Sweepstakes casinos offer fun, free-to-play versions of classic games. But even without direct cash betting, play can become excessive – and sometimes harmful.
SweepCasinos is committed to keeping social gaming safe. That means reviewing platforms not just for entertainment value, but for how they protect their users. It also means helping you recognize risk, take control early, and find help if you need it.
We believe gaming should be fun – and that it should never take more than it gives.
Responsible gaming is about self-awareness, limits, and balance. It means knowing when to play, when to pause, and how to enjoy these platforms without letting them affect your finances, relationships, or peace of mind.
We only recommend sweepstakes platforms that:
Answering yes to any of the questions below could be a signal to take action:
If you answered yes to more than one, we recommend taking a break – or seeking support.
This self-assessment from the National Council on Problem Gambling is built for gambling behavior, but many of the patterns it checks – like chasing losses or hiding play – can show up in sweepstakes casino use too. That’s why we’re linking it here. It’s a useful checkpoint if you’re unsure about your habits.
You don’t need to hit rock bottom to need help. Early signs of compulsive behavior can include:
One sign doesn’t always mean there’s a problem. But several together? That’s a reason to step back.
If a sweepstakes casino doesn’t give you basic ways to manage your time, spending, or play habits, it doesn’t belong on our recommended list. We check every site for these tools before we consider it trustworthy. If they’re missing, broken, or hard to find – we call it out.
You should be able to set a weekly or monthly cap on how much you spend on virtual coin purchases.
Example: You go into your account settings and choose a $50 per week limit. Once you hit that, the option to buy more coins is disabled until the next cycle starts.
This tool lets you decide how much total value you’re willing to lose over a set time period.
Example: You set a 200 SC loss limit for the month. If you hit that threshold, the site stops all gameplay until the limit resets.
You can choose to be logged out automatically after a set period of active play.
Example: You set a session time-out of 60 minutes. Once that hour passes, you’re logged out and shown a prompt to take a break.
Timed reminders that notify you of how long you’ve been playing during a session.
Example: After 30 minutes of play, a pop-up appears saying, “You’ve been playing for 30 minutes – continue or log out?”
Temporary account locks that give you a break from play without deleting your account.
Example: You activate a 72-hour cool-off. During that time, you can’t log in, deposit, or receive promotional emails.
A longer-term or permanent option to block your own account from access.
Example: You request a 3-month exclusion. Your account is locked immediately, and the platform blocks any login attempts or account reactivations until the end of the period
If your sweepstakes play starts feeling like too much, you’re not alone – and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself. These support lines and tools are here to help, whether you’re just trying to stay on track or need serious support.
| Resource | What it is | How to reach it |
| National Problem Gambling Helpline | Free, 24/7, confidential support. Connects you to help in your state. | Call 1-800-GAMBLER or go to 1800gambler.net |
| Textline help | Get support by text if you’re not ready to talk. | Text 800GAM |
| Live online chat | Private chat with trained counselors. | Start chat |
| Gamblers Anonymous (GA) | In-person and virtual support groups. Peer-run and free. | Find meetings |
| GamAnon | Support for family and friends of those struggling with play. | Visit gam-anon.org |
| Tool | What it does | Try it here |
| Spend calculator | See how much you’ve really spent – week to week or month to month. | Use calculator |
| Blocking tools | Apps and browser extensions that stop you from accessing casino-style sites. | Gamblock or BetBlocker |
| Aftercare video | A simple video guide on staying in control after quitting. | Watch now |
Support looks different in every state. Some have dedicated councils, others use a national hotline.
Either way, help is available if you need it, for yourself or someone close to you.
