You might often think of North Carolina as the “State of Beaches”, but the Tar Heel State isn’t just about arts and culture. It’s also home to some top casinos with thousands of thrilling games that rock the world of adventure. But guess what? I am not talking about the conventional brick-and-mortar, traditional casinos. Sweepstakes casinos have emerged as cool alternatives to play online without leaving the comfort of your home!
Just like regular casinos, sweepstakes casinos offer slots and table games. But here’s the twist: instead of using real money to play, you use virtual currency to have fun. No wonder sweepstakes casinos are getting popular with millions of Americans entering sweepstakes contests annually. But hey, with so many options, it can be tough to find the best ones. That’s why this guide with the best and safest platforms with hefty offerings exists.
Get ready to explore the best social and sweepstakes casinos in North Carolina, including the games they offer and the gambling laws binding them. Let’s dive right in!
Best NC Online Sweepstakes Casinos
Is Online Gambling Legal in North Carolina?
Let’s start out with the legal stuff first so you know how far you can go. North Carolina has weaved its own gambling laws distinct from what’s obtainable in other states. While some places like New Jersey permit online casino gambling, North Carolina doesn’t regulate online gambling. So that implies that there are no legal online casinos in the state, and the state hasn’t progressed with a gambling bill yet. But don’t fret yet.
Now, your next thought might be offshore casinos. You can go that way, but be careful! There are shady operators out there looking to take advantage of unsuspecting players. To stay safe and have a good time, consider going for sweepstakes casinos instead — they are completely virtual and no-risk. Another likely question popping up on your mind right now should be: since sweepstakes casinos are also online casinos, are they not illegal too? Smart question! The next section will answer that question.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in North Carolina?
Yes, they are! Sweepstakes casinos are totally legit and legal in North Carolina. And they don’t just introduce you to a legal world of fun, they offer you a unique way to enjoy online casino games. Think of them as walking into an imaginary world where you use virtual currencies to get different perks; it’s technically called a “sweepstakes model” and it allows you to play with virtual currencies called sweeps coins and gold coins or another casino-specific currency. Since these coins don’t have real monetary value, it’s all above board and legal.
Here’s the fun part: you can still win real cash prizes by exchanging your sweeps coins for cash or other prizes! It’s like playing with real money without the risks. And the best part is, the legal gambling age for sweepstakes casinos is just 18 years old, which is pretty lenient compared to some other states where it’s 21.
Top 5 NC Sweepstakes Casinos Online
Since we’ve trumped the legality question, the next question on your mind should be: are they all secure and reliable? As the saying goes, there are always a few wolves in sheep’s clothing; so like anything else online, there are a few shady sweepstakes sites out there.
To stay safe and enjoy the best experience, I always recommend checking if their payment methods are secure and trustworthy. Also, take a look at the game selection and the bonuses they offer. The best ones will have a wide variety of games, including slots, live casino games, and even cool stuff like fish table games or keno.
🥇WOW Vegas Casino
WOW Vegas Casino lives up to its name, offering over 400 Vegas-style games, including slots, roulette, blackjack, and poker. Great, right? But you are likely wondering if they have extra perks for both newbies and experienced players.
When you sign up, you get a massive bonus of 4.5 Sweeps Coins and 8,500 WOW Coins! Once you become a regular, you’ll be greeted with a daily login bonus of 1 SC + 5,000 WC and many other promos like reload bonuses, referral bonuses, VIP programs, and more. Plus, the website is super user-friendly, and they’ve got customer service available 24/7 to help you out if you get confused while on your thrilling adventure.
🥈Fortune Coins Casino
The beauty of Fortune Coins Casino is that it boasts an impressive game collection. Players can take their pick from over 170+ slots, table games, fish games, and more from top-notch developers like Pragmatic Play and Blazesoft, boasting exciting gameplay and high-end graphics.
So, what’s the extra big deal about playing at this casino? Well, by signing up using our link, you can grab 360,000 Gold Coins and 1,200 Fortune Coins. You get more promotions the more you play – daily free sweeps coins, refer-a-friend bonus, and even social media contests and tournaments where you can compete to top off your account.
🥉Stake.us Casino
Stake.us is renowned for its sleek and dark theme, but beyond beauty, its mobile platform is just as smooth. You can enjoy over 400+ games, including slots, table games, live casino titles, and scratch cards from providers like Pragmatic Play and Hacksaw Gaming.
Registering qualifies you for 10,000 Gold Coins and 1 Stake Cash. There are also additional promotions like a mail-in bonus that will bring you 5 SC or a daily login offer of 1 SC and 10,000 GC, plus a VIP scheme, daily giveaways, battles, contests, and more. What’s great about Stake.us is the ability to use cryptocurrencies to make purchases (but only if you want to).
