What is a sweepstakes casino? That’s something I get asked a lot. But since I’m always happy to help fellow players in need, I should be able to help you get to grips with how these awesome gaming sites work.
Here, I’ve provided a brief explainer on what sweepstakes casinos are and their core benefits, along with links to useful resources to expand on your knowledge. There’s also a list of five sites that I can recommend for sweepstakes casino newbies, so feel free to skip ahead and check those out once you’ve gotten used to the basics.
What is a sweepstakes casino?
Let me give you the short answer to that question first, as there’s a surprising amount to learn when understanding sweepstakes casinos.
Basically, sweepstakes casinos are free-play gaming sites that offer Vegas-style slots, tables, and other types of games. They’re 100% free to use and operate on what’s known as the “dual currency” sweepstakes model – meaning you’ll be playing with free virtual currencies rather than real cash (more on those later).
OK, so that’s sweepstakes casinos explained in under 50 words – quite impressive if I say so myself. At this point, you might like to skip ahead and check out my recommended sweeps casino brands, or else jump into some extended guides to online sweepstakes that you can find here at WagerTalk.
Alternatively, stick with me as I cover some of the other need-to-know aspects of these free-play gaming platforms.
Quick-fire questions about sweepstakes casinos, answered
As mentioned, there’s plenty to know about sweeps casinos online. So if you’re just dipping your toe in, I’ve done my best to answer some key queries you might have right here…
1. What type of games do sweepstakes casinos offer?
Sweeps casinos are designed to simulate an authentic casino experience, so they feature all the same games you might find on the Vegas Strip. Think slots, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and everything in between. The difference? They’re all available to play for free.
Unlike regular casinos, I don’t tend to talk about sweepstakes casino RTP, since you can’t collect winnings through gameplay. However, you can still pick up more free virtual coins when playing sweeps casino games, so things like “multipliers” still apply.
2. What is the difference between a normal casino and a sweepstakes casino?
The main difference is that sweepstakes casinos don’t support real cash wagering, winnings, or withdrawals. Instead, you’ll be playing with free virtual currencies like “Gold Coins” and “Sweeps Coins” – hence the term “dual currency”.
It’s free to collect both Gold and Sweeps Coins at sweepstakes gaming sites, and you can use both to play games for free. Collect enough Sweeps Coins and meet a brand sweepstakes casino playthrough requirements, and you may be able to exchange these virtual coins for real prizes like cash and gift cards.
3. Are sweepstakes casinos legal in the USA?
It’s not really a case of sweepstakes casinos being legal or not in the USA. It’s more a matter of where they’re available and in which states you can access different brands.
Because sweepstakes casinos aren’t classed as regular gambling sites, they aren’t bound by the same federal laws or licensing requirements as regular RMG (real-money gambling) casinos. However, some states may choose not to allow them, so you’ll need to check which brands are permitted in your state before you play.
Five sweepstakes casinos that you might like to try
While there’s still plenty to learn – particularly when it comes to sweepstakes casino redemption time limits – I figured it was high time I stopped waffling and introduced you to some of my favorite brands. After all, since sweeps casinos are free to join, you may as well learn by doing and get stuck straight in.
With that in mind, here are five sweepstakes casinos that I can recommend for complete beginners.
RealPrize – Expect a warm welcome and thousands of free coins
Real Prize In A Nutshell
Newbies will want to get a healthy stack of free GC and SC under their belts, so that they can jump straight into a brand’s library of games. That’s what makes joining RealPrize so appealing, with a massive welcome bonus of 100,000 Gold Coins and 2.5 Sweeps Coins set aside for all new members – plenty of room for a little trial and error.
You’ll need all those free gameplay coins, too, because RealPrize offers well over 1,000 casino-style games, including slots, tables, real dealer games, and self-produced titles. There’s also a mobile app for iOS users, which is great if you want to take those playthroughs mobile.
How To Sign Up
- Visit the Website: Go to the Real Prize website.
- Click on 'Sign Up': Locate the registration button on the homepage.
- Fill Out the Registration Form: Enter your personal details, including your email and phone number.
- Verify Your Account: You may need to confirm your email address or phone number through a verification code.
- Claim Your Bonus: After registration, you can claim any welcome bonuses offered.
- Start Playing: Once your account is set up, you can begin playing games using your Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins
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Sweeps Royal – Over 3,000 casino-style games to play
Sweeps Royal In A Nutshell
Get this: Sweeps Royal boasts over 3,000 games, which is an almost intimidatingly massive library of games. Still, you certainly won’t get bored, and with titles like Stormborn, Buffalo on Fire, Wanted Dead or a Wild, and Starburst Galaxy, it’s not as if Sweeps Royal has relied on quantity over quality when fleshing out its awesome game lobby.
Elsewhere, new members will get 50,000 GC and 1 SC when they register for a Sweeps Royal account, which is still a very respectable sign-up offer even if it isn’t quite as big as RealPrize’s. There’s a daily bonus wheel and weekly rewards with which to top up your tally of free coins whenever you need, too.
