About Us
Sweepstakes Casinos at mylittleponynews.com is an independent comparison site dedicated to helping US players understand the sweepstakes casino landscape — what it is, how it works legally, and which platforms are worth their time. This page explains who is behind the site, how our editorial process works, and what you can expect from every review and ranking we publish.
Who We Are
The site is led by Folake Adeyemi, a researcher and editor with a focus on US digital entertainment and consumer finance. Folake oversees editorial standards, verifies the accuracy of platform details before publication, and ensures that every piece of copy on the site reflects the sweepstakes model fairly and honestly — without overstating what any platform offers or understating its limitations.
We are a small, focused team. We do not employ celebrity endorsers or anonymous reviewers. Every editorial decision is traceable to a named contributor, and our fact-check dates are published openly on each page so you can see exactly when information was last verified.
What This Site Covers
Our focus is the sweepstakes casino model as it operates in the United States. These are online platforms that let players enjoy casino-style games — slots, card games, table games and more — using a dual-currency system rather than traditional real-money wagering. Understanding that distinction is central to everything we publish.
Most platforms we review use two types of virtual currency:
- Gold Coins (GC) — a free-play currency used for entertainment. Gold Coins have no cash value and cannot be redeemed for prizes.
- Sweepstakes Coins (SC) — a promotional currency that can, subject to each platform's terms, be redeemed for prizes including cash equivalents, once eligibility and verification requirements are met.
No purchase is necessary to receive Sweepstakes Coins. Legitimate platforms always offer an alternative method of entry (AMOE) — typically a mail-in request — so that participation remains a promotional sweepstakes rather than a form of gambling under US law. We explain this distinction clearly on every relevant page, and we never imply that buying coin packages is the only way to participate.
How We Research and Rank Platforms
Every platform that appears on this site has been researched and reviewed against a consistent set of criteria. Commission does not buy position. If a platform pays us a referral fee, that relationship is disclosed; it does not move the platform up our rankings.
The factors we examine include:
- Redemption process — how straightforward it is to redeem Sweepstakes Coins for prizes, what the minimum thresholds are, how long processing takes, and what identity verification is required.
- Welcome offer transparency — whether the headline bonus is accurately described, what conditions apply, and whether the no-purchase option is clearly available.
- Game library depth — the range of slot titles, table games and any live-dealer or specialty content on offer.
- State availability — which US states the platform serves, and which it excludes. Laws vary by state and change frequently, so we verify this at each fact-check date.
- Responsible play tools — whether the platform provides deposit limits, self-exclusion options and links to recognised support organisations.
- Daily rewards and loyalty features — login bonuses, promotional events, tournaments and leaderboards that affect long-term value for regular players.
- Mobile experience — whether the platform performs reliably on smartphones and tablets, which is where the majority of our readers play.
We do not claim to have deposited funds or played on every platform personally. Our process is editorial — we research, verify against published terms and conditions, and update our findings regularly. Where we are uncertain about a detail, we say so rather than guess.
Our Editorial Ratings
Each platform on this site carries an editorial rating on a scale of 1 to 10. These ratings reflect our researchers' assessment across the criteria above. They are not customer review scores, star ratings pulled from app stores, or figures supplied by the platforms themselves. A rating is a snapshot of a platform's standing at our last fact-check date; it can change if a platform's terms, availability or quality shifts materially.
For reference, the platforms we currently cover and their editorial ratings are:
| Platform | Editorial Rating | Headline Welcome Offer |
|---|---|---|
| Spinblitz | 10.0 | 100 Million Gold Coins with the BLITZ JACKPOT |
| MegaBonanza | 9.9 | 303 Free SC + 600k GC |
| Lone Star | 9.8 | Welcome Offer up to 500k GC & 105 Free SC |
| Free Spins | 9.7 | 950,000 GC + SC 75 + 20 Free Spins on Gorilla Slot |
| SplashCoins | 9.6 | 200% Welcome Offer |
| Spree | 9.3 | 25,000 GC Welcome Offer |
| Card Crush | 9.3 | Instant Welcome Reward — 2 Mystery Coins & 5 Cards |
| Blitzmania | 9.2 | 200% More Coins on First Purchase & More |
| Crown Coins | 9.1 | 150% Welcome Bonus |
| SweepKing | 8.9 | 100K Gold Coins + 2 SC Bonus |
Headline offers are subject to change and to each platform's terms and conditions. Always read the full terms before participating, and verify current availability in your state directly with the operator.
