Sweepstakes Casino Glossary

A 

Account Verification The verification of player identity that MUST be completed prior to claiming winnings. Typically, this involves submitting a photo copy of a government issued identification (Driver’s License, Passport) along with a document showing your current address (Utility Bill, Bank Statement). The mandatory verification helps prevent fraud and illegal use of sites and provides an added layer of protection for players and sites alike from potential misuse. 

Alternative Method of Entry (AMOE) The alternative way to acquire Sweeps Coins at no charge. Most sites provide the option to send in a hand written letter requesting free Sweeps Coins. The no purchase necessary provision is the primary reason why Sweepstakes are different than Gambling as it allows all people, regardless of their ability to pay, an equal opportunity to participate. 

Auto Play A feature on slot games that allows continued spinning for a predetermined amount of time or until one of the predetermined stopping conditions has been met (losing a certain amount of money, hitting a single winning combination). Auto play can help complete wagering requirements; however, players need to monitor their account balance to avoid rapidly losing money. 

B 

Bankroll The total amount of virtual currency (GC or SC) that is available to the player for gaming. In order to smartly manage a bankroll; players should have some form of limits in place and never risk more than they can afford to lose.

Bonus Buy Feature that allows a player to immediately buy into bonus rounds without having to wait for the feature to trigger naturally. This will cost a multiplier of the players standard wager (usually 50x, 100x). Bonus Buy is an option that gives a player instant access to Free Spins or other Special Features.

Bonus Code An alpha numeric string inputted at the time of account registration or funding to activate promotional offers. For example, “WELCOME100” may give the player an additional 10,000 Sweeps Coins or 5,000 Gold Coins. Bonus codes are usually case sensitive and time limited. 
Bonus Coins Virtual Currency provided as part of a promotion. Bonus coins can be awarded from daily login rewards, social media contests, loyalty programs, etc. Bonus coins can be either gold coins (play money) or sweeps coins (redeemable). Depending on the terms of the offer. 

C 

Cash prize 

An amount of real money given to a player upon redemption of Sweeps Coins. Cash prizes can be sent to the player’s bank account via check or PayPal, although in most jurisdictions these transactions must be reported for tax purposes. 

Coin Package 

A set of Gold Coins available for purchase. Bonus Sweeps Coins given away “free” with the purchase. Usually, those sales start at $1.99 (small starter packs) with SC 0.99 given away similar to a big boost package of $99.99 with SC 10-20 given away. The larger the packet the more SC will be given away. 

Compliance review 

An in house audit carried out by online casinos to confirm successful redemptions that everything checks out. Compliance review specialists will cross check bonus abuse, multiple accounts, self exclusion cases missed, location restrictions, and abnormal gaming patterns before release payments. 

D 

Daily Login Bonus Rewards that are free in exchange for playing on the site every day. Most sites have progressive reward systems, with the amount of free sweeps increases based on how many days in a row you play. For example, after seven days you may receive 10X what you received after one day to encourage the player to continue to come back to the site daily.

Demo Mode A free demo or trial of games with no Gold Coins (GC) or Sweep Coins (SC). This allows the player to experience the game mechanic, features and volatility prior to spending their virtual currency. Demo mode is not available at all sweepstakes casinos.

Deposit (in sweepstakes context) Since sweepstakes casinos do not take deposits; players purchase Gold Coin packages for entertainment purposes only. Although it is called a deposit due to its name origin from traditional casino terminology, it is a legal distinction. 

E 

Entry Limit The maximum number of AMOE (Activate My Offer Entry) entries an individual can make within a specific time frame (usually one in a week or a month for each household.) Entry limit is designed to stop misuse of free entry systems.  

Exclusion List A database of players that are banned from participation either by their own choice, or because they have been identified as having committed fraudulent activity or violating regulatory requirements. The exclusion list may be shared across operator networks to stop players from bypassing restrictions.  

Expiration Time limits placed on bonus coins or unspent Sweeps Coins. Many online social gaming sites require a minimum 30-60 day expiration on all promotional Sweeps Coins to force players to remain engaged with the site. Purchaseable Game Coins never expire. 

F 

Faucet Some cryptocurrency based casino sites offer a feature that allows users to receive small amounts of free SC on an hourly basis or every day. The functionality is similar to a daily log in reward but can occur at much greater frequency.  

