Gold Coins are play-only tokens. You cannot redeem them for anything. Sweeps Coins are sweepstakes entries. Win with them, meet the site's rules, and you can redeem them for prizes such as gift cards or cash. Most sweepstakes casinos give you some of each at signup with no purchase necessary, sell Gold Coin packages, and add Sweeps Coins to those packages as a bonus. That is the whole model. The rest of this guide covers how you get each coin, what redemption looks like at the sites we track, and where players trip up.
If you are new to the format, read how sweepstakes casinos work first, then come back here.
Gold Coins: the play-for-fun currency
Gold Coins (GC) let you play the games with no prize attached. You spin a slot, you win or lose Gold Coins, and that is the end of it. They have no cash value and cannot be redeemed.
Sites hand them out in large amounts. Chumba Casino gives 2,000,000 GC at signup. Pulsz gives 5,000 GC. The size of the number tells you very little. A bigger Gold Coin balance is not a better deal, because Gold Coins never turn into a prize.
Some sites rename them. WOW Vegas calls them WOW Coins. Crown Coins Casino uses Crown Coins (CC). High 5 Casino calls them Game Coins. They all work the same way.
Gold Coins still have a use. They let you learn a game before you put Sweeps Coins into it. Some sites also run Gold Coin jackpots and tournaments. McLuck and HelloMillions both run a four-tier progressive Gold Coin jackpot with the GRAND seeded at 200,000,000 GC. Hitting it gets you more Gold Coins, not a prize.
Sweeps Coins: the prize-eligible currency
Sweeps Coins (SC) are what make a sweepstakes casino a sweepstakes. You do not buy them directly. You get them at signup, through daily bonuses and promotions, through a no-purchase entry method, or as a bonus attached to a Gold Coin package.
When you play in Sweeps Coin mode, wins come back as Sweeps Coins. Once you have enough, and have met any playthrough rule, you can request a redemption. The operator sets the minimum and the methods.
Sweeps Coin amounts look small next to Gold Coins. Most signup offers we track sit between 2 SC and 5 SC, with Stake.us an outlier at 25 SC. That gap is deliberate. Sweeps Coins carry the prize value, so sites give out fewer of them.
Gold Coins vs Sweeps Coins at a glance
| Gold Coins | Sweeps Coins | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Play for entertainment | Sweepstakes play, prize-eligible |
| Can you buy them | Yes, in coin packages | No, included as a bonus with packages or given away |
| Redeemable for prizes | No | Yes, subject to minimums and rules |
| Signup amounts we track | 500 GC to 2,000,000 GC | 0 SC to 25 SC |
| Playthrough | Not applicable | Some sites are reported to require 1x |
| Best use | Learning games, Gold Coin jackpots and tournaments | Play you may want to redeem from |
How you get each coin
At signup
These are the no-purchase signup offers in our records.
| Site | Gold Coins | Sweeps Coins |
|---|---|---|
| Stake.us | 250,000 GC | 25 SC |
| WOW Vegas | 250,000 WOW Coins | 5 SC |
| Legendz | 500 GC | 3 SC |
| McLuck | 7,500 GC | 2.5 SC |
| HelloMillions | 15,000 GC | 2.5 SC |
| LoneStar Casino | 100,000 GC | 2.5 SC |
| RealPrize | 100,000 GC | 2 SC |
| Chumba Casino | 2,000,000 GC | 2 SC |
| Crown Coins Casino | 100,000 CC | 2 SC |
| Pulsz | 5,000 GC | None listed |
| Jackpota | 7,500 GC | None listed |
| High 5 Casino | Not published | Not published |
Notice that Legendz gives the fewest Gold Coins but more Sweeps Coins than most. Chumba gives the most Gold Coins but 2 SC. Compare the Sweeps Coin column, not the Gold Coin one. WOW Vegas credits its offer over the first three days, and HelloMillions credits its coins after verification, so do not expect the full amount the second you register.
When you buy a package
You pay for Gold Coins. Sweeps Coins come attached as a bonus. A few examples from our records:
- Chumba Casino: 10,000,000 GC for $10, with 30 SC included.
- WOW Vegas: 1,500,000 WOW Coins + 30 SC for $9.99.
- LoneStar Casino: 125,000 GC + 50 SC for $24.99.
Read every package as "Gold Coins for this price, with this many Sweeps Coins included". The Sweeps Coin figure is the one worth comparing between sites.
Daily bonuses
Logging in each day can add a small amount of both coins. LoneStar and RealPrize each list 5,000 GC + 0.30 SC. Stake.us lists 10,000 GC + 1 SC. Legendz gives 10 spins worth up to 1.5 SC. Many other sites do not publish a daily figure, so check in the lobby.
