Best Sweepstakes Casinos for Real Money Prizes April 2024
| Online Casinos · Sweepstakes Casinos |
While New Jersey has had legal real money online casinos since 2012, other states have been slow to follow suit.
The practice is also available in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and West Virginia, but users elsewhere seem to be out of luck at first glance.
Fortunately, sweepstakes casinos are available in most U.S. jurisdictions. While different than real money casinos, sweepstakes casinos allow you to play many of the same games and compete for real money prizes.
Learn more about how you can get in on the fun with sweepstakes casinos regardless if you're in a legal online gambling state. We explain how the currency system works, list the best operators, and more.
WHAT IS A SWEEPSTAKES CASINO?
Much like how bingo in the U.S. adheres to laws separate from casino-style games, a sweepstakes casino functions via sweepstakes laws that differ from state to state.
Are sweepstakes casinos legal? Yes, sweepstakes casinos are perfectly legal as long as you're in a state that permits them. Most states do, although some have restrictions or outright bans.
Users at sweepstakes casinos gamble with virtual coins rather than real money. Through virtual currencies like Gold Coins (GC) and Sweepstakes Coins (SC), online sweepstakes casinos provide casino games to eligible players.
Sweepstakes casino games may include table games and even feature live dealers. However, they primarily offer dozens, if not hundreds, of slot games from reputable software providers like Pragmatic Play, Habanero, and High 5 Games.
WHAT ARE SWEEPS COINS?
Sweeps Coins are a virtual currency at sweepstakes casinos that allow you to play for cash prizes. While you can't buy SCs directly, you can earn them from daily logins or by purchasing Gold Coins. Users may also send mail-in requests to a sweepstakes casino for free Sweeps Coins.
Most sweepstakes casinos pair Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins as a welcome bonus for first-time users. Players may also acquire more Gold Coins via daily login bonuses and Gold Coin packages.
Gold Coins are a virtual currency for entertainment, and you can’t win real cash prizes with them. You can only win cash prizes and real money when you play games with Sweepstakes Coins.
Here are a few key things to remember about Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins at reputable sweepstakes casinos:
- Before you purchase Gold Coins, sweeps casinos typically offer a welcome bonus with free Gold Coins. The bonus might also come with Sweeps Coins, though not every sweepstakes casino offers SCs as part of the signup package.
- When you purchase Gold Coins, they may also come with Sweeps Coins.
- Most sweepstakes casinos allow players to switch between using Gold Coins and Sweep Coins from their account dashboard or through in-game settings.
- Gold Coins are not available for cash prizes. You can only redeem Sweeps Coins for real money when you wager them at slot games, table games, etc.
- You can win Sweeps Coins when you wager them. Like traditional online casinos, there’s usually a wagering requirement before you can redeem Sweeps Coins for cash prizes and real money.
One SC typically equals $1. Check the sweepstakes casino for more information on redeeming your Sweeps Coins for real money and cash prizes.
BEST SWEEPSTAKES CASINOS TO PLAY FOR CASH PRIZES April 2024
When you play casino-style games at sweepstakes casinos, the chances of winning cash prizes from wagering Sweepstakes Coins makes the experience even more enjoyable.
We’ll break down the best sweepstakes casinos and their welcome bonus promos that provide Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins for opportunities to win real money and redeem cash prizes.
HIGH 5 CASINO
The High 5 Casino is a sweepstakes casino product from High 5 Games. Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Malta, High 5 Games offers three decades of gaming experience. They also maintain partnerships in the gaming industry and license casino games at real money casinos.
Two separate platforms exist for the High 5 Casino: the H5C Classic Platform and the H5C Sweeps Platform. On the H5C Sweeps Platform, players may choose between Standard Social Gameplay and Sweeps Play, the latter allowing you to wager and win Sweeps Coins. Also noteworthy are their "Gold Coins," called H5C Coins or Game Coins.
First-time players at the High 5 Casino receive FREE 250 Game Coins, 5 Sweeps Coins + 600 Diamonds!
Over 800 casino games are at High 5 Casino, including 600 slots with titles like Fire Stampede Connect & Collect, Sugar Rush, and Joker’s Jewels. Slots comprise categories ranging from Jackpots to Traditional Games. Hundreds of Exclusives and dozens of Variety Games like Plinko and Slingo titles are also available.
