Sweepstakes casinos have an entire set of different terms and conditions compared to their real money counterparts and before you start investing time into these sites, it’s important you know how they work and what they are.
Below, we continue our series of sweepstakes casino guides and explain all the important terms and conditions you need to be aware of. This includes general terms like legal accessibility, ID verification, and how virtual currencies work, but also specific terms relating to Sweeps Coin prize redemptions and what you need to do to be eligible for them.
Let’s start by looking at the general terms and conditions and rules as you will have to comply with these before even thinking about making potential Sweeps Coin prize redemptions.
Legal Accessibility Requirements
Sweepstakes casinos are not available in all 50 states, in the same way that real money casinos are not universally available. However, while real money online casinos are currently only available in 6 states, most US social casinos are legal in 30+ states – some being available in as many as 45 states.
You can usually find information about where sweepstakes casinos legally operate in their terms and conditions, or on the specific sweeps rules page. There is no point trying to bypass these state restrictions either, as geoblockers are often used, and there is usually a KYC check and ID verification process including entering your address.
Social casinos are also bound by minimum age restrictions to protect underage citizens. The minimum age requirements also vary depending on the state, but in most instances it’s either over 18 or over 21. As with the locational restrictions – please don’t try and bypass the age restrictions if you are under 18; they are put in place for your own good.
ID Verification and KYC Checks
You will usually find two levels of ID verification when registering with and playing at
sweepstakes casinos in the US. The first is a level one verification which is typically done during the registration process. Here, you’ll normally have to provide your email address, and other personal details like your name, date of birth, and maybe your address or telephone number. This level one check is put in place to stop people trying to access the site from outside the US, and from restricted states.
Once you have registered your account, there is then usually an additional level two verification which involves a complete KYC check. For this, you typically have to provide a live image of a photo ID like your passport, plus take a live selfie. The two images are then analyzed, checked for likenesses, and verified against the other information you have provided.
The level two KYC check is usually required if you want to play with your Sweeps Coins and make SC prize redemptions. Sometimes, depending on the site, you might not even be able to view your Sweeps Coin balance until you’ve completed the KYC check.
Virtual Currency Explanations
There are usually terms relating to virtual currencies also. The most common is an expiry period for unused Sweeps Coins, but this can sometimes apply for Gold Coins too. For your reference, most US social casinos use two virtual currencies which have the following functions:
Virtual Currency
What it commonly does
Gold Coins (GC)
For fun only. You can only use Gold Coins to play games in GC mode, and you then have the chance to get GC prizes in return.
Sweeps Coins (SC)
SC has the potential to be redeemed for gift cards and cash prizes, and we’ll explain the minimum requirements later. You can also switch to SC mode and play the games with your Sweeps Coins. This gives you the potential to get SC prizes back.
You may find different branded names for these virtual currencies in some operators, and to make it a bit easier, you can check out some of our
sweepstakes casino guides
to learn more.
Specific Terms and Conditions for SC Redemptions
That’s the general terms and conditions covered. Now we need to look specifically at Sweeps Coins and the redemption process. Sweeps Coins can potentially be redeemed for electronic gift cards or cash prizes. BUT, there are strict eligibility requirements before you can attempt either of these processes including:
KYC ID verification.
Minimum SC balance.
Playthrough requirement for bonus SC.
As we stated above, you will have to complete the L2 ID verification including a full KYC check before you can make a Sweeps Coin redemption request. This is unavoidable and we recommend completing it as soon as you have signed up to one of our recommended sites.
To make a redemption request, you usually need a minimum SC balance and while this can vary depending on the site, it’s often the following for gift cards and SC cash prizes:
10 or more for gift cards.
45 or more for cash prizes.
Lastly, if you have any bonus Sweeps Coins that you have claimed from promotions like the welcome bonus or daily login bonus, there’s usually a minimum playthrough requirement. In most instances, this is 1x, but some sweepstakes casinos have a 2x or 3x playthrough requirement.
When you’ve met these requirements, you can then usually make an SC redemption request. SC cash prize redemptions are often only available via Bank Transfer or Online Banking, and can take up to 10 business days or more to process.
Pros and Cons of Sweeps Coin Redemptions
Sweeps Coin redemptions aren’t perfect and it’s important to understand their potential drawbacks so you have an unbiased view of the process. Generally, the redemption process is easy, the requirements are minimal, but a minor drawback is that SC redemption processing times are notoriously slow.
Pros and Cons
Simple terms and conditions
Can get Sweeps Coins for free
KYC check only needs to be done once
SC has a long expiry period
Playthrough requirements for bonus SC
Slow cash prize redemption processing
Know How US Sweepstakes Casinos Work Before You Commit
These are the core terms and conditions for US sweepstakes casinos and what you MUST know before you start using them. To recap – you must be aware of the state restrictions and minimum age requirements if you want to sign up to one of our recommended sites.
Additionally, if you want to make Sweeps Coin prize redemptions, you must have completed the L2 KYC check for ID verification, and meet the eligibility requirements which typically include having a minimum SC balance, and playing with your bonus SC a set number of times. We hope you have found this info useful and now understand how social casinos work – if you’re ready, you can always check out our recommendations and links on this page to give one a try today.
Age
21+. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Not available in AL, CA, CT, DE, ID, IN, KY, LA, ME, MD, MI, MT, NV, NJ, NY, TN, WA and WV. Additional T&Cs apply.
150% First Purchase Offer: Up to 600K Gold Coins +
303 SC
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This is different for each US sweepstakes casino, but from our experience, the minimum ranges from 45 to 100 SC. There is also typically a playthrough requirement for bonus SC between 1x to 3x.
Potentially yes. This varies depending on the sweepstakes casino, but oftentimes if you don’t use your Sweeps Coins within a specific timeframe, they can be removed from your account.
No. There is always a minimum age requirement which is either over 18 or over 21. Also, sweepstakes casinos are only available to US customers. Lastly, most sites have state limitations and are not legal in all 50 states.
Not to register at the site. However, a full KYC check is needed to access Sweeps Coins and make SC redemptions. This includes providing a valid photo ID and a selfie so your likeness can be checked.
