North Carolina Sweepstakes Casinos

Sweepstakes gaming is legal in 47 U.S. states, and North Carolina is on that list. Sweepstakes casinos fall under the umbrella of sweepstakes gaming, and that means North Carolina residents enjoy access to some of the best sweeps casino sites available in the U.S.

This article outlines North Carolina sweepstakes laws, as well as highlights some of the best sweeps casinos recommended by our experts here at Sweepsy.

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    Sweepstake sites accepting players in North Carolina

    Quick snapshot of North Carolina’s status

    Available in North Carolina:Yes
    # of sweeps / social casinos:30+
    Are winnings taxed:5.25% at state level; 24% estimated at the federal level
    Max prize payout:N/A
    Minimum age: 18
    Last updated:January 2025

    Are sweepstakes casinos legal in North Carolina? 

    Yes. North Carolina law permits sweepstakes casinos, which are classified under the larger category of sweepstakes gaming.

    Sweepstakes gaming can include sweeps casinos (like the sites we promote here at Sweepsy), as well as traditional sweepstakes contests. If you’re a North Carolina, or you’re visiting the state, you can play at sweeps casinos as long as you’re physically located within NC borders while you play.

    Federal gaming laws set the standards for sweepstakes gaming regulations. Most states follow these federal regulations very closely, and thus sweepstakes laws are very similar from state to state.

    Some key facts about North Carolina sweepstakes laws:

    • Legal age: 18
    • Prize payout restrictions: North Carolina doesn’t place any restrictions on the maximum amount you can win in a single spin, jackpot, or bet at a sweepstakes casino site. Some states (like Florida and New York) cap the amount of a single win at $5,000 (or the Sweeps Coin equivalent of $5,000)
    • Taxable income: All states that allow sweepstakes casino gaming require players to pay an estimated 24% federal income tax on wins of more than $5,000. North Carolina levies an additional 5.25% state tax on sweepstakes wins exceeding $5,000.

    Top sweepstakes casinos in North Carolina

    North Carolina players enjoy access to around 30 sweepstakes casinos. While sweepstakes gaming is legal in 47 states, not all sweeps casinos operate in all of those states.

    Some sweeps casino sites are better than others, and some aren’t worth players’ time in the opinion of our team here at Sweepsy. Some of the top sweepstakes casino sites available in North Carolina include the following:

    1. Wow Vegas

    WOW Vegas games

    It’s tough for a sweepstakes casino to get a perfect score in our ratings and reviews, but Wow Vegas comes close. The game selection, bonuses, payment options and features at Wow Vegas put it near the top of the list of our favorite all-around platforms.

    North Carolina players can access 800+ games at Wow Vegas. That game lineup is heavy on slots, and the developers behind those titles include big names like Pragmatic Play, 3 Oaks, RubyPlay, Atomic Slot Lab, and many more.

    You’ll find plenty of contests and jackpots available throughout the Wow Vegas game library as well. The Wow Jackpot allows you to opt-in for an extra 0.10 SC on each spin, and that makes you eligible for one of four different progressive jackpots which can hit on any spin on any game at any time.

    Speaking of progressive jackpots, you’ll find nearly 30 jackpot slots available at Wow Vegas. Outside of slots, you’ll also find live dealer games, Slingo, arcade-style games, and more.

    Sign up at Wow Vegas now, and you’ll unlock up to 5 SC as a no-purchase bonus. Also, be sure to take advantage of a first-purchase bonus that nets you 30 SC free with a $9.99 Wow Coins purchase.

    2. Hello Millions

    Hello Millions presents a visually stunning sweeps casino platform, a solid game library, and a player-friendly user interface that’s on par with anything in the industry.

    The comic-book-style graphics and theme at Hello Millions make this platform really stand out in the highly competitive sweeps casino market. The top-notch layout makes navigating the game menu, finding customer support, making purchases, and redeeming Sweeps Coins a breeze at Hello Millions.

    The game library includes 1,100+ games, and that number continues to grow. The developers behind those games include industry giants like Booming Games, BGaming, Fantasma Games, Relax Gaming, and several other top companies.

    Among those games, you’ll find slots, jackpot slots, live dealer games, live game shows, Slingo, and arcade-style games. While Hello Millions doesn’t currently offer traditional table games, that’s the only negative we found in the game selection.

    North Carolina players can create a new Hello Millions account and get 2.5 SC free as a no-purchase bonus. Once you’ve signed up, you can then unlock bonuses on each of the first three purchases, which award a total of 115 SC free when you purchase $69.97 in Gold Coins packages.