Somewhat rare for a sweepstakes casino, High 5 also offers live dealer games. Titles include Limitless Blackjack, Casino Hold ’em, European Auto Roulette, Las Vegas Roulette, and Macau Baccarat.
The High 5 Casino offers its sweepstakes casino via desktop/mobile browser versions. You can also download the iOS and Android mobile apps, the latter having over 1 million downloads on Google Play. To be eligible to win cash prizes and real money, players must create an account and wager Sweeps Coins. (Click the green SC button at the top of the screen on the Sweeps Platform.)
The sweepstakes casino version of the High 5 Casino is unavailable in Michigan, Nevada, Idaho, and Washington state.
PULSZ CASINO
Based in Gibraltar, Yellow Social Interactive Limited owns and operates Pulsz Casino. Launched in 2020, the sweepstakes casino is available via desktop and mobile browser versions and iOS and Android casino mobile apps to players in 45 states (excluding Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Idaho, and Washington).
First-time players at Pulsz Get up to 367,000 Gold Coins + 32.3 FREE Sweepstakes Coins after registering a new account.
With one of the most straightforward layouts among sweepstakes casinos, Pulsz offers various casino games, primarily in the slots category. Top games include Starburst, Starburst XXXtreme, and Laughing Buddha. The limited selection of table games features Texas Hold 'em Poker and Multihand Blackjack.
We like Pulsz as a sweepstakes casino for beginners as it has an accessible platform that makes it easy to buy Gold Coins and play online casino games. You can track your progress with a Redeem button to see when you're eligible to win cash prizes after wagering 1x of your free Sweeps Coins.
The simplicity of redeeming cash prizes is an excellent feature for new players at one of the top online sweepstakes casinos.
WOW VEGAS
WOW Vegas is a sweepstakes casino that offers over 700 casino-style games for slot enthusiasts. It first launched among sweepstakes casinos in 2023 and now has Paris Hilton as a brand ambassador amidst a WOW Vegas rebrand.
When players create a new account at WOW Vegas Casino, they Get 1.5 Million WOW Coins + 30 Sweepstakes Coins for just $9.99!
While the High 5 Casino and the Pulsz Casino allow new players to sign up via email or social media accounts, the WOW Vegas Casino requires first-time users to register with their email addresses.
The recently updated platform at WOW Vegas offers a sleek layout with various categories for casino games, including Prize Drops, Classic Slots, Megaways, Jackpots, and Popular titles. Like the Pulsz Casino, you can switch between a "Dark" or "Light" theme for the background.
Top software providers for casino games at WOW Vegas include Betsoft, Evoplay, NetGaming, Habanero, and Pragmatic Play.
Players in MI, NV, ID, and WA are not eligible to play casino games at the WOW Vegas sweepstakes casino.
CHUMBA CASINO
Founded in 2010, VGW Holdings is a social gaming company headquartered in Perth, Australia. Using the sweepstakes casino model, VGW launched Chumba Casino in 2012. (They launched additional sweepstakes casinos, Global Poker and LuckyLand slots, in 2016 and 2018.)
Chumba Casino offers desktop and mobile browser versions and iOS and Android mobile apps, which are available as Chumba Lite.
Like WOW Vegas, there are two welcome bonus promos for first-time players.
New users may receive 2 million Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins for a no-deposit welcome bonus. A second welcome bonus is available for $10 to get 2 million Gold Coins plus 30 Sweeps Coins.
Over 150 casino games at the Chumba Casino include slots, bingo, solitaire, jackpots, and table games (blackjack and video poker).
Like most sweepstakes casinos, to withdraw your Sweeps Coins winnings at the Chumba Casino, you must stack a minimum of 100 Sweeps Coins. (Other sweepstakes casinos may require a minimum of 10 Sweeps Coins for cash prizes in the form of an electronic gift card.)
The Chumba Casino is unavailable to players when they're in MI, MT, and WA.
FUNZPOINTS
With an office in Wilmington, DE, Woopla Gaming owns and operates the Funzpoints sweepstakes casino. The casino games come from in-house developers, listing about 100 titles.
