Alternative Method of Entry (AMOE)
A legal requirement in sweepstakes law. AMOE allows players to claim Sweepstakes Coins without making a purchase—typically via mail-in forms. This keeps sweepstakes casinos compliant with federal sweepstakes law by ensuring no purchase is required to enter and win. See the Mail-In (AMO) calculator for ROI calculations.
Bankroll
Your total Sweepstakes Coins balance available to play. Managing bankroll means never betting more than a small percentage per wager (typically 1–5%) to survive variance. Bankroll depletion ends your ability to clear playthrough and redeem.
Break-Even
Expected value of zero. A play with 0 EV means, on average, you expect to neither gain nor lose money. Most sweepstakes casino plays are -EV (you expect to lose) unless offset by free bonuses or claims.
Expected Value (EV)
The average profit or loss per action over many repetitions. +EV means you expect to profit over time; -EV means you expect to lose. In sweepstakes casinos, claiming daily free Sweeps Coins (0 cost, positive return) is +EV. Playing purchased coins at 95% RTP is -EV.
Gold Coins (GC)
Purchasable in-game currency. You buy GC with real money and use them to play games. GC cannot be cashed out or converted back to real money. Once spent, they're gone. See Sweepstakes Coins (SC) for the redeemable currency.
House Edge
The casino's built-in advantage. If a slot has 95% RTP, the house edge is 5% (100% − 95%). Over many spins, players lose this percentage. House edge is unavoidable but can be offset by free Sweeps Coins and low-playthrough bonuses.
Know Your Customer (KYC)
Identity verification required before redeeming Sweeps Coins for real money. You'll provide government ID, proof of address, and possibly tax ID. This protects against fraud, money laundering, and underage play. Typically takes 24–72 hours.
Margin
In the wash calculator, margin is the percentage gain on your total spend after all playthrough and conversions. Positive margin means profit; negative margin means loss. Margin % = (Expected Conversion Value − Total Wagering) / Total Wagering × 100.
Minimum Redemption
The lowest amount of Sweeps Coins you must accumulate before requesting a cash-out. Typically $25–$100. Must reach this threshold before initiating redemption, even if playthrough is cleared.
Playthrough (Wagering Requirement)
The total amount of Sweeps Coins you must wager before redeeming. If you have 100 SC and 1x playthrough, you must wager $100 total. 5x playthrough requires $500 in total wagers. Higher playthrough = longer grind and more house edge loss.
Redemption
Converting Sweeps Coins into real money. Redemption requires meeting playthrough, reaching minimum SC, passing KYC verification, and waiting for payout processing. See the Redemption Guide for step-by-step details.
Return to Player (RTP)
The percentage of wagers a slot machine or game returns to players over time. 95% RTP means players get back $0.95 for every $1 wagered on average. Higher RTP (98–99%) is better for players. Most sweepstakes slots range 90–98% RTP.
Sweepstakes Coins (SC)
Free, redeemable in-game currency. Earned through daily claims, bonuses, promotions, or mail-in entry. SC can be wagered and redeemed for real money after meeting playthrough requirements. See Gold Coins (GC) for the non-redeemable currency.
Sweepstakes Model
The legal structure used by social casinos. It separates purchased coins (GC, non-redeemable) from promotional coins (SC, redeemable) to operate under sweepstakes law rather than gambling law. This allows operation in states where traditional gambling is banned. See Sweeps 101.
Variance
The randomness or volatility of slot outcomes. High variance means big swings (big wins and big losses). Low variance means smaller, steadier returns. Over many spins, variance evens out and RTP takes over, but in short-term play, variance can make or break your session.
Volatility
Similar to variance. Describes how unpredictable or "swingy" a slot is. Low volatility slots pay out frequently but in small amounts. High volatility slots pay out rarely but in larger amounts. Choose based on your bankroll and risk tolerance.
Wash (Wash Strategy)
Wagering a bonus to completion (clearing playthrough) before redeeming. Calculated to determine if the net result is +EV. Example: "Washing a $50 bonus through 3x playthrough at 95% RTP results in $42.50 net profit." Use the Wash Calculator for math.