Use the list below to find the right number. If your sweepstakes casino state isn’t listed, start with 1-800-GAMBLER. They’ll point you in the right direction.
| State | Local state resources | Problem gambling hotline |
| Alabama | Alabama Council on Compulsive Gambling | 334-277-5100 |
| Alaska | – | 1-800-GAMBLER |
| Arizona | Arizona Council on Compulsive Gambling | 480-802-4945 |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Problem Gambling Council | 501-403-2321 |
| California | California Council on Problem Gambling | 714-765-5804 |
| Colorado | Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado | 303-662-0772 |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling | 959-230-4034 |
| Delaware | Delaware Council on Gambling Problems | 888-850-8888
302-438-8888 |
| Florida | Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling | 888-ADMIT-IT
888-236-4848 |
| Georgia | – | 1-800-GAMBLER |
| Hawaii | – | 1-800-GAMBLER |
| Idaho | – | 1-800-GAMBLER |
| Illinois | – | 1-800-GAMBLER |
| Indiana | Indiana Council on Problem Gambling | 800-994-8448
317-632-1364 |
| Iowa | – | 1-800-GAMBLER |
| Kansas | Kansas Coalition on Problem Gambling | 785-266-8666 |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling | 502-223-1823 |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling | 1-877-770-STOP
318-227-0883 |
| Maine | Maine Council on Problem Gambling, Inc. | 207-520-0293 |
| Maryland | Maryland Council on Problem Gambling
Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling |
443-292-2809
667-214-2120 |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health | 1-800-327-5050
617-426-4554 |
| Michigan | Michigan Association on Problem Gambling | 800-270-7117
517-672-6904 |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling | 1-800-333-HOPE
612-424-8595 |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Council on Problem and Compulsive Gambling | 1-888-777-9696
601-853-8351 |
| Missouri | – | 1-800-GAMBLER |
| Montana | Montana Council on Problem Gambling | 888-900-9979
406-438-1276 |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling | 1-833-BETOVER
402-890-0504 |
| Nevada | Nevada Council on Problem Gambling | 702-369-9740 |
| New Hampshire | – | 603-724-1605 |
| New Jersey | Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey | 609-588-5515 |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Council on Problem Gambling
Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico |
1-888-696-2440
505-897-1000 |
| New York | New York Council on Problem Gambling | 1-877-8-HOPENY
518-867-4084 |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Council on Problem Gambling | 336-370-6952 |
| North Dakota | – | 1-800-GAMBLER |
| Ohio | The Problem Gambling Network of Ohio
Ohio Problem Gambling Online Resource Directory Ohio for Responsible Gambling |
1-800-589-9966
614-750-9899 |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Association on Problem Gambling and Gaming | 405-801-3329 |
| Oregon | Oregon Council on Problem Gambling | 1-877-MY-LIMIT
971-361-9333 |
| Pennsylvania | Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania, Inc. | 215-643-4542 |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Council on Problem Gambling | 401-499-2472
401-354-2877 |
| South Carolina | – | 1-800-GAMBLER |
| South Dakota | – | 1-800-GAMBLER |
| Tennessee | – | 1-800-GAMBLER |
| Texas | – | 1-800-GAMBLER |
| Utah | – | 1-800-GAMBLER |
| Vermont | – | 1-800-GAMBLER |
| Virginia | Virginia Council on Problem Gambling | 1-888-532-3500
804-827-0921 |
| Washington | Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling | 1-800-547-6133
360-352-6133 |
| West Virginia | – | 1-800-GAMBLER |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling | 1-800-GAMBLE-5
920-437-8888 |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Council on Problem Gambling | 307-620-2655 |
Sweepstakes games may look harmless, but they mimic real-money casino mechanics. That makes them risky for kids and teens.
Here’s how to help prevent access:
Remember: platforms are responsible for age checks at redemption. You are responsible for everything before that.
If playing isn’t fun anymore – stop. If you’re trying to get back time or value you lost – definitely stop. If you’ve already tried and can’t? That’s when help matters most.
We recommend:
Sweepstakes gaming should never take more from you than it gives.
At SweepCasinos, we’re committed to reviewing platforms through that lens. That’s why we include responsible gaming checks in every review. And it’s why we’ll always recommend tools, not just entertainment.
→ See our blacklist for sites that fail basic protections
→ Report a sweepstakes site if you’ve been affected
They can be. Even without real-money betting, they use many of the same psychological triggers. That’s why it’s important to use safety tools and take breaks.
Yes, operators on our list of U.S. sweepstakes casinos allow you to set timeouts and session caps and receive reminders while playing.
Cool-offs are temporary. Self-exclusion is a long-term lockout you can’t reverse early.
Use the platform’s exclusion tool, talk to someone you trust, and reach out to a support group like 1-800-GAMBLER.
