What Are Sweeps Coins?

Q: Must I purchase a package in order to receive Sweeps Coins?

No. All reputable online casinos offer players the opportunity to obtain Sweeps Coins without a purchase; this includes: Daily Log In Bonuses; Welcome Packages; Mail-In Requests. A player may purchase Gift Card packages as a means to increase their SC balance but purchasing an SC package is never mandatory.

Q: How many Sweeps Coins do I need in my account to redeem them for cash?

This will vary depending on the individual site/platform. Most sites will require a minimum number of SC (usually 50-100) prior to initiating a redemption. Some sites will allow lower redemption amounts with initial redemption attempts.

Q: Will I lose Sweeps Coins when playing with Sweep Coins?

Yes. As with all casino games where you bet using SC and lose, that portion of your SC will be subtracted from your total SC count. Due to the fact that SC have actual redeemable value, it would be wise to treat your SC gaming experience similar to how you would approach the use of your GC.

Q: What happens to my Sweeps Coins if I close my online casino account?

Typically, when you close your account, any remaining unredeemed SC will be lost. Therefore, prior to closing an account, make sure to redeem any SC.

Sweep coins are what brings true excitement to sweeps casino players. The sweeps coin allows users to have fun at a casino site without cost or obligation while allowing the user to play with sweeps coins which are redeemable for cash/gift cards. So if you were wondering what made a... Show more

Written By

Kayode Kehinde Casino & iGaming Expert

Reviewed By

Emmanuella Oluwafemi iGaming Content Manager

Last Updated: May 4, 2026

The Legal Foundation Behind Sweeps Coins

Before we get into how Sweeps Coins work it is helpful to know why they were created, because the design of SC is as much about compliance with law as player experience.

Casino’s using a sweepstakes model for gaming operate under U.S. Promotional sweepstakes law instead of the regulatory structure applicable to traditional gambling. This is the same type of legal framework used by large scale consumer promotions such as those run by magazines where Players enter a contest for subscriptions or when you get a free ticket at mcdonalds with your meal. To comply with promotional sweepstakes law there are three major elements to the promotion:

No purchase necessary – Players will always have access to the prize (the Sweeps Coins) without having to make an expenditure
Chance – The outcome of every event must be random as would occur in a standard casino game
Prize – There must be something of value that may be awarded to a winner

The Sweeps Coins meet one of these criteria’s “prize” since Sweeps Coins have redeemable value and can always be obtained at no cost; therefore, sweepstakes casinos can provide casino style gaming across almost all U.S. States without obtaining a gambling license. These are not workarounds but the method which allows the sweepstakes model to be compliant with law.

What Sweeps Coins Actually Are

Sweeps coins (often referred to as SC) are redeemable for “real world” prizes on Sweepstakes casino platforms. They represent real money and may be redeemed after meeting specific requirements established by the sweepstakes platform. Sweeps Coins do not have an entertainment value such as gold coins; however, Sweeps Coins represent tangible value, almost all platforms have set a 1:1 ratio with respect to redemption of sweeps coins and dollars ($1=1 SC).

Several aspects of sweeps coins are consistent across all legitimate sweepstakes casino platforms:

Sweeps coins are provided at no cost (they are not sold).
Sweeps coins are associated with your account: You cannot transfer sweeps coins to another player, nor can you gift them to someone else.
Sweeps coins have real value: When wins are paid out in sweeps coins, those sweeps coins can be used to receive a monetary prize or to be traded for something of value.
Sweeps coins are subject to certain restrictions: Many platforms require you to meet a balance requirement (a threshold amount of sweeps coins required), meet a play through requirement (the amount of wagers placed prior to redemption), verify your identity, etc. prior to allowing sweeps coin redemptions.
Sweeps coins are finite: Unlike gold coins, which some platforms provide in excess of millions per account, sweeps coins are distributed in significantly lower amounts (e.g., 10-50 sweeps coins).

How to Earn Sweeps Coins

The main rule to remember about sweepstakes casinos is that Sweeps Coins should always be available to earn at no cost. So, in general terms, the idea here is that there will be several legal ways to earn SC and not necessarily all of them will require spending money.

Daily Sign On Bonus

Most sweepstakes casinos give players a few sweeps coins when they sign into their online sweepstakes account daily. While the amount awarded per day may be relatively low ($0.50 – $1.00 in many cases), the sweeps coins add up very quickly if you consistently sign in each week.

