What is a sweepstakes casino? That’s something we’re asked a surprising amount here at Dimers. So if you’re interested in learning more about these unique online gaming sites, this could be the resource you’ve been looking for.
Here, we’ve pieced together an introductory guide to sweepstakes casinos, covering all the basics you need to know. We’ll discuss the legality of these sites and how they work, along with the type of games, features, and promotions they offer. Plus, we’ve recommended three sweepstakes casinos that are perfect for new players, including McLuck, WOW Vegas, and Stake.us.
Our favourite sweepstakes casino for beginners is:
If you’re approaching sweepstakes casinos as a complete beginner, there’s a surprising amount to get to grips with. To help, our experts have been busy putting together a handful of useful guides to online sweepstakes, so you can enjoy a fulfilling experience on these unique gaming sites from the get-go.
Of course, a good starting point is to set the scene and fill you in on what sweepstakes casinos actually are. So that’s what we aim to do via the following FAQs, giving you an across-the-board sweepstakes explanation and primer.
A sweepstakes casino is a unique type of online gaming site wherein users can access casino-style games for free. These platforms operate on a strict no-purchase-necessary basis, so you don’t have to make a deposit, pay any fees, or submit any banking information to use them.
Sweepstakes casinos are designed to offer an authentic casino experience without the use of real cash or wagering. To achieve this, they use two types of free-to-collect virtual coins, including gold coins (GC) and sweeps coins (SC). Do note that these tokens may go by different names depending on the site.
Players can collect GC and SC and store them in a virtual bankroll. They can then use these tokens just like regular cash in a real online casino, with the big difference being that no money ever changes hands.
So, why two virtual coins on sweepstakes casinos? This is all to do with activating one of two game modes, with each token allowing users to play in a different way.
Let’s take a closer look at the characteristics of gold coins and sweeps coins.
| Gold coins | Gold coins are the primary play tokens used on sweepstakes casino sites. Think of these as just-for-fun coins that are perfect for sampling new games. Gold coins have no value and cannot be redeemed, but you do have the option to purchase more of them if you run out. |
| Sweeps coins | Sweeps coins are the redeemable play tokens used by sweepstakes casinos. When the right conditions are met, you can exchange any SC you’ve collected and use them to claim real prizes, including things like cash, gift vouchers, and merchandise. Even so, sweeps coins have no monetary value and it’s not possible to purchase more of them. |
Provided you have a stockpile of gold coins or sweeps coins to hand, you should be able to access any game featured in a sweepstakes casino’s library of games. And just like in a regular casino, it is possible to raise or lower the stakes by adjusting how many GC and SC tokens you would like to play with, so you can up the ante or play it safe in whatever way you choose.
One of the main benefits of using sweepstakes casinos vs their real-money counterparts is that they’re widely available throughout the US. Since these gaming platforms aren’t classed as betting sites, they aren’t affected by stringent anti-gambling laws, so it’s possible to use them even in states with a blanket ban on regular casinos and cash wagering outlets.
Even so, you still need to exercise caution before accessing sweepstakes casinos where you live. You see, the legality of these sites is decided on a brand-by-brand and state-by-state basis, so where one site is permitted others may not be. Always check the T&Cs of the site you’re interested in signing up for, as this is where any regional restrictions should be listed.
Anyone asking “what is a sweepstakes casino?” is in for a treat when they discover the huge variety of Vegas-style games on offer on these gaming platforms. From the highest RTP casino slot machines to real-dealer games and arcade-style titles – there’s very little difference between the games available on sweepstakes casinos vs their real-money counterparts, which is excellent news for casino fans who live in a region with few legal alternatives.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at just some of the games you can expect from our list of sweepstakes casinos.
Although not an exhaustive list of games by any means, this should at least give you an idea of the kind of exciting titles you can expect when you sign up at your first sweepstakes casino.
With the big question, “what is a sweepstakes casino?”, now comprehensively answered, it’s time to start thinking about the brands that would best suit beginner players. Happily, you’re in good hands with Dimers, as we’ve tested and reviewed just about every bonafide sweepstakes casino in the US – meaning we’re well-placed to help you land on the very best sweepstakes gaming site that suits you.
With that in mind, here are three sweepstakes casino brands that we think you might like.
