
Playing at a free online casino to win real money sounds like the stuff dreams are made of, but there are indeed gaming operators out there that offer this unique service – sort of.
These sites are known as sweepstakes casinos, which offer Vegas-inspired games that can be played for free using virtual coins. These coins can later be redeemed for cash prizes if you meet the requirements. Sweeps games are as close as you’re going to get to a free real money casino, but there’s a thing or two you’ll want to know about them before you start playing.
Well, yes and no. One defining feature of sweepstakes casinos is that they don’t allow you to place real money bets. However, what you can do is play casino-style games using two different kinds of virtual coins, one of which can be swapped for prizes that have a real-world value.
The best free online casinos with cash prizes offer gameplay in Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. These can be defined as follows:
You can accumulate both kinds of coins for free by claiming free to play casino real money no deposit promotions and playing through your existing coins to build up a bigger balance. With Gold Coins, if you start running really low, you can choose to purchase more – though this can’t be achieved with Sweeps Coins.
Sweepstakes casinos enjoy a slightly different legal status to regular real money casinos in the US. There are two reasons for this:
This is good news for Americans, as it means many of the best sweepstakes casinos are not subject to state-level licensing regs and are legal to play across most parts of the US. Depending on the operator, sweeps sites are ordinarily legal in all 49 states besides WA.
Almost every free to play casino has a no deposit promotion available for new customers. As cash isn’t directly accepted by sweeps casino games, your bonus will be granted in either Gold Coins, Sweeps Coins or a combination of both.
Once you’ve received a bundle of coins, you can basically treat your preferred sweeps site as a free online casino to redeem real money prizes at. You can do this by playing through your Sweeps Coins to accumulate more, and later redeem these out in prize form.
It’s worth keeping in mind that the kinds of prizes that are up for grabs with different sweeps casinos can vary, but generally you can expect to get your hands on the likes of gift vouchers, event tickets and merchandise as opposed to USD prizes.
The best way to play at a free online casino and redeem real prizes is to familiarize yourself with the various ways you can accumulate coins for free. These include:
Every good free sweeps cash casino will offer you a sign-up bonus on registration. This will usually be made up of some free Gold and Sweeps Coins, which you can play through to accumulate more.
Daily and weekly coin reloads are common among sweeps sites, as are one-off promo codes shared via social media. Keep an eye out for special offers that’ll grant you more coins without you having to optionally make a purchase.
The quickest way to collect more coins is to play regularly – very regularly. There are lots of free to play slots for real money prizes, but you should choose your games carefully, as some games offer a higher return to player (RTP) percentage than others, enabling you to collect more coins to be in with a chance of unlocking bigger and better prizes.
If you run out of Gold or Sweeps Coins when playing at these sites, you do always have the option of purchasing more, though this should probably be considered a last resort if being able to play for free is your top priority.
If you love playing sweepstakes games and want the chance to redeem your Sweeps Coins for prizes, these top 10 sweepstakes sites are the best places to start.
Sweepstakes Casino | Welcome Bonus | Playthrough Requirement (SC) | Min. Redemption (Gift Card) | Min. Redemption (Cash Prize) |
---|---|---|---|---|
WOW Vegas | 250,000 WOW Coins + 5 SC | 1x | 25 SC | 100 SC |
Pulsz | 5,000 Gold Coins + 2.3 SC | 1x | 25 SC | 100 SC |
Fortune Coins | 630,000 Gold Coins + 1,000 Fortune Coins | 1x (FC) | 5,000 FC (1 FC = $0.01) | 5,000 FC |
Stake.us | 55 Stake Cash + 260,000 Gold Coins + 5% rakeback | 3x | 50 SC | 50 SC (Crypto only) |
High 5 Casino | 250 Game Coins + 5 SC + 600 Diamonds | 1x | 50 SC | 100 SC |
RealPrize | 100,000 Gold Coins + 2 SC | 1x | 45 SC | 100 SC |
McLuck | 7,500 Gold Coins + 2.5 SC | 1x | 10 SC | 75 SC |
MegaBonanza | 7,500 Gold Coins + 2.5 SC | 1x | 10 SC | 75 SC |
Spree | 1,000,000 Gold Coins + 2.5 SC | 1x | 10 SC | 100 SC |
The Money Factory | 750,000 Gold Coins + 15 SC | 1x | 20 SC | 100 SC |
Wow Vegas is a great free sweepstakes casino where you have the opportunity to redeem real cash as a prize. However, you need to have a minimum of 100 SCs that have been played through once.
Wow Vegas delivers a true Vegas-style experience with a sleek design, rewarding promotions, and top-tier slots from Pragmatic Play, BetSoft, and more. New players here get 5 free Sweeps Coins and 250,000 WOW Coins, which is used to try out over 700 titles in the game library, including Megaways, jackpots, and progressive slots.
You will also be able to pick up free coins from daily login rewards, social media promos, referral bonuses and more. Prize redemptions require 100 SC for cash prizes or 25 SC for gift cards.
