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Read any review of a sweepstakes casino, and you’re almost guaranteed to encounter two simple words: Playthrough requirement. To experienced players, the phrase is simple and easy to understand. To new players, it can be understandably off-putting or intimidating.
If you count yourself among those who don’t fully understand playthrough requirements and how to meet them, then this page is for you. We’ll cover all the basics, including what playthrough requirements are, how they impact your gameplay, how to meet them, and what to look for in sweepstakes casino terms. Consider this your one-stop shop for crucial information about playthrough requirements at sweepstake online casinos.
What are playthrough requirements?
In simple terms, a playthrough requirement is a rule that ensures you use any premium currency (aka Sweeps Coins, Sweepstakes Coins, SC, or similar) to play games at a sweepstakes casino before you can redeem them.
Playthrough requirements only apply to SC. Gold Coins are exempt because they aren’t redeemable for prizes, so there’s no requirement to use them.
Most sweepstakes casinos impose a playthrough requirement of 1x, meaning your Sweeps Coins become redeemable after you use them just once. At Sweepsy.com, we consider 1x the gold standard for playthrough requirements. Not every sweepstakes casino offers that, though. Some sites have a 3x playthrough, while others reserve the right to increase the playthrough requirement up to 20x or even higher.
Why do playthrough requirements exist?
From a sweepstakes casino’s perspective, playthrough requirements are a simple business practice.
By imposing a playthrough requirement and prohibiting redemption of SC until they are used at least once, sweepstakes and social casinos prevent players from simply redeeming their unplayed SC and never coming back. This makes the sweeps casino bonuses valuable to players (who can use the SC to enjoy games and possibly win) and the operator (who will only have to pay a redemption if the player wins).
There’s also a legal compliance aspect to playthrough requirements. Because sweepstakes casinos operate as sweepstakes (shocker, I know), they need to allow players to “enter” their sweepstakes. That takes the form of playing the casino-style games, with payouts acting as sweepstakes prizes.
Finally, there’s the simple fact that requiring SC play means players will stick around. Sweeps Coins are often given as free rewards alongside Gold Coin purchases, too, so they can encourage spending as well.
How to meet playthrough requirements: step-by-step
Here’s a quick guide to understanding and meeting playthrough requirements at sweepstakes casinos. The steps may be best deployed in a different order depending on your preferred site’s policies. Consider these good things to know, even if they don’t always apply in this exact order.
Confirm the playthrough requirement.
Some sweepstakes sites list it in their terms or FAQ. You can also ask customer support. Never assume you know the requirement until you see it in writing.Collect Sweeps Coins.
This step is a catch-all for any way you earn SC. Whether you get them through purchases, bonuses, tournaments, giveaways, or any other method, collecting SC is the starting point for meeting playthrough requirements.Verify your account early.
You can do this later if you choose, but getting verification done early will make redemptions faster once you’ve met playthrough requirements.Play your SC.
Make sure you play on eligible games, as some sites will restrict playthrough to certain types of games. We also recommend high-RTP and low volatility for the best chances, though wins are never guaranteed.Track your progress.
You need a minimum number of SC to redeem, and that threshold varies by sweepstakes site. You can usually see how many redeemable SC you have on the redemptions page.Redeem your prize.
Once you have played through enough SC and have at least the minimum redeemable amount, you can request a prize. You must have a verified account and be within an eligible state to do so.
Should you run into any issues with meeting or understanding playthrough requirements, contact your sweepstakes casino’s customer support channels.
Game recommendations for meeting playthrough requirements
All sweepstakes casino games are chance-based. While some, like blackjack, may have lower house edges due to player choice, there is always an advantage for the casino itself. For this reason, there are some games that are a better fit for meeting playthrough requirements. We encourage you to consider two main factors when deciding which game or games to play as you try to meet playthrough requirements.
Game restrictions
Outright game restrictions are relatively uncommon at sweepstakes casinos, but they do exist. How they work is simple. Some sweepstakes platforms will eliminate certain games from contributing to your playthrough requirement, effectively making it impossible to receive redeemable SC by playing them. Table games and live dealer games are the most common culprits, mostly due to their high RTPs and low house edges.
Again, these restrictions aren’t super common, but you should always check with a sweepstakes casino’s customer service team or read the terms and conditions to confirm which games contribute to playthrough requirements.