🎖️Pulsz Casino
Pulsz Casino is not only user-friendly and allows players to access games on both their iOS and Android devices, but also caters for more than 500+ games from top developers like NetEnt, Playson, Pragmatic Play, and Bgaming, among others. The fun is guaranteed and so is the welcome bonus of 2.3 free Sweepstakes Coins and 5,000 Gold Coins.
If you’re interested in upping the ante, you can either purchase more coins or log in every day for a chance to claim 1 SC or enter one of many contests and tournaments Pulsz offers. There’s also a VIP program that regulars can look forward to.
🏅Sweeptastic Casino
Whether you enjoy slots or games of skill like poker, you’ll definitely find something in the Sweepstatic Casinos collection to interest you. With a user-friendly interface and over 1,000+ games, Sweeptastic stands as one of the best social casinos despite being a new platform.
But it’s not just about the games, there are some perks too. As a new player, you get 27,777 Lucky Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins for completing your profile. There are first-purchase bonuses available at discounted prices if you’re into that. What’s more, you can rely on cryptocurrencies to make your purchase. There are also regular promotions that will keep you busy for days.
Sweepstakes Casino Games
Alright, it’s time to continue our journey into the deep sea of sweepstakes casino games. If sweepstakes casinos were cars, the games are definitely like fully-equipped engines that keep them running.
Specifically, sweepstakes casinos offer a variety of games similar to traditional NC online casinos. The only difference is that you play with Sweeps Coins or free Gold Coins instead of real cash. Some platforms have their own in-house games, while others partner with top developers like Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, and BGaming.
We’ve scoped out some of the awesome game categories to give you a live taste of sweepstakes casinos.
Sweepstakes Slots
Sweepstakes slots is one category that’s seriously booming! With its engaging and thrilling gaming experience, it offers players the chance to win exciting prizes. They feature various themes, ranging from classic fruit machines to ancient civilizations and fantasy.
Sweepstakes slots have pay lines and bonus features like free spins and multipliers, adding to the fun and potential for big wins. Some have progressive jackpots where the potential prize keeps growing until a lucky player triggers it.
As I noted earlier, many platforms have in-house games. However, some sites like Stake.us and Sweeptastic partner with big-name developers like Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, and BGaming.
Table Games
Dust off your gaming hands, because sweepstakes table games will amaze you with an authentic and immersive experience — especially if you enjoy classic gambling action. North Carolina online casinos might be years away, but you can join the table and card game right now.
I found a decent selection of popular variants on these gaming sites, including:
- Blackjack: Simply put, blackjack is a card game where the objective is to beat the dealer’s hand without exceeding 21.
- Poker: Various sweepstakes poker games, such as Texas Hold’em and Omaha, offer players a chance to showcase their strategic skills and compete against others.
- Roulette: A classic casino game where players bet on the outcome of a spinning wheel, with options to wager on specific numbers, color, or groups of numbers.
- Baccarat: This is a simple and elegant card game where players bet on the banker’s or player’s hand to have a total value closest to nine.
- Craps: A dice game where players place bets on the outcome of a roll or series of rolls.
- Pai Gow Poker: A poker variant where players create two poker hands, one with five cards and the other with two cards, to beat the dealer’s hands.
But wait, you should know that when you play casino games online on these platforms, your rewards are usually smaller than what you get from conventional casinos. Regardless, these titles are designed to replicate the excitement and dynamics of traditional casino gaming. Not to mention, they often include realistic graphics, smooth gameplay, and user-friendly interfaces, ensuring seamless and enjoyable gaming sessions.
Fish Games
A major glue for players to NC social gaming sites is the availability of fish table games. These options aren’t available on offshore North Carolina online casino platforms and no legal casino is allowed to implement them either.
Meanwhile, you get an impressive collection at top social and sweepstakes casinos – Mermaid Hunter, Three-Headed Dragon, and King Octopus are just some of the titles available at Fortune Coins.
And that’s not all. Their gameplay is significantly different from other popular casino games. Instead of betting on spinning wheels or card values, you aim to shoot fish with an underwater cannon. Basically, the more hits you have, the better your rewards. Each fish type also has its own value; aim for higher valued fish to get better prizes.
Live Casino Games
Are you seeking a more immersive and interactive gaming session, then opt for live casino games. Unfortunately, these options are somewhat limited at North Carolina sweepstake sites. In fact, only a few platforms, such as Stake.us and H5C, offer some live gaming options from providers like Evolution.
