In this Zoot Casino review, we explore a next-gen sweepstakes casino from the developers of the popular Luckyland Slots app. Zoot Casino focuses on delivering high-quality games, exciting bonuses, and daily rewards while providing an engaging social atmosphere.
The site is currently in a public test phase, so not all of its features are fully fleshed out. However, Zoot shows great potential, running smoother and offering players a better daily bonus than most competitors in the highly saturated sweepstakes gaming space.
For these reasons alone, Zoot is worth a look, but it will have to overcome some major shortcomings to become a major player.
In this review, we’ll discuss Zoot’s strengths and weaknesses, including its new player bonus, game selection, cashiering options, software and user interface, responsible gaming features, and customer support, to help you decide if it’s worth a look.
Contents
Zoot casino quick review
The Zoot Casino app is still in its infancy, and this shows through its sparse game selection and limited payment options.
However, the framework of a strong sweepstakes app is in place. We were particularly impressed with the sheer number of freebies that Zoot offers new and recurring players. However, most of that value is offset by a hefty 5x wagering requirement on Sweep Coins, significantly higher than the 1x industry standard.
Zoot’s software runs smooth as butter, payouts are handled quickly, and the customer support team is responsive and down-to-earth. The games it has are generally unique and should appeal to arcade fans.
Whether Zoot can deck out its game lobby with new games and lower its playthrough requirements may determine where it ranks in the sweepstakes arena.
Overall Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
Pros
- Emphasis on arcade games is a refreshing take
- Fast software with little lag
- Swift payouts
- Solid daily bonuses
- The customer support team has a personal, small-business vibe
- Real-time community chat
Cons
- The game lobby is sparse and somewhat redundant
- Limited payout options
- High SC play requirement
- No loyalty program
Remember that many of the site’s cons will likely be rectified as Zoot matures.
Zoot casino general overview
Feature | Details |
---|---|
Sweepstakes Casino Name | Zoot |
Parent Company | Enigma Lake Holdings, Inc. |
Year Founded | 2024 |
Minimum Age | 18 |
# Of Games | 20 |
Types Of Games | Arcade (more coming soon) |
Live Casino? | No |
VIP Program | No |
Payment Methods | Bank Transfers (ACH) |
Mobile App? | No, but highly optimized for iOS and Android |
SC Turnover Requirement | 5x |
Customer Service | Email, Discord |
Excluded States | HI, ID, GA, MI, MS, ND, NV, OH, TN, VT, WA |
How does zoot casino work?
Zoot Casino works similarly to other sweepstakes sites by providing a free entry pathway, but it goes further by offering players multiple avenues to claim free prizes.
Before going into the specifics, it’s important to understand Zoot’s two virtual currencies:
- Gold Coins (GCs) can be used to play any game on Zoot but cannot be redeemed for prizes with monetary value. Small GC packs are awarded for completing certain tasks, but larger sums must be purchased.
- Like Gold Coins, Sweep Coins (SCs) can also be wagered. However, they can also be redeemed for prizes with real-world value at an exchange rate of 1 SC = $1.00. Players cannot technically purchase SCs directly, but they’re offered as a free add-on with most Gold Coin packages. They can also be earned for free.
Signing up for zoot casino
Registering a Zoot account is a straightforward process that can be completed quickly compared to other sweepstakes sites.
Players have the option to sign up directly with their Google or Facebook account or via Discord, which is a first among sweeps sites we’ve reviewed. Those in favor of a more traditional sign-up route can register by email. In any case, the process takes a scant few seconds.
Before making their first purchase, players will have to provide a few more details, including their:
- Full name
- Email address (will auto-populate if you signed up with email)
- Full street address
- Mobile phone number
- DOB
Be aware that once your email and mobile number have been entered, they cannot be changed.
Further Know-Your-Customer (KYC) checks are not required at this time, although they’ll likely be implemented in the future. Possible KYC measures include selfies, IDs, bank statement uploads, and biometric face scans.
Zoot casino new player bonus
New players are treated to not one but three bonus offers upon successfully signing up for Zoot, broken down as follows:
- Part 1: Receive 2 SC and 20,000 GC for signing up, with no deposit required.
