Sweepstakes games are excellent legal alternatives for players who reside in states where gambling is not legal. These games are offered in sweepstakes casinos and don’t require any cash to play. This is because online casinos that offer them operate under sweepstakes laws, making them legal in the US.
The best part about sweepstakes games is that even though you don’t need real cash to play, you still have the chance to win cash prizes. Amazing right? If you don’t understand the concept behind these games, this guide will help you get started.
Here, we will teach you everything you need to know about real money sweepstakes casino games, the best titles to play for real money, and the best sweeps casinos to play in. Knowing this, let’s begin!
Top Sweepstakes Online Casinos to Play for Cash Prizes
If you have decided to play on a sweepstakes casino, there are many options available, especially if you want to play for real cash. However, not all these online casinos are built similarly, as some have better offerings than others. Our experts have compiled a list of the top sweepstakes casinos you can play to win real money prizes.
Fortune Coins
Social Gaming LLC is the powerhouse behind this leading sweepstakes casino. Fortune Coins is your best bet if you are looking for a sweeps site that allows you to win real money prizes. This platform offers you two play modes. The first is the standard mode which lets you play for free. You’ll also find a premium mode on this site, which lets you play for real cash using Fortune Coins. These coins can’t be purchased and are offered to you anytime you purchase a gold coin package.
Real Money Games on Fortune Coins
Once you register, you’ll be able to pick from 50 online casino games, which include slots, card games, fish games, and progressives. Most of the games are powered by in-house developers, but you’ll also find titles from known providers like iSoftBet, Blazesoft, and Blueprint Gaming.
Some of the leading slot titles here include Hot 777, Wild Cowboys and LuckyClover. If you would rather win a massive number of sweeps coins, you can check out progressive games like Freaky Tiki and Ariel’s Song.
Table games are covered here with titles like Jacks or Better or Joker Poker. These games are no different from your typical poker games in online casinos, and come with decent bet ranges.
There are also fish games on offer, with Emily’s Treasure as the only title available. This is an exciting game that puts you deep into the ocean where your goal is to catch as many fishes as you can. Every fish has a different point, so you’ll want to make sure each shot counts. It is a great game if you love fast-paced games that let you win cash too.
You can play these games on the website and mobile casino available on both IOS and Android devices. Register today and get 140,000 gold coins and 500 fortune coins to play for free!
Pulsz Casino
This top sweepstakes site allows you to win real cash prizes. Pulsz Casino is legal in most parts of the US aside from Washington and is managed by Yellow Interactive Limited. This company, which operates from Gibraltar, is highly reputable and behind other popular sweeps sites like Online Lotto. As a new player on this platform, you are instantly credited with 5,000 gold coins which you can use to play the 300+ games on offer.
Cash Games on Pulsz Casino
At Pulsz casino, most of the emphasis is on slot titles and they have an amazing mix of themes, RTP and paytables. Many of the games available here are powered by reputable software providers like NetEnt, EvoPlay, Pragmatic Play, Booming Games, and Nektan. With names like these behind the games, you can be sure of an amazing experience.
If you enjoy slots, we recommend you try out Buffalo: Hold and Win from Booming Games. It is a highly volatile Buffalo themed game with a 95.91% RTP. This title comes with 3 reels, 5 rows, and 25 fixed paylines for more winning chances. This game has numerous features including wilds, scatters, and rewarding fixed jackpots! There are also titles powered by the Megaways software from Big Time Gaming like Curse of the Werewolf Megaways, Medallion, and 5 Lion Megaways.
Pulsz casino is accessible via the website and mobile casino on Android and IOS mobile devices. There is a mobile app for Android devices, which is available on the Google Play Store.
SweepSlots Casino
This is a more recent online casino sweepstakes site that was developed in 2021. Nonetheless, it has managed to become a force in the sweeps online casino gaming industry. This platform shares similarities with Fortune Coins casino since it allows you to play with gold coins and sweeps coins. The gold coins allow you to play for free while the premium sweeps coins let you play for real cash.