Free Play Casino gameplay with the use of coins from no purchase required methods such as daily bonuses, social media promotions, advance marketing opportunity (AMOE) or referrals. This is the foundation for the “sweepstakes, no purchase necessary” model.  

Free Spins Free Slot machine plays as bonus awards. Winnings are typically subject to wagering requirements prior to being able to redeem. These can be specific to a particular game or applicable to all slot games in a library. 

G 

Game providers Software companies that produce casino games which are then licensed to sweepstakes platforms. Some major suppliers of casino games to sweepstakes sites include Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Relax Gaming, and Hacksaw Gaming. Each supplier provides different levels of game quality, Return to Player (RTP), and features.

Gold Coins (GC) Primary virtual currencies used for entertainment purposes. GC have no real world monetary value and can never be exchanged for cash; they serve as “play money” in a Sweepstakes site. They may be purchased, acquired via bonuses/promotions, or simply acquired from a bonus/promotion. They allow players to use the site for entertainment purposes with zero risk to their bankroll.  

H 

Hold & Win A very popular video slot mechanism in which, after winning, the player receives a free spin during which one or more of the symbols that made up the winning combination will remain on the reel(s) and additional wins can be won with those same symbols on the reels. In some cases this is referred to as Lock & Link or Cash Collect depending on the software developer.

House Edge The mathematically calculated profit margin for the gaming operator that ensures the operator remains profitable over time. The House Edge is expressed as a percent if a slot has a Return To Player (RTP) of 96%, then it has a House Edge of 4%. There are different House Edges associated with each type of game: Slots (4%-15%) Blackjack (0.5%-2%) Roulette (2.7%-5.3%). 

I 

Instant Win Games Fast Play Games & Scratch Cards Games that give instant results such as Keno, Instant Ticket Games (Scratch Cards), etc. These are games with faster play through requirements. 

J 

Jackpot A large amount of money a player wins when they hit an extremely low probability event in a game, or if they trigger a game’s bonus round, or if the game has a Progressive Pool of Money. The three types of jackpots are: 

• Fixed Jackpots: The same amount is paid out for each jackpot (i.e. $1,000 x the amount of the wager) 
• Progressive Jackpots: The money from each wager contributes to the pool of money and grows until someone hits the jackpot 
• Daily Jackpots: There is always at least one guaranteed winner per day 
• Hourly Jackpots: Much smaller than daily jackpots and there is a new winner every hour 

K 

KYC (Know Your Customer) A mandatory process used by all online sports betting operators in Nevada to verify customer identity prior to a customer’s first redemption. The typical identity verification information provided as part of the KYC process is a government issued photo ID and proof of residence (typically a utility bill or bank statement less than 90 days old), with some sportsbooks requiring a live video selfie of the account holder for purposes of facial recognition.  

L 

Limited Time Promotion Тemporary offers that run during holidays, special occasions (such as a platform’s anniversary), or marketing campaigns. These may be special packages of coins, leader board challenges, or exclusive access to a game. 

Live Dealer Games Рeal time versions of casino table games (blackjack, roulette, etc.) streamed in live form from a studio with a human dealer. The players communicate with the dealer using a chat feature and make their bets remotely. Many platforms also offer “game show” style versions such as Crazy Time and Monopoly Live. 

Loyalty Program Тiered reward programs based upon how many times you have played. As you move up each level, you will receive higher rake back percentages, quicker redemptions, your own account manager, and higher rewards for being a loyal player. These are often referred to as VIP programs or Player Clubs. 

M 

Maximum bet The highest amount you are allowed to wager for a single hand or a single round of slots. Most casinos will stop you from placing a maximum bet if you are using your free money to play. Placing a bet that is over the maximum may result in your winnings being forfeited as well as suspend your casino account.

Megaways A revolutionary way of creating slot machines by varying the number of reels for each spin and allowing for potentially 117,649 winning combinations for each spin. Megaways was created by Big Time Gaming and has since been licensed to many other gaming companies. This type of machine is known for having very large payouts but also has extremely high volatility.

Minimum Redemption threshold The minimum amount of slots credits required to redeem for real money. The typical redemption threshold is around $50-$100. Some online casinos require more than this (such as 500+ slots credits) or they have tiered redemption thresholds depending upon how you would like to redeem your slots credits.

