Gold Coins vs Sweep Coins: a practical guide for sweepstakes operators

Two coins, two jobs

A sweepstakes casino keeps two balances for every player, and they are not interchangeable. Getting the difference right shapes the pack design, the cashier, the lobby and every single game integration.

The fixed rate and why it helps

Brands compete freely on Gold Coins. One entry pack might carry 50,000 GC, another 250,000, and first-purchase offers often multiply that. Sweep Coins work the other way: the rate is fixed at one SC per US dollar paid. A 10 USD pack carries 10.00 SC, a 50 USD pack 50.00 SC, whatever the brand.

That fixed rate is useful for the operator. The total Sweep Coin balance across players always equals what was paid in plus what was given away for free, which keeps reporting simple and makes the cost of every promotion easy to read. It also means pack design is really about Gold Coins and bonuses, not about bending the Sweep Coin rate.

How the coins behave in a game

The player chooses a coin before each round or ticket, usually with a toggle at the top of the lobby or the game screen. From there, one rule applies to everything:

• the stake is taken from the chosen coin only;
• the win of that round is credited in the same coin;
• a rollback, void or resettlement returns to the same coin;
• a bet above the chosen balance is refused, never topped up from the other coin.

Bonus rounds deserve a mention. If a free spins feature triggers on a Sweep Coin spin, every spin of that feature pays Sweep Coins, even if the player flips the toggle to Gold Coins mid-feature. The coin belongs to the round, not to the screen.

What operators decide, and what the supplier handles

The operator owns the economics and the player relationship: pack prices and Gold Coin amounts, daily bonuses, mail-in amounts, redemption minimums, play-through rules and identity checks. The game supplier owns the round: carrying the coin through every call and never crediting the wrong balance.

SoftAggregator builds that rule into its sweepstakes casino games API. One call returns both balances, Gold Coins as a whole number and Sweep Coins with two decimals; every bet, win and rollback carries its coin and a unique transaction id. The same holds on the sweepstakes sportsbook, Nocturn Sport for Sweepstakes.

Common mistakes

• One account per coin. Splitting a player into two accounts looks quick but breaks on replays, history and support.
• A conversion layer. Converting between coins in the middle hides which coin a win belongs to.
• Unclear toggle. If players cannot see which coin is active, support tickets follow. Show both balances on every game screen.
• Free rounds without a coin. Every free rounds campaign must say which coin it pays in. See free rounds for sweepstakes casinos.

FAQ

What is the difference between Gold Coins and Sweep Coins?

Gold Coins are the entertainment coin: bought in packs or received free, played for fun, with no cash value. Sweep Coins are the promotional coin: given with Gold Coin purchases at one Sweep Coin per US dollar paid, or for free through mail-in requests and bonuses, and redeemable for prizes under the brand's rules.

How many Sweep Coins come with a 20 USD pack?

20.00 SC. The rate is always one Sweep Coin per US dollar paid. Only the Gold Coin amount changes from brand to brand.

Can a player bet Gold Coins and win Sweep Coins?

No. Each bet is placed in one coin and the win is credited in that same coin. A Gold Coin round pays Gold Coins; a Sweep Coin round pays Sweep Coins.

How should a game supplier handle the two coins?

As two separate balances in the protocol. With SoftAggregator, one call returns both balances, every bet declares its coin, and the win, rollback or void of that round goes back to the same coin.

Why are Sweep Coins shown with two decimals?

Because they map to US dollars paid: a 20 USD pack is 20.00 SC. Gold Coins are usually whole numbers, since brands give them in large round amounts.

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