Gold Coins vs Sweeps Coins: How Casino Currencies Work

Gold Coins (GC) are the entertainment currency at sweepstakes casinos. They're what you technically buy when you make a purchase, and they have absolutely no real-money value. None. You can't redeem them, sell them, or convert them into anything worth actual cash.

I know that sounds weird—"Why would I buy something with no value?" The answer is that Gold Coins serve two purposes. First, they let you play games for fun with no financial stakes, which some people genuinely prefer. Second, and more importantly, they're the legal vehicle for the sweepstakes model. When you buy a Gold Coin package, the Sweeps Coins that come with it are classified as a free promotional bonus.

Here's a practical tip: use Gold Coins to test games before you play them with Sweeps Coins. If you're unfamiliar with a slot's mechanics or you want to practice a table game strategy, Gold Coins let you do that without burning through your SC balance. I do this regularly—it's one of the genuinely useful aspects of the GC system.

Sweeps Coins (SC) are the currency that actually matters. Each Sweeps Coin is worth $1 USD when redeemed, and they're the only currency you can exchange for real cash prizes. Every win, every jackpot, every payout—it's all denominated in Sweeps Coins.

When you play a slot with Sweeps Coins and hit a win, those SC go into your balance. Once you've accumulated enough (typically 50–100 SC depending on the platform), you can request a redemption. The casino processes your request, and actual dollars land in your bank account or e-wallet.

Sweeps Coins come in much smaller quantities than Gold Coins. Where a purchase might get you 30,000 GC, the same package might include just 30 SC. This makes sense when you remember that 30 SC is worth $30 in real prize value. The math is straightforward: 1 SC = $1.

One thing to be aware of: not all Sweeps Coins in your balance may be immediately redeemable. Most platforms require you to "play through" your SC at least once before redemption. So if you receive 10 SC from a daily bonus, you'll need to wager those 10 SC on games at least one time. Any winnings from that play are then eligible for redemption. This is a standard practice across all sweepstakes casinos and it's far simpler than the wagering requirements at traditional online casinos.

This is the question everyone asks, and the answer is entirely about law. The dual-currency system is what makes sweepstakes casinos legal in 48 states while traditional online casinos remain restricted to just a handful.

For something to be considered gambling, three elements typically need to be present: consideration (paying money), chance (random outcomes), and a prize. Sweepstakes casinos eliminate the "consideration" element through the Gold Coin/Sweeps Coin split.

Here's how it works legally: when you spend $9.99 at Chumba Casino, you're buying Gold Coins—entertainment tokens with no cash value. The Sweeps Coins included in the package are a free promotional gift, not something you purchased. And since there are always free ways to get Sweeps Coins (daily logins, mail-in requests), the prizes you win with them are classified as sweepstakes prizes rather than gambling winnings.

It might feel like a technicality, but it's a legally significant one. Courts have upheld the sweepstakes model repeatedly. The structure isn't an accident—it was carefully designed by legal teams to comply with both federal and state promotional sweepstakes laws.

If you're wondering why real-money online casinos don't just adopt this model—some effectively have. Stake.us is the sweepstakes version of Stake.com, one of the largest crypto casinos in the world. The parent company wanted to operate in the US market, and the sweepstakes model was how they did it legally.

Earning Gold Coins

Gold Coins are the easier currency to accumulate. You'll typically receive them through:

• • Purchasing packages: The primary way. Packages range from $4.99 to $99.99+ and include large GC amounts.
• • Daily login bonuses: Most casinos give free GC every day you log in.
• • Social media promotions: Follow the casino on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram for bonus GC drops.
• • Special events: Holidays, platform anniversaries, and game launches often come with bonus GC.

Earning Sweeps Coins

Sweeps Coins are harder to come by, which makes sense given their real cash value. Here's how to earn them:

• • Free bonus with GC purchases: Every Gold Coin package includes bonus SC. This is how most players accumulate SC.
• • Daily login bonuses: Smaller amounts (typically 0.3–1 SC per day), but they add up. At Pulsz, consistent daily logins can earn meaningful SC over a month.
• • Mail-in requests: Send a physical letter to the casino to receive free SC. It's slow but it works, and it's a legal requirement for the sweepstakes model.
• • Social media giveaways: Platforms regularly run SC giveaways on social media. McLuck is particularly generous with these.
• • Referral bonuses: Some casinos give SC when you refer friends who sign up and play.

A realistic expectation: if you're relying entirely on free methods, you'll accumulate SC slowly. Daily logins might net you 10–20 SC per month. That's $10–$20 in potential prize value, plus whatever you win from playing. It's not nothing, but it's not a full-time income either. Be realistic about this.

Here's where it gets practical. You've accumulated Sweeps Coins and you want your money. The redemption process is straightforward but has a few requirements you need to know about.

Processing times vary. First-time redemptions take the longest because of identity verification—expect 3–7 business days. After your first successful redemption, subsequent ones are faster, typically 1–3 business days. For a full breakdown, check our complete redemption guide.

If your goal is to win real prizes, Sweeps Coins are the only currency that matters. Full stop. Gold Coins are entertainment tokens and nothing more. Every decision you make—which casino to sign up at, which bonuses to pursue, when to play—should be evaluated through the lens of Sweeps Coin value.

That said, Gold Coins aren't completely useless. I use them to test new games before I risk my SC balance, and they're good for casual sessions where I just want to relax without any stakes. Some players genuinely enjoy the entertainment aspect without caring about redemptions, and Gold Coins are perfect for that.

When comparing casino bonuses, always look at the SC amount, not the GC amount. A package advertising "1,000,000 Gold Coins!" sounds impressive but means nothing financially. A package that includes 50 SC? That's $50 in potential prize value. Marketing teams know that big GC numbers look attractive, so don't fall for it.

Most sweepstakes casinos follow the same GC/SC model, but the details differ. Here's how the top platforms stack up:

Note that Stake.us uses slightly different terminology—they call their currencies "Gold Coins" and "Stake Cash" (SC). The mechanics are identical to other platforms, just different branding. The SC still redeems at $1 each, and the play-through requirement is the same 1x.