If you do find live dealer games at your preferred gaming sites, you’ll discover that they have the same gameplay as those in conventional casinos. You play with actual people and place bets in real-time. Live casino games are compatible with mobile devices, allowing you to enjoy them on the go.
Best Bonuses & Promotions for North Carolina Players
Well, the fact that you don’t engage in real money gambling doesn’t mean you don’t get freebies at sweepstakes casinos. On the contrary, they have an abundance of promotions and bonuses for both new & old players. New customers can get started by claiming welcome offers, while loyal users can take advantage of other deals.
Here is an overview of the welcome offers at my recommended social casinos:
| 🎰Sweepstake Casino | 🎁No Deposit Bonus |
|---|---|
| WOW Vegas | 4.5 Sweeps Coins + 8,500 WOW Coins over 3 days |
| Fortune Coins | 360,000 Gold Coins + 1200 Fortune Coins |
| Stake.us | 10,000 Gold Coins + 1 Stake of Cash |
| Pulsz Casino | 2.3 free Sweepstakes Coins and 5,000 Gold Coins |
| Sweeptastic Casino | 27,777 LC + 10 SC for completing profile |
After playing through the sign-up offer, players have other promotions to take advantage of. These could come in the form of daily login bonuses, raffle draws, referral deals, and prize wheel promotions. You can boost your coin roll by making purchases, but it’s possible to play casino games on social platforms without ever spending a dime.
Such hefty offers will never be available at brick-and-mortar casinos in NC or real money NC gambling sites.
Online Purchases & Cash Redemptions
Here’s the deal with purchases and cash redemptions at sweepstakes casinos. While regular online casinos have straightforward deposit and withdrawal methods, sweepstakes casinos have their own unique system due to legal reasons.
When you want to play with virtual currencies, you can purchase gold coins. But remember, this is completely optional, and you can enjoy sweepstakes casinos without spending anything.
Now, here’s the fun part: you can redeem sweeps coins for real cash prizes! It’s like turning your virtual winnings into real money. And the process is pretty simple. Play games until you have enough sweeps coins, then go to the account section and choose “Cash Redemptions.” Enter the number of coins you want to redeem, select your payment method and boom! You’ll get the real money equivalent in your account.
One sweeps coin is usually equivalent to one dollar, but it may vary from one platform to another. Always check the specific rules of the sweepstakes casino you’re playing at.
Coin Purchases
If you are looking to purchase coins for playing casino games, know that it’s strictly optional. With the number of promotions social gaming platforms offer, you can participate without buying virtual currencies. But if you opt for purchases, you still get to choose a suitable package.
The exact deal available depends on the site you are playing at. At Sweeptatstic, for instance, the “Get Coins” section offers this:
- 25,000 Lucky Coins and 25 free Sweeps Coins for $17 (discounted price)
- 45,000 Lucky Coins and 45 free Sweeps Coins for $29 (discounted price)
- 50,000 Lucky Coins and 50 free Sweeps Coins for $50
Depending on your preferred platform and budget, you can start off with any of their packages when you click on the “Get Coins” section.
Cash Redemptions
Gold coins might not seem like the real deal when you wish to make some real cash at sweepstakes casinos, but the same cannot be said for sweeps coins. Players can redeem the latter for real cash, so they can turn virtual winnings into tangible rewards. Sounds great, right? Let me teach you how to do it.
Making cash redemptions at most sweepstakes sites is relatively straightforward. But here are the steps to usually follow:
- Play Sweepstakes Games: First, register and play games within the sweepstakes casino using virtual coins. Continue until you accumulate the minimum number of sweeps coins you can redeem.
- Access Cash Redemptions: Afterwards, navigate to the account section and locate the “Cash Redemptions” option.
- Choose the Amount: Next, enter the number of coins you wish to convert into real money.
- Select Payment Method: Choose a payment method (or gift card option if available) through which you would like to receive your cash prize.
- Await the Money: After completing the cash redemption process, the sweepstakes platform processes the request. And soon after you’ll get your desired cashout.
Now that you have a clear picture of how to get some real cash, it’s important to note that the exchange rate for coins to real money may vary from one platform to another. Typically, one sweeps coin is equivalent to one dollar, but this can differ based on the specific sweepstakes casino’s policies.
Payment Methods
Let’s shift our focus a bit and look closer at the payment methods available on sweepstakes casinos. I already noted that there are no deposit methods you can use to fund your social casino account directly. Likewise, you don’t withdraw cash since you’re not playing real money games. However, you need to pay when making gold coin purchases, and the same applies to coin redemption.
To that effect, social NC casino sites support various payment methods for transactions. these include:
- Debit and credit cards: One of the most popular options even at the best online casinos; these methods allow for easy and smooth payments. Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are the most common debit and credit cards for US players.