New players may receive 200 free Sweeps Coins for completing their player profiles. Collecting tickets allows players to become eligible for nightly drawings for free Sweeps Coins.
A FunzWheel (similar to the High 5 Casino) also provides Sweeps Coins and free tickets. Players can get 500 free Sweeps Coins and 10 tickets from a mail-in request.
In Standard Mode, you can play for free Funzpoints and earn them during nightly jackpot draws. Premium Mode allows users to play casino games for real money to win real cash prizes.
After registering for a new account with an email address, you can choose between the different modes. You must complete your profile to purchase Funzpoints or use Premium Mode to unlock all the casino games.
The welcome bonus comes with 1,000 Standard Funzpoints, and you can get 250 Premium Funzpoints for completing your profile.
As one of the only sweepstakes casinos to exclusively offer in-house slot games, there’s also entertaining background music with an interactive platform that requires players to play certain casino-style games to unlock new ones.
The Funzpoints sweepstakes casino is unavailable to players in Idaho.
HOW TO CHOOSE AN ONLINE SWEEPSTAKES CASINO
With so many options available, finding the best sweepstakes casino with real cash prizes can be challenging. Sweeps cash casinos, like real money casinos, entice new users with casino bonuses.
Virtual currencies from a welcome bonus at sweepstakes casinos may include free Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. We recommend choosing a sweepstakes casino with a generous signup offer so you can optimize your playtime and chances to win.
Finding an option that offers hundreds of casino-style games is also valuable, as you'll want to have fun while playing. Whether you're into slots or table games, be sure to pick a platform with a good selection.
Here are a few more tips for choosing the best sweepstakes casino:
- Make sure one of our recommended sweepstakes casinos is legal in your state.
- Check online reviews before you play games at sweepstakes casinos. Only use sweepstakes casino sites that are reliable and safe.
- Like real money online casinos, sweeps casinos should provide excellent customer support.
- Try to find sweepstakes casino sites that offer classic table games and even allow you to wager Sweeps Coins on live dealer games.
SIGNING UP AT ONLINE SWEEPSTAKES CASINOS
Registering an account at online sweepstakes casinos is much simpler than getting started at real money online casinos. It’s also easier to receive your casino bonus, which doesn’t require anything other than signing up at a sweepstakes casino.
Here are steps you’ll need to take to claim a welcome bonus of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins (if they’re available) and play sweepstakes casino games:
- Choose a sweepstakes casino from our list of recommended options.
- Click "Sign Up" or "Register." In many cases, you can sign up with Apple, Google, Facebook, or email address.
- Some sweepstakes casinos may require you to enter your first name, last name, country, state, and date of birth.
- You may also need to confirm that you’re 18 or older and not a resident of the casino's “restricted territories.”
- Click "Join Now" or "Play Now" to finish signing up.
ADDING FUNDS
Remember, no purchase is necessary to play sweepstakes casino games. For example, you can use your free coins from your welcome bonus at slot games and table games. However, adding funds at sweepstakes casinos is similar to depositing at real money online casinos.
Sweeps casinos (or sweeps cash casinos) offer an online sweepstakes model whereby purchasing Gold Coins means players might also get more Sweeps Coins. Free coins can also come from welcome bonuses, daily login bonuses, free spins, and additional virtual currency prizes.
Frequent players can buy a Gold Coin packages that may come with Sweeps Coins. Users become eligible to win real money and cash prizes only when they use Sweepstakes Coins to play casino-style games at sweeps casinos.
In addition to a welcome bonus, new players may get a discount when buying Gold Coins. You can then wager your free coins—Sweeps Coins that come with your discounted package of Gold Coins—at sweepstakes games and increase your chances of winning real money prizes.
Buying more Gold Coins at some of our recommended sweeps casino options can unlock special features like adding titles and removing ads for a better user experience when you play games.
Here are some of the standard payment methods at the top sweepstakes casinos on our list:
- Online banking (Trustly via Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, etc.)
- Credit/debit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, etc.)
- PayPal
- Skrill
- Apple Pay
Click the ‘"Buy" button (or a similar option) to view packages of Gold Coins and free Sweepstakes Coins at a sweepstakes casino.
