Your Beginner's Guide
Everything you need to know about sweepstakes casinos — from setup to your first withdrawal. No fluff, just the steps.
Step 1
What are sweepstakes casinos?
Before you create your first account, it helps to understand what you're actually signing up for.
Sweepstakes casinos operate under a legal model that makes them available in most US states. They offer two types of in-game currency: Gold Coins (for entertainment only, no cash value) and Sweeps Coins, which can be redeemed for real prizes and cash.
The key: you can collect Sweeps Coins for free every single day without ever spending a dollar. Sites are legally required to offer a no-purchase way to obtain Sweeps Coins, and that's exactly what we take advantage of.
Think of it like loyalty rewards programs — you show up consistently, collect free value, and when the conditions are right, cash it out. The difference is these platforms have real payouts.
Step 2
Set up for success
A little preparation upfront saves headaches later.
Dedicated Email
Create a separate Gmail for sweepstakes. You'll get a lot of promo emails — some with valuable bonus codes. Keeping it separate protects your personal inbox and helps you catch offers.
Separate Bank Account
A dedicated checking account keeps your earnings clean and accounting simple. SoFi and Wells Fargo both work well and offer cash back credit cards.
Cash Back Credit Card
Not required, but using a cash back card on promotional purchases increases your returns. The SoFi and Wells Fargo Active Cash cards are solid flat-rate picks.
KYC Documents
Identity verification is required before you can withdraw. Have these ready: driver's license (front & back), selfie holding ID, bank statement, and proof of address.
Pro tip: Batch your KYC all at once. Many sites share the same verification provider. Take your photos once and save them.
Step 3
Your first 5 sites
Don't try to join 40+ sites at once. Start with these five — the best combination of reliability, conditions, and promotions.
Stake.us
No PlaythroughThe most beginner-friendly. No playthrough requirements — daily bonuses are immediately redeemable. Easiest first withdrawal experience.
Crown Coins
Strong PromotionsConsistent daily bonuses and some of the best promotional offers. Fast, reliable withdrawals.
Luckyland Slots
Established PlatformOne of the original sweepstakes casinos. Well-established reputation and solid daily bonus structure.
Zoot Casino
Great PromotionsGo-to for promotional value. Smooth, fast withdrawal process — great for building early confidence.
Modo
Solid RTPWell-rounded platform with consistent bonuses. Plays nicely alongside the others in your daily routine.
Step 4
What you can realistically earn
Let's talk numbers — honestly.
Results depend on consistency. Some bonuses reset if you miss a day, so showing up daily is the foundation. You're not doing anything complicated — just being systematic about collecting free value that most people leave on the table.
Step 5
Understanding playthrough
The most important concept before your first withdrawal.
Almost all sites require you to play through Sweeps Coins at least once before you can redeem them. You wager coins on games, and then they become withdrawable. Most sites require 1x playthrough; some require 3x–10x.
Collect your daily bonuses
Sweeps Coins land in your account but aren't withdrawable yet — they need playthrough first.
Build up above the withdrawal minimum
Don't rush. Collect a buffer above the minimum so you have something left after variance.
Play through on high-RTP games
Play your unplayed coins on high-RTP games. Don't re-play coins that are already redeemable.
Withdraw your redeemable balance
Request a withdrawal. This is where the real money hits your account.
Step 6
Promotions & expected value
Free daily bonuses are the foundation. Promotions are where earnings scale — if you understand the math.
Sites regularly offer promotions like $10 for 20 SC or $100 for 200 SC. The question is whether the math works in your favor.
If a site has games with 95%+ RTP (return to player), and you buy 100 SC for $80, you can expect roughly 95 SC after playthrough. That's a net gain.
Only buy promotions with verified RTP data. Check the promo's specific playthrough requirement too — promo SC may have higher playthrough (3x–10x) than daily coins.
Step 7
Building your daily routine
The biggest unlock isn't more sites — it's consistency with the ones you have.
Pick one or two consistent times each day to collect. Some sites reset at midnight, others on a rolling 24-hour timer. Two collection windows help you catch rolling timers as they drift.
A few sites reset every 6 hours — don't stress about maximizing every timer. Daily bonuses are free value. Twice a day is plenty for a sustainable habit.
How Focused Mode works
Start Focused Mode
SweepsGirl pulls up sites with bonuses ready right now, based on each site's reset schedule.
Collect, advance, repeat
Cycle through ready sites one at a time. Keyboard shortcuts and auto-advance keep it fast.
Get notified when more are ready
Push notifications alert you when sites reset — no manual checking needed.
Step 8
Mistakes to avoid
Most beginners make the same handful of mistakes. Here's what to watch for.
Playing through coins recklessly
Always know the RTP of the game you're using for playthrough. High-RTP games minimize losses.
No plan, no system
Without a routine you'll miss bonuses and forget resets. Use Focused Mode to stay on track.
Not tracking your data
Without session tracking, you don't know which sites and games actually perform for you.
Buying promotions blindly
Good promos scale earnings fast, but buying without knowing the RTP and playthrough terms loses money.
Re-playing redeemable coins
Once coins are played through, they're redeemable. Playing them again just adds unnecessary risk.
Missing days and losing streaks
Some bonuses don't carry over. Skip a day and you reset the streak or lose the bonus entirely.
Ready to start collecting smarter?
SweepsGirl tracks your sites, guides your daily collection, and helps you make data-driven decisions.
SweepsGirl provides educational information about sweepstakes casinos. No purchase necessary. 18+ (21+ in some jurisdictions). Availability varies by state. Earnings depend on individual activity and consistency.