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Sweepstakes companies come in several shapes and sizes. And unsurprisingly, I’ve found that knowing which ones are best is often key to pinning-down the best possible sweeps gaming experiences.
In my many years of rating sweepstakes casinos, I’ve spotted a trend – the most prominent platforms tend to be powered by the same few overarching companies. In today’s guide, I’ll introduce you to who these firms are, their standout features, and why it’s important to know who you’re playing with before you get gaming.
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I’ve found that there are seven company names that crop-up time and again whenever I’m reviewing US sweepstakes casinos, and start doing a bit of research into who runs ‘em.
Those names are VGW, YSI, Playtika, Rush Street Interactive, B2services OU, High 5 Entertainment and Gold Coin Group. Though of course, all sweepstakes companies offer different kinds of sweepstakes gaming platforms, some have a better rep than others, and each tend to have their own specialisms game-wise.
As an example on that last point, while my recent Playtika review found that those guys (and YSI, for that matter) offer a lot of bingo-focussed gaming sites, companies like VGW and High 5 Entertainment tend to be a better bet if you’re more into, say, fruit machines.
I’ll explore what each big company has to offer in full in the next section, but for now, here are the main, must-know essentials about the seven:
| 🏛 Company | 🚀 Sweepstakes Casinos | 📅 Founded | ⚡ Subsidiaries | 📍 Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VGW |
| 2010 | OpenWager, Inc., Golden Feather Studios | 15-17 William Street, Level 11, Perth, Western Australia 6000, AU |
| YSI |
| 2019 | Ollieblox | 2 Irish Town, Gibraltar GX11 1AA, Gibraltar |
| Playtika |
| 2010 | Wooga, Youda Game, G.S Innplay Labs Ltd, Seriously Digital Entertainment, Jelly Button Games Ltd | Herzliya, 8 Hahoshlim St, Israel |
| Rush Street Interactive |
| 2012 | N/A | 900 N Michigan Ave, Chicago |
| B2services OU / B-Two Operations Limited |
| 2022 | N/A | 18-20 North Quay, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 4LE |
| High 5 Entertainment |
| 1995 | High 5 Games LLC | 2801 Centerville Road, Wilmington, DE 19808 |
| Gold Coin Group |
| 2023 | N/A | Gold Coin Group LLC, 2438 Industrial Blvd., Ste 681, Abilene, Texas 79605, United States |
Now, all the companies above pull the strings behind sweepstakes casinos – which, if you’re reading this, I’m sure you’ll know are virtual-coin-based gaming sites that offer just-for-fun games fueled by Gold Coins (GC), as well as more intense, Sweepstakes Coin (SC) powered games where your SC can be redeemed for real-world prizes.
But every sweepstakes parent company is a little different than the last. So, to help you guys get your heads around what each has to offer, here’s a mini VGW review, followed by a bit more information on all the other companies featured in my table. If you need to know more, feel free to click through to my more in-depth, individual guides to each firm’s offerings.
Sweepstakes companies love to roll with acronyms as their names. In VGW’s case, the firm’s moniker stands for “Virtual Gaming Worlds” – a name inspired by the fact that, as well as offering three super-fun online sweepstakes platforms, these guys also develop their very own games.
VGW’s been going since 2010, and through its Golden Feather Studios subsidiary, has produced such familiar titles as Stampede Fury and Gem Huntress. You’ll find these on VGW’s slots-based sweeps sites, Chumba Casino and LuckyLand – both of which also offer premium games from external major developers like Relax Gaming and Pragmatic Play, too.
If you’re into poker, VGW is also behind Global Poker – a popular brand that, to my knowledge, is the only 100% poker-focussed sweepstakes platform in the US right now.
The name “YSI” is short for “Yellow Street Interactive” – a brand perhaps best-known for its incredibly easy-to-use Pulsz and Pulsz Bingo sweepstakes gaming platforms.
Since 2019, YSI has striven to “redefine the social gaming landscape”, and I’d say it’s succeeded here, particularly when it comes to delivering fun, minimalist sweepstakes sites that are a doddle to use and navigate, but don’t compromise on things like game graphics or social media integration.
It’s one of my favorite sweepstakes companies around for this reason, as well as the fact that both its flagship sites – Pulsz and Pulsz Bingo – are available as iOS and Android apps. Believe you me; this is super-rare.
Some of Playtika’s sweepstakes brands – including House of Fun, Slotomania and Bingo Blitz – don’t really float my boat. But I decided to name Playtika on this list anyway, purely because there’s no denying it’s a prominent name in the field.
The company’s been going since 2010 and has grown considerably in recent years thanks to acquisitions aplenty (I’m looking at you, Youga Games and Wooga) and a handful of high-profile partnerships.
My personal gripe with Playtika, though, is as follows. Unlike the sweepstakes sites offered by YSI and other sweepstakes companies on this list, Playtika’s Bingo Blitz and other platforms tend to be more built-around mini games than serious sweepstakes tournaments. Some, including Slotomania, are a bit vague about their US state-level availability, too. My advice? If you like mini games, these sites might be for you. If you prefer classic sweepstakes slots and table games, you may want to look elsewhere.
Founded way back in 2012 and best-known as the father of such big names as BetRivers.net and SugarHouse Casino4Fun, Rush Street Interactive has a brand pedigree that really can’t be denied.
