One of the most common questions we get about sweepstakes casinos is: Do they really pay out? Can players actually turn their virtual winnings into real money, or is it all just for fun? Well, the answer is simple: Yes, sweepstakes casinos do pay out—as long as you follow their rules and complete the necessary steps.
The hoops you have to jump through are pretty similar across different platforms, and they’re really not too difficult if you know what to expect. In this article, we’ll break down the process and explain five things you must do before redeeming real cash prizes at social and sweepstakes casinos. Let’s dive right in!
1. Verify Your Identity
Every legitimate sweepstakes casino requires players to verify their identity before cashing out. This is a standard security measure to prevent fraud and make sure winnings always go to the right person.
Sometimes, you’ll need to complete this step as soon as you sign up for a new account. Other times, you can wait until you’re ready to redeem your Sweeps Coins for real prizes. Either way, it’ll have to be done at some point.
To verify your identity, there are typically two things you’ll need to do:
- Submit a government-issued ID: You’ll need to upload or submit a picture of your driver’s license, passport, state ID, or some other form of government-issued identification. In most cases, you’ll also need to take a quick selfie. This way, they can confirm that the ID actually belongs to you.
- Provide Proof of Address: You’ll also have to provide a recent utility bill, bank statement, or another official document that matches the address on your account. This will help to confirm your state of residency.
Once you’ve submitted both forms of verification, the approval process can take anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of days, depending on the platform. Yes, the verification can be a bit annoying, but it’s a necessary step during the prize redemption process.
2. Meet Playthrough Requirements
Another thing you’ll have to do before a sweepstakes casino pays out winnings? Meet their playthrough requirements.
Most of the time, Sweeps Coins must be wagered at least once (1x) before they become eligible for redemption as a cash prize. These requirements are used to help prevent players from claiming daily login bonuses (and other free rewards) and then cashing out immediately.
The good news is that meeting the playthrough requirement is usually pretty easy. There typically aren’t any game restrictions, and in most cases, all games will count 100% toward the requirement.
It’s also really easy to track your progress. Your Sweeps Coin balance will usually be split into two categories: “Unplayed SC” and “Redeemable SC.” This way, you can clearly see how much of your balance is still tied up in meeting the playthrough requirement and how much is ready for redemption.
Just make sure to review the sweepstakes casino’s terms (aka the “Sweeps Rules”) when you first sign up. Some sites might have higher playthrough requirements, like 3x, 5x, or even 10x, which can take a bit longer to meet…but that’s okay. Then, once you’ve cleared the playthrough, you’ll be one step closer to cashing out your winnings.
3. Reach Minimum Redemption Thresholds
The next thing you’ll need to do to cash out your winnings is meet the sweepstakes casino’s minimum redemption threshold. This is the lowest possible amount of Sweeps Coins you’ll need to win before any prizes will be paid out.
In the table below, we’ve provided a list of popular casinos along with their minimum redemption thresholds for both gift cards and cash prizes. This should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect.
| Sweepstakes Casino 🎰 | Minimum Redemption Threshold (Gift Cards) 🎁 | Minimum Redemption Threshold (Cash Prizes) 💵 |
|---|---|---|
| Chumba | 10.00 SC ($10.00) | 100.00 SC ($100.00) |
| Crown Coins | 50.00 SC ($50.00) | 50.00 SC ($50.00) |
| High 5 | 50.00 SC ($50.00) | 100.00 SC ($100.00) |
| Legendz | 50.00 SC ($50.00) | 100.00 SC ($100.00) |
| McLuck | 10.00 SC ($10.00) | 75.00 SC ($75.00) |
| Pulsz | 25.00 SC ($25.00) | 100.00 SC ($100.00) |
| RealPrize | 45.00 SC ($45.00) | 100.00 SC ($100.00) |
| Spree | 10.00 SC ($10.00) | 75.00 SC ($75.00) |
| Sweeptastic | N/A | 100.00 SC ($100.00) |
| WOW Vegas | 25.00 SC ($25.00) | 100.00 SC ($100.00) |
As you can see, the minimum redemption threshold for gift cards is usually lower than for cash prizes. This is pretty common with sweepstakes casinos, and it’s something to keep in mind when deciding how you want to cash out your Sweeps Coin winnings.
4. Make Sure You’re in a Legal State
Next, it’s important to make sure you’re in an eligible U.S. state. You see, some sweepstakes casinos will let anyone sign up and start playing. However, they’ll only pay out winnings to those who are legal residents of an eligible state AND physically located in an eligible state during the time of redemption.
Fortunately, sweepstakes casinos are widely available in the United States today. However, there are a handful of states that I like to call “The Usual Suspects” when it comes to restrictions on sweepstakes gaming. These states include:
- Connecticut
- Idaho
- Michigan
- Montana
- Nevada
- Kentucky
- Washington
If you live in one of these U.S. states, there’s a decent chance you won’t be able to redeem any prizes. However, to be sure, it’s always a good idea to check your sweepstakes casino’s official Terms & Conditions or Sweeps Rules.
That way, you’ll know exactly where you stand before you start playing or making purchases on the site.
5. Don’t Create Multiple Accounts
Lastly, make sure you don’t create multiple accounts, even if it’s by mistake.
Sweepstakes casinos are pretty strict about this, and if they catch you using more than one account (or claiming multiple no-deposit bonuses), they could suspend or even ban all of them. This could mean losing some, or maybe even all, of your winnings, which is definitely something you’ll want to avoid.
The best rule of thumb is to sign up using the same email address across all the different sites you play at. If you try to create a second account with the same email, the casino won’t let you.
Instead, you’ll get a message letting you know that you already have an account linked to that email. From there, you can log into your existing account or reset your password if you’ve forgotten it.
Conclusion: Use These Tips for Guaranteed Payouts at Sweepstakes Casinos
And that’s about all I’ve got for you today! In case you skipped to the end, here’s a quick recap:
First, if you’re wondering if social casinos really do pay out, the answer is YES. It is 100% possible to win real money prizes at sweepstakes gaming sites.
Second, to make sure you don’t run into any issues during the prize redemption process, follow these five tips:
- Verify Your Identity
- Meet Playthrough Requirements
- Reach Minimum Redemption Thresholds
- Make Sure You’re in a Legal State
- Don’t Create Multiple Accounts
If you’ve met all of these requirements, then you should have no problems turning your Sweeps Coins into real cash prizes. Thanks for reading, and happy playing!