What We Are Not
We are not a sweepstakes casino operator, and we do not run any gaming platform. We do not hold player funds, process coin transactions or manage prize redemptions. If you have a dispute with a platform, you should contact that platform's support team directly. Our contact page is the right place to reach us with questions about this site specifically.
We are also not a law firm. Nothing on this site is legal advice. The sweepstakes model operates differently from state-licensed gambling, and its legal standing varies across the US. We note which states are excluded by each platform we cover, but we encourage readers to check applicable state laws and each operator's current terms if they have specific legal questions. Laws in this area change frequently.
Legal Standing of Sweepstakes Casinos in the US
Sweepstakes casinos are distinct from regulated real-money gambling sites. They operate under promotional sweepstakes law rather than state gambling licences. The key legal pillar is the no-purchase-necessary requirement: because players can obtain Sweepstakes Coins without spending money, participation is characterised as a sweepstakes promotion rather than wagering.
Despite this, availability is not uniform. Some states restrict or prohibit sweepstakes gaming, and individual operators may choose not to serve certain states based on their own legal assessment. Readers in states such as Washington, Idaho and others where restrictions have historically applied should verify the current position with the operator before registering. This site is updated regularly, but state laws and operator policies can change between our fact-check dates.
Age requirements also vary. Most platforms we cover require participants to be at least 18 years old; some require players to be 21 or older, either across all states or in specific jurisdictions. Age verification is typically part of the identity check required before any prize redemption.
Prize Redemption — What to Expect
Sweepstakes Coins that meet a platform's minimum redemption threshold can generally be exchanged for prizes, which on most platforms include cash equivalents paid via ACH bank transfer or other supported payment methods. The process is not instant on any platform we have reviewed: identity verification (KYC) must be completed, which involves providing a government-issued photo ID and sometimes proof of address. Processing times vary by platform and payment method.
Prize redemptions may also have tax implications. Under US federal law, prizes above certain thresholds are taxable income. State tax rules add further complexity. We recommend keeping a record of any prizes redeemed and consulting official tax guidance or a qualified adviser if you are unsure of your obligations. This site does not provide tax advice.
Responsible Play
Sweepstakes casinos involve games of chance. Outcomes are never guaranteed, and no strategy reliably produces prize winnings. We encourage all readers to set time and spending limits before playing, treat any coin purchases as entertainment spending, and make use of the responsible play tools that reputable platforms provide.
If gaming ever feels like it is causing problems — financial, personal or otherwise — support is available. Our responsible gambling page has information on where to turn. The National Council on Problem Gambling helpline is available at 1-800-522-4700.
Commercial Relationships and Independence
Some of the platforms listed on this site pay us a commission if a reader signs up through one of our links. This is how comparison sites like ours remain free to use. However, commission does not determine rankings. A platform that pays a higher referral fee does not receive a higher editorial rating or a more prominent position. Our rankings are based on the research criteria described above, and we apply them consistently.
Where a commercial relationship exists, it is disclosed clearly near the relevant content. We believe readers deserve to know when a site earns money from a referral, and we do not hide it.
Get in Touch
We welcome feedback from readers — whether you have spotted an error, noticed that a platform's terms have changed, or want to ask about how we approach a particular review. Accurate, up-to-date information is only possible with input from people who use these platforms directly.
You can reach us at [email protected]. We aim to respond to all messages within 48 hours. For full contact options, visit our contact page. If you would like to review our site policies, our terms and conditions are available in full.