About Us

stayteen.org exists to help people make sense of sweepstakes and social casinos: how they work, what makes one platform different from another, and what to check before creating an account. This page explains what we do, how we approach the subject, and what we don't do.

What we cover

Sweepstakes casinos are online gaming platforms that let players enjoy slots, table games and other casino-style titles through a promotional sweepstakes model rather than traditional real-money wagering. That distinction matters, and it's the thread running through everything we publish.

Most platforms in this space run on two forms of virtual currency. Gold Coins (or an equivalent) are used for play-money entertainment and typically can't be redeemed for anything. Sweepstakes Coins (or an equivalent) are the promotional currency that, on many platforms, can potentially be redeemed for cash prizes or gift cards once a player meets the site's minimum threshold and completes identity verification. We try to explain this dual-currency structure clearly on every page where it's relevant, rather than assuming readers already know how it works.

We also cover the practical side: welcome offers and daily free rewards, the size and variety of game libraries, seasonal promotions and tournaments, loyalty perks, and the no-purchase route that most legitimate operators are required to offer alongside any paid coin packages.

How we assess sweepstakes casino sites

When we look at a platform, we're weighing the same things a careful player would want to know before signing up:

• How the Gold Coin and Sweepstakes Coin systems are structured, and what the terms say about redemption
• Whether a genuine no-purchase method of entry is offered and how easy it is to find
• The range of games on offer, including slots, table games and any live-dealer or specialty titles
• Daily login rewards, loyalty programmes and recurring promotions
• Stated eligibility rules, including age requirements and any states an operator excludes
• What's disclosed about identity verification, redemption thresholds and processing

We rely on publicly available information from operators' own sites and terms pages, along with general research into how the sweepstakes model works in practice. We don't claim to have deposited, played or redeemed on any platform we mention, and we're not in a position to verify every operational detail in real time — terms, promotions and state availability change, sometimes without much notice, so we'd always encourage a reader to confirm current details directly with the operator before signing up.

Why state-by-state availability matters so much here

Unlike a single federal gambling framework, sweepstakes casinos sit in a patchwork of state-level laws and operator decisions. Some states allow most operators to sign up residents. Others have introduced restrictions or taken enforcement action, and operators frequently choose, on their own, not to serve certain states because of legal risk rather than any single nationwide rule. This is why we never describe a platform as legal everywhere, or imply that availability is guaranteed nationwide — it isn't, and it can change. If a reader is unsure whether a platform serves their state, the operator's own terms and eligible-states list is the place to check, not a general assumption based on where a friend plays.

What "no purchase necessary" actually means

A defining feature of a legitimate sweepstakes casino is that spending money is never required to participate or to have a chance at a prize. Reputable operators offer an alternative method of entry — often a free way to request Sweepstakes Coins by mail or through the app — alongside any paid Gold Coin packages. This is part of what separates the sweepstakes promotional model from traditional online gambling. We flag this on the pages where it's relevant because it's easy for the paid packages to be the most visible option on a site, even when they aren't the only one.

Age requirements and who this content is for

Everything we publish is written for adults. Most operators set a minimum age of 18 to open an account, though some require players to be 21 or older, either across the board or in specific states. This content is not intended for, and should not be accessed by, anyone under the applicable legal age in their state.

Money, prizes and taxes

Where a platform allows Sweepstakes Coins to be redeemed, that process usually comes with conditions: a minimum redemption threshold, identity verification through a government-issued photo ID and sometimes proof of address, and processing that isn't instant. We try to lay these conditions out plainly rather than suggesting that redemption is quick or guaranteed. Prize redemptions may also be taxable under federal and state rules, and it's worth keeping records of any redemptions and checking official guidance or a tax professional if there's uncertainty. We don't offer tax or legal advice ourselves.

What we don't do

• We don't call sweepstakes casinos "real-money casinos" or describe play as "betting real money" — the sweepstakes model works differently from licensed real-money gambling, and we try to keep that distinction clear
• We don't suggest that winning is likely, guaranteed, or that any game can be "beaten"
• We don't claim a platform holds a specific licence or is legal in every state
• We don't present redemption as instant or unconditional
• We don't compare sweepstakes platforms as if they were identical to regulated, licensed real-money casinos — the legal framework, licensing and consumer protections differ, and those differences matter

A note on responsible play

Casino-style games involve chance, and outcomes are never guaranteed, whether or not real money is involved. If gaming stops feeling fun, or starts affecting time, money or relationships, our Responsible Gambling page has resources worth reading.

Getting in touch

If you spot something on the site that looks out of date, or you have a question about how we cover a particular topic, our Contact Us page has the details for reaching out. Our Terms and Conditions page sets out how the site itself operates, including how we may be compensated by operators — that relationship never determines what we write or how we describe a platform's strengths and drawbacks.