Sweepstakes coins guide
Sweepstakes casinos are becoming the go-to gaming choice for players. Before signing up at one, you need to understand how Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins work.
In this guide, I’ll be tackling Sweeps Coins, digging into why they’re different from Gold Coins, and how to acquire them. I also cover what you can and can’t do with your coins. Read on to learn the facts about Sweeps Coins and their role in sweepstakes casinos.
What are coins at sweepstakes casinos?
Coins are the virtual currency used by sweepstakes and social casinos. This means that there’s no real money involved when you want to play a game. You might want to use your real money to buy some coins, but it’s not a necessity.
There are two types of coins at a sweepstakes casino: Gold Coins (GC) and Sweeps Coins (SC). These both serve different functions in the casino and don’t operate in the same way.
1. Gold Coins
GC are used to play socially at sweepstakes and social casinos. Playing socially means it’s just for fun and you can’t exchange them for rewards or prizes, they’ll only allow you to play the casino’s games. These coins are acquired in three ways.
One is through the bonuses awarded by the casino. Crown Coins, for instance, has a new-player bonus that awards players with GC to play in the casino. Players can also claim GC through wheel bonuses and daily log-ins.
GC can also be bought using your real money in packages from the casino when you’re looking for a top-up. Besides this, these coins can also be won through gameplay.
2. Sweepstakes Coins
So what is SC? For starters, these coins are still used to play games for free at the casino, but SC that has been played through can later be redeemed for cash, gift cards, merch, and other rewards.
Before they’re played through the casino, gifted SC are considered coins without value. SC won through gameplay typically has a value of 1 SC to $1.
SC can only be found at sweepstakes casinos since there’s the potential to redeem them for prizes. Social casinos don’t offer this feature.
3. Redeemable Sweeps Coins
You can’t just redeem your SC as soon as you’ve earned them. Like with bonus winnings at real-money casinos, your Sweeps Coins need to meet any wagering requirements before redeeming them.
Many casinos will require you to play through the coins at least once before redeeming them. Some will also have an expiration date on the coins, requiring you to play through and redeem them within a certain period, usually 30–60 days.
A small sidenote: not all sweepstakes casinos will refer to their SC in the same way. Some of them might have a unique branding name. Stake.us, for example, refers to its Sweeps Coins as Stake Cash.
How to get Sweeps Coins
SC are acquired differently from GC because they can’t be bought at the casino. Here are some of the ways you can get more SC:
New-players offers
Newly registered players can claim their welcome bonus, which can be a combination of Gold and Sweeps Coins, to start them off in the casino.
Bonuses
SC are often awarded as part of regular bonuses. Spree.com, for instance, awards Sweeps Coins through bonuses like their monthly Spin Rush promo. They also award daily SC for logging in.
Free with GC packages
When buying GC packages, SC can also be included as a free bonus. In this case, the SC aren’t part of the price paid for the package, they’re just a nice freebie.
Gameplay
You can also win more SC by playing in games at the casino. Try to play games with a high RTP, and always test games first with GC, to keep your SC losses to a minimum.
Friend referral
Sometimes Sweepstakes casinos have friend referrals set up. This means every time you refer a friend to the casino, you can be awarded with SC and GC if they sign up and make a purchase.
Social media
Sweepstakes casinos are big on the social element and encourage you to connect your social media to the casino. Once that’s done, the casino may reward you with SC. The casino might occasionally host competitions on its social media, such as spot-the-difference, creating more opportunities to earn coins.
Mail-in request
All sweeps casinos allow you to request more SC in the mail, although be advised this option typically applies once you’ve exhausted your balances or if you’re just starting at the casino. The casino might also have limits on how many requests you can make, so check the terms and conditions.
Casino leaderboards
If you play in tournaments and events at the casino, you can earn free SC according to your leaderboard ranking. Play the required slot for the tournament, and get the highest multiplier possible to climb to the top of the leaderboard.
Can you turn Gold Coins into Sweeps Cash
In short, no.
The two coin types don’t cross over since they work differently, and you can’t trade one for the other. In some cases, the coins are used for different game modes. For example, at WOW Vegas, GC is used only when you’re playing the standard game and not for cash prizes. SC is used when you want to win more SC to redeem your coins for cash prizes or gift cards.
This means it’s not possible to win SC from the games played using GC. You also can’t redeem GC in exchange for SC.
Convert Sweeps Coins into cash prizes
The process for converting SC into cash prizes or gift cards is similar at most sweepstakes casinos.
