Most people who have used a sweepstakes casino online will be familiar with Gold Coins as these coins appear in abundance when someone signs up for an account. However, what is the function of gold coins, how do they work and why does a sweepstakes casino use them so much? This guide provides answers to all three questions.
Oloruntoba Yusuf Casino & iGaming Expert 
Emmanuella Oluwafemi iGaming Content Manager Sweepstakes Casinos’ primary “play money” currency is called Gold Coins (GC). Gold coins have zero real world value, cannot be exchanged into real money or prizes, and are used solely for you to try out new games with no risk of losing your own money. They are similar to casino chips at a free to play gaming table where you play with gold coins, if you win you get more gold coins; however, when you’re ready to leave the game you can’t exchange those gold coins for cash. That simple way of using GC’s was part of the reason that the Gold Coin system is also a fundamental building block for the legal model that the majority of U.S. states allow for sweepstakes casinos to operate in under their laws without obtaining an actual casino/gambling license.
The promotional sweepstakes model that sweeps casinos use as their legal framework does not include laws related to real money gaming. In order to understand Gold Coins, it is necessary to have an understanding of the dual currency model that exists in all sweepstakes platforms.
| Currency | Abbreviation | Real Value? | Redeemable? | Purpose |
| Gold Coins | GC | No | No | Free play entertainment |
| Sweeps Coins | SC | Yes | Yes | Prizes and cash redemption |
Every sweepstakes online casino will use both currencies together. The gold coins (GC) are the primary, high volume currency; you will have an abundance of gold coins versus sweeps coins (SC). On the flip side, sweeps coins (SC) are considered the premium currency based on their relationship to money. When you make a purchase for gold coin packages you get a few sweeps coins (at no cost), included as a thank you for making a purchase. In essence, you pay for the gold coins (the primary play money); however, the valuable sweeps coins are given away for free.
Gold Coins are mainly used as a type of gaming money. Below are some things you will be able to do and unable to do with Gold Coins.
There is never going to be a legitimate Sweepstakes Casino that allows users to redeem their Gold Coins for cash. If there is a website/platform that states that they allow redemption of Gold Coins, then it is a Red Flag.
One of the most appealing aspects of Gold Coins is how generously they are awarded. There are multiple ways to add GC to your account and most of them cost nothing at all.
Many players see that they can accumulate free gold coins fast enough so purchasing them is completely optional, particularly for casual play.
In practice, Gold Coins are given no monetary worth; legally that is their status (as set forth in the terms and conditions of all sweepstakes casinos). The practical value to you as a player lies internally; it can determine how many spin you receive during each session or session length with how much entertainment you derive from this gaming experience. A good example would be, when using a game with higher GC denomination as a bet size, you will likely see less overall time in play compared to a game that has lower GC denomination as a bet size. A brief view of how GC bet sizing generally operates:
| Game Type | Typical GC Bet Range | Session Length on 100,000 GC |
| Classic Slots | 500 – 2,000 GC/spin | 50 – 200 spins |
| Video Slots | 1,000 – 5,000 GC/spin | 20 – 100 spins |
| Table Games (Blackjack) | 1,000 – 10,000 GC/hand | 10 – 100 hands |
| Video Poker | 500 – 3,000 GC/hand | 33 – 200 hands |
| Live Dealer | 5,000 – 50,000 GC/hand | 2 – 20 hands |
Figures are illustrative and vary by platform and game.
Gold Coins vs Sweeps Coins is a popular question among sweeps casino players: at first glance both may appear as if they have no difference. GC and SC may be used to make wagers on slots or table games. However, there is a major difference in how each type of coin functions within your gaming experience. This difference will separate a recreational gambler from an experienced one. The first and foremost point to recognize is that Gold Coins are an entertainment currency while Sweeps Coins are a reward currency. Every other aspect of your gaming experience is a result of these two definitions.
All sweeps casinos are based on the same idea but each website brands and distributes its own version of GC (Gold Coins) in different ways. The image below provides an overview of how several prominent websites have branded their Gold Coins offerings.
| Casino | GC Welcome Bonus | Daily Free GC | GC Package Starting Price |
| Pulsz | 5,000 GC | ✓ | ~$1.99 |
| High 5 Casino | 250 GC | ✓ | ~$4.99 |
| McLuck | 7,500 GC | ✓ | ~$4.99 |
| WOW Vegas | 1,000,000 GC | ✓ | ~$9.99 |
| Stake.us | 10,000 GC | ✓ | ~$1.99 |
| Fortune Coins | 360,000 GC | ✓ | ~$4.99 |
Bonus amounts and the price can be changed by the platform. It’s always good to see what the current bonus amount is on that platform’s Promotions Page.
It’s also important to notice the huge range of Game Credits (GC) for each platform, e.g., 1,000,000 GC at WOW Vegas doesn’t mean it is more valuable than 5,000 GC at Pulsz. In other words, there isn’t an inherent value based on the number alone; rather the number is a factor of how many free spins you get per spin or hand.
Mostly, Gold Coins are a very user friendly / player friendly game feature. However, there are some other items to keep in mind when using Gold Coins:
Sweepstakes Casinos have a built in mechanism to provide each customer with an opportunity to access all of the games in their library at no cost using Gold Coins. This allows customers across all budgets to fully experience the variety of casino style games through a legal model of the sweeps casino model. The use of Gold Coins provides a means to reduce the risk associated with playing casually and also provide a less stressful environment to try new gaming experiences or game types before investing your valuable Sweeps Coins.
Gold Coins cannot be used as a method to obtain prizes and will never be redeemable for real money. However, if you are looking for a fun and stress free place to entertain yourself while practicing your skills on different games, then Gold Coins are perfect; plentiful; generous; and consequence free.
Review the terms and conditions of any sweepstakes casino prior to making a deposit. Sweepstakes Casinos can be accessed within most states, however, some areas within certain states may be excluded due to local jurisdictional requirements.
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