- Part 2: Claim free daily log-in bonuses, spread over seven days, worth 4 SC and 10,000 GC.
- Part 3: First-time depositing players can claim an additional 10,000 GC and 8 free SC for $4.99, a 60% increase in value.
There is no bonus code associated with this offer.
Bonuses, promotions, and other freebies
The main strengths of Zoot’s promotional schedule are its welcome bonus, first purchase bonus, and written requests. Daily Login Bonuses and Store Packages provide additional value, while the Referral Program rewards players for sharing Zoot with others.
However, the absence of recurrent Social Media Giveaways and a loyalty program is especially glaring, although we anticipate these features may be added later.
Welcome bonus
The welcome bonus at Zoot is granted automatically when you register an account, awarding new players 2 SC and 20,000 GC.
Players normally purchase a $14.99 pack to get 20,000 GC, so kudos to Zoot for giving away a sizeable amount of virtual currency.
Yet, the 2 SC bonus ranks just above average and is overshadowed by sweepstakes casinos that award new players up to 10 SC.
First purchase bonus
The first purchase bonus allows players to buy a one-time pack that awards 10,000 GC and eight free Sweep Coins for $4.99. For comparison, the base $4.99 pack is only worth 5,000 GC and five free SC, so this is a sizeable upgrade. Yet it pales in comparison to welcome bonuses offered by most other
Written requests
Players can request free Sweep Coins by sending a hand-written request to the following address: Zoot, Zoot Sweepstakes Department, 220 5th Ave 17th Floor, New York, NY 10001
There are a whole bunch of sweepstakes rules that players must follow to have their requests honored, including submitting a one-time postal code with their request card. Hey, no one said getting freebies would be easy.
Each successful request results in Sweep Coins added to a player’s account. And yes, multiple submissions are allowed. This offer sits well above average and is probably worth the hassle, especially now before customer service gets flooded with envelopes.
Daily bonuses
Daily bonuses at Zoot sweepstakes casino reward players for the simple act of daily logins. These bonuses work on a slightly sliding scale, with players who log in consistently unlocking better rewards.
Players who sign in daily for a week can earn 10 SC and 10,000 GC, broken down as follows.
- Day 1 & 2: 1,000 GCs
- Day 3 – 7: 1,000 GCs + 0.5 SC
- Full 7-Day Login Reward: 3,000 GC + 1.5 SC
This is a solid login bonus. The main flaw is that it’s extremely backloaded. If you miss a day, you’ll be back to square one and won’t receive any free SC for three days.
The same applies if you complete the 7-day cycle. After receiving six free SC on Day 7, you won’t get any on Day 8 and 9.
Social media giveaways
When Zoot establishes its social media presence, it will begin hosting regular giveaways, where players who share posts or answer game-related questions will be eligible to win Sweep Coins.
There aren’t too many details on this one yet, but as a general rule, smaller sweepstakes casinos are always worth following because the chances of winning giveaways are much higher.
Players are encouraged to join Zoot’s Discord server for all the latest site developments.
Store packages
Players who have exhausted their giveaways can freely purchase Gold Coin packages from the Zoot Store.
Zoot offers five packages and imposes a $20 daily purchase limit (4 transactions maximum). However, we suspect this restriction will be lifted when the site officially goes live.
Gold Coins | Sweeps Cash | Price | SC Added Value |
---|---|---|---|
1,500 | 0 | $1.99 | N/A |
4,000 | 3.00 | $3.99 | -33% |
10,000 | 10 | $9.99 | 0% |
20,000 | 15.25 | $14.99 | 2% |
30,000 | 20.50 | $19.99 | 3% |
Sweepstakes sites adjust their store packages often, so check back frequently for the latest updates.
Most apps offer an up to 5% bonus on their base packages. Zoot’s high-end packs add just 2-3%, and their value is diminished further by the 5x play requirement. A strategy retooling is probably in order.
Referral program
Zoot recently added a classic refer-a-friend program, and it’s quite strong. It rewards both the referring party and the referred friend.
