Two currencies are available at every casino on our list of sweepstakes casinos. Both of them are present in a player’s account balance and can be used for gameplay. They appear to be different denominations of the same currency at first. However, they are not. The first currency is purely... Show more
Two currencies are available at every casino on our list of sweepstakes casinos. Both of them are present in a player’s account balance and can be used for gameplay. They appear to be different denominations of the same currency at first. However, they are not. The first currency is purely for entertainment purposes and does not have any monetary value at this time. The second currency is considered to be a prize coin, and can be redeemed for cash equivalent, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. The most common mistake that new players at sweepstakes casinos make is muddling the two currencies or not fully understanding the purpose behind each.
This distinction is important for several reasons. First, a player that has used their Sweeps Coins playing a game for the very first time has wasted the ability to win a cash prize by this type of play. Secondly, a player that fails to request free Sweeps Coins through mail in requests misses out on possible legitimate ways to win a cash prize. Finally, a player that has not checked to see if their Sweeps Coins are eligible for cash prizes due to playthrough requirements will likely be disappointed when they try to redeem them.
The complete guide provides a comprehensive overview of both currencies, including what they are, their purpose, how to earn them, their interaction with each other during gameplay, and strategies for their use. After reading this guide, you will fully understand the dual currency system and how to maximize both currencies to your advantage. Show less
Kayode Kehinde Casino & iGaming Expert 
Emmanuella Oluwafemi iGaming Content Manager For readers who want the summary before the full explanation, here it is:
| Feature | Gold Coins (GC) | Sweeps Coins (SC) |
| Can be purchased? | Yes, directly | No, bonus only |
| Redeemable for prizes? | No | Yes |
| Used to play games? | Yes | Yes |
| Real world value? | None | Yes (1 SC = $1) |
| Free to obtain? | Yes (daily bonuses, promos) | Yes (mail in, promos, signup) |
| Legal purpose | Just for fun | Used for sweepstakes prizes |
The core distinction is simple: Gold Coins are for fun, Sweeps Coins are for prizes. Everything else in this guide builds on that foundation.
Sweepstakes casinos use Gold Coins as their entertainment currency to allow players to enjoy casino style games like slots, blackjack, roulette and video poker without risking real money or being associated with prize redemptions. Gold Coins are plentiful and distributed throughout the gaming facilities with the intended purpose of making the gaming experience fun and accessible while allowing players to continue to earn them through daily bonuses, promotions or by purchasing a new package. The gaming experience is very low pressure because there is nothing of real world value at stake.
Gold Coins (GC) are the more abundant of the two currencies, distributed through multiple channels at every platform:
Players can use direct purchase to obtain GC by purchasing various denominations of GC packages on many gaming platforms. These packages typically run from small starter packs to much larger bundles.
Players usually receive GC daily just by logging into their gaming account on the platform they play on. Platforms often award increasing amounts for consecutive daily logins. Individual daily logins may produce small amounts of GC, but if players login daily over an extended period of time, the total amount of GC received will typically be substantial.
Most platforms offer a large GC welcome bonus package worth millions of coins when someone signs up for their site. This gets added as soon as a person verifies their email address.
Many platforms distribute GC as players advance through tiered loyalty programs, rewarding players with larger and more frequent bonuses for engaging more.
Special promotion/campaigns offer bonus GC drop events for special occasion/game launch/holiday or limited time promotion. The best way to find out about these events is through following the platform’s social media channels and subscribing to their email newsletters.
Realistically, there is generally no issue with the player having low amounts of GC. Game platforms are designed to provide GC to players continually who actively play their games.
It is equally important to know how to obtain GC as it is to understand the boundaries of GC:
Can: Play any game on the platform/have complete access to the overall game library
Can: Generate GC wins from gameplay that add to your GC balance
Can: Accumulate up to an infinite amount with maximum accumulations
Cannot: Be redeemed for prizes, cash, gift cards, or physical items
Cannot: Be transferred from one player’s account to another
Cannot: Be converted into Sweeps Coins
This section of this guide is often overlooked, however, it is necessary to fully understand why this system has been developed in the way it has. When players buy a coin package, they are purchasing what is known as a Gold Coin (or GC). The purchase of GC will then make the entire sweepstakes model legally viable because players are purchasing GC, which is a type of entertainment currency. Players do not hand over their money when they buy SC, so SC always remain free. The structure of the sweepstakes casinos is essential in maintaining compliance with US sweepstakes law. If SC were sold directly to players, the players would pay for a chance to win a prize and that would be considered legal gambling. Therefore, by having GC be sold as a product and SC be given as a free promotional bonus to all players every time, the site operates as a sweepstakes promotion instead of a casino. GC is not just a convenience for gameplay, it is the foundation of the entire model from a legal standpoint.
