players to be 21+ years old to participate.

Aside from a scant few sites that managed to partner with a variety of reputable operators, sweepstake casinos rarely offer more than 700-800 games, and you’d be lucky to bump into one with live dealer games. Online casinos, on the other hand, typically offer upward of 1,500+ titles, including slots and popular table games like blackjack, poker, baccarat, Sic Bo, and many others.

How to Purchase Additional Currency at Sweepstakes Casinos

Buying Gold Coin packs is one of the fastest ways to get some extra Sweeps Coins. It’s also understandable that you want to purchase more free-play coins if you spent your entire no deposit bonus.

Even the smallest bundles typically offer considerably more currency than any regular promo, so if you’re looking to buy Gold Coins, just follow these steps:

1. Log onto your profile
2. Tap “Buy” or your wallet to open the in-game coin store
3. Choose the package you wish to buy
4. If you weren’t asked to select your preferred payment method during the KYC process, you’ll be prompted to do so now
5. Provide relevant payment details and tap “Confirm”

How To Play Games at Sweeps Casinos

Since sweeps casinos use two types of currency, it’s important to always keep track of which coins you are using. Usually, all you have to do is tap on your wallet to select Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins; at some sweepstakes casinos, you’ll find a GC/SC toggle button.

After choosing the gameplay mode, you only need to select the game you wish to play. When playing slots, jackpots, or scratchcards, you’ll get to select your wager and betting lines by using the arrows. The betting rules are similar to table games, although you’ll only be able to choose the wager size.

Some casinos lock some of their best games until the player has made their first purchase. Even though this isn’t too common (and we don’t recommend such sites), I believe it’s important to inform you of that possibility to avoid confusion.

Redeeming Sweeps Coins

Regardless of where they’re used, all Sweeps Coins are treated as bonus funds. This includes the SCs you’ve received from the sign-up bonus, the no deposit bonus, promotions, social media contests, and Gold Coin purchases.

To make your SCs redeemable, you’ll need to meet the rollover requirement, which is typically 1x and rarely above 3x at most sweepstakes casinos. To elaborate, you must wager all of your Sweeps Coins the specified number of times by playing games in the Sweeps Mode.

To cash out Sweeps Coins won through gameplay, you’ll need to meet the minimum redemption threshold. The industry’s average currently floats between 50 and 100 SC. This is the lowest amount of redeemable Sweeps Coins that can be converted to real cash prizes. Where gift card redemptions are available, the redemption threshold is significantly lower, usually 10-25 SC.

Once all of the rules have been met, complete the following steps to redeem Sweeps Coins:

• Sign onto your sweepstakes casino profile
• Tap on your wallet to see your redeemable Sweeps Coins balance
• Choose “Redeem”
• If multiple rewards are available, select the one you wish to claim
• If redeeming SCs for cash, enter the number of SCs you want to convert to money
• Select the desired payment medium and tap “Confirm”

Knowing that redeeming SCs for money can be a bit confusing to new players, many sweepstakes casinos have streamlined the process by allowing players who’ve made at least one purchase to use the same payment information.

Even though cash prize redemptions are by far the most popular, a variety of other prizes are available in different casinos, including but not limited to store credits, vouchers, gift cards, and more.

1. Mega Bonanza

No Purchase Bonus – 7,500 GC + 2.5 SC

A polished interface and hundreds of high RTP games by Pragmatic, NetEnt, Playson, Evoplay, Habanero, and other big names in the i-gaming space make Mega Bonanza Casino an ideal choice for slot connoisseurs.

What I love about this sweepstakes casino the most is that it keeps track of your gameplay and recommends slots based on parameters like wager limits, developer, and type. Coincidentally, that’s how I reignited my love for Aztec Fire and Little Farm, which used to be my favorite 3 Oaks slots before they rolled out Olaf and Crystal Scarabs.

Mega Bonanza also has an intuitive layout and design of the browser-based version, which you’ll have to use both on desktop and mobile.

