Last checked: October 25, 2026. Banks change their rules, so check this date.
Overview: Pay with a credit card when possible to earn cash back. Be careful to ensure you are using a card that will code your purchase as entertainment or gaming, not a cash advance. Cash out to a checking account in your own name at a bank you've used for a while.
Why your card matters
When you buy Gold Coins, the site's payment company tags the charge with a merchant code. That code tells your bank what kind of business you paid. Visa's own rules put sweepstakes under its gambling code; Mastercard's gambling code covers wagers and doesn't mention sweepstakes. In practice, many sweepstakes sites are processed under game or arcade codes, so the same purchase can be treated differently from one site, card, or month to the next.
What your bank does with a gambling-coded charge is up to the bank:
- It may treat the charge as a cash advance. That usually means a 5% fee or $10, whichever is more, a higher interest rate (often around 30%) that starts the same day, and no rewards.
- It may decline the charge.
- Most cards will let it through as an ordinary purchase.
A charge that went through as a purchase last month can come back as a cash advance this month. One cash advance fee can wipe out the profit on a first-purchase deal.
The safest ways to pay
Debit card. A debit card has no credit line, so you don't have to worry about a cash advance. Some banks still decline gambling-coded charges on debit. In general, use a credit card when you can, as it offers stronger consumer protections and cash back.
Online banking transfer. Many sites offer a bank-to-bank payment (often through a service called Trustly) where you log in to your bank at checkout. It doesn't go through the card networks, so merchant codes don't apply. You need a US checking or savings account.
Credit card, carefully. If you want to use a credit card, check its terms for "cash-like transactions" or "cash advance" and look for gambling or betting in the list. Two things help:
- Ask your card issuer to set your cash advance limit to $0, if they allow it. A charge coded as a cash advance is then declined instead of costing you a fee.
- Check your statement after your first purchase on a new site. If it posted as a cash advance, stop using that card there.
What the big card issuers say (officially)
This table covers credit cards: what each issuer's card agreement says about betting. Whether a sweepstakes purchase counts as betting depends on how it's coded (see above).
| Issuer | What its card agreement says about betting | Rewards on those charges |
|---|---|---|
| Chase | Online and offline betting, casino chips, and lottery tickets are cash advances. | None |
| Capital One | Wagers, gaming chips, and lottery tickets count as cash advances. | Not stated in the agreement |
| Citi | Wagers, betting, gaming chips, and lottery tickets are cash advances, with no grace period. | None |
| Bank of America | Bets and casino chips count as cash. It may decline any charge it identifies as internet gambling. | Not stated in the agreement |
| U.S. Bank | Casino gaming and betting are cash advances. The card can't be used to fund online gambling accounts. | Not stated in the agreement |
| Wells Fargo | Online gambling is a cash-like charge, separate from purchases. It may decline internet gambling. | Not stated in the agreement |
| Discover | Online gambling is a cash advance (since April 2024). | None |
| American Express | Online betting is listed as a cash advance. | Not checked |
The cash advance fee in these agreements is 5%, usually with a $10 minimum ($5 at Capital One), and interest starts the day of the charge at roughly 25% to 30%. Agreements as filed with the CFPB, as of June 30, 2026; Discover and American Express from the CFPB's 2024 review.
This table shows what the written terms say. How a bank treats sweepstakes charges in practice can differ. A card whose terms list gambling as a cash advance may still post most sweepstakes purchases as ordinary purchases, because of how the sites are coded. None of these issuers promise how a sweepstakes purchase will post. If you see a cash advance on your statement, that's how your issuer coded it.
Rewards
A credit card only earns rewards on a sweepstakes purchase if the charge posts as an ordinary purchase. If it posts as a cash advance, you get no rewards and pay fees. Don't count on rewards when you decide whether a deal is worth it.
Cashing out to your bank
Most sites pay cash prizes by bank transfer (ACH). Some also offer gift cards, which are often faster, and a few pay in crypto. Bank transfers usually take 1-10 business days.
To keep cash-outs smooth:
- Use an account in your own name. The name on your casino account, your ID, and your bank account must all match.
- Use a bank you've had for a while. A brand-new account receiving payments from several casinos can draw extra scrutiny.
- Expect questions. Banks can refuse or review any transaction their terms allow. Most debit agreements we've read bar illegal online gambling, which is one more reason to play only where it's legal.
- Keep your statements. You'll want them at tax time and for KYC purposes.
Some players report delays or extra checks with online-only banks, but we haven't found any bank terms that single out sweepstakes. We'll add specifics here once we can confirm them.
Before you pay at a new site
- Read your card's terms for "cash advance" and "gambling" or "wagers".
- Set your cash advance limit to $0 if you can.
- Check how the first charge posted.
- Always verify your ID before your first cash-out.
This guide constitutes general information, not financial advice. Please check your specific card and banking agreements.