Sweepstakes poker represents a unique form of online poker that allows players to compete for real money prizes.
Very soft games
Free SC every day
Legal in the US
Trusted brand 
Super-soft games
5% instant rakeback
Quality web-based software
Great casino offer As the name suggests, it is based on a sweepstakes model, which makes it perfectly legal in most US states and worth trying in 2025 if you’re looking to play online poker in a safe and legal environment.
Read on to learn all about sweepstakes poker sites, how they work, and how you can win real cash prizes.
How To Play Sweepstakes Poker?
Sweepstakes or social poker sites offer two gameplay modes using two different types of tokens. One of these is just for fun, without the ability to win real prizes, while the other offers a chance of winning real prizes.
While different sites have different names for these tokens or coins, in most cases:
- Gold Coins (GC) are play-only
- Sweeps Coins (SC) are the ones you can exchange for prizes
The most important aspect of sweepstakes online poker is that players can never purchase Sweeps Coins directly. Instead, operators give them out as gifts for different actions, including purchasing Gold Coins.
This is what makes sweepstakes poker legal in most of the US, as players are neither required nor allowed to make direct real-money transactions.
Sweeps Coins vs. Gold Coins
Sweeps Coins and Gold Coins are two types of game tokens you’ll encounter at sweepstakes poker sites. You have a choice to play in games using one or the other type.
When you play games in Gold Coins, you stand to win more Gold Coins. However, regardless of how many GCs you have, you’ll never be able to exchange or redeem them for any real money prizes.
With Sweeps Coins, you can participate in SC ring games and tournaments, and the mechanics are exactly the same, except for one major difference.
Sweeps Coins can be exchanged for real money prizes at a certain ratio set up by the site (usually, 1SC = $1).
So, if you want to play for real money prizes, be it ring games, tournaments, or both, you have to play with Sweeps Coins.
Purchasing Gold Coins
If you spend even a few minutes on a social poker site, you’ll notice that there is no option to buy Sweeps Coins. Players can only purchase Gold Coins, but if you can’t redeem prizes with GCs, you might wonder why you’d want to do it.
However, every time you purchase a certain number of Gold Coins, a sweepstakes site will give you a gift in Sweeps Coins. For example, when you buy 100,000 GCs for $10, you’ll receive a gift of 10 SCs, which can be exchanged for $10.
Buying Gold Coins is the fastest and simplest way of obtaining free Sweeps Coins. Since these SCs are provided as a gift on top of your purchase, social poker operators are able to keep things above the board and completely legal.
Redeeming Prizes
Redeeming prizes with your Sweeps Coins is very easy. You can do it from your account in a few simple steps:
- Select the option to exchange your coins
- Enter the number of SCs you wish to redeem
- You’ll see the cash amount you’ll receive
- Enter the payment method to which your prize will be sent
- You’ll receive the cash within a few days
The only thing to be aware of is that most social poker sites have certain minimum redemption limits. In most cases, you can only redeem a minimum of $50 or $100.
While bank transfers are the most widely accepted option, Visa and MasterCard can be used in some instances.
Real Money Poker vs Sweepstakes Model
Sweepstakes poker is similar to the best online poker sites in many ways, but they also differ in certain aspects, so you need to understand these nuances before siding down to play.
The most important thing is that both allow you to play against real players and compete for real-money prizes.
They also feature ring games, tournaments, and sit-and-goes, so you can choose your favorite.
On the other hand, sweepstakes sites don’t have traditional deposits and will sometimes have a limited variety of promotions due to the underlying model.
The table below lists some of the most important differences between sweepstakes poker and traditional real-money poker sites.
| Real money poker | Sweepstakes poker |
| Deposit money directly into your account | Obtain free Sweeps Coins through Gold Coin purchases and other offers |
| Withdraw cash at any time | Sweeps Coins need to be first exchanged for real money prizes |
| Wider selection of games & variations | Much softer competition |
| Different deposit bonuses & cash races | Fewer promotions & much smaller bonuses |
Is the Sweepstakes Model Legal In The US?
Sweepstakes online poker is legal in most US states, which is the main reason for its rise in popularity in recent years. Outside of a few states, such as Nevada, Michigan, Washington, Montana, and Idaho, there are no legal obstacles to offering sweepstakes poker games.
These sites are founded on an old sweepstakes law, which allows companies to reward their customers with sweepstakes entries.
For legal purposes, Sweepstakes Coins are, in fact, sweepstakes entries that customers can redeem for prizes.
The most important stipulation of this law is that sweepstakes entries cannot be bought. They can only be awarded by the company based on the criteria they set. This is why players on social poker sites can’t purchase Sweeps Coins directly. Instead, they receive them as gifts for their activity, including purchases of Gold Coins – game tokens that have absolutely no value and are only used to play games on the site.
