Almost every sweepstakes casino uses two virtual currencies. They look alike on screen and behave very differently. Brands rename them (Stake Cash, Spree Coins, Fortune Coins, Crown Coins), but the split is always the same: one currency is for fun, and the other is a sweepstakes entry that can turn into a prize.
Gold Coins: play for fun
Gold Coins, sometimes called Game Coins, WOW Coins or Crown Coins, are the everyday play currency. You get them free at sign-up, from daily login rewards and promotions, and you can buy more in coin packages.
They have no cash value and can never be redeemed for prizes. A huge Gold Coin balance is just a bigger number on screen, with no claim to a prize behind it.
Sweeps Coins: the sweepstakes entries
Sweeps Coins (also Stake Cash, Sweeps Cash or Promotional Coins) are what make these sites sweepstakes rather than ordinary social casinos. Operators usually give them away, often as a bonus with a Gold Coin purchase. At least one brand we track (Yayz) sells Sweeps Coin bundles directly, so read the rules of the site you use. The usual ways to get them:
- free on sign-up,
- through daily bonuses and social-media promotions,
- by mail, through the free alternative method of entry (AMOE), covered in our AMOE guide,
- as a free bonus attached to a Gold Coin purchase.
The last point matters, because the free coins aren't what you're paying for. You never have to buy anything to get Sweeps Coins, and sweepstakes rules routinely say that buying doesn't improve your odds. Of the 93 casinos in our directory, 88 describe a free mail-in method in their rules.
When do Sweeps Coins become prizes?
Not right away. Many operators split Sweeps Coins into unplayed coins (fresh from a bonus or mail-in request) and redeemable coins (won through play). Promotional coins usually have to be played through at least once before anything they win can be redeemed. 67 of the casinos we track state a 1x playthrough outright, and some bonuses carry higher multipliers.
Once you have enough redeemable coins, you can request a prize. Across the casinos we track, the minimum for a cash prize runs from 20–100 SC (median 100 SC), and gift-card minimums from 10–100 SC. Several operators state that one redeemable Sweeps Coin is worth US$1 in prize value. A casino's page here shows a stated value only where its rules publish one.
Can I swap Gold Coins for Sweeps Coins?
Generally, no. The two currencies are kept apart on purpose, and neither can be transferred to another player.
What to check before you play
Open the casino's sweepstakes rules and find the name and value of each currency, the free entry method, the playthrough requirement, the redemption minimum, identity checks, excluded states and any expiry on unused coins. Every casino page on this site links to the exact operator page each fact came from.
FAQ
Are Gold Coins redeemable for cash?
No. At every operator we track, Gold Coins are a play-for-fun currency with no monetary value.
Are Sweeps Coins worth $1?
Often, but not automatically. Several operators state that one redeemable Sweeps Coin equals US$1 of prize value. Only redeemable coins count, though, and you still need to reach the operator's minimum (20–100 SC for cash across the casinos we track).
Do I have to buy Gold Coins to get Sweeps Coins?
No. Sweepstakes law requires a free way to enter, so every legitimate operator hands out free Sweeps Coins through sign-up bonuses, daily rewards and mail-in requests.
Why are some of my Sweeps Coins "unplayed"?
Promotional coins usually have to be played through at least once before what they win becomes redeemable. Each operator sets the multiplier in its rules.