18+No purchase necessary. Sweepstakes casinos are free to play promotions, not real money gambling. Gold Coins have no cash value. 21+ in some states. Void where prohibited. Play smart · 1 800 522 4700

Free to play, explained

Free to play

How sweepstakes casinos work, in plain words

They look like online casinos, but by law they are promotions. That one fact explains the two coins, the free way in and why they are open in 36 states.

See the casinos18+ (21+ in some states). No purchase necessary.
The basics

Two coins, two jobs

Every sweepstakes casino runs on two currencies. Gold Coins are play money. You get a big pile, you can buy more, and they are only for fun; they never turn into cash. Sweepstakes Coins are the free promotional coins. You cannot buy them. You get them free at sign up, as daily bonuses, as a gift with a Gold Coin purchase or by sending a request in the post. Prizes won with Sweepstakes Coins can be cashed out for money or gift cards.

Because there is always a free way to get the coins that can win prizes, the law treats it like a prize draw on a cereal box, not like gambling.

Step by step

What actually happens

1Sign up

Name, date of birth, email and your state. Free coins land once you confirm your email or phone.

2Pick your coin

Every game has a switch for Gold or Sweepstakes mode. Choose Sweepstakes if you want a shot at a prize.

3Meet the terms

Free coins must be played through once (sometimes twice) and you need a minimum balance, usually 50, to cash out.

4Cash out

Upload an ID the first time, then request your prize. Our reviews show how long each casino took.

Costs

Do you ever have to pay?

No. You can play every casino on this site without buying anything. People who do spend money buy Gold Coin bundles for more play time, and the free Sweepstakes Coins that come with those bundles are a bonus rather than the product.

If you decide to buy, treat it like paying for a night out. Set a limit before you start and keep to it. Our play smart page has tools and a free helpline.

Mix ups

Four things people get wrong

Can I just buy Sweepstakes Coins?
No. They are never sold. They come free with purchases, through daily bonuses, on social media and by mail in request. A casino that sells them is not running a sweepstakes.
Is a prize the same as a withdrawal?
Close enough. You cash out Sweepstakes Coins for a prize, paid as money to your bank or as a gift card. The casino checks your identity the first time.
Why does my state matter?
Because sweepstakes law is state law. Fourteen states have decided these promotions are not allowed, and casinos block them. See where to play.
Are the games fair?
The games come from the same studios that build real money casino games, and the casinos publish their return figures. We check that the published rules match what we see in our own account.

Ready to play?

Start with our favorite casino to play.

Read the top review