Real money casinos vs. free sweepstakes casinos
Although real money casinos aren’t available across the US, free sweepstakes casinos are considered legal across most of the US, minus Washington.
At free online
sweepstakes casino
cyou can play a variety of casino-style games without ever making a purchase and some also offer games of skill. In turn, you can legally enjoy your favorite casino-style titles without spending a dime.
Of course, that doesn’t mean free sweepstakes casinos aren’t willing to take your cash. You can still buy additional Gold Coins, should you wish. However, it is essential to note that any online purchase at a free sweepstakes casino will not enhance your chances of playing
real sweepstakes to win money.
At the very best sweepstakes casinos, you'll find information on how to convert your Sweepstakes Coins into redeemable prizes and the additional requirements that must be met. However, you can also look to eliminate the middle-man by taking advantage of our sweepstakes casino guides and reviews. Here, you'll find all you need to know about playing real sweepstakes with the prospect of later redeeming cash prizes.
| Criteria |
Real Sweepstakes |
Free Sweepstakes |
| Prize Pool |
Usually higher, ranging from a few hundred to millions of dollars |
Typically smaller, ranging from a few dollars to a few thousand dollars |
| Entry Fee |
Requires a purchase or payment to enter |
No purchase is necessary; you can enter for free |
| Odds of Winning |
Generally higher due to a smaller pool of entrants |
Lower due to a larger pool of entrants |
| Advertising |
More advertising and promotion due to potential revenue from entry fees |
Less advertising and promotion due to no revenue from entry fees |
| Expiration |
Extended entry period due to potential revenue from entry fees |
Shorter entry period due to no revenue from entry fees |
| Restrictions |
More restrictions on eligibility and participation |
Fewer restrictions on eligibility and participation |
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Social, Sweepstakes and Real Money Casinos - What's the difference?
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Sweeps Cash and Gold Coin explained
Real Prize Sweepstakes Casino Sites
Find the best sweepstakes with real money prizes
When it comes to finding a top destination to earn sweepstakes casino real money prizes, your first port of call should be with us here at The Game Haus. Our gaming platform has covered all sorts of operators, allowing you to find your perfect match. In this next section, we highlight a few key features that we consider to help separate the best sweepstakes casinos from the rest.
- Transparency
- Straight from the off, a transparent sweepstakes casino will help to put any doubts to rest. Legally, all prizes, expiration dates, and all other details should be made clear before entering any on-site competitions. However, if you can also access the full terms and conditions of the site as a whole, you’ll be able to judge whether this is the right operator for you.
- Ongoing bonuses
-Â As a purchase is not required to play and will not enhance your chances should you make one, bonuses prove imperative to the sweepstakes casino experience. Of course, we would expect to redeem a sizable welcome bonus to give you a good chance of playing sweepstakes with cash prizes. However, it is important that a look beyond and into the recurring promotions is completed, too. Most sites will offer daily rewards and races, but sites that offer rewards programs can really boost your virtual currency pots.
- Prize conversions
- Although playthrough requirements aren’t detailed extensively at a sweepstakes casino. Those making use of Sweepstakes Coins will need to be aware of them. As Sweepstakes Coins are your one-way ticket to winning sweepstakes casino real money prizes, a fair conversion rate and playthrough requirements are preferred. Most sites will offer a 1:1, but playthroughs will vary.
- Minimum redemptions
- Following on from the above, minimum redemptions will be crucial in finalizing your sweepstakes casino decision. Although you can play at a sweepstakes casino for free, the risks surrounding your Sweepstakes Coins are still present. Having a lower redemption requirement means that you can capitalize on smaller victories when you play sweepstakes with cash prizes.
- Eligible ways to win real money
- We’ve mentioned that bonuses are crucial to improving your chances of winning sweepstakes with cash prizes, but there are alternative ways that you can boost your Sweepstakes Coins pot. For example, we would suggest joining daily races and aiming to find yourself atop the leaderboard, sending a postcard request to HQ, or checking out the social media sites and liking, sharing, and commenting on posts.
Get more from playing sweepstakes with cash prizes
We begin this section by reminding you that sweepstakes with cash prizes do not hold any guarantees. Although you can play real sweepstakes to win money, you will still be presented with the same RNG that makes all casino-style games fair to play. With this in mind, this section offers some tips on the best ways to play sweepstakes to win real money prizes.
The Best Sweepstakes Casinos That Pay Real Money in February
1.
