A Comprehensive Guide to Online Sweepstakes Casinos

Gambling has always been a hugely popular hobby in America and around the world. Even during periods of time when most forms of gambling were illegal, people have found ways to enjoy betting on sports or playing casino games.

Currently, the legal status of gambling in the USA, both in-person and online, is determined by each individual state. Some US states, like Nevada and New Jersey, have very relaxed gambling laws. Most other states only allow casinos to operate on Native American land but have made an allowance for online sports betting. Unfortunately, this means that many Americans don’t have any access to legal online casino gambling.

This is where online sweepstakes casinos come in. These sites provide online casino-style gaming without technically crossing the legal line into actual gambling. This is because they don’t require players to spend real money, and games are played with an alternate currency.

If this all sounds a little confusing, don’t worry. After reading this article, you’ll know everything there is to know about online sweepstakes casinos and why these gambling sites have become so popular.

How Do Sweepstakes Casinos Work?

Sweepstakes casinos have all the same types of games available as traditional online casinos. The main difference is that they don’t use real money to wager on the games. Instead, players use two in-game currencies, typically known as Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins (though some sites have their own special names for them).

Both types of coins can be used to play games and neither has any real monetary value. The difference is that Gold Coins can be purchased. Sweeps Coins, on the other hand, can only be awarded or won. Sweeps Coins can be used to play games and can be exchanged for prizes that have a real cash value. Coins can also be received for free, which is how a site maintains sweepstakes status.

Players at sweepstakes casinos can play a limited number of games for free or they can purchase coin packages to use to play the games. Players that collect enough Sweeps Coins to meet the redeemable limit can then exchange those coins for prizes that include gift cards, cash or special prize items.

Sweepstakes or Social Casino?

There is occasionally confusion about what these types of sites are called. Sometimes they are called sweepstakes casinos and sometimes they are called social casinos. The sweepstakes part we’ve already explained.

The social casino name comes from the fact that these sites have a social element that regular casinos lack. Players can participate in tournaments and prize draws on social media, use chat features to communicate and share thoughts on their favorite games, and read and comment on blogs about related topics.

Both of these names are accurate and can be used interchangeably.

How to Find Sweepstakes Casinos

Just like with regular online casinos, the huge success and popularity they’ve had has led to the creation of dozens of sites. With so many to choose from, it becomes difficult to decide where to create an account. Deciding on the factors (games, bonuses, special features and prizes) that matter to you is a good first step in finding a sweepstakes casino.

1. a dedicated sweepstakes casino guide such as Sweepschaser.com is the best way to keep track of all of the latest sweepstakes casinos, new bonuses and important news. Guides like these contain reviews of sweepstakes casinos, bonus codes and information on any changing laws regulating these sites.

Below are some of the online sweepstakes casinos that have caught our attention in recent weeks:

Mega Bonanza

Mega Bonanza is a new site that was launched in 2024 and has already made a big splash. They have over 800 games available for players. Their games include slots, Megaways, live dealer games and even some table games.

The welcome bonus for new players includes 7,500 Gold Coins and 2.5 Sweeps Coins. Players who make purchases are eligible for a boosted welcome bonus of up to 200,000 Gold Coins and 100 free Sweeps Coins.

Crown Coins Casino

Crown Coins Casino is a sweepstakes casino fit for royalty. It was founded in 2023 and has a library of more than 450 games. Alongside the regular slots, they also have a great selection of jackpot slots. Crown Coins Casino is legal in every state except Idaho, Nevada, Washington and Michigan.

The welcome bonus includes 100,000 Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins. The site has daily missions and a VIP club to reward loyal players. Other bonuses include a Refer a Friend bonus and a First Purchase reward. Players who follow Crown Coins Casino on various social media platforms can get access to special events and extra rewards.

Sportzino Casino

Don’t let the name fool you, Sportzino Casino isn’t a site for sports betting or just for playing sports-themed games. The site has more than 600 games, which is very impressive for a sweepstakes casino. They have slots, jackpots, Keno, scratchcards, instant win games, bingo and Megaways.

Like most sweepstakes casinos, Sportzino is a download-free casino. This means there’s no app that players have to download to access the games. It is legal to play at in all 50 states except Idaho, Georgia, Michigan and Washington. The maximum possible welcome bonus is 170,000 Gold Coins and 7 free Sweeps Coins. The bonus is built up by doing actions like consenting to email and text message contact or verifying your phone number.

Zula Casino

Zula Casino is one of the best known sweepstakes casinos. In the short time since it was launched, it has developed a reputation for offering players some of the best bonuses in the industry. The games library has 750 titles. The games include slots, jackpots, fishing games, Megaways and instant win games. It is legal to play at Zula Casino in Idaho, Michigan and Washington. It’s also legal in most of the Canadian provinces.

The welcome bonus from Zula Casino starts with 20,000 Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins, once you’ve verified your email address. Following other steps to verify your identity and receive communications can earn you a total of 120,000 Gold Coins and 10 Sweeps Coins.