Sweepstakes casinos and regular online casinos both offer the same games and win potential. However, sweepstakes casinos operate under the sweepstakes legal model to avoid violating anti-gambling laws. Instead of allowing deposits, sweepstakes casinos offer their own coins that players can purchase (or receive for free) and use to enjoy the games. Here’s a full breakdown of how sweepstakes casinos work versus regular online casinos.
Sweeps Casinos vs Real Money Casinos: Key Differences at a Glance
| Feature | Sweepstakes Casinos | Real-Money Casinos |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Gold Coins (GC) & Sweepstakes Coins (SC) | USD (real money) |
| Cash Prizes? | Yes – via SC Redemptions | Yes – direct cash payouts |
| Deposit Required? | No | Yes |
| Legality | Available in nearly all U.S. states | Only in 7 regulated states |
| Bonuses | Frequent promos, free SC, low playthrough | Larger bonuses, often with high wagering |
| Playthrough Requirements | Usually 1x | Often 20x–40x on bonuses |
| Games Offered | Slots, blackjack, roulette, bingo, live games | Similar selection, may include sports betting |
| Withdrawal Speed | Typically 1–5 days via bank or crypto | Often faster with e-wallets or banking |
Sweepstakes Casino Model
The sweepstakes casino model typically involves two types of coins: fun-play coins and sweepstakes coins. Fun-play coins are just for playing the games and cannot be redeemed for cash prizes. But when sweepstakes coins are used to play the games, winning coins can be redeemed for a cash prize.
For example, if you play a game with 10,000 fun-play coins and win another 10,000 coins, you simply have 20,000 fun-play coins to use on the games. But if you have 10 sweepstakes coins and win 20 sweepstakes coins, you can redeem those coins for a $20 cash prize or gift card.
Players can receive sweepstakes coins by joining a new sweepstakes casino and by participating in the various casino promotions. No purchase is necessary for the chance to win cash prizes, so players get free coins when they join automatically. However, you must play with the sweepstakes coins before you can redeem them for a prize. Only the sweepstakes coins that you win can be redeemed.
Real Money Casino Model
The regular casino model is simpler. Players deposit money into their casino account, use that money to play the games, and cash out winnings (or whatever is left over). There is no fun-play currency, and the only thing that players need to redeem are comp points from rewards programs.
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Players deposit real money
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Use that money to place wagers on slots, blackjack, roulette, and more
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Withdraw winnings directly to a bank account or payment method
These platforms are licensed by state gaming authorities and usually come with:
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Bigger deposit bonuses
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VIP and loyalty programs
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Sportsbooks and poker rooms
However, they’re only legal in a handful of states.
So Why Play at Sweepstakes Casinos?
Availability
Availability is the main reason why people play at sweepstakes casinos. Real money online casinos are only available in the following states:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
- Rhode Island
- Nevada (Online Poker Only)
If you live outside of those states, sweepstakes casinos are your only option for legal, licensed, and safe casino gaming. Otherwise you would have to join offshore, illegal online casinos, which operate outside of regulations and often have sketchy reputations.
1x Playthrough Requirements on Bonuses
1x Playthrough Requirements on BonusesMost sweepstakes casinos boast a playthrough requirement of just 1x, meaning you only need to play the bonus money one time to cash out winnings. At real-money online casinos, the bonuses are usually bigger, but the playthrough requirements can be as high as 30x or more.
New Opportunities to Win
Even if you have accessibility to real-money online casinos, it could still be worth playing at sweepstakes casinos. On top of the low playthrough requirements, players have access to tons of slots with progressive jackpots, table games with competitive odds, live dealer games, and lucrative rewards programs.
See our full sweepstakes casino guide to learn more about this exciting option for US-based lovers of slots, blackjack, and more.