Glossary of Sweepstakes Casino Terms

• GC is play money; SC is the currency you redeem for cash
• Playthrough, RTP, and washing are the three terms that decide whether you profit

Every term you'll hit on casino sites, in our Discord, and around the community, in plain language. Put them to work with the profit tracker.

Degen

Short for "degenerate": playing for the thrill rather than strategic profit. Not necessarily an insult; "degen spins" is a disciplined player taking a high-risk shot on a volatile game.

Gold Coins (GC)

The play-money currency. Awarded as daily bonuses and sold in every coin pack. No cash value, though some sites count GC play toward VIP level, which unlocks better sales.

KYC (Know Your Customer)

Identity verification (government ID, sometimes proof of address) required before any redemption. Every legitimate site requires it; do it before you need it.

Playthrough

The number of times SC must be wagered before it can be redeemed. Most sites require 1x, some 3x or more on promotions. While playing through, expect to lose the house edge of your game: 1,000 SC through a 99% RTP game costs about 10 SC. The casino list shows each site's requirement, and the Playthrough Strategy guide covers clearing it cheaply.

Promoban

When a site notices you consistently profiting and cuts your access to sales and promotions. Ranges from no-sales to purchase restrictions; full closures are rare. A rite of passage.

Redeem / Redemption

Converting playthrough-cleared SC to cash, after KYC. Review periods range from hours to weeks by site; the casino list includes known times.

Redemption Minimum

The smallest balance you can cash out, typically $50 or $100, sometimes $10-$25 via gift cards.

RTP (Return to Player)

The percentage of wagered money a game returns over a huge sample. Most slots run 90-97%; blackjack can exceed 99% with perfect play. Higher RTP means cheaper playthrough.

Sales and Promotions

Discounted coin packs, usually advertised as "% bonus SC" or "% off", and the main way disciplined players profit. Sales often carry higher playthrough, so check terms. See the Sales Strategy guide for the math.

Sweeps Coins (SC)

The redeemable currency. Never sold directly: given away in promotions or included free with GC purchases, which is what keeps the model legal.

Sweepstakes Casino

An online casino that sells GC and includes SC free, avoiding gambling regulation by operating under U.S. sweepstakes law (hence the "no purchase necessary" disclaimers and mail-in SC claims). New? Start with Getting Started.

Variance

The gap between expected and actual outcomes, i.e. luck. You can do everything right and still run bad short term; it cuts both ways and evens out over volume.

VIP System

Tiered programs where higher levels unlock better sales and bonuses. Some sites level you on GC play, others SC only; the casino list notes which.

Volatility

How a slot's payouts are distributed. Low volatility pays small and often (max wins around 500x); high volatility pays rarely but big (5,000x+). Same RTP can feel completely different. Strategic players stay low.

Washing / Washer

Playing low-volatility, high-RTP games purely to meet playthrough, converting unredeemable SC into redeemable SC while losing as little as possible. The core profit mechanic. Common wash games: blackjack, plinko, and slots like Epic Joker.

See which casinos have the best wash games and lowest playthrough on the casino list, and track your own numbers in the profit tracker.

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Last updated: 2026-08-03. Written by Greenie. Term missing? Ping us in the SweepsCoinTracker Discord.

Sweepstakes casinos involve risk. Play with money you can afford to lose.