Are you looking to play games and win real money? Or perhaps you just want to spin for free and have fun?
Sweepstakes casinos and online casinos provide similar experiences but have two very different purposes.
Read on as we explain the key differences between both casino types, revealing the pros and cons of both platforms, so you can choose your perfect casino.
The Top Sweepstakes Sites for 2025
Check out our favorite online casinos featuring incredible games.
1.
4.8/5
Get 200% More Coins on First Purchase – 1.5M CC + 75 SC
Age 21+. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Not available in AL, CA, CT, DE, ID, IN, KY, LA, ME, MD, MI, MT, NV, NJ, NY, OK, TN, WA and WV. Additional T&Cs apply
Online casinos are platforms accessed via apps or browsers, offering gambling activities such as slot and table gaming.
These platforms only accept bets made using real money – it’s a real casino, just online.
The purpose of online casinos is gambling. This can be immense fun and there are plenty of reasons to enjoy casino gaming.
Ultimately, betting is the main driving factor.
Online Casino Basics:
All games played for real money
Players use deposits to fund their bankroll
What are Sweepstakes Casinos?
Sweepstakes casinos are also based online and offer gaming activities akin to gambling.
This includes slots and table games. However, the main point of sweepstakes casinos is that you don’t need to place real money bets.
The games can be played for free using virtual tokens without risk or reward.
Unlike real online casinos, sweepstakes casinos aim to offer the thrill and experience of casino gaming, minus the financial risk.
It’s purely about the fun of gaming.
Sweepstakes Casino Basics:
Games are played for free without risk
Players use Gold Coins as a virtual currency
Sweeps Coins can be used to win a real money prize
Direct Comparison: Online Casinos vs. Sweepstakes Casinos
Social and sweepstakes casinos are closely related. Their similarities are easily compared and they do share a rather symbiotic relationship.
For example, some major online casino brands offer a sweepstakes casino as both an acquisition tool and an alternative to their real money casino.
Gameplay and User Experience
Generally, the overall experience at online casinos and sweepstakes won’t differ too much.
Both web platforms can feature similar design elements, layouts, and user experiences.
Games load up in the same fashion, game types are similar, and hundreds of the same games can be found at sweepstakes and online casinos.
However, online casinos do generally offer more games than a Sweepstakes casino.
While Sweepstakes casinos are almost entirely slot-focused, online casinos offer a wide variety of live casino games and table games.
Some of the bigger sweepstakes casinos, such as WOW Vegas, have begun to feature live games too.
Online Casino vs. Sweepstakes:
Both platforms look and feel similar
Many games are shared too
Online casinos offer far more games
Legal and Regulatory Framework
Naturally, the legal and regulatory framework surrounding the two different gaming platforms differ.
One offers genuine, real-money gambling after all.
Online casino gaming is gambling and therefore must meet incredibly strict regulatory requirements such as maintaining a license.
Gaming licenses are issued by each state and ensure an online casino meets safety, security, and fairness standards.
Sweepstakes casinos do not need to obtain a gaming license and that’s why you can find these casinos in states that do not allow real money gambling.
The Sweepstakes casinos that we recommend are safe. These sites still adhere to numerous business regulations such as the Federal Trade Commission.
Both online casinos and sweepstakes casinos share a similar verification process.
Commonly referred to as Know-Your-Customer (KYC), these are a series of basic document checks to confirm the authenticity of every player – basically, confirming that you really are who you say you are.
Online casinos vs. Sweepstakes:
Online casinos must meet strict gambling regulations
Online casinos must hold a valid gambling license
Sweepstakes casinos do not need a gambling license
Both platforms verify player identities
Promotions
Both casinos offer promotions. New players can claim a welcome bonus as soon as they sign up and “reload” offers can be claimed regularly by existing players.
Even the style of casino bonuses can be rather similar.
However, the rewards differ.
While online casinos typically provide “bonus money” which can be turned into real money through wagering, sweepstakes casinos offer additional Gold Coins with a few potential sweepstakes coins on the side.
Free Spins: Free spins are a popular bonus at both online casinos and sweepstakes casinos. The mechanics are the same too – you get a selected number of spins on a slot game. At online casinos, you can collect the real money winnings from the real spins while sweepstakes casinos offer a virtual Gold Coins reward or some other type of prize.
Deposit match: This bonus rewards a player’s real money deposit or Gold Coins purchase with bonus funds. For example, a 100% deposit match of $1,000 would be an additional $1,000.
Cashback: This offer is really only seen at real online casinos rather than sweepstakes. It is a reward of a portion of your losing bets, returned in the form of real money or bonus funds. For example, a 50% cashback of $1,000 would be a $500 reward.
Welcome bonus: Both online casinos and sweepstakes casinos have welcome bonuses. This is the big, generous offer at the start of your gaming journey. Usually, it is offered as a deposit match, but free spins are also attached sometimes, this will likely be the biggest bonus your preferred site will offer.
