What is sweepstakes bingo?
Sweepstakes bingo is any online bingo game that is played at a sweepstakes casino. This is different to real money bingo at traditional online casinos, but the basic gameplay and mechanics remain the same. You purchase bingo tickets and are trying to match the numbers on your tickets with the balls that are drawn to potentially get prizes. Below, we explain the basics of sweepstakes casinos, online bingo, and the types of games you can enjoy.
Understanding how sweepstakes casinos work
Before we look at the actual bingo games, you need to understand how
sweepstakes casinos
work as they are different from real money sites. You don’t make real money deposits here, and you can’t play the games for real money. Instead, these sites typically have two virtual currencies that you can get for via a range of different promotions. The virtual currencies are often Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, and work as follows:
- Gold Coins:
You can switch to GC mode and play bingo using your Gold Coins. You then have the chance to get Gold Coin prizes back. Gold Coins are purely for fun and have no other function. They cannot be redeemed for cash prizes like SC, and you should never be able to swap your GC for SC.
- Sweeps Coins:
There is also usually an SC game mode where you can play bingo using Sweeps Coins. In this game mode, you can potentially get SC prizes. Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for cash prizes if you meet the eligibility requirements. These include having a verified ID, having a minimum SC balance, and meeting the bonus SC playthrough requirements.
The basic rules of sweepstakes bingo online
The only difference between sweepstakes bingo and regular bingo is what you use to play the games with. For sweepstakes bingo, you are using virtual currencies like Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, whereas at regular casinos, you’ll be using real money such as USD.
The games are split into rounds, and for each round, you can purchase a single or multiple bingo tickets. On each ticket, you will have a configuration of individual numbers that have a range depending on the type of game you are playing. For example, with 30-ball bingo, the tickets will have a random configuration of numbers from 1-30.
The game starts, and random balls are drawn from a set pool of balls that matches the number range on your ticket. You then have to match the numbers on your tickets with the numbers of the balls that are drawn. Prizes are given to the first people who get specific prize combinations of numbers on their tickets. Examples of common prize combinations include:
| Prize |
How it Works |
| Line |
Matching all the numbers on a single line or row of your bingo ticket. |
| Two Lines |
Matching all the numbers on two lines or rows of your bingo tickets. |
| Full House |
Matching every number on your bingo ticket. |
| Corners |
Matching the numbers in the four corners of your bingo ticket. |
| Diagonal |
Matching a diagonal line of numbers, usually starting from the center number. |
Each round can have multiple different prizes. For example, traditional 90-ball bingo often starts with a single line prize, then two lines, and finishes with the full house.
Different types of online bingo games
With the basics out of the way, we can look at the specific game types. We think it’s important to understand the different game types as they can give you a very different bingo experience. There can be variations on these four games, and other themed titles, but the table below explains the four most common types of sweepstakes bingo games:
| Sweepstakes Bingo Game |
Number Range |
How it Works |
| 30-ball |
1-30 |
The tickets are a 3x3 grid with 9 numbers on. There is usually only one prize for the full house. |
| 75-ball |
1-75 |
The tickets are a 5x5 grid with the center tile blank. Prizes can include corners, diagonals, lines, and the full house. |
| 90-ball |
1-90 |
The tickets are 9x3 and usually have 15 numbers total. The classic prizes start with a single line, then two lines, and finish with the full house. |
| Jackpot Bingo |
Varied |
Jackpot bingo can be any of the above games, but there is usually an additional progressive jackpot bonus that can be randomly triggered from specific combinations of numbers. |
Pros and cons of sweepstakes bingo
Sweepstakes bingo is undoubtedly fun to play, but there are some potential drawbacks, reflected by the pros and cons below:
Pros and Cons
- Lots of game variety
- Multiple game types
- Community gameplay
- Potential big prizes
- No real money gameplay
- Not as active as other game types
How to get started playing at bingo sweepstakes sites
If you’ve liked what you’ve seen so far, you need to know how to get started at sweepstakes casinos so you can enjoy online bingo. You’ll need to think about which site you go with, create an account, and get your welcome bonus if there is one available and we explain these three processes below.
Choosing a sweepstakes bingo site
Some social casinos are better than others and it can be tricky finding a great option for bingo. This is because it’s not as popular as other game genres like slots and table games, and not every social casino will feature it. When looking for bingo sweepstakes sites, the first thing you should do is check the game library to make sure they have bingo.
Next, look at the types of bingo games, the prizes, and the minimum ticket purchase limits. Once you are happy that the site offers the bingo games you want to play, spend a little time assessing the usability of the site, the mobile accessibility, and the GC and SC promos they offer. It could also be worth looking at the other games on offer, so you can have a break from bingo.
Registering an account at a social bingo site
To play bingo games, you need to register an account at your chosen site, and this can be done via these steps:
-
Tap one of our featured bingo site links.
-
Click the relevant registration button.