Referred players receive an augmented registration bonus of 30,000 GC and three free SC and a special purchase discount of 5,000 GC and 7 SC for $2.99. Notably, this offer is a better deal than the site’s first purchase bonus.
Should your friend make a purchase you will receive 5 SC, repeatable. If they decide Zoot isn’t for them, you’ll still get 10,000 GC.
If 10 of your friends make purchases, you’ll get a special offer of 10,000 GC and 7 SC for $2.99. This part of the offer is lackluster, adding only $4 in real-world value. Better than nothing.
Does Zoot have a loyalty program?
Zoot does not have a loyalty program at this time. Sweepstakes sites aren’t as dependent on VIP loyalty programs as real-money online casinos.
Yet, it’s still plausible that Zoot will join the handful of apps that have added robust, multi-tiered rewards systems.
Overall Rating: 2.5 / 5.0
Zoot strides to the plate with decent daily login and mail-in bonuses. The lack of a social media presence and loyalty program hurt, but those should be added later.
The real zinger is the high playthrough requirements on SC. Industry standards are 1x, a few sites are 3x, and Zoot is 5x. This transforms otherwise attractive bonuses into negative value plays.
Zoot casino game selection
Zoot Casino’s game selection reflects the company’s aim “to bring back the fun, simple gameplay of early Flash games,” as stated by CEO Sean Ryan.
To this aim, they’re doing an admirable job, as the Zoot Casino lobby is stocked with arcade-style games that challenge traditional gambling norms.
However, with only 20 operational games and several of them reskins, Zoot has a long way to go. Ryan indicates that increasing “the number and quality of games on the site,” is on the company’s shortlist, so expect to see a more fleshed-out lobby soon.
Arcade games
For now, players can enjoy the following arcade game titles:
- American Flight
- Mines: Harris Vs. Trump
- Mines: Trump Vs. Harris
- Rocket Crash
- Wild West Plinko
- Money Heist
- Neo Mines
- 737 Max
- Boat Crash
- Classic Crash
- Classic Dice
- Classic Mines
- Classic Plinko
- 4th of July
- Pyramid Plinko
- Space Crash
- Space Dice
- Cash Stack
- Sub Crush
- Outlaw Route 66
Nearly all of these games fall neatly into a few subgenres:
- Crash: Players place wagers on when a vehicle will crash or explode. If they bail before the crash, they’ll receive a payout based on how long they were along for the ride. If they don’t, they’ll lose their wager. Crash games are community-driven, with the entire pool of players viewing the outcome in real-time.
- Dice: Simplistic game where players bet on whether dice will roll above or below a certain number, usually ranging from 1 to 100. Players can set the over/under wherever they like, with more aggressive thresholds hitting less often but offering larger payouts.
- Mines: Remember the old Windows game Minesweeper? It’s sort of like that except without the clues. Players set up their grid in alignment with their risk tolerance and search the minefield. Land on a safe spot and increase your multiplier, but hit a mine, and the entire wager will be lost.
- Plinko: Plinko is a direct take on the famous Price Is Right game, where players send balls down a pegged board and hope they land in one of the coveted far-right or far-left spots. The closer to the center that the ball lands, the worse the payout. Players are allowed to customize the board to their liking.
Unfortunately, Zoot does not list the return-to-player of its games. However, it does list payout multipliers in plain sight. For instance, Classic Dice pays 1.84x on 50/50 rolls. From that, we know the RTP is a lowly 92%.
For perspective, the same game on Stake.US is 99% RTP. Zoot may want to consider retooling its strategy if it hopes to become competitive.
An unorthodox approach?
To players new to sweepstakes gaming, Zoot will feel novel. Yet, many larger brands like Stake.US have long incorporated arcade games into their lobby. In reality, Zoot is hopping on a proven and popular gaming trend and wisely trying to improve upon it.
For now, slots, table games, video poker, and Live Casino games are absent from the Zoot Casino lobby, although we expect that to change.