Cash Games on SweepSlots Casino
SweepSlots has a decent collection of games including slots, jackpots, and table games. However, most are not powered by popular developers. Some of the developers here include Synotgames, and Casino Web Scripts.
If you love adventure, we recommend you check out Rich Pirates. This is a game from the developer Synot, which takes you on a quest with pirates to find treasures alongside some highly profitable wins. It features multipliers, wilds, a gamble feature, and many more. Other options you could try out include Jacks or Better Deluxe, and Tens or Better. These are great video poker styled games that don’t deviate from the original.
SweepSlots Casino also offers a first deposit bonus which gives you a 100% bonus when you package any gold coin package up to $20. Note that you’ll need to use the MAXCOINS bonus code for this offer. In addition, you get a 2.5% bonus on other purchases regardless of how much so long as it’s more than $10. You can access this site via your PC or the mobile casino available on Android and IOS-powered devices. This platform does not currently have a dedicated mobile app.
Chumba Casino
This is another sweepstakes site that provides you with an ultimate gaming experience. Like other legal sweep sites, it is legal in most US states asides from Washington. This casino has a license from the Malta Gaming Authority and is operated by VGW Holdings. The company is the same one behind Global Poker, another well-known social casino site. Like Fortune Coins, this platform also has two modes: the free gold coins letting you play for free and the premium sweeps coins allowing you to play for real cash.
Cash Games at Chumba Casino
Once you register on this platform, you instantly get 2,000,000 gold coins alongside two free premium sweeps coins to play for real money. This does not require any purchase and gives you access to over 80 games including slots, blackjack, and video poker.
These games are powered by popular providers including names like Playtech, Red Tiger Gaming, ReelPlay, Golden Rock Studios, and NetEnt. If you are looking for slots to try out on this platform, we recommend you check options like Starburst. This space-themed game from NetEnt, comes with 3 rows, 5 reels, 10 paylines, and a 96.09% RTP. It promises a lot of fun and has features like wilds and re-spins. Betting range is decent and it promises a fun time. You can also try out other titles like Better Wilds, and Vicky Venture.
There is also a good selection of table games on Chumba including the typical Roulette and Blackjack titles. This doesn’t play too differently from what you’ll find in typical real money casinos so you can expect the same level of entertainment. If video poker is your thing, then you can try out Jack or Better.
You can access the games via the website and mobile casino. Presently, this sweepstakes casino does not have a mobile app.
There are also other sister casinos where you can play games and win real cash, including:
Sweepstakes Casino Games vs. Real Money Online Casino Games
You may believe sweepstakes casino games and real money games are the same, but that is not the case. Although both are casino games, there are key differences between each you need to note. Below are some of the major ones.
Legality
You’ll find traditional casino real money games and sweeps games in almost all countries today. However, real-money casino games are not legal in all parts of the US. These casino games require you to deposit and risk real cash to win real money, which puts them under legal gambling. For this reason, they are strictly monitored with plenty of back and forth before they are made legal in any state.
This is not the case with sweepstakes casinos where you play with virtual currencies. Even though you can redeem these currencies for real money prizes, they are still deemed legal since they use the sweepstakes model. Asides from Washington, you can play on sweeps sites without worrying about legal problems.
Win Real Cash
Both real money casino games and sweepstake games allow you to win real money. However, when playing real money games, winning cash is more straightforward. All you have to do is register, deposit on the site using one of the numerous payment options, and start playing. If you win, you earn cash which you can instantly withdraw into your account or preferred cash option.
On sweepstakes casino sites, this is not the same since you don’t have to deposit real money. Instead, you play using virtual currencies known as sweeps coins. You’ll use these coins to play any of the games on offer, and if you win, you will be credited with sweeps coins. Then, you’ll be able to redeem these coins for real money prizes, so long as you have accumulated enough – usually up to 50 on most sites.
Game Offerings
You’ll find numerous categories of real money games and sweepstake games. However, when you play on a standard casino site, there are typically more real money games. Some real money online casinos can offer you over 3000 games ranging from slots, table games, live dealer games, and many more.