-
Follow the registration instructions.
-
Provide any personal details needed.
-
Accept terms and conditions.
-
Enter a promo code if required.
-
Finish the form.
-
Complete any verification such as email or SMS.
-
Log in to your new sweepstakes casino account.
You should be able to get started within a few minutes and once you’ve logged in, you will be able to browse the game library and find the bingo games.
Getting your sweepstakes casino welcome bonus
You’ll need some virtual currencies if you want to play bingo, and the great news is that there’s usually a big
no deposit welcome bonus
waiting for you when you sign up. Typically, a sweepstakes casino welcome bonus will include a lump sum of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, plus some optional discounted Gold Coin packages that might also give you SC as a bonus after the GC purchase.
To get this welcome bonus, all you need to do usually is register and verify your ID. Just double check though, as sometimes a specific promo code or bonus code is also needed and you’ll most likely have to enter this during the registration form. You can check out the recommended bingo sites we’ve featured on this page for inspiration and to see what types of bonuses you can get.
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3.
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5.
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Tips for playing sweepstakes bingo
Bingo is not like other
sweepstakes games
and you need to have a more concentrated and tactical approach when picking and playing these games if you want to try and be effective. There’s no real strategies to learn like table games, but you do have to think about other factors like player activity, how many tickets you purchase, and the game formats. Below, we’ve listed four simple tips you can follow to get started.
🎲 Gauge the high and low points for activity
With online bingo, you are playing against other players. Theoretically, the more players in the games, the less chance you have of getting prizes. Now, many people love to play for the community aspect and enjoy chatting with other players, so in this instance, busier game lobbies are better as you’ve got more potential people to talk to.
However, if you want to play effectively, it could be worth looking for periods of low activity when the games have less players. This should theoretically give you a better chance of getting prizes. However, you also have to consider that less players usually means a smaller overall prize pool.
💡 Understand the different game formats
The bingo games themselves also have pros and cons and it’s important that you understand how they work, and how the game type affects your chances of potentially getting prizes. 30-ball games offer some of the quickest bingo rounds available as the tickets only have 9 numbers. Purchasing multiple tickets for these games can work great, but you also have to consider that there is only a prize for a full house, so they are all-or-nothing games.
In contrast, games like 75-ball and 90-ball are longer, but you have multiple potential prizes such as a line, two lines, and the full house. Take the time to learn about the different game types, their prize systems, and other factors. From there, you can think about which bingo games you think are better suited to your playstyle.
🎟️ Consider the pros and cons of multiple bingo tickets
Another main strategic element of playing sweepstakes bingo is how many tickets you purchase for each game. Usually, for each round of online bingo, you can purchase multiple tickets if you wish, but there are pros and cons to both approaches.
If you only purchase one ticket, you are using less of your Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins and thus will conserve your virtual currency balance better, and be able to play more games in the long run. The downside is that you have a smaller chance of matching numbers and getting prizes.
Alternatively, if you purchase multiple tickets, theoretically, for every additional ticket you purchase, you are increasing your chances of getting prizes and matching numbers. However, the downside is obviously that you are using more of your virtual currencies per game. Think about which approach you would prefer and perhaps try out different strategies.
🎉 Look for bingo-related promotions
Social casinos are bursting with promotions and ways to potentially get more Gold Coins and
free SC Coins. We’ve found generally that the more active you are, the more potential promotions you can get. If you want to minimize the amount of Gold Coins packages you purchase, it’s a great idea to look out for the following promo types and features:
- Daily login bonuses.
- Mail-in bonuses (Alternative Method Of Entry).
- Social media contests and giveaways.
- Refer-a-friend schemes.
- VIP programs.
- Loyalty schemes.
- Random bonus drops.
- Email promotions.
These are usually generic promotions, but you might also find bingo-specific bonuses such as bonus tickets or low-entry games hosted periodically.
Three of the best bingo sweepstakes sites to try today
So you can sign up and start enjoying sweepstake bingo straight away, we’ve hand-picked three excellent sites for you. These social casinos all feature bingo games, plus hundreds of other awesome casino-style titles. You’ll also be able to get a chunky welcome bonus when you sign up. We’ve summarized the welcome bonuses and bingo game availability in the below table, and you can read a mini review for each site after:
| Sweepstakes Casino |
Welcome Bonus |
Bingo Games |
| WOW Vegas |
250,000 WC and 5 SC |
10 |
| Pulszbingo.com |
5,000 GC and 2 SC |
5+ |
| Spinfinite |
3,000 GC and mystery bonus |
5+ |
WOW Vegas - multiple themed bingo games
WOW Vegas: Pros & Cons
- Solid No Deposit Bonus
- Great Bonus Variety
- Lots of Payment Methods
- No Table Games
- Lower Than Average Referral Bonus
Our top pick for sweepstakes bingo is WOW Vegas as this operator has one of the best collections of bingo games available. They have 10 different titles including Elf Bingo, Bingo Star, Sticky Feet Reel Bingo, Deep Sea Dollars Reel Bingo, Tiki Bar Reel Bingo, and Lost in the Wild Reel Bingo. These games are provided by Readyplay and from our testing, they appear to be on rotation 24/7. WOW Vegas does have plenty of other games too, including video slots, and a brilliant live dealer collection from ICONIC21.