Get 200% More Coins on First Purchase - 1.5M CC + 75 SC
2.
200% Extra: 300,000 Gold Coins + 30 SC
3.
25 SC and 25K GC signup bonus
+ 10K GC and 1 SC daily for life
4.
150% First Purchase Offer: Up to 600K Gold Coins + 303 SC FREE
5.
100% More Coins: 80,000 GC + 40 FREE SC + 75 Free SC Spins
The initial Sweepstakes Coins bonus will be far smaller than the Gold Coins bonus you receive. So, it makes sense to start small and test the waters. As your pot grows, you can then consider increasing your stakes.
It may seem pretty obvious, but don’t get fixated on one way to unlock Sweepstakes Coins. While the daily login is a great way to add to your pot, make sure you check other ongoing promotions, make your way through the rewards program, and spin the prize wheel.
You’ll find that the best sweepstakes casinos with cash prizes will run regular competitions on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. So, spending a little time working your way through what is on offer makes sense. Plus, if there’s no competition, you may still learn more about upcoming games or perks on your chosen site.
The daily races are a great way to add to your Sweepstakes Coins tally. Depending on your chosen site, you’ll be required to opt in and stake as you usually would on your preferred titles. Those who sit atop the leaderboard at the end of the day will be presented with a percentage of the Sweepstakes Coins prize pool.
Sweepstakes with real money prizes like to keep things social - as you’ll have spotted by the chances to interact with their social media sites. However, they also like to keep things social between you and your friends. The refer-a-friend bonus is a great way to invite others to try out the great games you have enjoyed. Plus, you’ll receive a Sweepstakes Coins bonus for every new player who registers and plays.
Top 5 sweepstake casinos you should try out
There are many sweepstake casinos on the market. We have spent countless hours searching and testing sites in order to find the best social casinos you should open an account with. Here are our top picks.
Number one sweepstake casino: Stake.us
Pros and Cons
- Stake.us often has tournaments
- A wide variety of casino-like games, including some Originals
- You can play games free to play
- 24/7 customer support
We believe that Stake.us is the best social casino all around. There are over 400 casino-like games for you to try out from famous slot developers like Hacksaw Gaming, OneTouch, and Pragmatic Play. Slots are not the only games, however. Some original games like Keno, Limbo, Plinko, and more are developed in-house, alongside a solid selection of table games.
Stake.us supports crypto payments - there are twenty cryptocurrencies for you to use. Even though this is a social casino, there is an option to redeem Sweep Coins for cash prizes.
You can expect many promotions and bonuses at this operator. One of them is an exclusive offer of a $25 no-deposit bonus in addition to 250,000 Gold Coins and a 5% rakeback when you decide to sign up using our exclusive promo code
TGHSOCIAL.
25 SC and 25K GC signup bonus
Wow Vegas
Pros and Cons
- Weekly bonuses and promotions
- Almost 700 games available
- You can redeem sweepstake coins for prizes
- Available on mobile devices
Wow Vegas is a solid social casino that is available in all US states except Nevada, Idaho, and Washington. This operator has almost 700 games on its website for you to try out and we had a particularly good time playing Big Bass Splash and Candy Stars. Unfortunately, we haven’t found any table games, so, if you’re looking for something besides slots, this social casino might not be for you.
At Wow Vegas you can collect virtual currency called Sweep Coins, which can be redeemed for cash prizes. To redeem a cash prize, you will need to play with SCs and collect at least 100 SCs. You can use one of the many withdrawal methods, such as credit cards, Skrill, or Apple Pay. There is also a good welcome bonus for new players that will give you plenty of Wow Coins to play games for fun.
200% Extra: 30 SC FREE and 1.75M WOW Coins
Fortune Coins
Pros and Cons
- Available in 49 states
- Good welcome bonus
- Easy registration process
- Progressive jackpots
- Smaller casino-style gaming library
Yet another good sweepstake casino is Fortune Coins. This operator is available in all US states except Washington and, as with many other social casinos, you can play all the games available for free. Of course, you can always buy more coins by selecting one of the many Gold Coin packages. There is also an option to play with a unique virtual currency called Fortune Coins, which can be redeemed for cash prizes. You cannot buy Fortune Coins, as they are usually given for free within bonuses and promos.
