A sweepstakes casino app lets you play slots, table games and poker with two virtual currencies. Gold Coins are for fun only. Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for cash prizes after you play them through and verify your identity. The apps are available in most US states, but a growing number of states ban or challenge them.
- No purchase necessary: free Sweeps Coins are always available
- Prizes are redeemed by bank transfer after ID verification
- Banned by law in around ten states, including California and New York
- Most apps run in the mobile browser on iPhone and Android
On this page
- What is a sweepstakes casino app?
- How Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins work
- How to redeem prizes
- Sweepstakes apps on iPhone and Android
- What you can play
- Major sweepstakes casino brands
- Where sweepstakes casino apps are allowed
- Sweepstakes vs real-money vs social casino apps
- Pros and cons of sweepstakes apps
- How to choose a sweepstakes app
- Real-money alternatives
- Frequently asked questions
Sweepstakes casinos are the most searched type of casino app in the US. They look and play like a real-money casino on your phone, but they are built on a different legal model. This guide explains how that model works, how you redeem prizes, what to expect on iPhone and Android, and in which states the apps are still available.
What is a sweepstakes casino app?
A sweepstakes casino app is an online casino that runs as a promotional sweepstakes instead of a licensed gambling site. You never bet money directly. Instead, you play with virtual coins, and one of those coin types can be exchanged for prizes. Because a free way to get Sweeps Coins is always available, operators argue that no purchase is necessary and that the games fall under sweepstakes law, not gambling law.
That argument is under heavy pressure. More and more states treat the dual-currency model as illegal gambling, and several large game providers have withdrawn their games from the US sweepstakes market. The result: fewer apps, fewer states and more frequent changes to terms.
How Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins work
- Gold Coins (GC): play money. You get them free when you sign up and through daily bonuses, and you can buy extra packages. Gold Coins have no cash value and can never be redeemed.
- Sweeps Coins (SC): the promotional currency. You can’t buy them directly; you get them as a free bonus with Gold Coin packages, through daily logins and social media giveaways, or via a free mail-in request. Brands use different names, such as Stake Cash on Stake.us.
- Playthrough: Sweeps Coins usually have to be played through at least once before they count as redeemable winnings.
- Value: at most brands, one redeemable Sweeps Coin equals one US dollar in prize value, but check each app’s terms.
In practice, most players switch between the two modes in the same app. A toggle at the top of the screen sets whether you are spinning with Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins, so always check which currency is active before you play.
How to redeem prizes
- Reach the minimum number of redeemable Sweeps Coins set by the app.
- Complete identity verification: usually a photo ID, a selfie and sometimes proof of address.
- Choose a redemption method, typically a bank transfer. Some brands also offer gift cards for smaller amounts.
- Wait for processing. First redemptions often take longer because of the verification step.
Verification is where most problems happen. Use your real details when you sign up, and don’t create a second account; duplicate accounts are the most common reason redemptions are refused.
Sweepstakes apps on iPhone and Android
Most sweepstakes casinos run in the mobile browser, which works the same on iPhone, Android and tablets. You can add the site to your home screen so it opens like an app. A few brands also offer apps in the App Store or Google Play. Store apps can look slightly different from the browser version, so check that Sweeps Coins play and redemptions are available in the app before you buy coins.
Sweepstakes apps check your location. If you travel to a state where the brand doesn’t operate, Sweeps Coins play is blocked, and using a VPN to get around that breaks the terms and can cost you your winnings.
What you can play
Slots make up the bulk of every sweepstakes app, from classic three-reel games to Megaways and jackpot slots. Many brands also offer blackjack, roulette and baccarat, and a few run live dealer tables streamed to your phone. Poker is mostly found in dedicated apps such as Global Poker, where you play cash games and tournaments with Sweeps Coins.
The game choice has shrunk in recent months. Several large providers, including Pragmatic Play, Evolution and Hacksaw Gaming, have pulled their games from the US sweepstakes market, so titles you know from real-money casinos may be missing. Brands now lean more on smaller studios and their own in-house games. Compare the lobby before you buy coins, especially if you are looking for poker apps or live dealer tables.
Major sweepstakes casino brands
The market changes fast. These are the brands US players search for most:
- Chumba Casino: VGW’s flagship sweepstakes casino with slots and table games.
- LuckyLand Casino: VGW’s newer brand. Its predecessor, LuckyLand Slots, has closed for good.
- Global Poker: VGW’s sweepstakes poker app.