In terms of payments, Mega Bonanza mainly works with credit cards and ACH checks. My main issue with this sweepstakes casino is that you need to reach 75 redeemable Sweeps Coins before you can grab cash prizes, but considering most of its games are heavy hitters with good RTPs, the grind was neither long nor painful.

2. McLuck

No Purchase Bonus – 7,500 GC + 2.5 SC

McLuck has been a top sweeps choice since 2023, and it’s only gotten better. With a lobby of over 1,000 games and a minimum purchase package of $1.99, this sweeps site is accessible to every player. Even if you’re into RNG tables, the live dealers are more than a great substitution.

The no deposit bonus is fine to get you started, but the 150% first purchase discount will definitely get the party going. You get 50,000 GC and 25 SC for free for only $9.99 and get access to the full lobby, including the MCJACKPOT network and live chat support.

Pragmatic Play, BGaming, Thunderkick, Novomatic, and Relax Gaming are some of the top game studios at McLuck, delivering all kinds of slots, slingo, and live social games.

3. Hello Millions

No Purchase Bonus – 15,000 GC + 2.5 SC

Hello Millions offers a substantial no deposit bonus, great purchase discounts, and a ton of games you can play. From classic slots and video slots to Megaways, Cascading reels, jackpots and even Slingo and live dealers, you’ll find it all. The only exceptions are RNG table games and arcades.

Players will find top releases by Pragmatic Play, Booming Games, Relax Gaming, NetEnt, and even Playtech Live, among other studios. You stand a chance to win real money prizes, and the bonuses are here to help. Besides the no deposit deal, you can also enjoy a 150% first purchase discount, offering 25 SC and 50,000 GC for $9.99.

Speaking of real prizes, Hello Millions lets you bank with bank cards, Apple Pay, online banking, and gift cards, and the limits are quite low. You get to redeem a minimum of $10 via gift cards or $50 via online banking!

4. PlayFame

No Purchase Bonus – 10,000 GC + 3 SC

Playtech live dealer games, over 1,000 slots, a progressive jackpot network, and a long list of quality providers are some of the features that helped PlayFame make a boom when entering the sweeps market.

The no deposit deal of 3 free Sweeps Coins and 10,000 Gold Coins is amazing, but so are the daily prize draws, the 200% first purchase offer that brings access to exclusive GC games, the daily login bonus that goes up to 2.5 SC, and the referral program.

NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, and BGaming are of our favorite providers at PlayFame. NetEnt brings its classics, Pragmatic Play has a range of jackpot games, while BGaming is here to deliver high RTP slot games.

5. Spree

No Purchase Bonus – 1,000,000 Gold Coins + 2.5 Spree Coins

If frequent prize drops and tournaments and big purchase deals are your thing, then Spree Casino is the place to be. The mid-sized lobby has 850+ games but variety isn’t lacking. You can play slots, table games, progressives, and live casino games by Pragmatic Play, Novomatic, Booming, Relax Gaming, and Evoplay, among others.

Spree is accessible to all US players who are over 18+, except those residing in Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, and Washington. Speaking of, you can get over 1 million Gold Coins + 32.5 Spree Coins on your first $9.99 purchase.

This is a modern sweepstakes site with a variety of games, social media promos, and a great referral bonus that can bring you 10 free SC for each friend!

6. WOW Vegas

No Purchase Bonus – 5 SC + 250,000 WC

Debatably the fastest-growing sweepstakes casino in the current market, WOW Vegas casts a tall shadow over competing sites with over 1300+ games from all-popular vendors. Use our links to sign up, and you’ll be able to claim 250,000 Wow Coins and 5 Sweeps Coins for free over three days.

Its regular promos are a treasure trove of free coins. Starting with daily refills giving you 1 SC and 5,000 WC to the referral bonus granting 5,000 WC and 20 SC for each friend you bring to a barrage of social media contests, heaps of free currency is up for grabs at this casino.

Our experts have dubbed WOW Vegas one of the best sweepstakes casinos because it covers everything in equal measure – it has good bonuses, great games, and a superb customer support team.