REDEEMING COINS FOR PRIZES
Redeeming Sweeps Coins at sweeps cash casinos is simple. Players can track their sweeps cash progress from their account dashboards. For example, Pulsz offers a "REDEEM" button next to "GET COINS."
Cash prizes and real money come from playing Sweeps Coins. Some sweepstakes casinos require players to wager 1x their Sweeps Coins before they become eligible for withdrawal.
Track your progress from your account dashboard to view your Sweepstakes Coins balance, Available to Redeem, and Unplayed Balance. Once you meet the minimum Sweeps Coins for cash prizes or an electronic gift card, you can click the relevant button to initiate your withdrawal via email, online banking, Skrill, or other options.
SWEEPSTAKES CASINO BONUSES
Sweepstakes casino bonuses are the driving forces behind sweepstakes casinos. Attracting new customers in a competitive market is essential, so various casino bonus options serve to entice first-time players.
Here are a few sweepstakes casino bonus promos, including Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, to help your chances of winning real money and cash prizes:
WELCOME BONUS
Like real money casinos, sweepstakes casinos offer a welcome bonus to new players via virtual currencies like Gold Coins, Game Coins, WOW Coins, Sweeps Coins, etc.
DAILY LOGIN CASINO BONUS
Sweepstakes casinos reward players with virtual currencies for daily logins, including boosts, free spins, VIP Points, and more. Consecutive daily login streaks may exponentially increase how many Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins you receive.
REFER A FRIEND
Players may use a custom link in their account dashboards to invite friends to sign up at a sweepstakes casino. Once an invited person meets specific requirements, like buying a package of Gold Coins, you may receive Gold Coins, free Sweeps Coins, or boosts.
FREE SPINS
Spin the wheel at a sweeps casino for free virtual currency; free spins may be available hourly or daily. The High 5 Casino offers Boosts on Demand with free spins at designated slot games for chances to wager and win Sweeps Coins.
RETURN TO PLAYER (RTP) RATES
You should know return-to-player (RTP) averages when you play casino-style games at sweepstakes casinos. Real-money online casino companies might offer better RTP averages for their games since repeat customers are essential for their business models.
While sweeps casinos may sometimes offer lower RTP titles than real money casinos, you’ll find many high-RTP games at our recommended online sweepstakes casino brands.
RTP refers to a theoretical average of what gets “returned” to a player versus how much they spend on a particular casino game. An RTP of about 96% is standard for real-money online casinos (i.e., $96 gets returned for every $100 played on average).
Pro tip: Check the in-game settings for RTP averages when playing sweepstakes casino games. Games with low volatility offer frequent payouts at lower rates, while medium and high-volatility games provide larger payouts less frequently.
GOLD COINS VS. SWEEPS COINS
As previously mentioned, there’s a significant difference between Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins at sweepstakes casinos. Gold Coins are “just for fun,” and players can’t redeem them for cash prizes. Only Sweeps Coins get redeemed for real money and other rewards.
Whether it's Gold Coins, Game Coins, or WOW Coins, you’ll receive your casino bonus to get started with playing sweepstakes games via virtual currencies. Click the relevant button on your account dashboard to change between playing with Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins at slots and table games.
POPULAR SWEEPSTAKES CASINO GAMES
Games at sweepstakes casinos are organized into specific categories as they are at real-money online casinos, with dozens, if not hundreds, of slots. New players may find it easy to navigate titles by clicking categories and recommendations, which get better the more you play sweepstakes games.
While table games aren’t as standard as slots, there are still plenty to choose from.
FEATURED, EXCLUSIVES, AND POPULAR SLOTS
Slots form the main category of games at sweepstakes casinos. To get started, each sweepstakes casino generally offers featured games including their exclusive and most popular slots.
Options include:
- Da Vinci DeluxeWays (High 5 Games): 96.0% RTP
- 88 Drums (High 5 Games): 243 ways to win
- Big Bass - Secrets of the Golden Lake (Reel Kingdom): High volatility, 94.07% RTP
- Immortal Ways Diamonds (Ruby Play): 10,000 ways to win
- WOW Vegas Wilds of Fortune (Betsoft): Ten paylines, 94.17% RTP
JACKPOTS
While categories at sweepstakes casinos may overlap, there’s often a Jackpots section for players to risk their bankrolls of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins for high rewards.