Overall Rating: 2.5 / 5.0
The biggest sweepstakes operators support over 1,000 games. Zoot has 20, and only 4-5 are truly unique. However, the lack of game titles is somewhat forgivable, considering that Zoot is in a public preview state.
The site’s emphasis on old-school Flash games is interesting, if not completely original.
Cashiering at Zoot casino
The Zoot cashier is somewhat restricted, but the team is dedicated to providing more payment options by the end of Summer 2024.
Funding an account
To fund an account on the Zoot platform:
- Click on “Store” in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
- Select the package that best suits your budget.
- Start the process of linking your bank account. This can be done effortlessly through Aerosync, a secure third-party portal that allows players to log in and connect to their preferred bank.
- Finalize the bank transfer.
Once a bank account is linked, step #3 can be skipped, enabling players to conduct transactions in mere seconds. Multiple bank accounts can be linked to Zoot.
Payout requests
To request a payout on Zoot:
- Click on your profile, located in the far upper right-hand corner of the screen
- Select “Redeem”
- Navigate to “Redeem Here”
- Input the amount of your redemption. The minimum payout is 40 SC, and all redemption requests must be in whole numbers.
- Select “Redeem Now.”
Payments are generally processed within one business day and should hit your checking account within two.
There is no option to redeem SCs for gift cards, which is a drag because that’s usually an avenue for players to cash out smaller SC amounts. However, the 40 SC minimum withdrawal option is favorable, especially when stacked against other sweepstakes casinos, which generally require 50 – 100 SC minimum redemptions.
Withdrawable balances
Withdrawable balances are a common concern for new players, often leading them to ask, “Why can’t I withdraw my full balance?” Most likely, it’s because you haven’t met the site’s playthrough requirement yet.
When you receive SCs on Zoot, they must be played five times before being redeemed. For clarity, let’s say you purchased a $15 package and received 20 SC. You then place a wager on Classic Mines for 1 SC, and it hits for 2x.
Your total balance is 21 SC, but your redeemable balance is just 0.4 SC (2 SC win / 5x playthrough).
Still too complicated? In short, on average, you’ll have to wager 5 SC for each 1 SC you want to cash out.
Overall Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
Zoot’s cashier has few purchasing and redemption options, but the minimum redemption requirements and payout turnaround times are strong compared to industry standards.
Zoot software and user interface
The Zoot Casino software and user interface is visually appealing and intelligently designed. The game icons are large and vibrant and mesh well against the site’s dark mode background.
Game categories line the top of the screen, allowing players to search for their favorite titles. Admittedly, these sorting options are not super useful right now due to the lack of games, but they will invariably serve a stronger purpose down the road.
The same game categories are also displayed on a sidebar, which feels somewhat redundant.
From the main lobby, players have quick access to the Store, their Daily Reward screen, and a host of account management features. It’s quite bare bones but a strong template upon which to build. In particular, the “Game History” tab is excellent, clearly displaying purchase history, wallet transactions, and a filtered game history.
The games are a clear throwback to the Flash era, featuring simplistic but clean graphics and several customization features. It would be nice if each game had a dedicated help section and not just a quick tutorial, but it’s better than nothing. Return-to-player (RTP) info isn’t displayed anywhere, which is a major oversight.
The tradeoff for Zoot’s lean and mean approach is that the site runs swimmingly. We haven’t run into any lag, games load in a flash, and crashes are non-existent. Sure, there are some kinks to work out, but give it time.
Mobile app
Zoot isn’t available as a dedicated Android or iOS app, although plans could be in the pipeline.
In the meantime, the best alternative is to access Zoot from your mobile browser. Luckily, the site has been highly optimized for smartphones and tablets. It’s to the point where players might not realize they’re playing from a browser.
A fringe benefit of not having an app is that players won’t clog up their smartphone’s storage, although it’s hard to imagine Zoot’s simple Flash games taking up much space.
Overall Rating 4.0 / 5.0
Callbacks to retro games aside, Zoot looks and runs like a next-gen sweepstakes app. The lack of a mobile app stings, but the company’s stellar mobile-optimized site partially remedies this.
