18+No purchase necessary. Sweepstakes casinos are free-to-play promotions, not real-money gambling. Gold Coins have no cash value. 21+ in some states. Void where prohibited. Play responsibly · 1-800-522-4700

How sweepstakes casinos work

How it works

How sweepstakes casinos work, in plain words

A sweepstakes casino looks like an online casino, but legally it is a promotion. That one difference explains the two coins, the free entry route and why it is open in 36 states.

See the casinos18+ (21+ in some states). No purchase necessary.
The basics

Two coins, two jobs

Every sweepstakes casino runs on two currencies. Gold Coins are play money. You get millions of them, you can buy more, and they are only for fun; they can never be turned into cash. Sweepstakes Coins are the promotional coins. You cannot buy them. You receive them free when you sign up, as a daily bonus, as a gift with a Gold Coin purchase, or by sending a request in the post. Prizes won with Sweepstakes Coins can be redeemed for cash or gift cards.

That structure is what makes the whole thing a sweepstakes rather than gambling. Because there is always a free way to get the coins that can win prizes, the law treats it the same way as a prize draw on a cereal box.

Step by step

What actually happens

1Sign up

Name, date of birth, email and your state. The free coins land once you confirm your email or phone.

2Choose your coin

Every game has a switch for Gold or Sweepstakes mode. Pick Sweepstakes if you want a chance at a prize.

3Meet the terms

Free coins must be played through once (sometimes twice) and you need a minimum balance, usually 50, to redeem.

4Redeem

Upload an ID the first time, then request your prize. Our reviews show how long each casino took to pay us.

Costs

Do you ever have to pay?

No. You can play every casino on this site without buying anything. Most players who do spend money buy Gold Coin bundles because they want more play time, and the free Sweepstakes Coins that come with those bundles are a bonus rather than the product.

If you decide to buy, treat it as paying for entertainment, the same as a cinema ticket. Set a limit before you start and keep to it. Our play responsibly page has tools and a free helpline.

Common mix-ups

Four things people get wrong

Can I just buy Sweepstakes Coins?
No. They are never sold. They arrive free with purchases, through daily bonuses, on social media and by mail-in request. A casino that sells them directly is not running a sweepstakes.
Is a prize the same as a withdrawal?
Nearly. You redeem Sweepstakes Coins for a prize, which is paid as cash to your bank or as a gift card. The casino will check your identity the first time.
Why does my state matter?
Because sweepstakes law is state law. Fourteen states have decided these promotions are not allowed, and casinos block them. See where legal.
Are the games fair?
The games are supplied by the same studios that build real-money casino games, and the casinos publish their return figures. We check that the published rules match what we see in our account.

Ready to try one?

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