Sportsgrid Staff
Host · Writer - Published: 03/05/25
Sweepstakes casinos are taking the U.S. and the rest of the world by storm. As you browse the web, you’ll find more and more new sweepstakes sites available. That said, you’ll need to separate the good from the bad.
This guide will teach you how to spot a good site, tell you exactly what to look for in a legitimate sweepstakes casino and show you how to avoid scams. We’ll also list our top-ranked and highly trusted sweepstakes sites, which have met all criteria related to legitimate and legal sweepstakes sites. Let’s get into it!
Sweepstakes casinos are much like traditional casinos; however, you don’t need to make purchases or invest money when playing on these sites. This is because you’ll receive free virtual currency to kickstart your online gaming experience.
Gold Coins (GC) and Sweeps Coins (SC) are the two main types of virtual currencies you’ll find at any legal sweeps site:
You’ll find two types of virtual currencies offered at sweepstakes casinos. Gold Coins are used purely for fun and entertainment—in other words, to play your favorite casino-style games. That said, they do not hold real-world value, so you cannot redeem them for cash prizes or gifts. Gold Coins are obtained in several ways, and it usually start with the welcome bonus from a legitimate sweepstakes casino. After that, you can claim them through ongoing bonuses and promotions, social media giveaways, and VIP programs. What’s more, legal sweepstakes casinos give you the option to purchase Gold Coin packages. While this is not mandatory, the option is available if needed.
Sweeps Coins are the other type of virtual currency offered by legal sweepstakes casinos. Most sweepstakes sites award them as part of the welcome bonus, in addition to Gold Coins. After that, you can obtain more Sweeps Coins through ongoing bonuses, social media giveaways, and loyalty rewards. The key difference is that Sweeps Coins do have real-world value. Once you accumulate enough and play them through according to the sweepstakes site’s requirements, you can request a redemption. Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for gift cards and cash prizes. There is no option to purchase Sweeps Coins. They can only be awarded or given to you but never bought.
In some cases, you’ll see site-specific virtual currencies unique to a particular sweepstakes casino. For example, at Stake.us, you’ll see Stake Cash, which is exclusive to Stake.us and not available elsewhere. At Wow Vegas, you’ll receive Wow Coins (Gold Coins), which function as their proprietary currency.
Here’s what to keep an eye out for:
When looking to play at a legitimate sweepstakes casino, there are a few key factors to keep an eye out for. A legal sweepstakes casino is also a transparent one. This means it should have a separate section or a dedicated page that clearly explains the sweepstakes rules. In most cases, these rules are included under the Terms and Conditions page, but they may be categorized differently depending on the site you’re playing at.
Sweepstakes casinos are free to play, so the sweepstakes site must clearly disclose that no purchase is necessary and reinforce that gameplay is free of charge. In most cases, after explaining this, the sweepstakes site will provide access to various bonuses and promotions to back up this statement.
Sweepstakes casinos do not require a gambling license, as they operate under sweepstakes laws. That said, there’s nothing stopping them from openly disclosing ownership information. This ownership information can usually be found in the website’s footer, Terms and Conditions page, or About Us page.
These sweeps sites have ticked all boxes when it comes to clear ownership info, optional purchases and displaying sweepstakes rules and more:
Stake.us is one of our legitimate sweepstakes casinos with real money prizes, and is available in the U.S. Not only will you find clear terms and conditions and ownership information, but the casino also has stellar ratings of true active users. When you sign up to Stake.us, you’ll receive an amazing welcome bonus of 55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback. All you need to do is enter the promo code SPORTSGRID during the sign-up process to activate this bonus. Once you’re signed up, you can take advantage of the site’s expansive gaming library, which includes slots, table games, a comprehensive poker selection, and Stake Originals.
RealPrize is another well-known name and also one of our best sweepstakes casinos in the gaming industry. Signing up to this site will give you 100,000 Gold Coins and 2 free Sweeps Coins. There’s no need to hunt for bonus or promo codes, all you have to do is complete the registration process. Once you sign up, you’ll have access to more than 350 casino-style games. If you’re into poker, there are several poker variations, including Teen Patti, Texas Hold’em, and Oasis Poker. There’s also the option to redeem Sweeps Coins for gift cards and cash prizes, while mobile players will find a dedicated mobile app or a fully optimized mobile browser experience.
MegaBonanza is another one of the recent or new sweepstakes casinos that is taking the U.S. by storm. You’ll find over 800 casino-style games, including slots and a variety of jackpot games developed by Pragmatic Play. Signing up to MegaBonanza will reward you with 7,500 Gold Coins plus 2 free Sweeps Coins upon registration. There are also ongoing bonuses and promotions, including regular social media giveaways and low prize redemption limits. You can also play free slots on this exciting sweeps site.
The sweepstakes casinos on this page have been vetted and tick all boxes when it comes to safety and legitimacy. That said, there’s nothing stopping you from signing up right now and taking advantage of all they have to offer. Simply click on the banners on this page to go to your desired sweepstakes casino, sign up, claim your free coins, and start playing.
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