Sweep games are not usually as many on sweepstake sites. You’ll find around 50 slot titles with a few table games in most cases. This is the focus on sweep casino sites, but you can expect the same quality and variety.
Background and Evolution of Sweepstakes Games
Sweepstakes games did not just start existing today as they have been around for decades. Before you start playing these games for a chance to win real cash, it helps to know a little about them, and how they evolved into the games we love today. Below, we have covered some interesting landmarks in the evolution of these games.
1980s: Sweepstakes Internet Cafes
Sweepstakes games started from sweepstakes parlors or internet cafes where players could win real cash after purchasing a service or product. This was usually telephone cards or internet access. Players could redeem prizes by entering a sweepstakes game without any deposit on computers provided by the café. These computers offered games that shared similarities with the typical slot and video poker machines. Players who were lucky enough to win when playing could redeem specified prizes.
1990s: Vegas Style Sweepstakes
During the 90s, players loved visiting Las Vegas to play games like slots, poker, roulette, and other popular table games. As a result of the demand, sweeps platforms evolved to provide Vegas-style games for players, which aimed to deliver an experience like what players got from Las Vegas. The only difference was that it was free, and they did not have to spend a penny.
2000s: Social Casino Games
In the 2000s, sweepstakes games evolved into social casino games. These were similar to your typical online casino games but provided on social networking platforms. Players who opted to play these games did not have to deposit any money and could enjoy gambling activities right from the comfort of their homes. What’s more, these online casinos interacted more with social media sites allowing you to play popular games like slots, poker, bingo, and other table games.
Here, you wager using virtual currencies and can’t redeem the virtual currencies for cash since they hold no value. One major difference on this platform is that if you run out of virtual coins to play, you can purchase more coins using a package offered on the social casino site. This will allow you to continue to play your favorite games for a chance to win more coins. Great examples of popular social casino sites today include BetRivers.Net, High5 Casino, and Rush Games.
2010 – Today: Online Sweeps Cash Casino Games
After the success of social casino games, online sweeps cash casino games were created. These games are mostly the same as social casino games, except that they allow you to play either for free using gold coins or for real cash using the premium sweeps currencies. Like the social casinos, you could buy more free virtual coins if you exhaust them, but sweeps casinos add some premium coins to every purchase of free gold coins. With these premium coins, you can play games for a chance to win real money. This model has been adopted by most sweepstakes casinos today and is what many players have grown to love.
Are Online Sweepstakes Casino Games Legal in the US?
Yes, you can play online casino games on sweepstakes casinos without fear of getting into legal problems in most US states aside from Washington. These games don’t require real money to start playing, so they don’t fall under the category of gambling. Here are a few of the states you can gamble on sweeps casinos without issues:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New York
- Pennsylvania and many more.
How to access sweeps cash games for free?
As we mentioned earlier, online sweepstakes casinos don’t require you to make deposits before you get started. Simply register on the platform, and you’ll be credited with free gold coins and sweeps coins which you can use to play sweeps cash games for free. For instance, Pulsz Casino offers you 5,000 gold coins after registration, while Fortune Coins Casino will credit you with 140,000 gold coins and 500 fortune coins to play for free. These can help you play free cash games and even win real cash.
Some other sweepstake sites will offer you premium coins for logging in daily on the platform. Lastly, you can get free premium sweeps coins by purchasing a gold coin package on sweepstakes sites like Pulsz Casino. When this happens, you can play real money sweeps games, and if you are lucky enough to win, you can redeem your coin for cash prizes.
Best Sweepstakes Casino Game Categories
You’ll find numerous categories of games on sweepstakes casino sites. Most of these games are powered in-house by the sweeps site, but you’ll also find titles from known developers. Some of these include Microgaming, Playtech, and many others, so don’t be surprised if you find games from them.
