Sweepstakes casinos are all the rage. The online gambling landscape in North America is a legal minefield, with each U.S. state having its own laws that either offer legal casino options at a state-regulated level or prohibit online casino gaming entirely. Up north in Canada, it is a similar situation. Of course, you can always choose to play at offshore sites, but this isn’t always safe, and doing so sees you playing in a legal grey zone. This is where sweeps casinos come into the picture.
Sweepstakes casinos are social casinos
Sweeps casinos provide U.S. and Canadian players the ability to play their favourite games for free and still offer them the potential to win real money. How is this possible, and more importantly, how is it legal? Join GamesBelt as we explain everything you need to know about sweepstakes casinos right here.
What Are Sweeps Casinos?
Sweepstakes casinos are social casinos that are popular in the United States and Canada. Their gameplay hinges on their ability to offer you gambling games without requiring you to gamble. Confused? Don’t worry, we’ll explain.
Instead of depositing real money into a casino account, sweeps casinos provide you with free coins to use on games. However, unlike other social casinos, sweepstakes casinos allow you to win another type of coin, which can be accumulated and thankfully redeemed for real cash prizes.
Ordinarily, you’ll come across two different types of coins at sweepstakes casinos, although they may go by different names. Here’s how they work:
- Gold Coins: These are awarded for free (in small numbers) via bonuses, or you can buy larger coin packages from the cashier. They can be used to play casino games.
- Sweeps Coins: These cannot be purchased. They are given freely in coin packages, can be won via promotions, and, in most cases, are won by playing games at the sweeps site./
Gold coins are strictly used for playing games. They cannot be redeemed for real money prizes. However, sweeps coins cannot be purchased or gambled. They are awarded to players and can be exchanged (known in the sweeps world as “redeeming”) for real cash prizes. The value of the coins varies from site to site. Most sweeps coins have a rate of 1SC for $1 USD, but you can check this at the site you choose to play.
How Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal?
Sweepstakes are legal because they differ from real money casinos. They don’t actively allow you to wager real money. The defining feature of sweepstakes casinos is that they must be “free to play”. Because sweeps sites offer you gold coins for free, they don’t constitute gambling. You are also entitled to purchase gold coin packages to boost your gaming balance, but this is no different than doing so in mobile app games, which also doesn’t constitute gambling.
Because you’re not actively gambling with real money and are instead betting for fun (even if real money prizes are awarded to victors), sweeps sites don’t fall foul of most gambling laws. In the United States, only Washington and Alabama have outright banned them.
Games at Sweeps Casinos
Wondering what you can play at sweepstakes casinos? Well, you can play virtually the same sorts of games you’ll find in a real money casino. Top software providers associated with sweepstakes casinos include Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, Games Global, Red Tiger Gaming, Big Time Gaming, Play ‘n Go and many other household names.
This means that you can expect to find top-tier slots, RNG table games, and even live dealer casino games. Some of the bigger sweeps casinos also have their own in-house titles for you to choose from, allowing you to play games that you simply won’t find anywhere else. Just like real-money casinos, these games are mobile-optimised and RNG-certified for fair play.
How to Redeem Sweeps Coins for Real Cash Prizes
You can only snap up sweeps coins as rewards for winning in casino games. Assuming you bag a stash of sweeps coins, what can you do with them? Redeeming them is the smartest thing. This is the sweeps casino equivalent to withdrawing at online casinos. Here’s how it works:
- Do Your Homework: First, work out how many sweeps coins you have and what the redemption rate is. It may be as simple as 1 SC = $1 USD. If not, ensure you figure it out ahead of time. Also, if there are wagering requirements (these are often 1x), be sure to clear them. Unlike online casinos, you won’t need to clear a KYC step when redeeming your coins, as you must do this after registering at sweepstakes casinos instead.
- Redeem Your Coins: Now you can head to the cashier screen and select “redeem”. Enter the number of sweeps coins you wish to redeem, ensuring that it is both an amount you have at hand and within the limits set by the sweepstakes casino. Each site will have a minimum redemption limit, so you’ll need to ensure that you’re trying to redeem at least that figure. Some may even have a maximum limit, but this isn’t as common.
- Choose Your Payment Method: Now choose your preferred payment method. The availability of options here varies depending on where you play. Transaction times may also vary, as will transfer limits. However, there shouldn’t be any fees involved for this step. Be sure to enter your details correctly.