- E-wallets: Payments via these methods are faster and safer. Popular electronic wallets these casinos support are Skrill, Neteller, and PayPal.
- Cryptocurrencies: If you prefer the anonymity and faster processing of digital money, you can use cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum are just a few options you can use.
How to Sign Up at Online Sweepstakes Casinos in North Carolina
The silver lining in all this knowledge I’ve shared with you lies in the fact that you can have access to the casino’s offerings only after creating an account.
It is very easy and takes only a few minutes to complete the process. Though the exact registration steps vary across platforms, but these are the basic steps I followed:
- Visit the gaming site using a computer or smartphone.
- Click on the register or sign-up button. Some sites allow you to create an account via social media networks like Facebook.
- Enter the necessary details, which can include your email address, full, name, phone number, and date of birth.
- Enter your promo code if you have one.
- Accept the site’s terms and conditions.
- Verify your phone number.
- Once your account is live, you get a welcome bonus immediately. Isn’t that exciting?
Pros and Cons of Sweepstakes and NC Online Casinos
Let’s do some quick analogies here. It is true North Carolina currently imposes restrictions on online casinos, however, sweepstakes casinos are flourishing due to its legality and fun approach to gaming. As the activities of online gambling evolve across the US, these regulations might change, but for now, sweepstakes sites are gaining popularity because of their sweet offers an array of promotions.
For starters, players will enjoy extensive free play options and a wide array of promotions at social casinos. The good thing about these platforms lies in the chance to enjoy casino-style gaming without using real money. Instead, you dive into thrilling games using virtual currencies like sweeps coins or gold coins. If you can accumulate enough sweeps coins, you can turn them into real money and withdraw them.
The fact that you can earn money from playing at these sites blurs the line between sweepstakes and real-money online casinos. Plus, sweepstakes platforms have an impressive selection of games similar to those found on leading real-money gambling platforms. Nevertheless, there are a few downsides to social gaming sites.
Here are the key pros and cons to consider:
| ✅NC Sweepstakes Casinos Pros | ❌NC Sweepstakes Casinos Cons |
|---|---|
| Legal and accessible in North Carolina | Complicated process compared to real money casinos |
| Extensive free-play possibilities | Limited number of live casino games |
| Unique options like fish table games | |
| Abundance of ongoing promotions |
North Carolina Online Gambling Laws
Unlike New Jersey and other US states that have embraced gambling activities, North Carolina is quite strict. For instance, the ban on sports betting in the US was lifted in 2018, but it wasn’t until 2023 that Governor Roy Cooper legalized sportsbooks. However, mobile sportsbooks are still prohibited.
The state doesn’t permit commercial land-based casinos within its borders. Players who want to enjoy the social aspect of gambling can do so at one of three tribal casinos. These include Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Hotel & Casino in Murphy, and the Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain.
Sweepstakes casinos are much easier to join from the state, and offer way better services. So, you can enjoy the thrill of casino gaming on these platforms without worrying about legal consequences.
Internet Sweepstakes Cafes North Carolina
You probably didn’t know about this option but you can play sweepstakes physically too. Internet sweepstakes cafes offer a unique brick-and-mortar gaming experience, catering to players who enjoy the excitement of playing in a physical location. You’ll find them in storefronts, gas stations, and convenience stores across several locations. Some of them are:
- Good Luck Sweepstakes (Wilson, NC)
- Internet Sweepstakes Cafe (Salisbury, NC)
- Xtech Internet Cafe Sweepstakes (Goldsboro, NC)
While real-life sessions are enjoyable, I discovered that online alternatives offer additional benefits. Platforms like Sweeptastic Casino, Pulsz, or WOW Vegas Casino provide players with a more diverse and enriching experience of making more money with mouth-watering advantages. These online sweepstakes sites typically offer a wider variety of games and the convenience of playing from the comfort of one’s own home.
FAQs
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What is the minimum age limit for playing at sweepstakes casinos in NC?You must be at least 18 years old to play at online sweepstakes casinos in North Carolina.
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Are social casinos legal in North Carolina?Social and sweepstakes casinos are legal in the state because they are not considered real-money gambling sites. This is because players use virtual currencies to play games.
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Can I play for free at sweepstakes casinos?You can play for free at these sites. Sweepstakes casinos offer free sweeps coins and gold coins that allow you to enjoy free gameplay, but purchases are also supported.
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Are there real money prizes at social casinos?You can make real money playing at social and sweepstakes casinos. To do so, you earn sweeps coins, which you then play and can convert any winnings to actual money.