Online Casino vs. Sweepstakes:
Bonus types are very similar
Sweepstakes casinos don’t offer real money bonuses
Online casinos offer bonus money that can become real money
Wagering and Winning
Online casinos simply have players use their bankroll to bet on games whereas sweepstakes casinos utilize both Sweeps coins and Gold coins.
If you are at an online casino, you’ll deposit real money and use that money to place bets – just like at a land-based casino.
Successful bets are paid out based on your stake and the odds. Any real money not tied into a bonus wagering requirement is entirely yours to withdraw as real winnings.
At a sweepstakes casino, you’ll use virtual Gold Coins but these do not always need to be purchased, therefore you can play entirely for free.
Sweepstakes casinos let you earn more Gold Coins through successful wagers – i.e. winnings – but also through completely gamified tasks like spinning a lucky wheel, logging in every day, and other simple requirements.
Of course, Gold Coins are only virtual, and you cannot exchange them for real money.
Sweepstakes Coins are a special token at sweepstakes casinos that acts as a real money token.
They can be used to place a wager on games and the winnings can then be exchanged for real money prizes – at no point are Sweeps Coins considered to have real money value though.
Online Casino vs. Sweepstakes:
Online casinos offer real money gambling
Sweepstakes offer virtual betting with no real money
You can win real money from bets at online casinos
Sweepstakes casinos are free to play, online casinos are not
Payment Methods
Sweepstakes casinos usually only accept a small handful of payment methods.
Chiefly, debit/credit cards, since this payment service is among the most commonly used in the US.
However, online casinos usually support a wide range of banking options.
Online casinos typically support cryptocurrencies, e-wallets, vouchers, debit/credit cards, and bank transfers.
Sweepstakes usually have very low limits too. Mostly because higher limits are not required since the gaming is mostly free.
The potential payment limits at online casinos vary considerably but can be as little as $500 and higher than $100,000.
Online Casinos vs. Sweepstakes:
Both accept common US payment services
Sweepstakes have fewer payment options
Online casinos often support high transaction limits
Accessibility and Availability
All the best sweepstakes casinos we recommend can only be enjoyed by players based in the United States.
Unless you reside in Washington or Michigan, when sweepstakes gaming is banned, you’ll get the same experience and access to sweepstakes casinos as any other player in America.
Access to online casinos in the US is far more varied.
To date, only six US states have legalized online casino gambling. You need to be within one of these states to access online casino sites.
Online Casino vs. Sweepstakes
Sweepstakes Casinos are available in 48 US States
Online Casinos are available in six US States
Advantages and Disadvantages
Like anything, there are pros and cons to enjoying either casino style.
It really depends on how you wish to play casino games.
To help make the decision a little easier, we’ve provided the advantages and disadvantages of online and sweepstakes casinos.
Online Casinos
Pros
Cons
You can win real money on any bet
Higher financial risk
Larger and more varied game collections
Only available in six US states
More payment method support
Sweepstakes Casinos
Pros
Cons
You can play every game for free
Cannot win real money in most instances
Available within 48 US States
Play with zero risk
Best Games at Online Casinos and Sweepstakes Casinos
There are hundreds of casino games that are shared by both online and sweepstakes casinos.
You can play real money and free versions of these games. The features and experiences are all the same, but only the risk differs.
Many of these free slots can be played at Gamesville too. You can play for free – just for fun or to learn which slots you prefer.
Epic Joker
We like the basics and Epic Joker is one the easiest games to play at sweepstakes and online casinos. You can win up to 100x your bet and “Super Mode” lets you enjoy some generous free spins.
Sweet Bonanza
You’d be hard-pressed to find a top sweepstakes or online casino that doesn’t offer this blockbuster classic.
Sweet Bonanza offers cascading reels which can lead to bigger wins and free spins mode that features multipliers.
Temple Tumble Megaways
This game features Megaways mechanics including 46,656 ways to win and an explosive cascading reels effect.
Temple Tumble Megaways features several levels of multipliers and you can win up to 8,000x your bet.
Conclusion
Both platforms over a variety of casino games including slots, table games, and live dealer options. Online casinos will provide a much larger collection of games to enjoy.
If you want to place real money bets and win real money, online casinos are the way to go.
However, if you want to play for free and without risk, sweepstakes casinos are all about fun.
The choice is up to you. Remember, you can always practice and experience casino gaming for free at Gamesville, before making your final choice.
FAQs
What is the difference between sweepstakes and online casinos?
Sweepstakes casinos offer games to play for fun with no financial risk or reward. Online casinos purely offer real money gambling.
Can you win real money at sweepstakes casinos?
Yes, some real money prizes can be won through tournaments, promotions, and using Sweepstakes coins.
Can you play casino games for free?
Yes, you can practice loads of games for free at Gamesville. When you’re ready, you can play for free at Sweepstakes casinos too.