Sweepstakes casinos use Sweeps Coins (also called SC), which are the only way to earn redeemable cash through the play of wins or a promotional bonus. Each SC earned, whether from winning game play or through other methods, can be redeemed for real cash amounts once you reach a minimum SC threshold established by the platform. The presence of SC and the ability to redeem those coins for legitimate prizes has created a compelling appeal for players because of the additional value beyond just entertainment.
SC are given out less often than GC because they have real value. Here’s how players can get them:
When you buy Gold Coins, you get SC as a free bonus. This is the easiest way to get a good amount of SC, especially if you are buying for the first time.
This is a free way that sweepstakes casinos are required to offer. You mail in a handwritten request with a self addressed stamped envelope and they send you SC. You usually get 1-10 SC per request and most casinos allow one per household each day or week. It’s slow, but is truly free.
Most casinos give you a small amount of SC just for signing up, usually 2-10 SC.
Some casinos give away small amounts of SC as part of your daily login reward. It adds up if you log in regularly.
Keep an eye on social media, emails and special events. Sweepstakes casinos often give away free SC through bonus codes or limited time offers.
Some casinos run competitions where you can win SC based on how well you play during a certain time.
Can: Play any game on the platform
Can: Win more SC while playing, which adds to your redeemable balance
Can: Redeem for real prizes once you hit the minimum amount and verify your identity
Cannot: Buy them directly
Cannot: Send them to another player
Cannot: Turn them into Gold Coins
Important note: Some sites make it mandatory for SC to be wagered at least one time before they can be redeemed. In other words, with a 1x requirement on 10 SC, you will have to bet at least $10 in SC before you can withdraw any of those coins. This is standard for the industry. You can’t assume that any SC is redeemable right away, the best way to know if you can redeem them is to check the bonus terms for your platform.
Usually, 1 SC = $1 in prize value. This can vary a little depending on the casino and the prize type.
Prize options include:
Minimum amounts to cash out
You usually need between $5 and $25 in SC before you can redeem. You’ll also need to verify your identity first. If you do that when you sign up instead of waiting until you cash out, you’ll avoid waiting for the identity check when you redeem.
What astonishes new players is that they can play the same games regardless of whether they are using either the GC (Gold Coins) or SC (Sweeps Coins). There is no separate game category for SC and GC. The difference lies within the outcome of your gameplay.
When you win or lose playing with GC, the outcome means that your balance of GC is increased after winning and decreased after losing. The same applies for SC but you will see your balance of redeemable SC adjust based on the same outcomes. Even though SC and GC both have the same game mechanics, all corresponding RTP percentages, and similar odds of winning, SC does not have any more of a chance of being generous or giving you more wins than using GC. The only difference between GC and SC is what the result will do to your account.
The majority of players involved in sweepstakes casino gaming have a well thought out currency strategy. Generally speaking, players will play their GC for non serious gaming sessions, testing out new games and learning how to play a game. Then when they are more familiar with the game and more comfortable, they switch to SC for a chance to win a prize.
There is a practical basis to this method. Each time an SC is used during a game that you do not know, it is considered to be using potential prize money for a learning experience (which is something that GC’s excel at). After you have used GC to play a game to understand its volatility, bonus features, and payout behavior, SC can be used in a more purposeful manner than in a learning experience.
Many Sweepstakes casinos will display both your GC and SC balances together on the account dashboard, typically in the top of the page along the Top Navigation or Account Header. Switching between the two currencies is usually one click or toggle in the game lobby or even inside a game itself. In addition, some casinos may display your SC balance separately by way of a designated section labelled as sweepstakes, prizes or redemption. Familiarizing yourself with the location of each balance is should only take you around 5 minutes of searching around.
