Active player
A player who has logged in and participated in gameplay within the
past 30 days. Most platforms calculate daily login bonuses based on your active streak
status.
AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario)
Ontario's gambling regulator. Oversees licensed real-money casinos at
iGaming Ontario but has not issued specific rules for sweepstakes casinos as of March 2026.
Bankroll
Your total available coin balance — Gold Coins + Sweep Coins combined
— at any given time. Managing your bankroll helps extend play sessions and avoids depleting
redeemable SC.
BCLC (BC Lottery Corporation)
British Columbia's gaming regulator. Operates PlayNow.com for
real-money licensed gaming. Does not regulate sweepstakes casinos, which are separate from
its licensed framework.
Consideration
The legal term for "payment." Canadian law requires consideration +
chance + prize for an activity to qualify as illegal gambling. Sweepstakes casinos remove
consideration through the NPN rule.
Criminal Code Section 206
The federal Canadian law governing lotteries and games of chance.
Sweepstakes casinos argue they fall outside this section because the NPN alternative removes
"consideration." See our
Legal in Canada
page.
Daily bonus
Free Gold Coins and sometimes Sweep Coins distributed automatically
when you log in each day. Login streaks on some platforms (7-day, 30-day) trigger
increasingly generous bonuses.
Eligible game
A game where Sweep Coins can be wagered and winnings accumulate toward
redeemable SC totals. Not all games support SC play — check the filter in the lobby. Gold
Coins work across all games.
Free entry / NPN alternative
The mechanism by which Sweep Coins can be obtained without any
purchase — typically via postal mail request. This is the legal cornerstone of the
sweepstakes model. See also: No Purchase Necessary.
Gold Coins (GC)
Virtual play currency with no cash value. Can be obtained free (login
bonuses, NPN) or purchased in packages. Use GC for entertainment play. When GC run out,
reload them — they cannot be redeemed for prizes.
House edge
The statistical advantage the casino has over players, expressed as a
percentage. A house edge of 4% on a slot means the game pays out $96 for every $100 wagered
on average, over millions of spins.
iGaming Ontario (iGO)
The Ontario government's real-money online casino licensing market,
launched April 2022. Sweepstakes casinos are not iGO licensees — they operate under a
separate, unregulated promotional model.
KYC (Know Your Customer)
Identity verification required before your first SC redemption.
Submit: (1) government photo ID and (2) proof of Canadian address. Most platforms process
KYC within 1–3 business days.
Leaderboard tournament
A competition where players earn points based on their GC or SC play
volume, and the top players receive SC prizes. Entry is usually free. Crown Coin Casino's
Grand Tourney awards up to 5,000 SC weekly.
Live dealer
Real human dealers streamed via video, running blackjack, roulette,
and baccarat tables in real time. Available at Crown Coin Casino and WOW Vegas with Sweep
Coins on eligible live tables.
No Purchase Necessary (NPN)
The rule that allows anyone to enter the sweepstakes for free via mail
or another free method. Without a genuine NPN alternative, the sweepstakes model would be
classified as a lottery under Canadian and US law.
Progressive jackpot
A prize pool that grows with every wager on that slot across all
players. Some sweepstakes casinos offer jackpots redeemable in SC — Chumba Casino runs
progressive jackpots from its GC and SC pools simultaneously.
Redemption
The process of converting Sweep Coins into real monetary value,
delivered via Skrill, PayPal, bank transfer, or gift card. 1 SC = 1 USD. Minimum SC
required: 50–100 depending on the platform.
RNG (Random Number Generator)
The software engine that determines game outcomes. All legitimate
sweepstakes casino games use certified RNG tested by independent auditors (eCOGRA, GLI,
BMM). Ensures outcomes are random and not manipulated.
RTP (Return to Player)
The theoretical percentage of all wagers a game pays back over
millions of rounds. A 96% RTP slot returns $96 for every $100 wagered on average. Does not
predict individual session outcomes.
SC (Sweep Coins)
The promotional currency at sweepstakes casinos that can be redeemed
for real prizes. Cannot be purchased directly. Obtained free via NPN mail request, daily
login bonuses, or as a free bonus alongside GC packages. 1 SC = 1 USD at redemption.
Self-exclusion
A voluntary request to have your account suspended for a set period
(30 days to permanent). Available from all platform customer support teams. Also removes you
from promotional email lists.
Session limit
A player-set or platform-triggered time limit on each gaming session.
Most sweepstakes casinos allow you to set daily time reminders. Best configured before you
start playing, not during.
Skrill
The fastest SC payout method at most sweepstakes casinos for Canadian
players. Typical processing: 24 hours after KYC approval. CAD conversion happens at current
USD/CAD rate on the processing date.
Sweepstakes model
The legal framework that allows casino-style online gaming without a
traditional gambling licence, by ensuring no direct purchase of prize chances. Based on
1950s US promotional contest law. See
full explanation.
Terms of Service (T&Cs)
The binding agreement between you and the casino. Always read the
sections on: SC eligibility by province, redemption minimums and KYC requirements, NPN
eligibility, and self-exclusion procedures before registering.
VGW Holdings
Australian company that founded the sweepstakes casino industry.
Operates Chumba Casino (2012) and Global Poker (2016). Based in Perth, Western Australia,
with US and Canadian operations through US subsidiaries.
Volatility (slot)
Also called "variance." High-volatility slots pay large wins rarely;
low-volatility slots pay small wins more often. For SC play, low-volatility games extend
your redeemable balance more predictably.
Wagering requirement
A rarely used concept in sweepstakes casinos (unlike licensed
casinos). Some promotions require you to play GC or SC a certain number of times before the
bonus is credited. Always check before claiming a bonus.
Welcome bonus
The package of free GC and SC given at registration. Typical range:
50,000–200,000 GC and 1–5 SC. No purchase required to receive the welcome bonus — it is
triggered by email verification at registration.