7. Vegas Gems

No Purchase Bonus – Up to 1,000 Gems No Deposit

Vegas Gems has a lobby of over 1,300 high-quality games, including our favorites by Pragmatic Play. This modern-looking site is available in 46 states and lets you purchase Shards and get Gems through credit cards, crypto, gift cards, and bank transfers. You can get up to 1,000 Gems for free on sign up and later enjoy a 50% discount with the code SWEEPSKINGS.

I love Vegas Gems’ lobby because it’s a great mix of classic and video slots, jackpots, and games like Mines, Keno, and its exclusive scratch card. Pragmatic Play, Belatra, Evoplay, Booming Games, 3 Oaks, and Betsoft are the main powerhouses of this sweepstakes casino, delivering their best releases.

Besides the great purchase deals, such as the first purchase discount that gets you 50% more gems up to $20, you’ll find daily leaderboard prizes with big prize pools. What’s more, you can get 1 chest every 24 hours, which brings amazing rewards.

8. Stake.us

No Purchase Bonus – 250,000 GC + 25 SC

Stake.us is a crypto-exclusive sweepstakes casino with some of the best promos in the i-gaming space. After signing up with our promo code and claiming your 250,000 GC and 25 Free Stake Cash, you’ll be able to participate in weekly tournaments and daily races, not to mention claim mountains of free SCs via bonus drop codes, referral bonuses, and AMOE promos.

Stake.us launched in 2022 and stands out among contemporary sweepstakes casinos with a dedicated live dealer lobby complete with several Stake Live original titles. Stake’s legitimacy is undisputed since the site is run by an operator with international renown.

Our experts have been testing Stake.us for over two years and are especially interested in Originals Challenges. These unique “quests” change weekly and provide thrilling ways for players to grab free SCs while playing their favorite games.

9. Zula

No Purchase Bonus – 120,000 GC + 10 SC

If you’re looking for game variety, Zula Casino is here to save the day. With over 1,200+ options ranging from progressive slots to poker and fish games, Zula is a great choice for all types of players. You will enjoy popular releases by Booming Games, Fantasma, Pragmatic Play, and many others with a huge sign up deal of 10 SC and 120,000 GC.

Zula is available in most US states and has a variety of bonuses and arcade games. The first purchase bonus brings 250,000 GC and 10 SC for $2.99, while you can get 1 SC every day just for logging in and even enjoy VIP perks.

Overall, this sweeps casino is easy to navigate, is compatible with Android and iOS devices, and delivers an excellent social gaming experience.

10. Jackpota

No Purchase Bonus – 7,500 GC + 2.5 SC

Similar to our other top contenders, Jackpota is an all-rounder. The SweepsKings team has been around since Jackpota was only a social casino and we’ve watched it grow into an impeccable sweeps casino with 5-digit daily jackpots that pay out real money prizes.

You can use our links to register an account and get 7,500 GC and 2.5 SC for free. Once you’re there, you get access to a 150% first purchase discount, up to 2 SC free daily reload, mail-in bonus, friend referrals up to 100 SC, and a VIP Club.

You can enjoy over 1,000 quality games, including a variety of slot mechanics, such as Megaways, Hold & Win, jackpots, and classic slots. You’ll also find a few Slingo games, game shows, and fishing arcades. Novomatic, Pragmatic Play, Playson, Relax Gaming and BGaming are some of the big brands behind the Jackpota gaming lobby.

SweepsKings Tips for Winning at Sweeps Casinos

• Demo games with Gold Coins. This will help you understand how their paylines and special features work before wagering Sweeps Coins.
• If all games have the same rollover contribution, play table games to get to the redeemable SC limit quicker.
• If you don’t mind playing fewer games, prioritize slots that have adjustable volatility like Gods of War: Zeus vs Hades.
• Jackpots can instantly bring you to the redeemable SC threshold. Check out social casinos with jackpot networks for a chance of scoring massive wins.