What we like most about Stake.us is that it brought new features and games to the sweepstakes arena when others were playing it safe. For example, Stake Originals games were pretty much the first self-produced sweepstakes games we encountered and they still remain some of our favorites to go back to. This was also one of the first sweepstakes brands to introduce community player forums, giving you the ability to chat with your fellow gamers whenever you like.
Despite all these exciting innovations, though, Stake.us still gets all the basics right. We’re talking about a varied and diverse library of games – including free real dealer titles – top bonuses and promotions, and a comprehensive customer support offering. Plus, all new sign-ups at Stake.us can take advantage of our exclusive welcome bonus code, DIMERS, which includes 260,000 Gold Coins, $55 Stake Cash, and 5% Rakeback.
WOW Vegas recently surpassed the one-million-player mark, making it one of the most successful sweepstakes casinos in the US; you could even go as far as to call it a household name at this point. And it’s definitely easy to see why this brand has proven so popular, bringing over 900 premium games – the majority being video slots – thrilling social media contests and tournaments, and lots of well-considered promotions (including eye-catching first-time purchase bonuses that we’d encourage you to check out).
When you sign up at WOW Vegas as a new customer, you receive 150,000 WOW Coins and 3 Sweeps Coins as standard. You can then make use of the brand’s awesome daily rewards bonus to boost your tally of free WOW Coins every 24 hours, or else refer a friend to take advantage of WOW’s in-built referral program. Do bear in mind that you will need to collect 100 Sweeps Coins at WOW Vegas before you can submit a redemption request, which is a slightly higher target than some comparable brands out there.
McLuck hasn’t been around as long as some comparable brands, but don’t let that deter you from giving it a go. We’ve been super impressed by McLuck’s offering so far, not least its huge games library. The brand has sought help from some truly high-end studios to flesh out its games lobby, including the likes of Habanero, Pragmatic Play, and BGaming. That means you can expect top-quality titles from the get-go, with some of our favorites being Big Bass Bonanza, Mayan Cache, Go High Panda, and Tiki Hut Megaways.
Elsewhere, McLuck is no stranger to sweepstakes promotions. Not only do players receive 7,500 Gold Coins when they first register with the site, but there’s also a comprehensive promotions hub where you can access lots of other exciting special offers. That includes the McLuck Loyalty Club, where you can earn points that contribute to additional perks like weekly coin boosts, loyalty tier rewards, and invites to exclusive ticket-only contests and tournaments.
While there’s a lot more to unpack when it comes to sweepstakes casinos online, we hope this resource has at least provided a good starting point for your ongoing experience with these awesome gaming platforms. Once you know the basics of how they work and what their limitations are, you can start to enjoy these unique sites to their fullest – and could even earn yourself a few extra-special rewards along the way.
Before signing up with any new sweepstakes casinos, however, we would encourage you to do plenty of research. This extends from comparing different brands here on the Dimers site to reading T&Cs and sweepstakes rules. That way when you finally do get registered with a site you like, you’ll be well-placed to make the very most of the different coins, deals, and promos at your disposal – as well as how to navigate things like sweepstakes casinos redemption time limits and other rules and restrictions.
No, sweepstakes casinos are completely free to use with no purchases or deposits required. You won’t even need to provide any banking information unless you wish to purchase optional packs of gold coins.
All the games, bonuses, and features offered by sweepstakes casinos are designed to be 100% fair. These sites use algorithmic technology to ensure that the outcome of all games and features are completely random, so you can play with confidence.
So long as you stick to using big-name brands that have been reviewed and tested by us, it’s very safe to play at sweepstakes casinos online. Remember that you don’t have to share a ton of information to start using these sites, and even so, most brands leverage full SSL encryption to keep their customers safe.
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Disclaimer: All of the information on this site is for entertainment purposes only. We do NOT accept bets of any kind. The information we provide is accurate and trustworthy to help you make better decisions. When you click or tap on a link on Dimers that leads to a third-party website that we have a commercial arrangement with (such as an online sportsbook), we may earn referral fees. Dimers does not endorse or encourage illegal or irresponsible gambling in any form. Before placing any wagers with any betting site, you must check the online gambling regulations in your jurisdiction or state, as they do vary. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER. 21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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