    3. Stake.us

    Stake Casino original games

    Stake US offers what very well might be the most well-rounded game lineup of any U.S.-facing sweeps casino site. Whatever casino-style game you might be looking for, you’ll likely find it at Stake US.

    Stake US is the U.S. version of Stake Casino, one of the world’s most popular online casinos. Stake US operates as a sweepstakes casino site, while Stake Casino functions as a real-money online casino.

    The collection of games at Stake US includes 700+ casino-style titles overall. Among the games on display here are slots, progressive jackpot games, live dealer games, arcade-style games, scratchers, and even peer-to-peer poker!

    The software developers behind the games at Stake US include BGaming, Hacksaw Gaming, Slotmill, Pragmatic Play, and many more. The lineup includes the Stake Originals series, which includes in-house developed games that you won’t find anywhere else.

    North Carolina players can sign up for a Stake US account and unlock one of the best no-purchase bonuses in the industry. The bonus allows you to collect 55 SC free ($25 SC as a sign-up bonus and an additional 30 SC free when you claim the daily login bonus each day for the first 30 days after you register).

    4. Modo.us

    Modo Casino games

    Modo.us is a promising recent addition to the U.S. sweepstakes casino scene. The juicy first-purchase bonuses and other promotions at Modo.us make it easy to collect free Sweeps Coins and try the sweepstakes games.

    While the sign-up bonus is a pretty standard 1 SC, your first purchase is eligible for one of several different first-purchase offers. The biggest of these offers nets 300 SC for a $209.99 Gold Coins package purchase.

    That first-purchase bonus is one of the best in the industry. You’ll also find a pretty extensive VIP rewards program, a solid referral bonus, and plenty of social media giveaways that allow you to obtain even more free SC.

    The game library at Modo.us includes 900+ titles, and that number continues to grow. Slots dominate the menu, including games developed by Relax Gaming, Evoplay, Pragmatic Play, and several other top brands.

    Aside from slots, you’ll also find live dealer games, RNG table games, and scratchers at Modo.us.

    5. Chanced Casino

    Chanced Casino games

    Chanced Casino offers an extensive game lineup, a player-friendly UX, and one of the most extensive loyalty programs of any sweeps casino site available in North Carolina.

    With 1,000+ casino-style games await at Chanced Casino. The lineup includes slots, live casino games, scratchers, RNG table games, arcade-style games, and progressive jackpot games.

    Some of the most popular titles in the sweepstakes casino industry are found at Chanced Casino. The software developers behind the games include companies like Rogue, Evoplay, Pragmatic Play, and Atmosphera.

    If you’re a fan of arcade-style games, you’ll find plenty to like at Chanced Casino. The lineup includes Plinko, Keno, Mines, and Dice.

    The multi-tiered VIP rewards program offers some of the best top-end loyalty bonuses you’ll find at a sweepstakes casino. You can sign up for a Chanced Casino account right now and unlock 2 SC free plus 20 free spins.

    North Carolina gambling laws: Quick snapshot

    Federal laws allow U.S. states to legalize various forms of real-money online gambling. If you’re in North Carolina, you’ll find legal online sportsbooks and daily fantasy sports sites are at your disposal.

    Real-money online casinos aren’t currently legal in North Carolina. While online sports betting is quite popular in the Tar Heel State, online casino legalization doesn’t appear to be a priority for North Carolina lawmakers.

    Sweepstakes gaming is legal in North Carolina, however, and sweepstakes casinos are included in that category. The sweepstakes casino sites recommended by our team here at Sweepsy give NC players the best opportunity to enjoy casino-style games at legitimate websites.

    North Carolina sweepstake rules and restrictions

    Federal sweepstakes laws decide the regulations that U.S states must follow if they want to allow sweepstakes gaming. Most of the 47 states that authorize sweepstakes follow these federal guidelines pretty closely.

    Some states add additional regulations to sweepstakes gaming. Florida and New York, for example, limit sweepstakes casino wins to a $5,000 maximum on one spin or bet. 

    North Carolina doesn’t restrict the maximum win at a sweepstakes casino site, but does have a few unique provisions for sweepstakes contests. Let’s take a look at some of the basics of North Carolina sweepstakes laws:

    • Sweepstakes casino winnings of more than $5,000 are subject to a 5.25% state income tax (in addition to federal income tax).
    • Sweepstakes sponsors must award prizes based on chance and not skill.
    • Electronic machines and devices for sweepstakes are prohibited.
    • Sponsors cannot tell every participant that they are a winner if the sponsor gives the same prize to more than 10 percent of all considered for receiving the prize.

