Key Points
- Legitimate sweepstakes casinos are free-to-play
- Legal sweeps casinos offer Sweeps Coins redemptions
- Legal sweeps sites don’t require a deposit
Sweepstakes casinos offer an exciting way to enjoy your favorite casino games without digging into your pockets. However, even sweepstakes casinos have to comply with U.S. sweepstakes laws, but the sad reality is that not all do.
This page will show you what you need to watch out for when looking to play on a 100% legal and safe sweep site. We’ll also show you how to spot unsafe sweepstakes casinos. By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to separate a scam site from a legitimate one.
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Sweepstakes brands considered unsafe
Not all sweepstakes casinos are created equal. While many operate fairly and follow legal guidelines, some brands raise red flags due to questionable practices. The following sweepstakes brands have sparked concerns, and I’ll explain why they may not be worth your time in the section below:
- SweepSlots
- 777 Sweepstakes
- Punt
- TigerIsHome
- BitBetWin
- RiverSweeps
Why are some sweepstakes casinos blacklisted?
Blacklisted or unsafe sweepstakes casinos have a few red flags. This includes delayed redemptions or no redemptions at all, complicated or confusing download processes, unfamiliar software providers in some cases, and a lack of overall licensing and regulation information. I’ll discuss all of these aspects in further detail in this section.
No licensing info
All legal sweepstakes casinos are licensed, be it in the U.S. or other jurisdictions. However, if you cannot find mentions of licensing or any regulatory authorities operating under U.S. sweepstakes laws, then it’s another red flag.
In most cases, this information is clearly disclosed on the website footer or under the FAQ or About Us sections. If you cannot find licensing or regulation information, then there’s absolutely no way to verify or validate whether the sweep site is legal. In this case, I suggest that you steer clear.
Mentions of deposit, real money, or withdrawals
Trusted sweepstakes platforms like
Stake.us casino, for example, operate using virtual currency. First and foremost, legitimate sweepstakes casinos mention that their site is free to play directly on the homepage. They’ll also announce their virtual currencies, like Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, from the onset.
If you come across words like deposit, withdraw, or real money, this is immediately a sign of an untrustworthy sweep site. You should keep an eye out for the terms “purchase” and “redeem.” If you find mentions of these, then the sweepstakes casino is on the right side of the law.
Confusing download process
We have reviewed dozens of sweepstakes casinos over the last few years. One of the first warning signs is sweep sites that require you to download additional software outside of the individual casino site. This means the sweep site is acting as a middleman, and you should be concerned about the safety of your information.
So, if you are prompted or pushed to download anything that is not from the Google Play or Apple App Store, it’s a red flag.
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Unfamiliar software providers
While there are many legitimate
new sweepstakes casino sites
offering casino slot games powered by lesser-known software developers, you still need to use your own judgment. Trustworthy sweep sites have hundreds of casino slot games powered by renowned gaming developers.
The only exception here is if the sweep casino offers in-house software. Some legitimate sweeps sites offering in-house games include High 5 Casino and Funzpoints. So, if the sweeps site has unfamiliar software developers and also raises other warning signs mentioned in this section, it’s a sign that you should steer clear.
Unknown or limited banking options
Legitimate sweepstakes casinos do not require you to make a deposit or purchase of any kind to start engaging on their site immediately. However, top-rated sweep sites give you the option to purchase Gold Coin packages at your own discretion.
When making purchases, you should look out for reliable and well-known payment methods like credit and debit cards, ewallets like Skrill, online banking transactions, and ACH payment options. Many well-known and legal sweep sites also give you the option to purchase Gold Coin packages via PayPal and Apple Pay. Some legitimate sites even accept cryptocurrencies.
Unclear or misleading terms and conditions
Sweepstakes casino terms and conditions are non-negotiable or in other words, compulsory. This is mainly due to the fact that T&Cs need to be transparent and straightforward so that you know exactly what you’re signing up for and how to claim cash prizes or gift cards, if available at the sweeps site.
If an unsafe sweepstakes casino does provide a section explaining terms and conditions, but you find that they are ambiguous or deliberately confusing, then this is yet another red flag. I would suggest that you do not sign up on a site like this, as the casino is clearly not prioritizing transparency and fair play.
Limited or no customer support
Every sweep site that is licensed, regulated, and operating under U.S. sweepstakes laws provides customer support to its members. If you come across limited or no customer service options, then it’s definitely one of the signs of an untrustworthy sweep casino.
While some sweep casinos provide just one or two customer service channels, others don’t provide any way to contact support at all. So, if you come across a site like this, it’s a clear indication that they do not care about player satisfaction and are also not prepared to take accountability for anything related to the usability or purpose of the site.
Conclusion: Don’t take the risk of playing at unsafe sweepstakes casinos!
Sweepstakes casinos provide a fun, enjoyable, and potentially rewarding way to enjoy your favorite casino games without spending your own money. However, you still need to do your due diligence and ensure that the sweepstakes casino is operating legally.
By making note of all the red flags to keep an eye out for, you can make an informed decision the next time you’re thinking of signing up for a sweepstakes casino.
Provided you don’t come across the above-mentioned flags, creating an account on a sweeps casino that rewards you with free virtual currency could end up being a great experience. So, keep these points in mind when searching for your next best sweepstakes gaming destination.
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