Before getting started, you’ll need to verify your identity like at a real-money casino. This won’t take long and just requires you to provide some documents verifying who you are, such as photo ID and a recent utility bill.
Once you’ve completed the SC playthrough requirements and have the minimum eligible amount to redeem, head to the ‘Cashier’. From here you can redeem your SC for cash prizes through an accepted payment method, or as a gift card sent directly to your email address.
Payment options for sweepstakes casinos
Although sweepstakes casinos work on the premise of “no purchase necessary,” there will be moments when you might want to bring out your wallet. Buying GC is one example. You’d also want your payment details close by if you’re withdrawing your SC cash prize.
Credit and debit cards
These are some of the most popular payment methods for buying GC. VISA and Mastercard lead the way in this area as they’re the most frequently and widely accepted cards, which makes them a reliable option for players. Keep in mind that these are only accepted for purchases, not redemptions.
E-wallets
E-wallets such as Paypal and Skrill are known for their ease of use, convenience, and transaction speed. Players also appreciate the security that comes with e-wallets since there’s no need to share your bank details directly with the casino. E-wallets are also a great choice when redeeming your prize redemptions, with redemptions processed in under 24 hours.
Cryptocurrencies
Like e-wallets, cryptocurrencies are becoming increasingly popular as they’re a secure and decentralized way to purchase GC. Cryptocurrencies are fast, and there’s no need to share personal bank details with the casino. Remember to watch out for any potential transaction fees when using cryptocurrencies. Don’t forget that cryptocurrencies are pretty volatile, too, since they can experience big price swings.
Mobile payments
Mobile payments, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, are another popular method because of their speed and efficiency. They’re becoming integrated much more frequently into the casino interface because of the high demand.
Bank transfers
Players can always rely on a bank transfer to redeem their sweepstakes prizes. This involves more sensitive financial information being shared directly with the casino, which some players might not feel comfortable with. To keep players’ information protected, bank transfers utilize strong security measures. Bank transfers take an average of 3–7 days to process your prize redemption, and are usually not available as an option for purchases.
H2: How to maximize your Sweeps Coins earnings
Now that you know about SC, how do you increase your chances of earning them? Here are a few tips that can help you out:
Log in daily
Sweepstakes casinos have daily bonuses, so make sure you log in daily for your free GC and SC. Some casinos also have progressive log-in bonuses, meaning their rewards increase every consecutive day that you log in, so log in even if you don’t plan on playing that day.
Check the casino’s social media
Keep your eyes peeled when it comes to the casino’s social media as many sweepstakes casinos offer free SC through their social media competitions and offers. Make sure you’re following so you’re notified as soon as an offer goes out, as these offers are usually limited to just a few days.
Make minimum redemptions
Once you’ve hit a casino’s minimum redemption limit, you should redeem straight away. There’s no reason to go for larger redemptions, and you’ll only risk losing your hard-won SC if you keep holding onto it.
Wager using GC first
GC has no value outside of the sweeps casino’s site, so you’re not losing anything when you wager GC. That makes it perfect for testing out new games and learning their features. Once you’re comfortable with a game, swap to SC.
Play games with high RTP
I get that some low RTP games are fun, but that’s what your GC is for. SC instead should be used on RTP games of 96% or higher, to minimize your SC losses as much as possible.
Manage your wagering
It’s easy to get caught up when playing at a casino, especially at sweepstakes where games aren’t played with real money. Playing for too long and too often will lead to frequent losses, draining your SC budget. Always balance your gaming sessions and wagers to avoid losing too much.
FAQs
Can I win money playing at a sweepstake casino?
Yes, you can. This is done by redeeming your SC for cash prizes or gift cards after you’ve met the required playthrough requirements.
Can I buy Sweeps Coins?
No. SC, unlike GC, can’t be bought at the casino. They can be earned in other ways, such as through bonuses, friend referrals, or as a free bonus in a GC package.
Are sweepstakes casinos legal everywhere?
They’re not legal in every state, but they are legal in 47! The exceptions are Washington, Idaho, and Nevada. Idaho and Nevada allow you to play at social casinos, though, where you can only play for fun. Redeeming your winnings isn’t possible at social casinos.
Can I swap my Gold Coins for Sweeps Coins?
No. These two coins are different currencies in a sweepstakes casino and cannot be traded or exchanged. This is because SC can be redeemed for prizes, whereas GC cannot.