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Dara Casino – Watertight game variety
Dara Casino In A Nutshell
Dara Casino can’t match the sheer volume of titles on offer at Sweeps Royal, but it can give you plenty of freedom of choice when it comes to the titles you want to play. I’m talking about slots, tables, fish shooters, scratch cards, bingo, arcade games, real dealers, and more, all in one and all available to play for free. Pretty incredible when you think about it.
Meanwhile, Dara Casino pretty much matches RealPrize’s sign-up offer, dishing out 100,000 GC and 2 SC to all new members. You’ll get a nice daily login bonus whenever you access your account every 24 hours, too, so it pays to stick around and keep spinning those reels and rolling those dice.
How To Sign Up
- Click 'Join Now'
- Enter email address, password, click 'Next'
- Enter first name, last name, state, date of birth, tickboxes for to agree to T&C's.
- Click 'Create An Account'.
LoneStar Casino – A RealPrize sister site that’s become a firm favorite
LoneStar Casino In A Nutshell
LoneStar Casino is developed by the same brand behind RealPrize, and that’s no bad thing. For example, you’ll get the same generous welcome bonus when you sign up and become a member of LoneStar Casino for free, while also having access to a handful of similar games, each produced in-house by the two brands’ parent company, RealPlay Tech Inc.
Although LoneStar Casino only offers around 500 games at the time of writing, its library is growing week by week. There’s some decent variety on display here, too, including instant wins, scratch cards, slots, and classic Vegas-style table games like roulette and blackjack. Hopefully, LoneStar Casino follows suit and adds a live casino and mobile app like its older sibling before long, too.
How To Sign Up
- Click 'Register'
- Sign up via Facebook, Google or Email.
- Enter first name, last name, email, password and tickboxes for over 18 as well as Terms of Service,
- Click 'Create Account'
BONUS
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Jackpota – Premium games from a well-respected sweepstakes gaming outfit
Jackpota In A Nutshell
On paper, Jackpota might seem like the weakest recommendation on my shortlist. For instance, its welcome bonus stands at 7,500 GC and 2.5 SC, which is significantly lower than the likes of RealPrize and LoneStar. It doesn’t offer a particularly big selection of games, either, especially when compared to the likes of Sweeps Royal.
However, when I say that Jackpota is the real deal, I mean it. You see, it might not have a huge games library, but all its titles come courtesy of top-rated studios like Pragmatic Play, Playtech, 3 Oaks Gaming, and BGaming. You’ll also get 1,500 GC and up to 2 SC a day through its daily login bonus, which makes up for its low welcome offer. There’s also the matter of the brand’s reduced 75 SC minimum redemption requirement, which is significantly lower than the 100 SC asked for by other brands on this shortlist. Good to know.
How To Sign Up
- Quick registration process.
- Click 'Join Now'
- Register via Google account or email address.
- Enter email, password, first name, last name, date of birth, referred by (optional), tickboxes for T&C and age verification.
- Click 'Play Now'.
BONUS
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My recommended sweepstakes casinos compared
| Brand | Welcome bonus | Mobile app | Min. SC redemption |
| RealPrize | 100,000 GC + 2.5 SC | Yes – iOS only | 100 SC for cash, 45 SC for gift cards |
| Sweeps Royal | 50,000 GC + 1 SC | No | 100 SC for cash, 50 SC for gift cards |
| Dara Casino | 100,000 Gc + 2 SC | No | 100 SC for cash |
| LoneStar Casino | 100,000 GC + 2.5 SC | No | 100 SC for cash, 45 SC for gift cards |
| Jackpota | 7,500 GC + 2.5 SC | No | 75 for cash, 10 SC for gift cards |
Pros and cons of sweepstakes casinos
- Play casino-style games for free
- Legal in many states
- Free to sign up and play
- Play slots, tables, and live casino games
- Redeem free Sweeps Coins for prizes
- Legal status is decided on a state-by-state basis
That’s a wrap on my sweepstakes casino guide
Though not an exhaustive look at the ins and outs of online sweepstakes casinos, I think this guide should have provided you with a basic grasp of how these free-play gaming sites work. It’s definitely a case of learning by doing with sweeps casinos; once you’ve joined a site and started playing, you’ll soon get the hang of things.
Ready to get started with a new sweepstakes casino in your state? I can recommend the likes of Jackpota, RealPrize, LoneStar Casino, Sweeps Royal, and Dara Casino as solid options for beginner players. Learn more about these sites, their promotions, and their legal states via the links around this page.
Explore the sweepstakes bonuses we love
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What is a sweepstakes casino FAQs
Can you win money on sweepstakes casinos?
No. Although sweepstakes casinos offer you the chance to redeem Sweeps Coins for prizes, this isn’t guaranteed and is subject to T&Cs. You can’t wager, win, or withdraw real money on these sites.
What are the best sweepstakes casinos in the USA?
There are literally hundreds of sweeps casinos to play at in the USA at this point, but some of my favorites include Jackpota, RealPrize, LoneStar Casino, Sweeps Royal, and Dara Casino.
How do you find out which sweepstakes casinos are available in your state?
There are a few different ways to do that. You can check expert reviews here at WagerTalk, send a request to your state’s local gaming commission for information, or check a brand’s T&Cs for a full list of legal states.