Multiplier A feature that multiplies your winnings by a fixed amount (i.e., 2x, 5x, 10x, etc.). Multipliers can be applied to base game wins, bonus round wins or even just a specific symbol. The multiplier is a common component of high volatility slot games. 

N 

No Deposit Bonus Free sc or gc that you don’t have to buy. Generally awarded at registration, with an email or a cell number confirmed. A smaller version of a purchase bonus however you won’t lose anything on this type. 

O 

Original Games Games that were specifically created by a particular company for their own gaming platform (i.e., Stake originals such as Plinko, Dice, Crash) often have higher rtp’s, provable fairness, and new game play features. 

P 

Playthrough Requirement (Wagering Requirement) Number of times that a player must use his bonus money before it can be redeemed. For example if a player has $10 of bonus money with a three time play through, then the player would have to bet a total of $30 on their account before they could cash out any winnings. A lower number is generally better one time play through is player friendly while anything higher than five times is player unfriendly. 

Progressive Jackpot A prize pool that grows incrementally as players bet, which is typically spread over multiple casino sites or even different games. Once a progressive jackpot is awarded, it resets to its initial seed value. Progressive jackpots are known to grow into millions of dollars or thousands of SC. 

Promotional Sweepstakes A legal designation for games of chance that award prizes but do not require a purchase. This designation allows sweepstakes casinos to operate in many U.S. states where traditional gambling is prohibited. 

Provably Fair A cryptographic system that provides players with assurance that the results of a game were not altered by third parties. Provably fair systems are common at crypto casinos and at the original online casino games. They use blockchain technology to provide an audit trail of all game transactions, providing players with transparency. 

Q 

Quick Redemption A process available as a VIP reward or for an additional fee (usually 5-10% of the redemption amount). Standard redemption can take up to 5 business days; quick redemption is usually completed within 24 hours. 

R 

Rakeback Percent of the wagers that are returned to players, based on their total wagers regardless of whether they win or lose. For example, 10% rakeback would provide a player with .10 SC for every 1 SC wagered. Rakeback is usually a VIP reward and is calculated daily or weekly. 

Redemption The conversion of Sweeps Coins into cash prizes. To redeem Sweeps Coins requires the player to meet the required redemption threshold (usually 50-100+ SC), complete KYC verification, satisfy the required playthrough amount, and submit a redemption request via the platform’s website. 

Return to Player (RTP) The theoretical percentage of total wagers that will be paid back to players when playing at the casino for an extended period of time (infinite number of plays). If a game has an RTP of 96%, this means that $96 will be returned to players for every $100 wagered long term. In reality, the short term payouts may fluctuate greatly from one session to the next, and may not follow the long term average. 

S 

Self Exclusion A voluntary program that allows players to limit their account access for specific time frames (24 hours or permanently).
Legally Binding Platforms are obligated to restrict access to the account and all marketing efforts during the self exclusion period. 

Social Casino Platforms ffering virtual, casino style gaming using virtual currencies, but prohibiting real money betting. Sucuh platforms focus on creating an entertaining experience, and social interaction among users, while minimizing potential financial risk.Most of them offer additional social features, such as leaderboard rankings and user chat functionality. 

Sweepstakes Coins (SC) Virtual currency used exclusively for sweepstakes purposes; redeemable for cash prizes.
Virtual currency cannot be purchased by users; instead it is awarded as bonus money with the purchase of Game Credits (GC), through Alternate Methods of Entry (AMOE) or promotional activities. 

Sweepstakes Entry One chance at winning prizes through the random outcome of a promotional game or drawing. Each entry provides the player with only one opportunity to win prizes. 

T 

Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) Legal contract to govern all uses of the online platform with regards to: Eligibility requirements; Bonus Rules; Game Mechanics; Redemption Process; Prohibited Behavior; Account Management. All users are bound by these when creating an account and should thoroughly review them.

Tournament A competitive online gaming event in which users will compete for the highest total score(s), largest win(s), or most spin(s) within a specific timeframe. The tournament will have a prize pool that may consist of: large allocations of Sweeps Coins (SC); Gift Cards (GC); Physical Merchandise. 

Two Factor Authentication (2FA) Additional security measure that requires a second form of identification (i.e., SMS Code, Email Link, Authenticator App) prior to accessing your account strongly recommended to protect your balance and personal info. 

U 

User Generated Content Player made content such as user generated content and strategy guides created by players; player generated content may include social media posts and can be rewarded by platforms that generate a virtual currency to use on the platform, and in many cases rewards player generated content with “bonus coins” for promotional contributions. 