Progressive jackpots are particularly enticing, as their winnings accumulate with every play until some lucky winner hits.
- Buffalo Canyon Jackpot (High 5 Games): Progressive jackpots, 92% RTP (base game)
- Money MayHam (High 5 Games): Loot Link Hot Spot and Power Play features
- Sugar Rush (Pragmatic Play): High volatility, 96.50% RTP
- Kingdom of Atlantis (Pragmatic Play): High volatility, 94.50% RTP
- Stampede Fury 2 (VGW): Progressive jackpots
MEGAWAYS, HOLD AND WIN, HOLD AND SPIN
Pulsz and WOW Vegas offer Hold and Win categories for slots. (WOW Vegas also provides a Hold and Spin category.) There are also Megaways slots, which are directly available from a unique category at WOW Vegas.
- Sunny Fruits 2: Hold and Win (Playson): Four jackpots, five paylines, 94.74% RTP
- Gold Party (Wild Streak Gaming): High volatility, 25 paylines, 94.47% RTP
- Wolf Gold (Pragmatic Play): 25 paylines, 96% RTP
- Green Chilli (3 Oaks Gaming): Three jackpots, 20 win lines
- Buffalo King Megaways (Pragmatic Play/BTG): High volatility, 94.51% RTP
TRADITIONAL AND CLASSIC SLOTS
The top sweepstakes casinos offer slots in Traditional and Classic categories. Play for Gold Coins or Sweepstakes Coins to earn sweeps cash and real money prizes.
- Diamond Strike (Pragmatic Play): Medium volatility, 15 paylines, four jackpots, 96.48% RTP
- Peak Power (Pragmatic Play): High volatility, ten paylines, 96.02% RTP
- Burning Chilli X (BGaming): 20-100 paylines, 97.15% - 97.16% RTP
- Super Strike (Habanero): 25 win lines
- Bigger Bass Bonanza (Reel Kingdom): High volatility, 12 win lines, 96.02% RTP
TABLE GAMES AND LIVE DEALER GAMES
While most sweepstakes casinos primarily offer slots, you can play table games at Pulsz. High 5 Casino has about a dozen live dealer options. You can wager Gold Coins or play for real money prizes with SC at sweeps casinos, reminiscent of cash casinos.
Here are a few titles for table games and live dealers at our recommended sweeps casino options:
- Multihand Blackjack (Pragmatic Play): 99.51% RTP
- Texas Holdem Poker (Evoplay): Medium volatility
- Limitless Blackjack (Vivo Gaming): 95.90% - 99.46% (including side bets)
- Las Vegas Roulette (Live Roulette): 97.3% RTP
- Macau Baccarat (Vivo Gaming): 85.64% Tie bet, 98.76% Player bet, 98.95 Banker bet (RTPs)
VARIETY GAMES, ARCADE GAMES, AND SCRATCHCARDS
Sweepstakes casinos also provide categories for Variety Games like Plinko and Slingo titles. Pulsz offers categories called Arcade Games and Exclusive Scratchcards for Gold Coins (available with Golden Keys).
- Plinko Dare2Win (Hacksaw Gaming): 96.02% RTP
- Lucky Larry Lobstermania Slingo (Slingo Originals): 1,024 ways to win, 95.00% - 96.50% RTP
- Slingo Space Invaders (Gaming Realms): 93.91% - 94.02% RTP
- Penalty Champion (Gaming Corps): 97.32% RTP
- Classic Hilo/Hilo Deluxe
RESPONSIBLE GAMING RESOURCES
Like real-money online casinos, sweepstakes casinos encourage responsible gaming practices among players. This practice not only supports players' health but also keeps online casino companies in business.
Sweepstakes casinos offer real money prizes through redeemable sweeps cash. Like real money casinos, the best sweepstakes casino options do everything possible to protect their online players.
If you stop having fun at an online sweepstakes casino, it’s time to take a break. Don't hesitate to contact customer support at any of our recommended sweepstake casinos if you need help.
