Why Some Players Never Redeem Their Sweepstakes Winnings

So many of us wait with bated breath for that moment we discover we’ve won a sweepstakes prize.

Hours of spinning the reels, filling out cards, or submitting the requirements for traditional sweepstakes prizes can really fill a player’s day.

But did you know that there are some people who don’t ever redeem their sweepstakes winnings?

Let’s look at why players might not want to or might not be able to redeem their prizes.

Top 5 Reasons Players Don’t Redeem Their Sweepstakes Winnings

Here are the top five reasons why a player might not redeem their sweepstakes winnings – and they may not be what you’d assume.

1. They Cannot Complete KYC Verification

Sweepstakes casino winners must complete know-your-customer (KYC) verification before they can redeem Sweepstakes Coins for prizes.

Part of the verification process includes uploading photos of a government-issued ID, a utility bill, and a bank statement.

Some players may not have a utility bill in their name with an address that matches the address on their sweepstakes account.

More than 23 million Americans who are at least 18 years old do not have a government-issued ID.

In 2023, more than 14% of U.S. households did not have a bank account.

For all these reasons, players cannot complete KYC verification and may not try to redeem their sweepstakes casino winnings.

2. They Don’t Live in a State Where Sweepstakes Casinos Are Allowed

Sweepstakes casinos don’t operate in every state. States that don’t allow sweepstakes casinos to operate across the board include Idaho and Utah.

Many sweepstakes casinos are also pulling out of other states, including Michigan, Connecticut, and New York. Players who live in these states may have unclaimed winnings, but are no longer allowed to claim them because of legal restrictions.

3. They Don’t Think Prize Is ‘Worth It’

Some people believe that it’s not worth the time to redeem sweepstakes winnings.

For traditional sweepstakes, it could be that the prize is unwanted (sneakers, vacations, cars, etc.) or that the prize will be too costly or difficult to claim.

For sweepstakes casino winnings, some sites allow you to redeem Sweeps Coins for gift cards with as few as 10 SC (which could be redeemed for a $10 gift card). Some players may not think it’s worth the time and effort to complete KYC verification for $10.

4. They Don’t Know They’ve Won

This is more common with traditional sweepstakes. Players may not have been properly notified that they won a sweepstakes contest because they did not include a valid address or email address in the submission.

5. They Waited Until Past the Claim Deadline

Traditional sweepstakes prizes may be claimed up until a specified date. If the winner waits too long, they could end up forfeiting the prize.

For sweepstakes casinos, players may have waited too long to log into their account (most sites require players to log in every 30, 60, or 90 days and make at least one play), and their Sweeps Coins were revoked.