V 

Virtual Currency Digital currency that is issued and accepted by online gaming platforms and is a replacement for the use of real money. Virtual currencies are split into two categories, GC (has no monetary value) and SC (can be redeemed for cash). While virtual currency is different than a cryptocurrency, a few platforms will allow players to make in game purchases using their own cryptocurrency. 

Volatility Volatility is a measure of risk associated with playing slot games: 

• Low: Slot games with low volatility tend to have frequent small wins and therefore will give you arelatively stablebankroll. However, these slot machines will typically have lower maximum payouts.
• Medium: Medium Volatility slot games tend to offer a balanced mix of winning frequency and the amount won per spin.
• High: High volatility slot games tend to pay out very infrequently and when they do, it’s usually at a much higher payout rate. The bankroll will fluctuate greatly while playing a high volatility game and has the potential for extremely large jackpots. 

W 

Wagering Requirement Another term for a playthrough requirement. It is the amount of wagered that must be placed to allow a player to withdraw their bonus money. A key consideration when evaluating the value of an online casino bonus.  

Welcome Bonus A welcome bonus offered to new players at the majority of online casinos. Typically includes: 
• No Deposit free SC/ GC for registering with the site 
• First deposit bonus (Example; 200% on your first purchase) 
• Free Spins on featured games This usually offers the largest bonus offer available to players.  

Withdrawal Limit The maximum amount of SC that can be redeemed by a player over a given time frame (daily, weekly, monthly etc.). Online Casinos use this to prevent money laundering, manage the cash flow of their sites, and encourage players to continue playing. Players that have achieved VIP status will generally receive higher or no restrictions on withdrawals. 

X, Y, Z 

X Amount Used as placeholders in the terms of a contract (i.e., “up to X dollars” bonus) to be applied when a promotion is offered. 

Annual VIP Status Level initiatives determine tier levels based on a player’s annual activity, while others use monthly or lifetime activity to establish a tier level.  

Zero Wagering Perk with the least amount of play required, allowing cash out of winning. Most players find these to be the most popular promotion but they offer much lower overall value. 

Why Understanding These Terms Matters 

The sweepstakes casino industry has exploded across the u.s., drawing in millions of players with the appeal of free gaming and real winnings. However, the industry’s rapid growth has created jargon and an environment that can often be overwhelming, even to experienced players. Understanding these terms will help you: 

✅ Get the most value: recognize when bonuses are actually valuable, like 5x playthrough requirements, as opposed to marketing scams, and 1x playthrough requirements 

✅ Avoid common traps: identify when “free” money comes with substantial future wagering 

✅ Understand the law: appreciate what amoe is, how sweepstakes laws reinforce your rights as a player and more 

✅ Compare casinos: evaluate casinos based on the right criteria (such as redemption speed, rtp, and verification), rather than hype 

✅ Employ responsible gaming: use self exclusion, limits, reality checks and more 

✅ Efficiently redeem your winnings: understand proper kyc documentation, timelines for processing, and best methods for minimizing your winnings. 

Glossary Usage Tips 

For beginners: Take advantage of the “essential terms at a glance” table. Before you dive in deeper, make sure you master the difference between SC (sweepstakes casino) and GC (casino), what is required in order to complete a play through and KYC (Know Your Customer). 

Bonus Hunters: The key areas to focus on are “playthrough requirement”, “wagering requirement”, and “rakeback”. These are the factors that will determine if any promotional offers are going to provide real value. 

Serious Players: Take some time to study “rtp”, “volatility”, and “house edge”. By using this information along with “redemption processing time”, you can select which games will give you the best opportunity to win while also selecting an efficient platform to play on. 

Compliance: Take some time to review “amoe”, “kyc”, and “terms and conditions”. This will help you understand your rights as well as your responsibilities when it comes to sweepstakes law. 

SweepsPulse has one mission: to help players understand how a Sweepstakes Casino works.  

We believe that when players are well informed, they can make better choices for themselves; whether selecting which platform(s) they want to play at, what bonus to claim, and what actions will be best for them in terms of managing their gaming activity. 

Bookmark this glossary as you come across unfamiliar terms; this glossary will be updated continuously to include new features, laws, and innovations within the sweepstakes casino space. 

Last Updated: April 2026