Sweepstakes

Sweepstakes, manufactured by Williams in 1952, is a two-player electromechanical (EM) horse-racing themed pinball machine notable for its use of two playfields and mechanical backbox animation of racing horses. This unconventional design let two players compete directly against one another rather than simply taking turns on a shared playfield.

One of the standout features of Sweepstakes is its array of six flippers, a generous allocation for an EM machine of this era. The addition of four pop bumpers adds to the gameplay variety, while the backbox animation of horses racing creates a dynamic and immersive atmosphere.

The cabinet itself was unconventional for its time, advertised as five feet wide and two and a half feet deep to accommodate the dual playfields. Williams would revisit similar horse-racing themes later that year with 'Horsefeathers.' While little is documented about the game's individual designer, Sweepstakes remains a distinctive example of Williams' experimentation with head-to-head competitive play during the 1950s.