Online casino gaming has always been a big deal in the U.S., but the industry’s popularity has seen a massive resurgence over the past few years. This becomes increasingly evident as more and more states open their doors to virtual casinos. But what do you do if you live in a state that doesn’t have online casino gaming on its horizon for the distant future? The perfect solution is sweepstakes casinos.

If you haven’t heard of them before, sweepstakes casinos are an alternative to traditional, real-money online casinos. In fact, many iCasino enthusiasts would say that they aren’t merely an alternative but a bona fide casino gaming option in their own right.

These kinds of online casino platforms can provide countless hours of entertainment and net you tidy sums of winnings. But here are the two best things about sweepstakes casinos: they offer free gameplay, and you can still play sweepstakes online for money.

How Do Sweepstakes Casinos Work?

Sweepstakes Casinos utilize two different types of virtual currencies for their games: Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Gold Coins are for free gameplay. They are given freely through site promotions and giveaways, and they can also be purchased through the sweepstakes casino’s online store.

The other virtual currency, Sweeps Coins, cannot be purchased and can only be obtained through giveaways and promotions. They are also given as a bonus when players purchase a Gold Coin package.

For example, if you were to purchase a $10 Gold Coin package, you would be given a large number of Gold Coins; the specific amount depends on the sweepstakes casino at which you are playing. In addition to the Gold Coins, you would also receive 10 Sweeps Coins that can be used to play any of the sweepstakes casino’s numerous games.

So what sets these precious Sweeps Coins apart from Gold Coins? Sweeps Coins won through casino gameplay can be exchanged for some fabulous prizes, such as gift cards and cash prizes. They are typically redeemed at a rate of $1 USD per 1 Sweeps Coin.

Because Sweeps Coins themselves cannot be purchased and can only be received through gameplay, giveaways, and promotions, they are treated as sweepstakes entries. In fact, like actual mail-in sweepstakes contests that have been popular for decades, players at many sweepstakes casinos can mail handwritten requests for more Sweeps Coins entries, and they will be added to the player’s account freely.

Where Can You Play Sweepstakes Casinos?

Everywhere! Well, nearly everywhere. While traditional, real-money online casino legislation is moving at a snail’s pace, sweepstakes casinos are legal in 48 states across the U.S. The only states that do not permit sweepstakes casino gaming are Washington and Idaho.

Players in other states, however, can enjoy slot games and table games designed by some of the most respected software developers in the industry. Developers like NetEnt, Spinomenal, Microgaming, and Playtech design games for wildly popular online casino brands such as Caesars and BetMGM, and many of their most popular slot titles are available across a number of sweepstakes casino sites.

So, whether real-money online casinos are available or not, give sweepstakes casinos a spin. You’ll get the same great gameplay you’re used to from traditional casinos, you can still win cash prizes, and best of all, it’s free.