Sweepstakes Casinos Delivering the iGaming Experience
An interview with industry expert Jordan Marley on the success of this sector
Fun! Casino games are all about the entertainment. While there is sometimes the incentive of winning real money, much of the thrill comes from that exquisite moment of expectation. As the button is pressed or the coin/token is inserted into the mechanism, there is that fleeting moment when everything is possible. This time, the reels could align, and you might hear the sound of coins hitting the cash tray or see the totals on your casino account mount. Then it is all over, and win or lose, that moment of exhilaration has fired a positive shot of serotonin and dopamine around your brain cells.
When playing for low-stakes or virtual currencies, we get the added advantage of not taking too much risk to get that rewarding feeling. Casino games, whether played for pennies or dollar stakes, need to feel like more than just a cash drain. Huge amounts of work go into developing slots and other casino games to make them engaging and rewarding enough to keep us coming back for more. We know that the house always wins, we know that the chances of cashing out the jackpot are highly unlikely, but games that provide keep us engaged regardless of whether we win or lose.
Online casino expert Jordan Marley from Casino.us came to talk with us about the sweepstakes industry and how he helps readers stay up to date on the ever-changing US online gambling laws.
Q: Hi Jordan. Welcome. How successful is iGaming in the US, and why did sweepstakes casinos emerge?
For far too long, playing online casino games was restricted to a handful of US states. While only residents of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Michigan, and Delaware (soon to be joined by Maine) can play online slots and other casino games for real money, most other states do not allow it. Despite the iGaming industry’s massive positive financial impact (the total economic impact of iGaming is $328.66 billion, and it supports 1.8 million jobs), most US citizens are still unable to play real-money online casino games legally.
However, as necessity is the mother of invention, online casinos and game developers recognized that there was a market for online casino gaming, whether the stakes were for real or virtual currency. Social and sweepstakes casinos fill a market gap and are incredibly popular. They allow people to play their favorite casino games legally almost everywhere in the country. Some states, including New York and California, have recently moved to crack down on these virtual currency casinos, but the vast majority of Americans can still access them. Sweepstakes give players an experience that resembles iGaming.
Q: When you say ‘resemble’, are they worth playing at, and are the games any good?
Oh, absolutely, they can be tremendous fun and very rewarding. If you look at these sweepstakes casinos, for example, Crown Coins, BigPirate, and Funrize, you will see that they operate using Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. They offer an exciting alternative to real-money counterparts, and players can access the same games, including slots, table games, and live dealer variants.
Q: Wait, wait! What do you mean by Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins? What is the difference?
Initially, it can be a little bit confusing, but the virtual currencies are what have driven the success and the legality of sweepstakes casinos. Gold coins are virtual currency used to play for fun. When you win them, they might progress you up a leaderboard, but they cannot be exchanged for anything in the real world (other than bragging rights).
Sweeps Coins, on the other hand, lets you play games that can win you real prizes. You can’t buy them, but you can win them by playing with Gold Coins or collect them from bonuses and promotions.
You can buy Gold Coins to top up your balance, and most operators give away Sweeps Coins with the purchase for free. We always recommend that players keep an eye on social media, as it is easy to earn Sweeps Coins just by liking a post.
Q: How successful has this vertical been?
The headline figure is that it has been very successful and is set to be even more so. More specifically, the market expanded at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 90% between 2019 and 2022. It reached a whopping $11 billion in 2025. 25 new sweepstakes casinos launched in 2025, and there are now more than 140 operating across the country.
Q: Why are some states clamping down on them?
Well, I could say because they are spoilsports, but it is actually slightly more complicated than that. States that have legal real-money casinos have prohibited them because they are in direct competition. California and Nevada have outlawed them to protect their land-based venues, while New York has likely done so to clear the way for the launch of its own regulated online casino market.
It is a rather confusing picture, which is why we, at Casino.us, spend so much time researching, reviewing, and rating the sites ourselves, and keep up to date with the seemingly ever-changing laws. It’s a pretty mixed bag, to be honest, but with the exception of Washington, citizens can play online casino games at either a social, sweeps, or real-money casino, no matter where they are in the US.
Q: So, what does winning at a Sweepstakes Casino look like?
Well, without wanting to sound boring, winning actually looks like having fun. That’s the main reason to play. We are really hot on responsible gambling. Even if players are not spending loads of money, they still need to play responsibly and only purchase coin packages if they can stay within their bankroll and use their time wisely.
To win Sweeps Coins, a player needs luck on their side. The higher the Return to Player percentage (RTP), the better the chance of winning. Slot tournaments, jackpot games, and jackpot slots offer bigger prizes, and players can find instant-win games, arcade, and casino-style games. When players have accumulated a balance of Sweeps Coins, they can be cashed out for real-world prizes, including cash.
Q: One last thing, Jordan, how are they legal?
They are legal because they do not require wagering with real money and are therefore covered by different laws. It really is as simple as that.
Thanks, Jordan.
The views and opinions expressed by the writers and columnists of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Casinocenter.com do not necessarily reflect those of the magazine’s management. All content is intended solely for entertainment and informational purposes. Gambling may be illegal in some jurisdictions—it is the responsibility of each visitor to check and comply with local laws before participating in online gaming. Always read the terms and conditions, and gamble responsibly.