Pulsz is also offers the chance to redeem SC winnings for cash prizes. Just like most of the best sweepstakes casinos out there, you'll need to play through your SC once and have at least 100 SC to redeem an online casino cash prize using SC. You have the alternative of redeeming a gift voucher if you have gathered 10 SC. Pulsz Casino is perfect for slot lovers, offering 900+ slots from Pragmatic Play, Playson, and Relax Gaming. New players get 5,000 Gold Coins and 2.3 Sweeps Coins, with more daily login rewards and social media promotions to keep the balance growing.
Fortune Coins welcomes players with 630,000 Gold Coins and 1,000 Fortune Coins. Fortune Coins are similar to Sweeps Coins and they can be used for jackpot slots, prize redemptions, and more. You can also collect additional coins through social media promotions and login rewards. The game selection here is refreshing, featuring a mix of slots, keno, and scratchers. You need 5,000 FC for redemptions ($50 value), making this a good option for those looking to play with a chance of redeeming their Sweeps Coins winnings.
Fortune Coins has a slightly higher minimum amount, but all-in-all, it's not a bad deal as you already get 1000 Fortune Coins just for signing up.
Stake.us is a veteran when it comes to sweepstakes casinos. It has a huge collection of 2,000+ games, including Stake Originals like Crash and Plinko. New players using our exclusive promo code STFSOCIAL get 260,000 Gold Coins, 55 Stake Cash, and a 5% weekly rakeback.
Stake Cash is redeemable for crypto prizes, as long as you've gathered a minimum of 30 Stake Cash that has been played through 3 times. The site also features VIP perks, daily giveaways, and referral rewards. If you love fast-paced games and community events, Stake.us is the top choice.
With 1,400+ games and an easy-to-use app, High 5 Casino offers top-notch graphics and a fun gaming experience. New players receive 250 Game Coins, 5 Sweeps Coins, and 600 Diamonds, plus leaderboard rewards for more chances to collect freebies. The redemption process is simple, requiring a minimum of 50 SC for gift cards or 100 SC for cash prizes. If you love slot tournaments and daily rewards, High 5 is a solid pick.
RealPrize is one of the newest social casinos. You'll find modern, high-quality games with sleek designs. New players here can receive a welcome bonus of 100,000 Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins. These virtual currencies can be used to try out over 400 titles in the game library. The VIP program adds exclusive perks, and new players get 30,000 Gold Coins and 10 Sweeps Coins.
To redeem your SC winnings for cash prizes, you will need to meet the 1x playthrough requirement and have at least 45 SC if you want gift cards or 100 SC for cash prizes.
MegaBonanza is a great option if you’re after a mix of engaging slots and solid promotions. New players here get 7,500 Gold Coins and 2.5 Sweeps Coins after signing up. There are also daily login rewards ensuring your balance stays topped up.
The site features 800+ slot games from top developers like Pragmatic Play and Relax Gaming, but it lacks table games for now. Prize redemptions are simple as you’ll need at least 75 SC for cash prizes or 10 SC for gift cards. If you’re looking for regular freebies and smooth gameplay, MegaBonanza is well worth checking out.
McLuck is a fast-growing social casino with top-notch slots from Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, and Relax Gaming. New players start with 7,500 Gold Coins and 2.5 Sweeps Coins and can claim extra SC through login bonuses and giveaways.
This site stands out for its massive progressive jackpots and well-optimized mobile experience. You’ll need 100 SC to redeem real prizes or 25 SC for gift cards. If you love playing on the move, McLuck has dedicated apps for both Android and iOS devices. However, the site is well optimized for mobile use, so you can play without needing to make any downloads.
Spree is perfect for players who enjoy a mix of casino games and social gaming elements. You'll find slots, arcade-style games, and multiplayer tournaments. This creates an interactive experience beyond just spinning reels.
New players here will collect 1,000,000 Gold Coins and 2.5 SC for free, with daily logins, referral bonuses, and social media contests giving you more ways to grab additional rewards. Live dealer games are lacking, but the engaging game selection makes up for it. To redeem prizes, you’ll need 75 SC for cash or 10 SC for gift cards.
The Money Factory combines slots, daily competitions, and quick redemptions for a fun social casino experience. If you're new to the site, you will get started with 7,000 Gold Coins and 2 SC as soon as you register. There are also daily challenges and leaderboards that offer more ways to get coins for free. To redeem eligible SC for prizes, you’ll need 75 SC for cash redemptions or 10 SC for gift cards. If you love tournaments, quick redemptions, and engaging promotions, The Money Factory is a solid pick.
So, the ideal online gaming scenario of being able to play at casino-style games for free with a view to accumulating prizes isn’t as much of a fantasy as you might think. Sweepstakes casinos are alive and well – and there are several sweeps sites offering free slots games with no download requirements, as well as app-based competitors, too. But before registering, there’s a few things you’ll want to remember.
Firstly, you won’t be able to directly put down wagers using USD. Secondly, while sweepstakes casinos are ordinarily available in most US states bar WA, you’ll need to check with your preferred provider that they definitely offer sweeps games in your state. And finally, it’s important to use all avenues available to you to collect free coins if you don’t want to have to make any purchases to keep on playing.
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