If you use our links and get signed up here, you get a welcome bonus of 250,000 WOW Coins and 5 Sweeps Coins, and there is an enhanced daily login bonus for the first three days that also gives you 250,000 WC and 5 SC in total. The site has loads of other features like a daily prize wheel, mail-in bonus, and game challenges.
Pulsz Bingo: Pros & Cons
- Free Bingo Ticket Giveaways
- Affordable GC Packages
- Bingo Tournaments
- Few Table Games
- No Live Chat
Pulszbingo.com has been around for years, and it was one of the original sweepstakes casino bingo sites together with its sister site Pulsz.com. This site has a great collection of online bingo games and whenever we log in here, there are usually a lot of people playing. You can play the bingo games in both GC and SC mode, and from what we can see, there are games virtually 24/7 that you can join.
For promotions, Pulszbingo.com starts you with a 5,000 GC and 2 SC welcome bonus, which is on par with the average that we expect from social casinos. There’s also a daily prize drop where you can get up to 500 SC, a mail-in bonus of 5 SC, and a tiered VIP scheme that can give you boosts to your optional Gold Coin packages.
Spinfinite - cool Hold and Win slots
Spinfinite: Pros and Cons
- Great Selection of Slots
- Good Loyalty Program
- Excellent First Purchase Bonus
- No Live Chat
- No Deposit Bonus Could be Bigger
Spinfinite features a small collection of online bingo games and from our experience, there’s generally a decent amount of people playing. The games are mainly classic 90-ball, but you can find some other versions too. Aside from the online bingo, this social casino also offers slots, arcade games, and fishing games from top developers like Evoplay, Fantasma, 4ThePlayer, and 3 Oaks Gaming.
So you can enjoy bingo for free, when you sign up with this site using our links, you’ll get an initial welcome bonus of 3,000 Gold Coins. Not only that, but you also get a mystery bonus which can include GC and SC. This mystery bonus is then available every day as your daily login bonus. There’s also a chunky VIP club with lots of potential prizes and features, a 3 SC mail-in bonus, and a referral bonus of up to 20 SC per person.
Give sweepstakes bingo a try now at one of our top sites
If you want a break from the bright lights and flashy graphics of video slots and other casino-style games, why not take a step back, and dive into a thrilling game of sweepstakes bingo? Online bingo gives you a completely different gaming experience where you get to compete against other players for virtual currency prizes. Whether it’s fast-paced 30-ball games, classic 90-ball action, or unique 75-ball games with different potential prize combos, there’s something for everyone at these sites.
For those who have been looking for a little bingo action, you can get started with one of the three sweepstakes casinos we’ve recommended above. WOW Vegas is our top pick and we think this offers the most extensive range of bingo games, but Pulszbingo.com and Spinfinite are also fantastic options. Remember, to start gaming, all you need to do is click the links or banners featured here, sign up, and get your welcome bonus.
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Sweepstakes bingo FAQs
💰 Can you win real money playing online bingo?
Not from the games themselves. You play sweepstakes bingo using your virtual currencies, not real money. You therefore have the chance to get GC or SC prizes in return for your bingo tickets. Sweeps Coins might be able to be redeemed for cash prizes, provided you have verified your ID, have the minimum required balance, and have met the playthrough requirement for bonus SC.
🛠️ How do bingo sweepstakes sites work?
Instead of playing bingo games for real money, you use virtual currencies which are usually Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. You can get these via different promos like the welcome bonus, daily login bonus, and social media contests. GC has no value, but Sweeps Coins can potentially be redeemed for cash prizes.
🏆 Which is the best type of sweepstakes bingo game?
This depends on what you want from your bingo experience. If you prefer lightning fast rounds, 30-ball bingo games are the best option as they last less than a minute. However, if you want a more traditional online bingo game, classic 90-ball bingo is one of the top choices, as there are usually multiple different prize combinations per ticket.
🎯 What is the best strategy for sweepstakes bingo?
Ultimately, you are depending on the balls that are pulled, so there is no way to guarantee prizes. However, you can think about things like how many tickets you purchase for each game, the types of bingo games you play, and when you play them. These factors should combine together to make your sweepstakes bingo strategy.
🌍 Where is sweepstakes bingo available?
This varies from site to site. Each sweepstakes casino has different state and age availability. In most cases, you have to be a US resident and over 18 to register at one of these operators. However, you must also check the state availability.
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by
Mac Douglass
as part of our fact-checking process.
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