If all this sounds a bit technical, you’re not wrong. However, the only important thing for you, as a player, is that it works and that it is perfectly legal. Any prizes you redeem from a sweepstakes poker site are completely legit and you won’t have any problems because of it.
Can You Win Real Money Playing Sweepstakes?
For those new to social poker, the biggest question is: Can you actually win real money playing sweepstakes? We’ve already answered that question throughout this text, but once again, the answer is yes, you can!
This is the biggest appeal of sweepstakes poker in the US. Since only a few states have locally regulated poker sites, all other poker fans in the country have very limited options. There are a few offshore rooms that still accept US players while disregarding the country’s gambling laws, but playing on these sites comes with a variety of problems and limitations, so we never play there ourselves and do not recommend it to you.
Sweepstakes poker sites, on the other hand, allow you to win real money prizes in a perfectly safe and legal way. Any Sweeps Coins you win, you can exchange for cash, and that cash will be sent to your bank – no questions asked and no legal issues to worry about.
What Games Can You Play On Sweepstakes Poker Sites?
When it comes to the selection of games on sweepstakes poker sites, you’ll find it very similar to what’s available at traditional real money operators.
There are tournaments, ring games, and sit & goes, with a wide range of stakes. The selection of game variations is mostly limited to Texas Hold’em and PLO, although some social poker rooms have started to expand, adding different mixed game options like Razz, 2-7 Single and Triple Draw, and more.
Tournaments
The selection of daily and weekly tournaments varies greatly from one sweepstakes poker site to another. Like with real-money operators, this depends on player traffic.
More established sweeps sites have very solid tournament schedules with sizable guarantees, especially on weekends. They also offer regular tournament series with boosted prize guarantees and special prizes.
Smaller and up-and-coming social poker sites tend to have smaller guarantees, but their tournaments are often much softer, and there are frequent overlays.
Ring Games
When it comes to ring games, you’ll find a solid spread of stakes at a majority of sweepstakes sites, with Texas Hold’em and PLO being by far the most popular choices.
The smallest stakes you’ll come across are 0.01/0.02SC, while the highest regularly running games go up to 10/20SC.
As far as mechanics go, they are the same as with real money sites. You will bring a certain amount of SC to the table, play, and once you get up, whatever you have in front of you will be added back to your Sweeps Coins balance.
Sit & Goes
You’ll find a fair number of sit and go games at sweepstakes poker sites as well, but, just like at real money sites, these are rarely popular and can take a while for a game to fill up and start.
Luckily, many social poker operators also offer jackpot sit-and-goes, which tend to go off at a much higher frequency. If you’re a sit-and-go player looking for action, this is probably your go-to choice; otherwise, you might only get to play a few games per hour, especially at higher stakes.
Sweepstakes Payment Options
As mentioned, sweepstakes poker sites don’t offer traditional deposits or withdrawals, so the banking process is somewhat different.
When it comes to buying Gold Coins (and receiving connected Sweeps Coins gifts), the range of options can include:
- Visa
- MasterCard
- PayPal
- Cryptocurrencies (increasingly popular with newer platforms)
These transactions are registered as online purchases, which means that you’ll never have problems with your bank. You’re not depositing any kind – you’re simply buying virtual coins to play an online game.
When you’re ready to redeem your prize, you’ll usually have a few options to choose from as to where you want to send the prize money to. Direct bank transfers are the most reliable choice here. Some sites support Visa and MasterCard, but they don’t always work.
Is Sweepstakes Online Poker Safe?
Sweepstakes online poker is very safe and a much better choice than any offshore site that caters to US players while willingly breaking relevant gaming and banking laws.
Although social poker sites aren’t locally regulated in the US, they pay close attention to safety and legality. Their operations are governed by relevant sweepstakes laws and all other regulations concerning customers’ privacy.
While there are always risks associated with any online activity, especially those involving purchases, sweepstakes poker rooms are very safe and reliable.
How To Register and Play at Sweepstakes Poker Site?
Getting started with sweepstakes poker online is easy. You can sign up for an account in a matter of seconds and join the action quickly by following these few simple steps:
- Step 1. Visit the sweepstakes poker site you want to join
- Step 2. Find the registration link/button
- Step 3. Fill in the required info or login with your existing account (Facebook, Google)
- Step 4. If you have a bonus code, make sure to use it in the relevant field
- Step 5. Verify your email via the link sent to your inbox
- Step 6. Log in & visit your account to pick a welcome bonus and/or purchase some Gold Coins to receive your free Sweeps Coins
- Step 7. Check out the games’ lobby and pick your table