Sweepstakes casinos operate differently to their real money counterparts and a core aspect of this functionality is the virtual currencies they use which are commonly called Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins.
If you want to have a fun social casino gaming experience then before you jump in to any of our recommended sites, it’s important that you understand how these virtual currencies work. We explain this in great detail below including what you can do with them, how you can get them, and more.
The first thing you should understand about US sweepstakes casinos is that they do NOT allow real money deposits or gameplay. You do not have a USD balance, and you cannot play the slots and table games using USD. Instead, virtual currencies are used. This is required due to US sweepstakes regulations, and social casinos must comply. They are legally prohibited from allowing USD transactions or gameplay, and thus use Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins as alternatives.
Let’s start with Gold Coins, as this is typically the virtual currency that you will be using the most. Gold Coins are classified as a fun virtual currency, and this is because they serve one primary purpose: to be used in casino-style games. You can sign up to one of our recommended online social casinos, get some free Gold Coins, and use them to play games with – you then have the chance to get GC winnings in return.
For instance, you might use 500 Gold Coins to play a spin on Big Bass Bonanza. Maybe you get four matching symbols in a row on that spin, and this gives you a winning multiplier of 1.5x. You would then receive 750 Gold Coins back – simple.
This is the only purpose of Gold Coins. They cannot be redeemed for electronic gift cards or cash prizes, you can’t exchange them for Sweeps Coins, and they have no other function. You can check out our other sweepstakes casino guides for info on how to get Gold Coins, but some common promotions you’ll find are as follows:
Aside from these promotions, SC casinos and Sweepstakes Casinos also give you the option to purchase Gold Coin packages. You’ll never be required to purchase GC to play – there are always ways to get more of the virtual currency for free. A main thing to remember about these optional GC packages is that some of them will also give you free Sweeps Coins as a bonus after the GC purchase is complete. For instance, there might be a GC package for $9.99 that gives you 30,000 Gold Coins, and then after you’ve completed the transaction, you might get 20 free Sweeps Coins as a free bonus.
Often, people are not as bothered by Gold Coins due to their limited functionality and the fact that they are essentially a fun virtual currency. However, from our experience, they are also usually available in far greater quantities than Sweeps Coins, and they give you a form of stress-free gaming without worrying about working towards cash prize redemptions.
Sweeps Coins are arguably the more sought-after virtual currency, as they serve a secondary function compared to Gold Coins. Whereas Gold Coins are used for fun and gameplay only, Sweeps Coins usually have the potential to be redeemed for electronic gift cards and cash prizes.
You can still switch to Sweeps Coin game mode at US social casinos and use your SC to play games, just like Gold Coins. You then have the opportunity to get additional SC through gameplay. But, provided you meet the eligibility requirements for SC redemptions, you’ll be able to redeem them for prizes.
Like Gold Coins, you can also get free Sweeps Coins from a range of bonuses, including the welcome bonus, daily login reward, mail-in bonus, referral scheme, and VIP program.
You can’t simply redeem any amount of Sweeps Coins, and there are prerequisites for this process, which are explained in the table below:
| SC redemption requirement | Usual value |
| Minimum SC redemption amount | Between 45-100 Sweeps Coins |
| Playthrough requirement for bonus SC | Between 1x to 3x |
| Processing time for SC cash prize redemptions | Typically 3-10 business days or longer |
| Commonly accepted SC redemption methods | Bank Transfer, Online Banking, Crypto |
Firstly, you must have verified your ID and completed the KYC check to be eligible for SC redemptions. Next, there’s always a minimum redemption amount, which is most commonly 100 SC. Bonus SCs you get, such as from the welcome bonus, usually have a playthrough requirement as well. If you meet these eligibility criteria, you can then make an SC redemption request.
Electronic gift cards are usually available at a lower minimum SC requirement, but most players are only concerned with the SC cash prize redemptions. The only downside to SC redemptions, based on our experience, is that the processing times aren’t quick, and you usually have a limited number of redemption methods.
Sweeps Coins are often what US sweepstakes casino gamers look for first, and many people give them a higher priority compared to Gold Coins. Their major advantage is that they have the potential to be redeemed for cash prizes, but a drawback is that they are usually available in much smaller quantities compared to Gold Coins.
You should now have a clear understanding of how Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins work, and their importance at US sweepstakes casinos. The main takeaways are that both can be used for gameplay, but while Gold Coins are used solely for gameplay, Sweeps Coins also have the potential to be redeemed for cash prizes.
When signing up at a new sweepstakes casino or looking into new sweeps casinos, always make sure you read the sweeps rules page or terms and conditions. Check for things like the minimum SC redemption amount and the playthrough requirement for bonus SC. If you’d like to explore these exciting sites for yourself and use the virtual currencies, feel free to check out the links and banners here for our top recommendations.
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