Slots: high RTP, low volatility
This section is the fun side of deciding which games to play. It mostly applies to slots. We recommend playing games that have a high Return To Player percentage (RTP) and low volatility. Here are quick definitions.
- RTP measures a slot game’s tendency to pay out wins over time. A slot with an RTP of 97.5% will tend to pay out 97.5 SC for each 100 played, for example. This is not a guarantee, but instead a mathematical trend built into the game. RTP is measured over hundreds and thousands of spins, so your individual outcomes will vary.
- Volatility measures a slot’s win size and frequency. Low volatility means wins will occur often but will be relatively small in size. Medium volatility means moderate wins with moderate frequency. High volatility slot games trend toward big but rare payouts.
If you’re trying to clear a playthrough requirement and redeem SC, you’ll want to emerge from a play session with as many redeemable SC as possible. That’s why high RTPs and low volatility are the best choices.
That said, you should also consider the fun factor. If you just like games with high volatility and get more enjoyment out of them, that’s worth something, too!
Follow our Sweepsy guides to learn more about slot volatility, and high RTP slots.
Typical playthrough requirements at sweepstakes casinos
There are a few things to know here. Each sweepstakes casino has its own rules about playthrough requirements.
First, the most common playthrough requirement is 1x. This means you can typically use SC just once before they become redeemable. This is the most widely used playthrough requirement and makes your journey from getting SC to redeeming wins the smoothest.
Some sweepstakes casinos add some layers to this or make their requirements higher. For example, you may see the occasional 3x playthrough requirement as a standard. Chanced Casino and Stake.us are among them. If you play at those sites, it’s best to know the requirements going in. You need to use each SC at least three times before they become redeemable, making it significantly harder to gain enough to redeem.
Finally, there are occasional terms and conditions that reserve a site the right to increase its playthrough requirement within a limit. LuckyLand, for example, reserves the right to impose up to a 20x requirement. These aren’t often enacted, but they can be used for specific promotions.
Common restrictions and terms to know
Let’s walk through a few of the most common terms associated with playthrough requirements.
| Win caps: | Some sweepstakes casinos will put an upper limit on the amount of redeemable SC you can gain when playing with free SC. This effectively makes purchasing the only way to continue redeeming. |
| Game restrictions: | As we covered above, certain sites restrict the games that contribute to your playthrough requirement. |
| Redemption limits: | Redemption thresholds are minimums set by the casino, and they determine when you can redeem. A common redemption minimum is 100 SC for cash prizes, but they vary by site. Some also have upper limits per day for redemptions. |
| Expiration: | Sweeps Coins can expire according to a social casino’s terms. Usually expirations kick in after 60 or more days of inactivity, but exact terms vary by site. |
Tips for meeting playthrough requirements responsibly
- Play low-volatility, high RTP slots:These can maximize your chances, but wins are never guaranteed.
- Check terms:Make sure you know the requirements and which games contribute to it before you start to play.
- Use free SC offers:You can get free SC from promotions, mail-in requests, and social media giveaways. These can help you meet playthrough requirements.
- Use RG tools:Most sites have specific responsible gaming tools to help you limit your play.
FAQ
A playthrough requirement of 1x means you need to play with your premium currency (Sweeps Coins or similar) before it becomes redeemable. In other words, you can’t redeem the SC you just received, but they become eligible for redemption once you’ve used them at least once in a game.
Yes. Some sweepstakes sites require 3x playthrough. These include Chanced, Punt, and Stake.us, but there may be others. Always check the terms and conditions at your chosen sweepstakes site to confirm the playthrough requirement.
No. Gold coins (or similar standard currencies) do not require playthrough because they aren’t redeemable. You play with them for fun and entertainment only.
This varies by sweepstakes casino. Some sites restrict live dealer or table games, while others may impose stricter prohibitions on the games that count toward playthrough. Generally speaking, slots are fair game, though there may be the occasional restriction on a specific game. Contact customer support or read the terms for more info here.
You can usually check on the redemptions page, and the sweepstakes casino will show you how many redeemable SC you have. The redeemable SC have been played and thus are eligible for redemption. “Unplayed” SC requires play before they’re redeemable.
The sweepstakes casino will simply tell you that redemption isn’t available if you try to do so early. Sites usually make this clear by showing you how many unplayed vs. redeemable SC you have.