Customer support
Zoot embraces its stature as a small company by providing personalized customer service.
The app offers email support from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at support.getzoot.us. Players can email the team directly from a dedicated form embedded in the help section. Although this is a tight time window, requests are generally handled swiftly and by a real person.
However, the best way to contact support may be to join the team’s Discord Community. Discord mods were responsive to our queries, often tackling payment and technical issues within minutes.
Zoot also supports a help center that needs some fleshing out but provides answers to some common questions.
Overall Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
Zoot’s customer support team is highly personable and quick to address issues, but their availability is spotty. The site’s FAQs are somewhat lacking.
Responsible gaming features
Zoot Casino is fully committed to responsible gaming but lacks tools that empower players to control their gaming habits. Specifically, there’s no direct way to set deposit, time, and spend limits, and players cannot fast-track a cool-down period.
Instead, players must contact support with their responsible gaming requests. The full list of services support provides is as follows:
- Session reminders: This triggers a reminder that displays a player’s session time and session win/loss and asks if they want to continue playing. Cutting off a player’s session after a designated period is also possible.
- Daily limits: Set maximum purchase or wagering amounts or enact a stop loss. Players who wish to increase their limits are subject to an approval and waiting period.
- Self-exclusion: Players can lock their accounts, and the ban will be lifted at least 7 days after Zoot receives a written email requesting to reverse the decision. They can also choose to disable their accounts permanently.
Is Zoot casino legit?
Zoot Casino is legit as it complies with applicable federal and state sweepstakes laws and regulations, and doesn’t operate in states where sweepstakes are banned or heavily restricted.
The app was founded by two veterans in the gaming space. CEO Sean Ryan spent 10 years working as the Director of Games Partnerships and VP of Business Platform Partnerships at Facebook. CTO John Cahill has had executive-level stints at AQUA, Meez, and OpenWager.
Both were closely involved with the development of Luckyland Slots, which remains one of the most prominent sweepstakes apps available to U.S. players.
As if that weren’t enough, the site is backed by high-profile gaming veterans, including Chris Grove, Melissa Blau, and Eilers & Krejcik Gaming. Leading tech investor Kevin Ryan was a frontline backer of the company. To this end, there’s no question that Zoot is a legitimate sweepstakes app.
Yet, all this means nothing if Zoot doesn’t deliver. So far, it’s a mixed bag. The games are responsive and fair, there are ample opportunities to earn free coins, and payout requests are handled swiftly. On the other hand, the base packs offer little to no value, RTP is generally low, and the playthrough requirement is excessive.
FAQ
What is the minimum age requirement for Zoot casino?
The minimum age requirement for Zoot Casino is 18 years old to sign up and purchase store packs.
Does Zoot casino award free money?
Zoot Casino does not explicitly award free money, but players can collect virtual currencies by collecting daily login bonuses, via store purchases, and by winning them.
One of these virtual currencies, Sweep Coins, can be redeemed for real money at a rate of 1 SC = $1.00.
How does Zoot casino pay out?
Zoot Casino pays out by linking your checking account and requesting an ACH transfer. Approved requests usually hit your bank account within 1-2 business days.
Why doesn’t Zoot have slots or a live casino?
Zoot Casino doesn’t have slots or a Live Casino because, during its initial launch, it wanted to emphasize its collection of Flash-style arcade games.
The app’s founders have specified that more games are coming soon. However, we currently don’t know what types of games the devs have in mind. They could be more arcade games, slots, Live Casino games, or a combination of all three.
What’s the difference between Gold Coins and Sweep Coins?
The difference between Gold Coins and Sweep Coins is that Gold Coins are a virtual currency that can be used to play any Zoot Casino game but do not have any real-world value.
Sweep Coins cannot be purchased directly but are earned via various free giveaways. This currency can be redeemed for cash.
Does Zoot give a daily bonus?
Yes, Zoot does give a daily bonus. Players who log in for seven consecutive days earn 4 SC and 10,000 GC total.
This seven-day bonus cycle is recurring, so theoretically, players could earn at least 16 free SC a month.