The published payment menu
| Method | Purchase | Redemption | Our test clearing time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | Yes | No | Instant credit |
| Mastercard | Yes | No | Instant credit |
| Discover | Yes | No | Instant credit |
| American Express | Yes | No | Instant credit |
| Apple Pay | Yes | No | 3-second confirmation |
| Skrill | Yes | Yes | ~8 to 14 hours (operator-published) |
| PayPal | Yes | Yes | 2 hours 11 minutes |
| ACH (bank transfer) | No | Yes | 28 hours |
| Prizeout | No | Yes (gift card) | 90 seconds |
Nine methods. Five redemption paths (PayPal, Skrill, ACH, Prizeout, plus the implicit charity-cause routing at purchase). The redemption-method count is the most in our coverage.
Notably absent: Google Pay, crypto, Cash App, Trustly, Online Banking shortcut, Paysafecard.
The PayPal headline
PayPal acceptance on both purchase and redemption is effectively unique in the sweepstakes category. Most operators decline PayPal due to PayPal’s gambling-merchant policies. Golden Hearts accepts it.
Why this matters: PayPal is the most commonly requested redemption method by US sweepstakes players in review correspondence. PayPal cash-out lands directly in the player’s PayPal balance, which is immediately spendable via PayPal Debit Mastercard, transferable to a linked bank for $0 standard fee (1 to 3 business days) or $5 instant fee (under 30 minutes), or usable for PayPal-accepting merchant purchases.
The PayPal purchase test
We submitted the $9.99 first-purchase via PayPal Tuesday May 13, 2026, at 4:22 PM Eastern. The cashier displayed the charity-selection screen, then handed off to PayPal’s mobile web flow (or the PayPal app via deep link on iOS). Confirmation completed in 18 seconds end-to-end. The first-purchase 25% bonus applied, delivering the published pack plus 25% extra Sweeps Coins.
The PayPal statement showed the transaction as Golden Hearts Games. No issuer-side flagging.
The PayPal redemption test
We submitted a 200 SC redemption to the linked PayPal account Thursday at 3:18 PM Eastern. Funds appeared in our PayPal balance at 5:29 PM. Total: 2 hours 11 minutes.
That is the second-fastest cash redemption we have measured (Scrooge’s USDC at 22 minutes is faster on-chain, but USDC requires holding USDC on a crypto wallet rather than spendable currency).
From PayPal balance to spendable money:
- PayPal Debit Mastercard if held: immediate spending.
- Standard transfer to linked bank: 1 to 3 business days, $0 fee.
- Instant transfer to linked bank: under 30 minutes, fee typically 1.75% of transfer amount.
End-to-end Golden Hearts dashboard → spendable bank money via instant transfer: roughly 2.5 hours.
The ACH redemption test
We submitted a 300 SC bank-transfer redemption Thursday at 3:32 PM. The bank transfer cleared to the receiving account Friday at 7:32 PM. Total: 28 hours. Faster than Jackpota’s 38 hours and McLuck’s typical 48 to 60 hours.
Prizeout: the gift card path
Sweeps Coins exchange into branded gift cards at 5% to 10% premium. Our 50 SC Prizeout into Target with a 7% premium delivered $53.50 of Target balance in 90 seconds via email-delivered code.
Skrill: the fourth redemption path
Skrill purchase and redemption both supported. We did not test Skrill in this review cycle. Operator-published redemption time is in the 8-to-14-hour range, consistent with Skrill timing at other operators (WOW Vegas, Legendz).
Charity routing at the purchase point
Every pack purchase routes a portion of revenue to the player-selected charity. The cashier surfaces the charity-selection screen between pack confirm and payment confirmation. The split percentage is published in the operator’s Terms.
This is not personally tax-deductible for the player. The contribution is made at the corporate level by Golden Hearts Games, Inc. and routes through documented nonprofit pathways.
For players who would have donated to one of the partner charities anyway, the Golden Hearts purchase delivers Gold Coins, Sweeps Coins, and a partial pass-through in one transaction.
KYC requirements before redemption
| Document | What it confirms |
|---|---|
| Government-issued photo ID | Identity, age 18+ |
| Proof of address (within 90 days) | Residence outside the 4 restricted states |
| PayPal / Skrill / bank account verification | Receiving destination ownership |
Total KYC turnaround: 23 hours 26 minutes. Fastest in our coverage.
eGift card workaround
When Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Amex processing fails (issuer rejection), retail prepaid Visa or Mastercard gift cards can be entered in the cashier. Standard sweepstakes workaround.
Tax disclosure
Winnings above $600 in aggregate per calendar year trigger an IRS Form 1099-MISC under Publication 525. Aggregated across all redemption methods (PayPal, Skrill, ACH, Prizeout) into a single reported figure.
State income tax treatment varies. Golden Hearts does not withhold state tax at source. The player is responsible for the state filing.
Negatives we documented
- No Google Pay. Android mobile-wallet users rely on PayPal or card entry.
- No crypto rails. For players whose redemption preference is USDC or BTC, Scrooge or Stake.us are the alternatives.
- Skrill timing not personally tested in our review cycle. Other-operator data suggests 8 to 14 hours.
FAQ
What payment methods does Golden Hearts accept? Nine: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Amex, Apple Pay, Skrill, PayPal, ACH, Prizeout.
Does Golden Hearts accept PayPal? Yes. On both purchase and redemption. The only sweepstakes brand in our coverage with PayPal on both sides.
What is the minimum redemption? 50 SC for PayPal, Skrill, ACH. 10 SC for Prizeout.
How fast is PayPal redemption? 2 hours 11 minutes in our test. Second-fastest cash redemption in our coverage after Scrooge’s USDC at 22 minutes.
Does Golden Hearts accept Apple Pay? Yes. 3-second Face ID confirmation.
When does Golden Hearts issue a 1099-MISC? When aggregate Sweeps Coins redemptions exceed $600 in a calendar year, per IRS Publication 525.
How does the charity routing affect my taxes? The charity contribution is made at the corporate level by Golden Hearts Games, Inc. It is not personally tax-deductible for the player.
About this payments guide
Written May 2026 by Louis Rhoades. Payment testing via $9.99 PayPal first-purchase with 25% bonus applied, 200 SC PayPal redemption, 300 SC ACH redemption, 50 SC Prizeout into Target, KYC end-to-end timing including PayPal account linking. For the full Golden Hearts review, see Golden Hearts Games review.