Sweepstakes casinos are popular in the US for many reasons. These gaming sites allow players to enjoy casino-style games without an initial Gold Coins pack purchase.Everything You Need to Know About Sweepstakes Casinos in 2025
However, new players often struggle to understand how sweepstakes casinos work. If you’re in this boat, this article is for you! I’ll discuss what sweepstakes casinos are and how they work. This article will also contain sweepstakes casino legality, how to sign up at these sites and bonuses to claim at your chosen gaming site.Everything You Need to Know About Sweepstakes Casinos in 2025
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Sweepstakes casinos are gaming sites where you can play games without an initial GC purchase. These sites exist in the US because some states have yet to legalize online gaming. For context, you can’t play at online casinos in Hawaii. However, many social gaming sites are available in the state.
Now, you might wonder, why the state rejects online gaming but allows sweepstakes casinos? That’s because you can’t play with real money at these sites.
Instead, what you’ll use to play available games are the site’s virtual currencies, usually called Gold Coins (GC) and Sweepstakes Coins (SC).
These sites don’t require regular licenses from regulatory bodies like the Malta Gaming Authority. As long as it follows sweepstakes rules, the casino can operate in states where it’s allowed.
Yes. Sweepstakes casinos are legal in the US, especially in states where online gaming is prohibited. The US online gaming law still has some grey areas. While the federal law has legalized online gaming, it’s still subject to local approval.
As such, each state has the power to legalize or reject online gaming. At the moment, about 30 states have legalized it. Sweepstakes casinos exist to enable players in states that haven’t accepted online gaming to enjoy casino games for free without an initial purchase.
Simply put, sweepstakes casinos are legal in the United States.
At this point, you must be wondering, how sweepstakes casinos really work seeing as you won’t use real money to play available games. Well, sweepstakes casinos offer virtual currencies for gameplay.
The two primary gameplay currencies you’ll find at these sites are:
This virtual gameplay currency is used strictly for fun gaming. At social casinos, you can either play for fun or enter promotional sweepstakes. Gold Coins are used for the former and have no monetary value.
If you’ve been playing games at sweepstakes sites for a while, you already know Gold Coins comprise the bulk of the bonuses.
Interestingly, sweepstakes sites offer Gold Coin packs that players can buy when they run out of free coins. However, note that buying GC packs is optional, as you can always wait for more promotions to boost your free coin stash.
Unlike Gold Coins, Sweepstakes Coins have monetary value at these casinos. You can use it to enter promotional sweepstakes games and accumulate enough for prize redemption.
Sweepstakes casinos often allow you to redeem your SC for real prizes via gift cards or cash prizes.
Sweepstakes Coins don’t come in large quantities in promotions. Also, it’s not purchasable. However, many sweepstakes casinos offer it for free when you buy an optional GC package.
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Sweepstakes casinos have a lot in common with regular online gaming sites. However, there are still a few significant differences.
This table contains the major differences between sweepstakes casinos and traditional online gaming sites:
| Sweepstakes casinos | Traditional Online casinos |
|---|---|
| Doesn’t involve real money | Involves real money |
| Legal in nearly all US states | Legal in only 30 US states |
| Allows prize redemption | Prize redemption is unavailable |
Signing up to play at sweepstakes casinos is usually fast. Here’s how to create an account within seconds at your preferred site:
Choose a site from my list of sweepstakes casinos on the banners on this page. Then, click the ‘Sign Up’ or ‘Register ’ button and enter the necessary details like name, email, age, and password to create your account.
Some sweepstakes casinos allow you to sign up via social media platforms like Facebook or Google. Choose the fastest available option.
After creating an account, the sweepstakes casino will offer you a welcome bonus. Claim this offer to kick-start gameplay without an initial GC purchase.
Some sites also feature first-purchase deals you can grab to increase your coin stash. However, keep in mind that GC pack purchases are completely optional at sweepstakes casinos.
You’ll also find other promotions on the site to ensure you don’t run out of free coins.
Once you’ve claimed your welcome bonus, it’s time to start playing games. Move to the game lobby and select your preferred title. Although slots are the primary category at these sites, some sweepstakes casinos also feature table games, live dealer titles, crash, and fish games.
You can use your SC to play in promotional mode and accumulate enough for prize redemption. You’ll find some sweepstakes casinos with a minimum redemption threshold as low as 25 SC. However, this is usually for gift card redemption.
If you prefer cash prize redemption, it might go up to 100 SC, depending on your chosen sweepstakes casino.
The primary purpose of sweepstakes casinos is to offer free play. You can play games for free at these sites without an initial GC purchase when you take advantage of the following bonuses:
Many sweepstakes casinos reward you for logging in every 24 hours through the daily login bonus. This offer usually comprises Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins, which stack up nicely every day you sign in without fail.
When you invite your game buddies to sweepstakes sites, you’ll receive generous rewards, as these gaming sites usually feature referral bonuses as a part of their promotions.
Note that some sites attach conditions to their referral rewards, such as the amount of GC purchase your friend must make to unlock the offer.
Sweepstakes casinos are often active on social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, and X. Join your chosen site on its pages to participate in contests and land free coins.
Many sweepstakes casinos feature loyalty or VIP programs to reward active users. These schemes come with exciting prizes like priority support, a personal account manager, access to the latest game releases, and birthday gifts.
Sweepstakes gaming sites let you have fun playing casino-style games without breaking the law. I’ve included the top casinos in the US on the banners on this page.
However, before signing up, ensure your chosen site is available in your location.
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