HIGH 5 CASINO RESPONSIBLE GAMING
From the hamburger menu on the right-hand side, the High 5 Casino offers a Resources section (scroll down) with a "Responsible Social Play" tab.
You can read about taking a break, managing your bankroll correctly rather than “chasing” real money prizes, and sticking to playing when you’re in a good mood. Learn how to use self-exclusion by emailing timeout@high5casino.com.
Scroll down to view independent help organizations like:
PULSZ CASINO RESPONSIBLE GAMING
From your account dashboard at Pulsz, click ‘My Account’ to view ‘Legal’ categories and click ‘Player Safety.’ Some tips for safe gameplay include having fun and exercising self-control. You should also avoid playing under the influence of alcohol or illicit substances.
To set spending limits on your account, contact support@pulsz.com or fill out a Contact Form.
There are also daily, weekly, and monthly spending controls at WOW Vegas and options for self-exclusion, such as a limited timeout and deactivation of your account.
SWEEPSTAKES CASINOS FAQ
The real-money casino legalization process needs to be faster for most potential players. Sweepstakes casinos offer those players a chance to experience online gaming without the wait.
Here are a few common questions associated with sweepstake casinos.
ARE SWEEPSTAKES CASINOS LEGAL IN THE US?
Yes, sweepstakes casinos are legal in the U.S. They operate in a “sweepstakes model,” whereby an entry doesn’t require any purchase. Players gain entry to a sweepstakes casino by registering a new account or purchasing a package of Gold Coins, which includes free Sweepstakes Coins.
HOW SAFE ARE SWEEPSTAKES CASINO SITES?
Top sweepstakes casino sites show their online gaming licenses in legal jurisdictions. Our recommended sweeps casinos maintain a positive reputation in the iGaming industry. Check our online reviews to learn more about the safety of sweepstakes casino sites.
HOW OLD DO I NEED TO BE TO PLAY AT SWEEPSTAKES CASINOS?
Most sweepstakes casinos require a minimum age of 18 to play casino-style games. When you sign up at a sweepstakes casino, you must confirm your age, identity, and location.
HOW DO SWEEPSTAKES CASINOS MAKE MONEY?
Some sweepstakes casinos make money from in-game ads. However, a sweepstakes casino generates most of its revenue by offering packages of Gold Coins or Game Coins (GC), WOW Coins, or Funzpoints to online players. Sweeps cash casinos also provide free Sweeps Coins (SC), redeemable for cash prizes and real money.
CAN YOU WIN REAL MONEY AT SWEEPSTAKES CASINOS?
Yes, you can win cash prizes at a sweeps casino like a real money casino. The sweepstakes entry comes from registering a new account and receiving free Gold Coins (GC) and Sweeps Coins (SC). Only Sweeps Coins are eligible for cash prizes and real money—there’s usually a 1x wagering requirement to redeem SC.
CAN I PLAY SWEEPSTAKES CASINO GAMES ON MY PHONE?
Yes, you can play at a sweepstakes casino with any mobile device. Our top recommended sweepstakes casinos get optimized for desktop and mobile web browsers and iOS and Android mobile apps whenever available.
HOW DOES THE CURRENCY SYSTEM WORK AT SWEEPSTAKES CASINOS?
Each sweepstakes casino offers virtual currencies like Gold Coins (GC), Game Coins, WOW Coins, Funzpoints, and Sweepstakes Coins (SC). First-time players receive a welcome bonus of free coins, and they can earn more via daily login bonuses, free spins, and GC purchases. Wager SC to redeem SC for cash prizes and real money, and use GC to play for fun.
HOW DO BONUSES WORK AT SWEEPSTAKES CASINOS?
New players at sweepstakes casinos receive a welcome bonus (usually Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins) for registering an account. Daily login bonuses, free spins, and other promos like Refer a Friend provide more opportunities for a casino bonus of free coins.
HOW DO I GET FREE SWEEPS COINS?
You can sign up for a new account to receive free Sweeps Coins (SC) at sweepstakes casinos. You can also receive free SC from login bonuses. Check your sweepstakes casino to see if they allow mail-in requests for free Sweepstakes Coins.