No purchase necessary
Sweepstakes casinos must offer a way to get Sweeps Coins without buying anything. The method differs by site and is set out in each site's sweepstakes rules. Read those rules for the exact steps before you assume a purchase is the only route.
Redeeming Sweeps Coins
This is where the two coins split for good. Only Sweeps Coins can be redeemed, and each site sets its own floor.
| Site | Minimum redemption | Stated timing |
|---|---|---|
| McLuck | 10 SC gift card, 75 SC cash | Gift cards 48h, cash 10 days |
| HelloMillions | 10 SC gift card, 75 SC cash | A few business days |
| Jackpota | 10 SC gift card, 75 SC | 2 to 5 business days |
| LoneStar Casino | 45 SC | 1 to 3 business days |
| RealPrize | 45 SC gift card, 100 SC cash | 1 to 5 days |
| WOW Vegas | 25 SC gift card, 100 SC cash | Up to 5 business days |
| Legendz | 50 SC gift card, 100 SC cash | Not published |
| High 5 Casino | 50 SC | Not published |
| Crown Coins Casino | 50 to 100 SC | 24 hours to 5 business days |
| Chumba Casino | 100 SC | Not published |
| Pulsz | 100 SC | Not published |
| Stake.us | Not published | Not published |
The practical point: a 2.5 SC signup bonus does not get you near a 75 SC cash minimum on its own. Gift card floors are lower at several sites, which matters if you play small.
Playthrough
Some sites require you to play Sweeps Coins through before they count as redeemable. Reviewers report a 1x playthrough at LoneStar Casino, and Casino.org, TheSpike and Deadspin report the same at Crown Coins Casino. In plain terms, each Sweeps Coin you receive has to be played once before it can be redeemed. Check the terms on any site you use, because a bonus balance and a redeemable balance are not always the same number.
Verification
Expect to confirm your identity before your first redemption, and sometimes before signup coins are credited. Have your ID ready so a request does not stall.
Mistakes I see players make
- Judging an offer by the Gold Coin number. It is the least useful figure on the page.
- Ignoring the redemption minimum. Check it before you play, not after.
- Playing in the wrong mode. Every lobby has a toggle between Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Confirm which one is active before you spin.
- Forgetting playthrough. Coins you have not played through may not be redeemable yet.
- Treating coin packages as a way to make money. They are entertainment purchases. Set a budget and use the limit tools. Our responsible gaming page lists what to look for.
Where you can use Sweeps Coins
As of October 2026, sweepstakes casinos are closed, by law or in practice, in CA, CT, ID, IN, LA, ME, MI, MT, NV, NJ, NY, TN and WA. Operators add their own exclusions on top. McLuck also excludes DE, KY, MD and WV. WOW Vegas excludes IL. Stake.us excludes VT and KY. Pulsz excludes AL and AZ. High 5 Casino excludes AZ, IA, OK, PA and RI, among others. Check each review for the full list, and see where sweepstakes casinos are legal for state-by-state detail.
How coins factor into our ratings
When we score a site, we look at the Sweeps Coins you get without paying, the redemption floor, stated redemption times and how clearly the rules are written. Gold Coin totals carry little weight. Full detail is on how we rate. Rankings are editorial and operators cannot buy a rank. We earn a commission when you sign up through our links.
21+. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Not available in all states. Sweeps Coins have no guaranteed value until redeemed under each site's rules.
Questions
Can I redeem Gold Coins for prizes?
No. Gold Coins are for play only and have no prize value. Only Sweeps Coins can be redeemed, and only after you meet the site's minimum and any playthrough rule.
Can I buy Sweeps Coins?
Not directly. You buy Gold Coin packages, and Sweeps Coins are included as a bonus. You can also get Sweeps Coins at signup, through daily bonuses and promotions, or through the site's no-purchase entry method.
What is the lowest redemption minimum among the sites you track?
McLuck, HelloMillions and Jackpota list 10 SC for gift cards. Cash minimums are higher, from 45 SC at LoneStar Casino to 100 SC at sites such as Chumba Casino and Pulsz.
Why are WOW Coins and Crown Coins called something different?
They are the same thing as Gold Coins under a brand name. WOW Vegas uses WOW Coins, Crown Coins Casino uses Crown Coins and High 5 Casino uses Game Coins. None of them can be redeemed.
Do Sweeps Coins have a playthrough requirement?
At some sites. Reviewers report a 1x playthrough at LoneStar Casino and Crown Coins Casino, meaning each Sweeps Coin must be played once before it can be redeemed. Check each site's terms.