With online casinos being legal in only seven states, the sweepstakes casino market has grown rapidly in the U.S. These social gaming platforms circumvent online gambling rules by offering virtual currencies that cannot be bought but can be won from games and promotions and later redeemed for real prizes, including cash.
👉 This system has enabled sweepstakes casinos to be available in as many as 47 states, but it has also led to a burgeoning market where it’s tough to find the right platform.
However, you can narrow your search and locate a couple of great sweepstakes casinos, and that’s precisely what this brief guide aims to show.
Table of contents
What to consider when choosing a sweepstakes casino
Choosing the right sweepstakes casino for you is all about reviewing a few features that all these platforms share, most notably the games and bonuses.
The more aspects of the experience align with what you’re looking for and fit the bill of a quality online sweeps casino, the better.
Legitimacy and security
Determining whether a sweepstakes casino is safe and legitimate is not straightforward, as these sites are not required to have licences like real-money gambling sites. However, there are a few things you can check:
- Clear sweepstakes rules: Every quality sweepstakes casino should have a separate section explaining sweepstakes rules clearly and unambiguously. This section should resemble a Terms & Conditions page, but specifically for sweepstakes rules.
- Optional purchases: The platform should clearly state that no purchase is necessary for playing and demonstrate that practically. In other words, it should be clear that you can play without buying gold coin packages. For instance, you should be able to obtain gold and sweep coins for free through promotions.
- Clear ownership information: Scam sweepstakes casinos will obscure information about their owners, while legitimate ones clearly show who the owner is in the website’s footer.
Return to player (RTP)
Sweeps casino games usually have RTP values, i.e., return-to-player percentages, that tell you how much you can expect to get back for every 100 coins invested. The value is shown in percentages, so the closer to 100%, the more you get back on average.
The best casino games have RTPs of 97% or higher. These values are typically reserved for only a handful of slots and most video poker, blackjack, and roulette games. There are other options with high RTPs, like craps, but these are rarely seen in sweeps casinos.
Sign-up no deposit bonus
Every sweep casino has a no deposit bonus, but how good is it really? How much does it offer, and will it last a while?
The best no deposit bonuses offer thousands of gold coins, but what really matters is the sweep coins. In general, the amounts mostly range from 3 to 30 SC. Obviously, the more SC you get, the better.
👉 However, bear in mind that different sweeps casinos redeem SC differently. Most have a simple exchange rate of 1 SC for $1, but some sites require 100 SC for the same amount, so it’s crucial to consider this and not be fooled by the high number of SC in the no deposit bonus.
Game selection
The game selection is probably the most important aspect of any sweepstakes casino. If you have preferences for certain game types, make sure you have plenty to choose from.
If you’re looking for overall quality, seek out sites with hundreds, if not thousands, of games in their library. These should include slots, table games, live casino games, jackpots, specialty releases, and fish games.
Additionally, these titles should come from a diverse range of providers, including elite brands like Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Relax Gaming, Evoplay, and BGaming.
Purchase options
Purchasing gold coin packages is always optional, but if you want to do so, you should first check which payment methods are supported. Sweepstakes casinos usually allow only a few options, so look for sites that offer those you typically use.
You’ll typically find payment methods like:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- American Express
- Skrill
- Trustly
- Google Pay
- Apple Pay
- Bank transfer
- Even specific cryptocurrencies on crypto-friendly sweepstakes casinos
Redemption methods & thresholds
Most sweepstakes casinos let you redeem wagered SC for cash or gift cards. However, there are differences in payment methods and where the gift cards can be used.
It’s best when you can redeem your SC directly to your bank account or through Amazon or Visa gift cards.
The redemption threshold is also something to pay attention to. It should be around $50 or $100, but not more. For gift cards, it’s often below $50.
Also, check how many times you need to play through your SC before redeeming them. Most sites impose a 1x playthrough requirement.
User interface
Everyone wants to see a quality user interface that’s not cumbersome or complex to navigate, and you should check that this is the case.
👉 Moreover, you should ensure the design is modern and not cluttered with unnecessary elements that increase loading times and waste data.
Customer support
Customer support is integral to the sweepstakes gaming experience. Whether you’re confused about redemptions, wondering why a particular game is unavailable, or have some minor issues that need fixing, the customer support team should be available during working hours or even 24/7.
You should have an easy way to reach them, preferably through live chat and phone.