Glossary

Plain-English definitions for the weird terms you’ll run into on these sites. Names and exact rules vary site to site — this glossary describes what’s typical.

Currencies

GC — Gold Coins. The play-money side of the account. Usually has no cash value on its own. You earn it through daily bonuses or buy it in bundles (the same bundles that come with the cashable side as a “free” bonus). On some sites GC also unlocks VIP tiers or extra promos on the cashable side. Names vary by site, but it’s always the play-money side.

SC — Sweep Coins. The redeemable side. On most platforms SC redeems for cash at roughly 1:1 — a few sites use a different rate, so always check the terms. Usually can’t be purchased directly: you receive SC as a free promotional bonus when you buy a GC pack, via daily/welcome bonuses, or via the alternative method of entry (mail-in postcard or social-media post). This is the only side that pays.

Bonus SC. SC granted as a promotional bonus (welcome, daily, promo). Almost always subject to playthrough before redemption.

Mechanics

Playthrough. A wagering requirement — you have to bet SC a certain number of times before it can be redeemed. Most sites use 1× playthrough; some bonus SC and some platforms apply 3× or higher; a few have stranger rules. Always check the specific terms. See the Playthrough Strategy guide.

RTP — Return To Player. The long-run percentage of wagered money returned to players. A 96% RTP slot returns ~$96 of every $100 bet, on average. Slots typically range 90–97%; table games like blackjack exceed 99%.

House edge. 100% minus RTP. The expected cost of clearing playthrough.

Variance. The statistical deviation between expected and actual outcomes over short timeframes. High variance means short-term results swing a lot even when the long-run math is settled.

Volatility. The distribution of payouts on a slot. Low-volatility slots pay frequent small wins; high-volatility slots pay rare big wins. Low volatility is what you want for playthrough.

Washing / Washer. Playing a low-RTP, low-volatility game specifically to satisfy playthrough at minimum cost. Converts locked SC into redeemable SC. “I washed 50 SC overnight.”

Crosswash. A low-risk way to clear the required wager: cover both sides of a bet (e.g., red and black on roulette, Banker and Player on baccarat, Big + Small + Any-Triple on Sic Bo) so that whichever side wins, your net loss is small and predictable. Same idea works on sports betting across two different sportsbooks. See the Crosswash Calculator.

Coin-pack discount. Most platforms periodically discount their GC packs by 30–60%. Buying at the deepest discount is the closest thing to +EV the buying side of sweepstakes offers.

Operations

KYC — Know Your Customer. Identity verification before redemption — typically a photo ID, sometimes a selfie or proof of address. The name on your casino account must match the name on your ID exactly.

AML — Anti-Money-Laundering. The legal regime KYC implements. Why redemptions get held when activity looks unusual.

Redemption. Cashing out SC. Methods include bank transfer (ACH), debit card, gift cards, or crypto. Some sites also offer Prizeout.

Redemption minimum. The smallest SC balance you can cash out. Usually $50–$100; some platforms allow $10–$25 via gift cards. Listed in the directory’s “Min Cashout” column.

VIP / Loyalty program. A tier system that unlocks better daily bonuses, faster redemptions, and bigger sale offers as you wager more. Usually grinded with GC, not SC.

Promoban. When a site quietly stops sending you promos because your play looks too profit-focused. Can range from cutting off your daily bonuses to closing the account outright. Common across the industry; the unwritten rule is to keep your activity looking normal.

Compliance / legal

Sweepstakes model. The legal structure that lets these sites operate in most US states. You’re entering a free-to-play promotional sweepstakes; the casino games are the format. From the player’s perspective they’re online casinos — the sweepstakes wrapper is what keeps them legal.

AMOE — Alternative Method of Entry. The free way to obtain SC that operators must offer to keep the legal model intact — usually a mail-in postcard or a social-media post. Tedious, but it’s the proof that you’re not “buying” SC.

Restricted state. A state where the platform won’t let you sign up or cash out. Common blockers vary by operator and shift over time — WA, ID, MI, NV, NY have all been on various block lists, and CA, TN, and WV tightened restrictions in 2025–2026.

Game-specific

Parlay sites (pick’em). A simpler kind of sports prediction — pick “more or less” on individual player stat props (e.g., “LeBron over 25.5 points”), combine multiple legs for multiplied payouts. Player-vs-house. Sites: PrizePicks, Underdog, ParlayPlay, Chalkboard. Increasingly under state-AG pressure.

DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports). Draft a roster of real players whose combined stats compete against other users in a contest pool. Player-vs-player. Regulated as fantasy sports — broadly legal in most states.

Sweeps sportsbook. A social sportsbook running on the same dual-currency model as sweeps casinos — bet sweep coins on real games, redeem winning SC for cash. Sites: Fliff, Sportzino, Rebet, Legendz, Stimi.

Live dealer. Streamed real-dealer table games — blackjack, baccarat, roulette, gameshow formats. Available on a minority of sweeps sites.

Provably fair. A cryptographic scheme (used by Stake) that lets you verify the randomness of each round wasn’t tampered with. Common on crypto-leaning casinos.

Slang

Degen. A player who treats sweepstakes casinos as entertainment gambling instead of a structured promo routine. Also used for individual high-risk plays by an otherwise disciplined player (“a degen spin”).

Dead spin. A slot spin that returns zero — no payout, not even a small one.

Grind. Sustained low-EV play to advance VIP or accumulate small daily wins.

Sister site. Two casinos run by the same parent operator (e.g., McLuck and Hello Millions). Sister sites often share KYC infrastructure and account locks.

Restricted account. When a platform freezes your account post-win — typically pending re-KYC or AML review. Usually resolved; sometimes not.