Unlike most of the other sweepstakes companies on this list, Rush Street is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Collectively, their sites boast more than 320,000 active users monthly, too – and are generally all very well-put-together platforms packed full of well-balanced, GC and SC-powered game selections.
At Betrivers.net, for example, you’ll find anything from classic slots like Pirate Plunder to state-of-the-art blackjack tables, while SugarHouse Casino4Fun sources most of its games from some of the best software houses in the biz, like NetEnt and Everi.
B2services OU, who invariably go by the name B-Two Operations Limited, run the likes of McLuck, Jackpota and Hello Millions – all of which are insanely good for new customer bonuses. 7,500 GC and 2.5 free SC with McLuck, anyone? 50,000 GC and 25 free bonus SC more with your first optional purchase? Yes please.
B2services OU might have only been going since 2022, but the company certainly knows a trick about high-quality sweepstakes gaming. The firm also runs up-and-coming sweepstakes casino site Scratchful, though it’s McLuck and HelloMillions that really do it for me, both of which offer exceptional bonuses and are available as iOS/Android apps.
Of all the online sweepstakes companies I’m reviewing today, High 5 Entertainment (sometimes referred to as “High 5 Games LLC”) is the longest in the tooth, having initially been founded back in 1995.
Surprisingly, these guys only actually run one sweepstakes brand – High 5 Casino – though that doesn’t mean the site doesn’t pack a punch. You see, this highly-rated sweeps platform boasts upwards of 30 million players, and has really aced it at EGR North America and other awards ceremonies in recent years.
The platform itself is a cinch to use – and it offers games from Pragmatic Play, IGT, and other big software names. In fact, High 5 Entertainment originally played a role in the initial launch of IGT classic Double Da Vinci Diamonds back in ’08. So, you know these guys mean business.
Gold Coin Group is yet another example of a sweepstakes company that’s stuck all its eggs in one basket when it comes to sweepstakes sites – though the brand’s solo offering, Chanced, is certainly not to be overlooked. Particularly if you’re into live dealer games.
With more than 500 sweepstakes-style games up for grabs, several of which are Beter Live-powered table games like Gravity Blackjack, where you can play alongside real-life dealers, Chanced is ideal for card sharks, and not half-bad for slots lovers, either.
Gold Coin Group itself has a solid reputation in the sweeps field, while Chanced is currently legally available in an above-average 45 US states.
Here in the US, virtual-coin-powered sweepstakes casinos that have no purchase requirement don’t require state-level US licenses, and are usually legally available in most US states besides WA, ID and NV.
This is of course great news if, after reading my YSI review and other sweepstakes company write-ups, you want to enjoy free-to-play slots, tables or bingo legally in your area. However, it also comes with an obvious downside – and that’s that dubious companies offering questionable games with vague state-level rules aren’t unknown.
Naturally, this makes knowing how to spot trustworthy sweepstakes companies and gaming sites absolutely essential. If you’re in any way unclear on what you ought to be looking for, here’s a handy checklist:
Always Google how long a sweepstakes company’s been going for, whether they’re NYSE-listed, have any prominent accreditations and awards, and the like. If they’ve an app, check Google Play and App Store ratings. If not, look to TrustPilot. And don’t forget, I offer in-depth reviews of sweepstakes sites right here on my site, too – and I’ll only ever recommend fully-trusted brands.
While US sweepstakes rules generally define sweepstakes sites as being legally available everywhere bar WA, NV and ID, different sweepstakes companies and casinos set their own rules. So, dig into their T&Cs to confirm they’re definitely accepting players from your area before registering. If a site’s not 100% clear about this, it might not be legit.
Last but not least, reputable sweepstakes casinos run by trusted companies should offer fair games and bonuses – just like those I talked about recently in my Rush Street Interactive review. It’s important to check that individual sweepstakes sites are using Random Number Generators (RNG) behind their games, and that said games are playable without any purchase requirement. This means the site should offer free GC/SC bonuses with clear-cut T&Cs.
Sweepstakes casinos are massively taking off in the US, but amid all the hype, it’s important to think carefully about which sites you play with before you start putting down your next stack of GC or SC on your favorite slot.
Companies like VGW, YSI, Rush Street Interactive, B2services OU and High 5 Entertainment all have the brand reputation, highly-rated sweepstakes gaming subsidiaries and company credentials to cut the mustard, but I’d advise approaching lesser-known brands with caution.
Remember, it’s absolutely essential you only ever play at sweepstakes sites that are legally accessible in your state, and run by reputable company names you can trust. To discover the hottest sweepstakes casinos available in your region, check out my site banners and reviews today.
If you’re looking at individual sweepstakes sites, check that they’re accepting players from your state, their games are RNG-backed, and their site is SSL-secure and supports trusted payment options. When looking at sweepstakes companies, however, it’s important to do a bit of background research on the company in question’s reputation.
Powering three prominent sweepstakes brands and boasting a hard-to-beat rep, I’m a big fan of Rush Street Interactive – though VGW, YSI and High 5 Entertainment might offer gaming platforms that better suit your personal game preferences.
Absolutely not. All legit US sweepstakes sites should offer games that are playable without a purchase requirement – so look out for free GC/SC offers and bonuses.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