Knowing this, here are a few game categories you can expect when you make the decision to play sweepstakes casino games:
Online Slots
You’ll already know online slot titles if you are a regular player on traditional online casinos. Sweepstakes casino slots work the same way real money slots do. The gameplay is similar as you’ll be required to spin the reels to land a winning combination. However, as opposed to using real cash, you’ll do it using sweeps coins. You can expect random outcomes since the games come with a Random Number Generator.
Like typical slot titles, sweepstake slot games feature different themes, RTPs, and paylines. They also have fantastic bonus features that you’ll expect to find in a slot game. Sites like Loyal Royal Casino have their own proprietary slot games to offer. Some of the top options we recommend you check out include:
- Buffalo Rush
- Rich Pirates
- Mafia Hunt
- Double Da Vinci Diamonds
- Cleopatra
Sweeps Poker
You’ll also find a range of sweeps poker titles in sweepstakes casinos. These games don’t stray too far from your typical poker game, and the rules are the same. Here, the game aims to get the best card hand from those the dealer has dealt you. Top titles include Deuces Wild, Regal Poker, and Jacks or Better.
Progressives
If you love to take huge risks and like massive wins, then progressive sweep games are your best bet. These games are linked through a network in sweeps sites, and a portion of players’ wagers are added to the jackpot counter. This continues until a player is lucky enough to land the winning combination and win. Once this happens, the counter resets, and the process begins once more. These games are highly volatile, which means they are not as easy to win, which is why the jackpots can sometimes be in millions of sweeps coins. A good sweepstake site for jackpot slots is the newly-released Tao Fortune Casino. Some of the top game options you’ll find in online casinos under this category include:
- Amazing
- Stallion Grand
- Stampede Fury
- Bison Fury
Sweeps Table Games
Sweepstakes casinos offer a broad range of table games to ensure you are always occupied if this is your cup of tea. You’ll find options like Blackjack, and Roulette, all of which come in numerous variants. The basic rules are the same as how you play on real money casinos.
If you opt for Blackjack, your aim should be to beat the dealer by getting a hand as close to 21 without going bust. Popular options in this category range from Blackjack Surrender and Progressive Blackjack. For Roulette, you are wagering on which pocket the ball will land on the wheels. Some of the options you can try out include variants of French, European, and American Roulette.
Free Live Dealer Games
Live dealer games give you an experience like what you’ll get in a land-based casino. These games take place on an actual casino table featuring a physical dealer. You keep tabs on the game using strategically placed HD cameras, which helps with the realism. Moreover, it features a chat functionality that allows you to interact with the dealer and other players. BetRivers.net is the best option if you want to play these games.
Skill-Based Games
These are games offered on free sweeps cash casinos that are fully reliant on skill and strategy to win, unlike other casino games that also require luck. Games in this category range from Puzzle Games, Fish Shooter Games, Chess and Rummy. If you are up for a challenge, we suggest you check out the following:
- Pool PayDay
- Dominoes Gold
- Bubble Shooter Arena
- Ocean King
- Emily’s Treasure
Offers to Play Online Sweepstakes Games
When you sign up on any online sweepstakes site, you are typically offered a bonus that you can use to play real money games. Here’s a breakdown of the available offers on our top sites.
- Fortune Coins Casino: Get 140,000 Gold Coins and 500 Fortune Coins to play for free
- Pulsz Casino: Get 5,000 gold coins when you register to play
- SweepSlots Casino: Get 1,000 free sweeps coins and 10,000 gold coins
- Chumba Casino: Get 2,000,000 gold coins alongside two free premium sweeps coins to play
Start Playing Online Sweepstakes Casino Games From Home!
Playing sweepstakes casino games can offer you tons of entertainment and help you win real money just like cash casinos. The best part is that most of these games don’t require you to leave home; you can play from your mobile device right from the comfort of your home!
Sites like Pulsz casino also have dedicated mobile apps that you can install on your mobile device, allowing you to play with the touch of a button. All that’s left for you to do is pick one from our list of recommended sweepstakes online casinos, register, and start to play casino games for real money – without the need to deposit real money.