Registering your account on the site will reward you with 1,000 Fortune Coins to start your journey. Fortune Coins doesn’t have as extensive a catalog as Stake.us, but there are plenty of slots to enjoy and this is the best social casino if you are looking for jackpots. As a matter of fact, almost all the slots available on the platform feature progressive jackpots. You can win jackpots playing with Gold Coins and Fortune Coins.
Valentine’s Welcome Bonus: 3M GC + 3000 FC
High 5 Casino
Pros and Cons
- There is a fantastic selection of slot games
- VIP program available
- Dedicated mobile app
- Good welcome bonus
Our list wouldn’t be complete without High 5 Casino. This brand won the best social casino award in 2023 in the EGR awards and there are many reasons for that. One of them is undoubtedly its generous bonuses. Every newcomer to the site will get a $5 no-deposit bonus, 250 gold coins, and 600 diamonds. But that’s not all; there is also a daily login bonus and Spin the Wheel bonus, where there is a possibility to win different prizes. There is also a Facebook group where you can grab promotions regularly.
High 5 Casino has a dedicated mobile app, whereas all the sites previously mentioned only have mobile-optimized websites, so if you are searching for a brand that has invested development time in an app, High 5 Casino is a great choice. Both the app and the site have the same selection of games.
245% Extra up to 60 SC FREE + 700 Gold Coins and 400 Diamonds!
Sweeptastic
Pros and Cons
- Tremendous library of games
- You can redeem real money prizes
- One of the best welcome bonuses
- Crypto payments supported
The newest addition to the social casino market is Sweeptastic. This social casino offers more than a generous welcome bonus - everyone who completes the registration process will be awarded 17,777 Lucky Coins and 2 Sweepstakes Coins. There is also a good daily login bonus of 1,000 LC. You don’t even need to click the claim button; the coins are deposited automatically.
Besides Stake.us, this is one of the social casinos that support crypto payments, but if that’s not your jam, you can use more conventional payment methods like MasterCard or Visa. In our opinion, Sweeptastic is a great social casino that is improving daily.
Top 5 sweepstake slots you should try out
| Slot |
Developer |
RTP |
Where to play |
| Black Bull |
Pragmatic Play |
96.51% |
WOW Vegas |
| Sweet Bonanza |
Pragmatic Play |
96.48% |
Fortune Coins |
| Crash |
Stake Originals |
99.00% |
Stake.us |
| Gates of Olympus |
Pragmatic Play |
96.50% |
High 5 Casino |
| Monkey Jackpot |
Belatra Games |
94.35% |
Sweeptastic |
Black Bull Slot - Wow Vegas
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Black Bull Slot Gameplay
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Play Black Bull Slot at Wow Vegas now
Black Bull is a 5-reel, 4-row slot game with 20 paylines developed by Pragmatic Play. The developers are sticking with the bull riding theme, so you can expect a somewhat volatile slot. But don’t worry; there are features that help with volatility, like wilds and free spins. Wilds act as a substitute for any other paying symbols except the scatter. Another vital symbol to look for is the money symbol; a picture of gold coins represents them in a bag. This symbol displays random values ranging from 0.5 to 50 times your bet.
Black Bull has an astonishing win cap of 4,500 times your bet; when looking at the competition, this is a good value. Also, the slot's RTP is pretty solid, with 96.51%.
200% Extra: 30 SC FREE and 1.75M WOW Coins
Wow Vegas Highlights
- Large selection of games
- Great welcome bonus
- Active social media channels
Sweet Bonanza Slot - Fortune Coins
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Sweet Bonanza Slot Overview
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Sweet Bonanza Gameplay
This is yet another hit video slot developed by Pragmatic Play, one of the leading slot developers. When you start this game, you will be welcomed with candy-themed icons reminiscent of Candy Crush. This is a Pay Anywhere type of slot game, that means you will win wherever paying symbols land, as long as you get eight or more of the same symbols. Because of this feature, don’t expect to see wild symbols you can see in many other slot games.
Sweet Bonanza also has a tumble feature - when you land a winning combination, winning symbols will be removed from the grid and replaced with new random symbols. This increases your chance of winning. This slot is a good choice if you want a unique approach to slot games.
Valentine’s Welcome Bonus: 3M GC + 3000 FC
Fortune Coins Highlights
- 650k GC + 1k FC on sign-up
- Daily reload bonus
- Social media promos and giveaways
Crash Game - Stake.us
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Play Crash Game at Stake.us
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Crash Game Overview
Crash isn’t a slot game, but it is easy to learn and provides a lot of fun. You will see an XY graph with a rising line, and all you need to do is predict when the line will stop moving. Place your bet and exit before the crash happens - simple.