New Player Welcome Package Bonus

Many sweepstakes casino operators provide new players with some form of welcome package containing sweeps coins. As a player signs up, he/she is eligible to receive what would normally be the biggest single sweeps coin award given away from any source other than promotional sweeps coin awards. The welcome package allows the new player to test and experience playing with sweeps coins without investing his/her own funds.

Alternative Methods of Entry (AMOE) / Mail in Requests

All sweepstakes casino operators offering games in the United States are required to provide an alternative method of entry (AMOE) whereby a player can request sweeps coins (or game chips) by mail absolutely free. A player simply sends a hand written letter stating name and contact information requesting sweeps coins to the operator’s designated mailing address. The time it takes for the casino to send the sweeps coins after receiving the AMOE varies from one casino to another; however, this is a common and legitimate way for players who do not wish to buy Game Chips Packages to get sweeps coins.

Seasonal Promotions/Holiday Events/Tournaments/Platform Milestones

Sweepstakes casinos frequently have seasonal promotions/holiday events/tournaments/platform milestones that include sweeps coin giveaways. Players are able to find out about upcoming promotional activities through social media sites (Facebook/Instagram/X) and/or through subscription based email newsletters.

Referral Bonuses

Some sweepstakes casino platforms pay sweeps coins to existing customers when those customers refer friends who also register and verify their accounts. The sweeps coin value associated with referrals differs from one platform to another and may be a significant addition for some players.

Sweepstakes Casino Social Media Contests

Many sweepstakes casino operators host contests on Facebook/Instagram/X that reward sweeps coins to contest participants. To enter these contests, participants are generally asked to perform very simple tasks such as “like,” “share” or leave a “comment.”

Earning SC Through Gold Coin Purchases

While SC cannot ever be purchased or sold directly, when you purchase a Gold Coin (GC) bundle, there usually comes a free SC bonus along with that GC. In this manner, nearly all active players will use this method to grow their SC inventory. As such, the SC part of the bundle is scaled in proportion to the quantity of your purchase (i.e., larger bundles for more coins and also for more SC), yet always presented as a “free” bonus and therefore always non purchasable.

GC Package Size	Typical Free SC Bonus
Small (~$1.99-$4.99)	0.5 SC – 2 SC
Medium (~$9.99-$19.99)	2 SC – 10 SC
Large (~$49.99-$99.99)	15 SC – 40 SC
Premium ($100+)	50 SC – 150 SC+

Playing With Sweeps Coins

The use of SC is very similar to that of Gold Coins. In both cases, you simply need to determine whether you want to use one of these currencies (select your currency), place a bet for an amount that has been determined (select your bet amount) and then continue to play. However, there is a key difference in how this experience will feel. The stakes are not just pretend money; they have actual monetary value.

Switching Currency Modes

Many casino games offer players the option to easily switch between GC and SC modes. Many players can do so through a tab in the game lobby or within the game’s setting options. While some casinos may default to GC mode and provide players with the option to switch to SC mode, always verify which mode you are playing in prior to betting, many players will incorrectly believe they are playing in SC mode while in reality they are in GC mode, and vice versa.

Denomination Bets

The denomination of SC bets are intentionally set at amounts significantly less than those of equivalent Gold Coin denominations. These low values reflect the actual monetary worth of each SC. For example, a slot machine might be able to take Gold Coin bets of $500,000 on a single spin but would limit bets on that same game to only 1-5 SC. This allows players to continue playing slots at a reasonable price without having to maintain a high balance in their SC accounts.

A typical range for SC bet denominations by game type are:

Game Type	Typical SC Bet Range
Video Slots	0.10 SC – 5 SC per spin
Classic Slots	0.10 SC – 2 SC per spin
Blackjack	0.50 SC – 10 SC per hand
Roulette	0.10 SC – 5 SC per bet
Video Poker	0.10 SC – 2 SC per hand
Live Dealer	1 SC – 20 SC per hand

Winning in SC Mode

When you win playing in Sweepstakes Mode, your winnings will be awarded in Sweeps Coins. For the most part, all RTP (return to player) percentage payouts are nearly equal or exactly equivalent for both currencies (GC and SC). The progressive jackpots, large bonus round wins and feature prizes at sweepstakes casinos are generally paid out in Sweeps Coins. In some cases, landing a large jackpot in Sweepstakes Mode could award you a significant number of Sweeps Coins that would translate to a lot of money when redeemed.