    Other key requirements for North Carolina sweepstakes sponsors include:

    Federal and state sweepstakes laws require sweepstakes operators to allow players to enter sweepstakes contests without having to purchase entries or spend any money. To go along with this provision, sweepstakes contests and sweepstakes casino sites must clearly state a “no purchase or payment necessary” message to all prospective players.

    Sweepstakes casinos must abide by this law by providing at least one “alternative means of entry” (AMOE) allowing players to play in the Sweeps Coins games offered at the casino without making a purchase or spending any money.

    All sweepstakes casinos offering their services in North Carolina offer at least some of the following alternative means of entry for the Sweeps Coins games:

    Sweeps Coins (SC) are a virtual currency used in the sweepstakes games at a sweeps casino site. Sweeps Coins are redeemable for cash prizes, usually at a rate of 1 Sweeps Coin to 1 U.S. dollar. Some sweeps casinos use different terminology for Sweeps Coins.

    Sweepstakes casino sites generally award free Sweeps Coins as a gift with the purchase of Gold Coins (play money) packages. While Gold Coins bundles with free Sweeps Coins are an efficient way to collect SC, you can always acquire SC for free using the AMOE methods.

    You can find more details about the AMOE methods offered at a particular sweeps casino within that site’s Sweepstakes Rules. The link to the sweepstakes rules page is generally found in the footer or side menu of the main lobby.

    All sweepstakes contests and casino sites operating in North Carolina must provide the official rules of the contest, and those rules can’t change after the contest has started.

    The official rules at a sweepstakes casino are usually labeled as “Sweepstakes Rules” (or something similar) and found in the footer or side menu of the main lobby.

    The sweepstakes rules should give players a detailed explanation on how the Gold Coins/Sweeps Coins dual-currency system functions,  how Sweeps Coins redemptions work, and how players can use AMOE methods to collect Sweeps Coins for free.

    North Carolina sweepstakes laws don’t allow sponsors to promote a sweepstakes contest with the tactic of contacting potential players and informing them that they’ve been “specially selected” to win a prize.

    In most states, the language around the “specially selected” restriction reads something like this:

    “Specially Selected means a representation that a person is a winner, a finalist, in first place or tied for first place, or otherwise among a limited group of persons with an enhanced likelihood of receiving a prize.”

    In other words, a sweepstakes sponsor (in North Carolina or any other U.S. state) can’t send any kind of communication that indicates that a player has already won a prize, and can claim that prize by following certain next steps, etc.

    If you’ve ever received such a communication, that communication came from a sponsor that was illegally promoting their sweepstakes.

    A “sweepstakes sponsor” refers to the operator or administrator of a sweepstakes contest. As it relates to sweepstakes casino sites, the sweepstakes sponsor is the casino site itself (or the parent company of the casino).

    North Carolina sweepstakes sponsors aren’t permitted to sell any kind of information that could give a player a perceived advantage in the contest.

    North Carolina sweepstakes at the Federal level

    North Carolina (as well as all states that authorize sweepstakes contests), must abide by federal sweepstakes gaming regulations, in addition to any special provisions that a state wants to add to its own sweepstakes gaming laws. 

    The 40+ states that allow sweepstakes gaming follow federal regulations very closely. As such, sweepstakes laws are very similar in most states.

    Sweepstakes casino winnings of $5,000 or more (or the Sweeps Coins equivalent of $5,000) are subject to federal income tax in all U.S. states. North Carolina requires an additional 5.25% state income tax payment on applicable sweepstakes winnings

    Federal laws require sweepstakes (including traditional sweepstakes contests and sweeps casinos) to meet the following regulations:

    • A sweepstakes is a promotion in which prizes are awarded by chance rather than skill
    • Sweepstakes can’t require a purchase or payment as a condition for entry
    • Sweepstakes must clearly state official rules, and those rules can’t change once the contest has begun
    • Sweepstakes winnings of $5,000 or more are subject to a 24% estimated federal income tax 

    Florida and New York both restrict the maximum amount you can win in a single spin or bet at a sweepstakes casino. In both states, this amount is $5,000 (or the Sweeps Coin equivalent of $5,000).

    North Carolina doesn’t restrict the maximum win at a sweepstakes casino.

    Final thoughts

    North Carolina presents an online gaming landscape that is similar to many other states. Online sports betting is legal, while real-money online casinos are not.

    Sweepstakes casino sites present a great option for North Carolina players looking for an alternative to real-money online casinos. While not all sweeps casinos are worth your time, the sites recommended by our experts here at Sweepsy promise a secure gaming environment, fair games, and top-notch software.

    North Carolina’s gaming industry probably won’t change significantly any time soon. Sweeps casinos offer the best way to enjoy casino-style games in the Tar Heel State right now, and that will likely remain the case for the foreseeable future.

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