Sweepstakes and ‘social’ casinos are huge in the U.S. at the moment. Big sites like Yay Casino and BankRolla, seen in Freaky Gaming reviews, have attracted millions of players through their free-to-play models, and they all have one thing in common: Sweeps Coins [SC]. No matter which sweepstakes casino you play inside, they all have SCs or their own variation of it, which is a special virtual currency you can use to win prizes. Here, we’ll unpack all the important details for you so that you know how Sweeps Coins work and what to do with them.
What is a Sweepstakes Casino?
Firstly, a sweepstakes casino is a type of online casino where there’s no real cash involved. Instead, users must play using either Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins. The Gold Coins are just for entertainment purposes and have no value at all, whereas Sweeps Coins are redeemable for cash transfers and gift cards if you collect enough of them. And inside these sweepstakes casinos, you’ll usually find thousands of games spread across countless categories, including Slots, Live Dealers, Fish Table Games, and more. You can play any of the available games, as well as complete daily missions and take part in tournaments, which are also key features inside these casinos.
⛁ How SC Coins Work
So, Sweeps Coins are the coins you use in sweepstakes casinos when you fancy a shot at winning prizes. Naturally, this means you need to play more seriously, as 1 SC has a value of $1. Those who are able to win enough coins in return can then redeem them for prizes.
If, for example, you were to play the Sugar Heaven slot on SweepJungle and won 400 Sweeps Coins, that would entitle you to $400 worth of prizes. You’d then be able to pick from available gift cards or simply do a cash transfer to your bank or PayPal account. You don’t have to withdraw all your winnings at once, either, and can keep as many Sweeps Coins as you like in your available balance.
Redeeming Prizes with SC
When playing in a sweepstakes casino, once you meet the minimum redemption threshold for your desired prize, you can redeem it. On average, gift cards have a minimum redemption of 10 SC, while cash transfers can sometimes be high as 100 SC depending on the operator you go with. Luckily, the process is easy:
■ Go to the ‘Redeem’ section
■ Select your prize
■ Exchange Sweeps Coins (they will automatically be deducted from your balance)
■ Complete a KYC check
■ Receive your prize within 24 to 48 hours
Of course, most players prefer cash transfers, but if you’re stuck on a lower amount of Sweeps Coins, gift cards are the perfect alternative.
Prizes from the likes of Chumba Casino and Stake.us are handed out pretty fast, although you can expect occasional delays during peak days.
How to Get Free SC
Sweepstakes casinos operate under a ‘sweepstakes’ model, meaning they’re subject to sweepstakes laws. As a result, they legally have to provide players with what’s called an AMOE (Alternative Method of Entry). In other words, a free way to play, which is why these casinos provide plenty of ways for players to get their hands on free SC.
Collect Sign-Up Bonuses
When you first join any sweepstakes casino, they’ll give you a free sign-up bonus. Take Chumba Casino, which gives you 2 million Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins. These coins will go to your balance automatically, giving you plenty of coins to play with right from the start without having to deposit any of your own cash.
Login Every 24 Hours
A growing number of sweepstakes casinos now have a Daily Login Bonus. You log in to your account every 24 hours and receive free SC, usually anywhere from 0.25 to 1 SC. The only catch is that you need to remember to log in, otherwise you won’t receive the coins.
Enter Social Media Giveaways
Social media giveaways are huge in the sweepstakes casino space. The likes of WOW Vegas, Stake.us, and others are constantly doing giveaways across Facebook and Instagram, so all you have to do is enter them. There’s no guarantee you’ll win, but the prize pools are usually huge.
Refer-a-Friend
Referring a friend to join your chosen sweepstakes casino is one of the easiest ways you can get free SC. And the great thing about referrals is that the Sweeps Coins given out to both parties tend to be quite high. If you know anyone interested in online casinos, you can send them a referral link and get them signed up.
Climb Loyalty Program Tiers
Most sweepstakes casinos have VIP loyalty programs. You play the games, bet coins, and collect XP. This then allows you to climb up the program tiers and unlock free SC and other bonus rewards along the way.
Complete Mail-Ins
Finally, send mail-in cards to your sweepstakes operators asking them for free Sweeps Coins. They’re legally obligated to acknowledge your request as a free form of entry, so you’ll typically get given anywhere from 2 SC to 5 SC as a free handout. The only catch is that these mail-ins can take up to a month to process.
Sweeps Coins vs Gold Coins: Differences Explained
Even experienced sweepstakes casino players sometimes get Sweeps Coins and Gold Coins mixed up, so allow us to break down the differences for you.
Sweeps Coins are the prize-winning currency with actual in-casino value. The more you collect, the more prizes you can win. But this means you also have to be more careful when you use them.
On the flip side, Gold Coins are meant just for entertainment. Most sweepstakes casinos give GCs out for free in huge numbers, as the only thing you can do with them is play for fun and climb GC leaderboards. They’re designed for the casual players who just enjoy the gameplay side of games like slots and roulette.
So, if you have SCs in your available balance, play with them carefully. If you have GCs, have fun and use them to play and practice different games as freely as you like.
SC Playthrough Requirements
Whenever you receive any free SC coins from your sweepstakes casino, the sad news is that you can’t instantly redeem them for prizes. Instead, an SC has to be played through at least 1x time to be eligible for prize redemption (some sweepstakes casinos even have playthrough requirements of 3x). It’s generally advised that you use your free SC on games like high-RTP slots and blackjack due to them offering a greater chance of returns.