The presentation is simplistic, so don’t expect flashy graphics to distract you. The best thing about this game is its high RTP of 99%. You can expect all Stake Originals to have high RTP, but this one takes the cake. Because this is not a slot game, reading some strategies before you start playing will be good. Don’t be afraid to try something new occasionally and have some fun only at Stake.us.
25 SC and 25K GC signup bonus
+ 10K GC and 1 SC daily for life
Stake.us Highlights
- Exclusive promo code:
TGHSOCIAL
- The #1 SC with Real Money Prizes
- Daily Reloads, Bonus Drops & more
Gates of Olympus Slot - High 5 Casino
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Gates of Olympus Slat Gameplay
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Play Gates of Olympus at High 5 Casino
As the slot's name suggests, the gameplay occurs on the top of the Mountain Olympus, where the Ancient Greek gods reside. This 6-reel, 5-row slot is developed by Pragmatic Play. Developers used many untraditional features like cascades and Win-All-Ways system. You will win when you hit at least eight of the same symbols. Because of that, there is no wild symbol.
Gates of Olympus has multiplier symbols and scatter symbols. Scatter symbols will trigger free spins round, bringing the game excitement. If you score some wins during the free spins bonus round, all your multipliers will be added to the global multiplier count, unlocking the potential for big wins. The slot is available at High 5 Casino.
245% Extra up to 60 SC FREE + 700 Gold Coins and 400 Diamonds!
High5Casino Highlights
- 1200+ Games, Slots & Live Dealer Games!
- FREE Daily Rewards
- Authentic brand, made in the USA
- To Claim: Click Play Now
Monkey Jackpot Slot - Sweeptastic
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Monkey Jackpot Slot Overview
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Monkey Jackpot Slot Gameplay at Sweeptastic
Monkey Jackpot is a 5x5 slot game developed by Belatra Games. The slot features 25 paylines with an RTP of 94.45%. As you can guess from the title, this slot has a jungle monkey theme. You can see happy monkeys, coconuts, ananas, toucans, and bananas as its symbols.
The graphics are a little bit lacking, so don’t expect top-of-the-line visuals. But don’t let that fact discourage you from trying this slot game. The slot has many great features, like wilds, free spins, and progressive jackpots. When you get three same symbols during the free spins round, you will get a jackpot associated with that symbol. You can play Monkey Jackpot and many other slots with progressive jackpots on Sweeptastic.
Your guide to playing real sweepstakes to win money
Sweepstakes casinos are legal in 49 states, allowing players from all over the US to play real sweepstakes to win money. Different sites will use different prize conversion processes and may even offer you the chance to leave with merchandise, vouchers, or additional
Gold Coins
instead.
You can hope to build up your own
Sweepstakes Coins
pot by staking sensibly, entering social media giveaways, redeeming further bonuses, and referring your friends. To find the best places to enjoy sweepstakes with real money prizes and much more, be sure to head back to The Game Haus.
Our top sweepstakes bonus picks
1.
Get 200% More Coins on First Purchase - 1.5M CC + 75 SC
Playthrough: 1x Bonus
2.
200% Extra: 300,000 Gold Coins + 30 SC
3.
25 SC and 25K GC signup bonus
+ 10K GC and 1 SC daily for life
4.
150% First Purchase Offer: Up to 600K Gold Coins + 303 SC FREE
5.
100% More Coins: 80,000 GC + 40 FREE SC + 75 Free SC Spins
Sweepstakes Games with Real Money Prizes FAQs
🌟 How do I redeem sweepstakes real money prizes?
To convert Sweepstakes Coins into real-world prizes, most sweepstakes casino sites will expect you to play through your SC balance at least once. You will also be expected to hold a minimum number of SC before the process can begin.Â
🚀 Can I win sweepstakes real money prizes?
You cannot directly win money while playing at a sweepstakes casino. With that being said, you can look to play with SC, meet certain requirements, and exchange your SC balance for redeemable prizes.
🎲 What games can I play at a sweepstakes casino with real money prizes?
You'll find that many top online sweepstakes casinos now allow you to play casino-style games backed by the likes of NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, and Betsoft. Slots will make up the bulk of the portfolio; however, it isn't too uncommon to see roulette, blackjack, and a range of exclusive titles offered.