- Approve the Transaction: Finally, approve the redemption. In most cases, your sweeps casino will immediately approve the transfer. They don’t tend to mess around with pending periods like online casinos. Even so, it can still take a few days for you to receive your real cash prizes.
Some states apply taxes to winnings from sweepstakes casinos, so you should read up and work out if that’s the case for you. If so, be prepared to declare your haul. If not, then lucky you!
The Benefits of Sweeps Casinos
Playing at real money casinos can be fun, but it isn’t always practical for everyone. Therefore, sweeps casinos have their place in the online betting world. Might there be some other perks to these sites, though? As it happens – there is. Here are the primary benefits of choosing to play at sweepstakes casinos today:
- Sweepstakes casinos are open to many U.S. and Canadian players who can’t access real money casinos because their state or province hasn’t legalised them yet.
- Sweeps casinos do not require a licence to operate, as they don’t offer gambling services.
- You can still win real money prizes, and unless you purchase gold coin packages, the entire experience can be free.
- Tournaments, giveaways, and chat rooms form budding communities where you and your fellow players can talk and become friendly.
- You can play top-tier, brand-name games and enjoy the thrill of playing online without risking your own money or ending up falling victim to problem gambling. Sweeps sites also have responsible gambling tools in place to limit your activity if you wish.
In terms of drawbacks, there really aren’t many. If we had to name some, we’d say that sweepstakes casinos aren’t ideal for high rollers, as you can’t wager real money. Also, while impressive, the game library tends to be a touch smaller than you’d find at real money casino sites.
How to Join Sweepstakes Casinos Today
If joining a sweepstakes casino ticks your boxes, where do you begin? Our team at GamesBelt has played at many sweeps sites over the last few years and has put together the definitive starter guide for you. Here’s what you need to know:
- Join an Eligible Sweeps Site: Players across the U.S. and Canada can access most sweepstakes casinos. However, some sites do have regional restrictions. Be sure that you choose a sweeps site which is definitely legal in your state, province or territory.
- Register As a New Player: Complete the e-registration form to become a new player at the sweepstakes casino. You will need to confirm your new account and sign in.
- Verify Your Identity: Most sweeps casinos want you to verify your identity before they let you play. This means providing them with your Social Security Number, but also a form of ID, and potentially your residence details. This can take up to 24 hours, but many of the better sweepstakes casinos have almost instantaneous verification times.
- Claim Your Bonus: You will likely receive a bonus for joining. This will be sizable and allow you to get started playing games straight away. It may even come with a few sweeps coins thrown in. Unlike real money casino bonuses, welcome bonuses at sweepstakes casinos are free.
- Start Playing: You now use your gold coins to play games at the sweeps casino. Hold onto any sweeps coins you receive, as you can redeem those for real cash prizes once you have enough.
Don’t worry if you run out of gold coins. You’ll receive new ones the next day or by claiming a promotion. If you want to keep playing immediately, you can head over to the sweeps cashier page and select “buy coin packages” or another similar option. This will let you buy gold coins using one of the site’s accepted payment methods. These packages are worth all sorts of sums, and a few of them give you sweeps coins as a bonus. Of course, you’re under no obligation to do this, as part of the fun of playing at sweeps casinos is playing for free and winning real money.
Sweepstakes Casino FAQs
Are sweepstakes casinos licensed and regulated?
Normally, no. Because they aren’t offering bona fide gambling games, they don’t need to be. However, they can still support responsible gaming tools and policies and are often still regulated through third-party auditors.
Do I have to pay tax on the real money prizes at sweeps sites?
That depends on where you play. In U.S. states where taxes are required, there is often a limit which is tax-free. In most cases, that will be $5,000. Therefore, some sweeps sites don’t allow you to cash out more than that, so you can avoid this eventuality. Always check the laws of your state before you sign up and play.
Do I need to verify my ID before playing at sweepstakes casinos?
Yes. Sweepstakes casinos require you to verify your identity before playing. If you’re based in the U.S., this means providing your Social Security Number and a valid form of identity. You won’t be able to play until you do.
Can I claim bonuses and promotions at sweeps casinos?
For the most part, yes. Each sweeps casino has its own promos and bonuses. Most tend to offer “special offers” when you purchase gold coins. However, promos at sweepstakes casinos are generally free coin deals and don’t work in the same way as online casino bonuses.
Do sweepstakes casinos have wagering requirements?
Yes. However, the very best sweepstakes casinos will have playthrough rates of just 1x. This means that you only need to wager your bonus once before you can redeem your prizes.
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