- Crown Coins Casino: one of the most searched sweepstakes apps, with a large slot library.
- McLuck: a slot-focused sweepstakes casino.
- Stake.us: the US sweepstakes version of Stake, with Stake Cash instead of Sweeps Coins.
- High 5 Casino: built around High 5 Games’ own slots.
Availability differs per brand: each one keeps its own list of excluded states, and some only allow Gold Coins play in certain states. VGW’s brands and Stake.us are also the subject of lawsuits in Florida. Always check the brand’s current terms before you sign up.
Where sweepstakes casino apps are allowed
There is no federal rule on sweepstakes casinos, so each state decides. Roughly, states fall into three groups:
Banned by state law
California, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma and Tennessee have passed laws that ban dual-currency sweepstakes casinos. In these states, Sweeps Coins play is no longer available. Some brands still offer Gold Coins play only.
Effectively unavailable
In Idaho, Nevada and Washington, existing gambling law leaves no realistic room for the model. In Delaware, Michigan and West Virginia, action by regulators or the attorney general pushed the major brands out.
Available, but under pressure
In most other states the apps still operate, but the climate is changing. Florida’s Attorney General has sued VGW and Stake.us, calling their platforms illegal online casinos. Regulators in states such as Illinois and Maryland have sent cease-and-desist letters, and new bills are introduced in every legislative session. Read our guide to online casinos in Florida for the situation there.
Because this list changes quickly, treat it as a starting point. The app itself is the final word: if it blocks Sweeps Coins play in your state, that is the rule that applies to you. For the latest developments, see our sweepstakes casino news.
Sweepstakes vs real-money vs social casino apps
| Sweepstakes app | Real-money app | Social casino app | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency | Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins | US dollars | Virtual coins |
| Cash prizes | Yes, via Sweeps Coins | Yes | No |
| Buying coins | Optional | Deposits required | Optional |
| Regulated by | Sweepstakes rules; no gambling license | State regulator or offshore license | App store rules |
| Legal status | Varies per state | Only in licensed states | Legal everywhere |
If you live in a state with licensed casino apps, such as New Jersey or Michigan, a regulated real-money app gives you more protection than a sweepstakes app. If you only want to play for fun, a free slot app avoids the legal questions altogether.
Pros and cons of sweepstakes apps
- Pro: available in many states without licensed casino apps.
- Pro: you can play entirely for free and still win prizes.
- Pro: low entry point, with free coins every day.
- Con: no gambling license, so less player protection than a regulated app.
- Con: legal status can change quickly, sometimes with short notice.
- Con: redemptions take longer and come with strict verification.
How to choose a sweepstakes app
- Check your state: make sure Sweeps Coins play is allowed where you live.
- Read the redemption terms: minimum amounts, playthrough, processing times and accepted methods.
- Look at the company: who runs the app, and how long has it been around?
- Test small: start with free coins, and make a small first redemption before you play with larger balances.
- Use the limits: good apps offer purchase limits, time-outs and self-exclusion.
Coin packages are easy to buy on a phone, so set a budget before you start and treat Gold Coin purchases as money spent, not money invested.
Real-money alternatives
Bovada Casino App
18+ (21+ where required) · T&Cs apply
18+ (21+ where required) · T&Cs apply · Min. deposit $20 · 25x wagering on the casino part · Live dealer and Hot Drop Jackpots excluded
18+ (21+ where required) · T&Cs apply
No apps match this filter yet.
Frequently asked questions
Are sweepstakes casino apps legal?
It depends on your state. They operate in most US states, but around ten states have banned them by law and several others have pushed operators out. Some states, such as Florida, are challenging them in court.
Can you win real money on a sweepstakes casino app?
Yes, through Sweeps Coins. After you play them through and pass identity verification, you can redeem them for cash prizes, usually by bank transfer. Gold Coins can’t be redeemed.
Do I have to buy coins to play?
No. Sweepstakes casinos must offer a free way to get Sweeps Coins, such as daily bonuses or a mail-in request. Buying Gold Coin packages is optional.
Are there sweepstakes casino apps for iPhone and Android?
Yes. Most sweepstakes casinos run in the mobile browser on any phone, and some brands also have apps in the App Store or Google Play.
Why was my redemption refused?
The most common reasons are failed identity verification, a duplicate account, playing from a state where the brand doesn’t operate, or Sweeps Coins that haven’t been played through yet.
Gambling should be entertainment. Set deposit and time limits before you play, take breaks, and use self-exclusion if you need it.