You’ve probably heard of them, but you might still be wondering how does sweepstakes work exactly. And what makes them different from lotteries and other contests?
As an expert, I’m on hand to answer these questions for you. Basically, a sweepstake is a game of chance where a winner is chosen at random out of everyone who has entered. In different countries, there are some extra regulations in Place. For example, in the US sweepstakes runners cannot charge you an entry fee.
How does sweepstakes work – In a nutshell
As I said above, sweepstakes work by randomly choosing a winner of a prize or number of prizes. In most cases, it is completely down to chance, whereas a contest is skills-based.
However, in some countries, like the US, Canada and Australia there is some crossover as the laws state that entrants must demonstrate skill. Usually, sweepstakes runners require you to answer a question to enter in such cases.
How does sweepstakes work in the US?
The US has some strict
sweepstakes rules
at the Federal and state levels. The most notable rule is that sweepstakes operators cannot charge you anything to enter.
Charing you to enter would be considered gambling in the US law, which is heavily regulated and even prohibited in most states. That’s why you will find that US
sweepstakes casinos online
allow you to play for free.
How do sweepstakes pick winners?
Usually, winners are selected via a random prize draw or another form of selection. However, at sweepstakes casinos, you have to play through your Sweeps Coins (SC) at least once and have a certain number in your balance. You can then redeem them for prizes.
How do sweepstakes make money?
Most companies use sweepstakes as a marketing tool that ultimately increases brand awareness and makes them money. The [rize and running costs are factored in as a necessary expense.
Sweepstakes casinos make money through on-site purchases. Although they cannot charge you for SC (entries), they do charge for Gold Coins – a virtual currency with no redemption value. Usually, GC purchases come with free SC, which incentivises us as players to buy them.
Pros and cons of sweepstakes casinos
Now that we’ve covered how does sweepstakes work, here is a look at the main pros and cons of sweepstakes casinos:
- Free to enter
- Fun casino-style games
- More widely available
The top five sweepstakes casinos
You can read more about
how to win in sweepstakes casinos
here, but first let’s take a look at my top five sites:
| Sweepstakes casino | Bonus |
| Stake.us | $25 no deposit, 250k GC and 5% rakeback |
| Sweeptastic | Up to 27,777 LC + 2 SC |
| Golden Hearts Games | Spend $10 get 6,250 |
| Fortune Coins | Up to 360k GC + 1,000 FC |
| Chumba Casino | 2 million GC + 2 SC |
Stake.us
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Stake.us Social Casino
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Free Stake Cash
Stake.us Pros & Cons
- Real prizes
- Exclusive welcome offer
- Original games
- Top rated site
This sweepstakes casino has more than 400 casino-style games including originals that have been developed in-house, usually provably fair technology. Real money prizes can be available as crypto, merch or gift cards.
Sign up today and you can get an exclusive $25 no deposit bonus with 250 Gold Coins and 5% rakeback with this promo code:
CHAMPIONS.
Unlock 560K Gold Coins
+
56 SC
Sweeptastic
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Play for Fun
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Play on Mobile
Sweeptastic Pros & Cons
- Massive games lobby
- Free welcome offer
- Save 100% on 1st purchase
- VIP club
- Customer service could improve
Here you can find the biggest selection of sweepstakes games, with more than 1,000 casino-style offerings to choose from. When you sign up as a new player, you can get up to 27,777 LC and 2 free SC.
Our Exclusive Deal:
125 SC
+ 625K GC
Golden Hearts Games
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Donate to Charity
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Play on Mobile
Golden Hearts Games Pros & Cons
- Charity donations
- Spend $10 get 6,250 free SC
- Real money prizes
- Recent rebranding
The main reason why this is one of my favourite sweepstakes casinos is because of its charity-based model. 2% of everything that you spend on this site goes to a charity of your choice.
Our Exclusive Deal:
125 SC
+ 625K GC
Fortune Coins
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Fortune Coins Social Casino
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Spin the Wheel
Fortune Coins Pros & Cons
- Massive welcome offer
- Progressive jackpots and fish tables
- Existing player promotions
- Free SC giveaways
If you’re looking for an example of how does a sweepstakes work in a casino context, this is it. On top of that, it is the only social casino I’ve found online with progressive sweepstakes, jackpots and fish table games.
Our Exclusive Deal:
125 SC
+ 625K GC
Chumba Casino
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Chumba Casino Social Casino
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Get you free coins
Chumba Casino Pros & Cons
- 2m GC and 2 free SC signup
- Established and trusted brand
- Official app
- Lite version of the app
- High prize redemption limit
This is the sweepstakes online casino that I have been playing at the longest. It has over 200 slots and casino-style games from top providers including Pragmatic Play.
Our Exclusive Deal:
125 SC
+ 625K GC
Real Prize Highlights
- 100k GC + 2 FREE SC no deposit welcome offer
- 150+ casino-style games and slots
- Real money and gift card prize redemption with SC
How does sweepstakes work – Conclusion
In summary, most countries and governing bodies tend to agree that sweepstakes are contests where prizes are given based on chance. However, in some countries skill must be involved, meanwhile, in the US they have to be free to enter. That’s why you get free SC with the welcome offer at all of the top five sweepstakes casinos that I’ve mentioned above.
Our recommended sweeps casino bonuses for 2025
1.
Our Exclusive Deal:
125 SC
+ 625K GC
2.
Unlock 560K Gold Coins
+
56 SC
Wagering (WR): 3x
3.
Our Exclusive Deal:
105 SC
+ 500K GC
4.
Get 50K Gold Coins
for free +
25 SC
5.
Exclusive 100K Gold Coins +
30 SC
How does sweepstakes work FAQ
🏆 How are sweepstakes winners chosen?
Sweepstakes winners are usually chosen at random. Normally, this is done through a prize draw or a preselected number.
🎰 What is a sweepstakes casino?
A sweepstakes casino is a site where you can play casino-style games for free and for fun using virtual currency as opposed to real money. These sites have to give you free SC, which you can use to play for the chance to win prizes. For a full explanation of
what is a sweepstakes casino, check out my article at GameChampions.com.
🃏 Is sweepstakes the same as gambling?
No, sweepstakes and gambling are two distinctly different practices, which is why most countries have very specific rules to separate the two. For instance, in the UK, Canada, and Australia, players must demonstrate skill, such as answering a question correctly, in order to enter. Meanwhile, in the US sweepstakes must be free to enter, but still down to chance.