Gold Coins are easy to come by, so you don’t usually have to worry about running out, but if you play often and want to keep a healthy balance without buying more, here are a few simple habits:
For most players, SC strategy matters more than GC strategy, because SC can be redeemed for real prizes.
Some things that new players often get wrong:
No, they are completely seperate. GC can never be turned into SC and this applies to every sweepstake casino. This is because of the sweepstakes model.
Not quite. You do get SC as a bonus but you still need to hit the minimum redemption amount and sometimes play through them first. Also, you will need to verify your identity first.
No, the odds are exactly the same.
Not really, you never buy SC directly. Losing SC just means losing a shot at a prize, not actual cash.
Depends on you. If you want to build up a redeemable balance without spending anything, mail in requests are the only real way to do it. The amounts are small, but it costs nothing and it adds up over time.
Not always. Some SC especially from welcome bonuses or promotions need to be played through once before they’re eligible for redemption. Always check the terms so you know what to expect.
The two currency setup is the same across all sweepstakes casinos, but the details like how fast you earn SC, how much you need to cash out and how often you can get free SC change from site to site.
| Casino | SC per $1 Spent (Approximately) | Min. SC to Redeem | Mail in Available? |
| Pulsz | ~1 SC per $1 | $10 | Yes |
| WOW Vegas | ~1 SC per $1 | $25 | Yes |
| McLuck | ~1 SC per $1 | $10 | Yes |
| Stake | Varies by package | Varies | Yes |
| Funrize | ~1 SC per $1 | $10 | Yes |
| Fortune Coins | ~1 SC per $1 | $20 | Yes |
| High 5 Casino | ~1 SC per $1 | $5 | Yes |
Note: SC earning rates and promotions change often. Always check the current offers on each platform before buying.
One more thing to keep in mind:
The SC you get per dollar spent is important, but it’s not the only thing that matters. How often a casino gives away free SC through promotions matters just as much especially if you don’t buy packages regularly. A site with slightly lower SC per dollar rates, but frequent generous freebies can actually give you more SC over time than a site with better purchase rates but few free promotions.
It depends on what you’re looking for.
If you just want to have fun, all you need is GC. You can purchase packages when you would like additional game time, and you can relax and enjoy the different games. The platform operates very well for pure entertainment purposes. If you would like to win prizes without having to spend any money, here are some options:
If you want to win prizes without spending money, use the free SC methods like welcome bonuses, daily login rewards, mail in requests and promo codes. It’s slower than buying packages, but it still works. Players who stay consistent can hit redemption amounts without ever paying.
If you’re buying GC and want the best SC value, before making a purchase, be sure to compare the first purchase bonuses offered by different platforms. Typically, the sign up bonus received for your first gaming commission (GC) package is the best deal you will receive. Selecting the right platform and GC package allows you to obtain the maximum value for the amount spent on prizes.
The bottom line:
Playing with a SC is an enjoyable pastime for entertainment purposes and provides an opportunity to win prizes, but it is not considered a source of income. In all sweepstakes casinos, the house has the advantage over players or patrons. The players who get the most enjoyment out of sweepstakes casinos are the players who consider SC as an enjoyable way of experiencing additional entertainment and not as a way of earning money regularly.
The dual currency structure is easier to understand than it seems at first. Gold Coins are the entertainment currency. They are available for purchase, given out in excess, entertaining to play with and worth $0 in prize redemption. Sweeps Coins are the prize currency. They can either be earned by playing or through other methods that do not require financial investment. Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for real prizes and they are what make sweepstakes casinos different from other types of social gaming.
This setup isn’t random. Gold Coins being the thing you buy, and Sweeps Coins being the free bonus, is what makes sweepstakes casinos legal in over 45 US states. Understanding how each currency works and using them for what they’re meant for makes the experience more fun and more rewarding.
Generally, you use GC to explore games and play casually and when you get more comfortable with the game, switch to SC to try and win a prize. Do keep up with SC promotions, use the mail in option if you want free chances at prizes and always check the bonus terms before assuming your SC are ready to cash out.
For a full look at which platforms have the best SC rates, biggest welcome bonuses, and fastest payouts, check out our casino reviews and rankings, in which we explain everything you need to know to find the right fit for how you play.
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