Sweepstakes casinos are all the craze right now, with hundreds of apps offering online casino games with the chance to redeem your coins for cash prizes.
Online sweepstakes casinos are available in the majority of US states and can be played using free daily tokens or with a purchase of coins with real money.
We’ll dive into some of the key features of sweepstakes casinos and take a look at a few of our favorites.
We’ve analyzed dozens of sweepstakes casinos, and decided that these few are the best suited for players looking for a combo of value and entertainment.
Vegas Coins is a legitimate U.S.-based sweepstakes casino offering over 1,200 games, including slots, crash, table, and arcade titles from top providers like Hacksaw and Booming. It operates legally in most states using Gold Coins (GC) and Sweeps Coins (SC), with generous free play incentives like daily bonuses and automatic GC refills.
The platform is mobile-optimized and user-friendly, though it lacks a mobile app and some social features. Vegas Coins is a great choice for casual players seeking variety and safe, sweepstakes-compliant gameplay.
Sweepstakes casinos come in varying levels of quality, so when we’re looking to find the best, we consider the following factors:
We like to check where a sweepstakes casino is available (which states can you play in?). We also double-check the accessibility on mobile and desktop, making sure the apps function properly and the desktop versions are user-friendly.
You come to a sweepstakes casino to play casino games without the risk of losing a lot of money, but that doesn’t mean you should have a small selection of games. We like sites with plenty of options to choose from, spanning the gamut of slots, casual games, and classic table games.
Most sweepstakes casinos take all the popular payment methods, like credit and debit cards, PayPal, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum. We double-check which options are available to make sure your purchase is simple and convenient.
Sweepstakes casinos are platforms that allow you to play casino-style games like slots, blackjack, and roulette without using real money.
Instead, these casinos have their own currencies, such as gems, coins, or tokens, that you can redeem to play games.
One of the key features of sweepstakes casinos is the random drawings and giveaways. These sites operate like lotteries, where using Sweeps Coins or tokens grant you entry to cash prize drawings.
For many people, the sweepstakes nature of the site is only part of the appeal. Most folks like playing slots and other casino games for free, and the bonus chance to win a cash prize is just an addedperk.
Sweepstakes casinos also offer apps you can download from the Google Play or Apple App Stores, making them quite accessible to most Americans.
Sweeps casinos remain compliant with federal and state laws by offering two kinds of currencies.
Tokens that can be redeemed for cash prizes. You can earn Sweeps coins by purchasing Gold Coins, with mail-in entries, social media giveaways, and daily login bonuses.
Can be purchased from the casino store and can’t be used to enter giveaways or contests, but can be used to play games.
Many people are drawn to the free aspect of sweepstakes casinos, because you don’t have to purchase Gold Coins to receive Sweep Coins. Like we mentioned, you’ll often be gifted free tokens for daily activities, and if you’re just playing for fun, there’s no need to purchase additional coins.
You can use the Sweep Coins to redeem real prizes, such as:
Many sweepstakes casinos have their own in-house software for slots and other games. However, some apps use games from reputable software developers such as Pragmatic Play, Evolution, and BetSoft.
For example, Vegas Coins offers games from Booming Games, Hacksaw Gaming, 3 Oaks Gaming, and Mancala Gaming.
You can use your Gold Coins to play thousands of games at most sweepstakes casinos, with slot being the most popular. However, you can also enjoy:
Gambling laws in the United States are fairly strict, but sweepstakes casinos remain legal in 43 states by abiding by sweepstakes and lottery laws.
To be considered a sweepstakes casino, the site has to offer free ways to enter into prize drawings. The Sweeps Coins are “gifted” to users for certain activities, and represent free entry into certain drawings.
Sweepstakes casinos are forbidden to operate in the following states:
Legislation aimed at prohibiting sweepstakes casinos is currently being considered in New York, Ohio, New Jersey, California, Nevada, Montana, and Florida.
Many individual operators have been banned from certain states, but overall, sweepstakes casinos are still available in most of the country.
Pros and Cons of Sweepstakes CasinosPros:
Cons:
You’ve probably heard social casinos used as an interchangeable term for sweepstakes casinos, but the two are actually quite different.
Sweepstakes casinos offer users the chance to redeem coins for real cash prizes or enter drawings for larger prizes.
Social casinos have no redemption options, meaning you’re playing free games with free currency with no option to win real money.
Social casinos are often just mobile games that offer in-app purchases for cosmetics or ad-free experiences, but aren’t considered gambling.
Online social casinos are meant to be fun and stress-free. If you find yourself worrying about winning or playing online, please take a step back. There are plenty of resources out there that can help you game responsibly.
Sweepstakes casinos offer players the opportunity to play their favorite casino games with the option to redeem their points for cash prizes.
These sites are accessible to most Americans who are looking for a low-stakes gaming experience.
Vegas Coins is our top sweeps casino recommendation because it offers over 1,200 games, has nice incentives, and is a well-established platform.
Isaac E. Payne is an experienced technical blogger, creative writer, and lead content manager at GamblingNerd.com. As a published author, he enjoys finding interesting and exciting ways to cover any topic. In his four years on the team, he has covered online gambling and sports betting and excelled at reviewing casino sites. In his free time, he enjoys playing blackjack and reading science fiction.