Redeeming Sweeps Coins for Prizes

When you have earned enough SC through playing games, promotional offers, etc., you may redeem your accumulated SC for prizes in the real world. Below is a description of the typical redemption process:

Step 1 – Reach Minimum Balance

There will be a minimum amount of SC that you need to earn prior to being able to begin the redemption process. Most platforms have a redemption threshold which ranges from approximately 50 SC to approximately 100 SC. Some platforms may establish a lower redemption threshold for new users as an incentive.

Step 2 – Verification

As part of the redemption process, all sweepstakes casino operators are required to verify their customers’ identities before making any payouts. In order to do so, you’ll usually be asked to provide:

A government issued photo I.D. (driver’s license, passport)
Proof of residency (utility bill or bank statement)
On occasion, a selfie for verification purposes.

This is generally done once per customer. It helps protect both the operator and the customer.

Step 3 – Selecting a Redemption Option

After you’ve been verified, you’ll have various methods to redeem your SC:

PayPal – The most common option. Convenient and quick.
Bank Transfer / ACH (Direct Deposit) – Deposits directly into a bank account.
Check by Mail – Available on many of our partner sites. May take longer than other options.
Gift Cards – Some of our partners offer gift card alternatives instead of monetary rewards.
Cryptocurrency – Most of our partners do NOT currently accept cryptocurrency.

Redemption Method	Typical Processing Time
PayPal	24-72 hours
Bank Transfer (ACH)	3-5 business days
Check by Mail	7-21 business days
Gift Card	24-48 hours
Cryptocurrency	24-72 hours

Sweeps Coins Terms and Conditions to Know

Always read the fine print on SC contests to understand what you have to complete. Terms that are commonly included are as follows:

Play through requirements – Many platforms require an amount of money to be wagered (the “play through” requirement) prior to SC being available for cash out. Example: 1X play though on $10 of SC would mean you need to spend $10 on wagers using SC, before it becomes eligible for cash out.
Cash out threshold – Most gaming sites will have a minimum amount of SC that must be accumulated before the player can request a cash payout. Any less than that and although the SC can be used to place wagers; they can’t be requested as a payout.
Terms of Expiration – Depending on the gaming site, if there is no user login activity within a time frame (usually 60-180 days); unused SC balances will automatically expire and be lost forever.
Geographic Restrictions – Although very few, some U.S. states restrict participation in online Sweepstakes Casino games; therefore, SC cannot be earned or redeemed by players residing in these states. Prior to signing up for a gaming site, check to see if your home state allows sweepstakes-style gambling.
Limit One Account Per Household – Almost all gaming sites limit each person/household from having only one account. If a duplicate account is found, the duplicate account holder will forfeit their SC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are sweeps coins actual cash?

Sweeps Coins are not "actual" money, as they are a type of virtual currency. They can be redeemed (traded) for either a cash prize, gift card, etc., based on their face amount. Typically, the exchange rate for these items is a 1 to 1 ratio of 1 SC = $1.

Must I purchase a package in order to receive Sweeps Coins?

How many Sweeps Coins do I need in my account to redeem them for cash?

Will I lose Sweeps Coins when playing with Sweep Coins?

What happens to my Sweeps Coins if I close my online casino account?

Final Words

Sweepstakes casinos use Sweeps Coins as their advantage over traditional social casinos. Sweeps Coins turn what may otherwise have been an entirely entertainment based experience into one that has real money at stake. Players who consistently utilize smart strategies; continually access their accounts; and get lucky may be able to win legitimate cash rewards. Sweepstakes Coins are free to obtain; well regulated; and tied to a regulatory environment that protects players throughout virtually all U.S. states.

To gain meaningful benefits from each of these platforms you need to understand how they function; how to generate them as efficiently as possible; how to effectively utilize them for optimal performance; and how to successfully redeem your earned coins.

Availability of sweepstakes casinos and redemption options for earning sweeps coins varies by platform and location. Prior to sweeps casino play, always read through the terms and conditions associated with any platform.