Social Casinos

Written by: Ashley Grasse, Casino, Games, and Trends Specialist

Did you know you can play casino-style games online with no purchase necessary, even if your state hasn’t legalized gambling sites?

Social casinos are the perfect way to access slots, blackjack, roulette, video poker, and more without breaking the law or the bank.

They’re entertainment platforms where you can play for fun and redeem rewards and cash prizes.

This guide will dive into the different types of social casinos, how they work, rewards, games, and the best sites to play at in 2024.

Sweepstakes & Social Casinos Online

Everything You Need to Start Playing Today

What is a Social Casino?

Gambler Mindset Icon

Social casinos are similar to real money sites, but they are mainly free to play. They use virtual currency and don’t pay out actual cash. Plus, they are legal in most states since you aren’t making concrete wagers.

You can earn virtual coins through daily challenges and in-app activities, but if they run out, you can purchase more. You can also buy boosts and special features.

While you won’t get a direct real money payout, some social sites let you redeem your coins for actual perks like cash prizes or gift cards.

How Do Social Casinos Work?

Social casinos provide elements similar to regular online gaming sites, such as games, interaction, and rewards. Let’s take a closer look at how they work.

Player Interaction

Icon of a Casino Player

The social aspect is a big draw for this type of platform.

You can invite your friends, share experiences, and compete against each other in challenges.

Many social casinos have frequent tournaments for games like slots, poker, blackjack, and roulette.

The prizes can include gold coins, free spins, and Sweepstakes Coins (SC).

Games Dynamic

Slots Cards Dice and Bingo Icon

You can find table games, scratch-offs, bingo, and even live dealers at social casinos, but most of them tend to focus on slots.

The look and feel are similar to real-money online casino games, with key differences.

The most obvious is that you aren’t making actual wagers.

Also, social gaming sites often have missions and challenges where you can compete to move up levels or win more coins.

Another difference is that you can sometimes pay to unlock extra games or features.

Gold & Sweepstakes Coins

Virtual Currency Icon

As mentioned, social casinos use dummy coins and don’t pay out actual cash.

However, many social gaming sites have a virtual currency other than gold coins called Sweepstakes Coins.

Unlike Gold Coins, which hold no value, you can use Sweepstakes Coins to redeem prizes.

Once you earn enough, you can redeem them for various rewards like gift cards and cash.

SC are generally earned by completing tasks and cannot be purchased outright.

What is the difference between Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins?

Gold Coins are the baseline virtual currency used at social casinos, while Sweepstakes Coins are often offered in tandem.

The main difference is that gold coins won’t get you anything other than bragging rights.

SC can be redeemed for prizes, including cash and gift cards.

Judge Gavel Icon

Social casinos get around online gambling laws in most states since they use virtual currency. However, a few places still restrict internet play, even if it’s not with real money.

These sites are mostly not an option if you live in Nevada, Idaho, Michigan, or Washington.

All four states prohibit this type of casino-style platforms.

Types of Social Casinos

There are several social casinos, and you may prefer one over the other, depending on your goals.

Let’s take a look at the options.

Social Casinos for Cash Prizes

Girl looking at her phone while gambling

Can you win money in social casinos? The answer is yes and no. You can get cash from a social site, but you must earn Sweepstakes Coins first and then redeem them. You won’t get a direct payout.  

When you’re ready to turn your coins in for a prize, you must complete a verification process if you haven’t done so already.

You’ll also look at the prizes and decide what you want to redeem your coins for.

Gift cards will get delivered to your email address, and cash will be paid via the method you used to purchase gold coins or to an alternative financial account of your choosing.

So, how do these sites afford to stay in business with no real bets coming in? These sites make money by encouraging in-app purchases and through advertisements.

Social Casinos for Perks

Reddem Coins doe Real Prizes Icon

This type of casino functions like the rest, but the rewards differ. Some offer benefits like concert tickets, hotel stays, and free meals at land-based casinos.

The Bellagio and MGM in Vegas, Borgata in Atlantic City, and MGM Detroit are just a few that participate. 

Others let you redeem your coins in cruises or points at Hard Rock Cafes.

They make money like every social casino through advertisements and in-app purchases for game upgrades and coins.

Free Social Casinos

Free Social Casinos Icon

Social casinos with no cash prizes are pretty straightforward. They are purely for entertainment purposes and don’t provide any rewards.

You get gold coins through various methods, like logging in, playing tournaments, and buying them outright. 

They also generate revenue through advertisements and in-app purchases.

Comparing Social Casinos

Due to their increasing popularity, social casinos are popping up everywhere.

Below is a chart comparing the top sites and their features to see their differences.

Social Casinos Google Play Rating Welcome Reward Total Games Best Features Top Game
Google Play Rating 4.5/5Top Bonus 250,000 Gold Coins + 5 Sweepstakes Coins freeTotal Games +800Best Features Enormous game selectionTop Game Spellbinding Mystery
Google Play Rating Not AvailableTop Bonus 250,000 Gold Coins and up to 25 Sweepstakes Coins freeTotal Games +650Best Features Live dealer gamesTop Game Big Bass Floats My Boat
Google Play Rating 4/5Top Bonus 2 million Gold Coins and two Sweepstakes freeTotal Games +150Best Features Quality slots developed in-houseTop Game The Godfather
Google Play Rating 4.4/5Top Bonus 5,000 Gold Coins and 2.3 Sweepstakes Coins freeTotal Games +300Best Features Games like solitaire and SlingoTop Game Immortal Ways Buffalo
Google Play Rating 4.3/5Top Bonus 27.5 Sweepstakes Coins and up to 57,500 Gold Coins freeTotal Games +600Best Features Top-rated software providersTop Game Buffalo King Megaways
Google Play Rating Not AvailableTop Bonus 9,330,000 Gold Coins and up to 3,900 Sweepstakes CoinsTotal Games +250Best Features Daily prize with 100 Fortune CoinsTop Game Lucky Panda

Top Online Social Casinos in April 2024

Now that you have a quick overview of how these sites stack up, let’s take a closer look at the top online social casinos.

Wow Vegas

Screenshot Wow Vegas Casino

Wow Vegas is a leading social casino with a massive number of games.

There are over 800 slots on this site and an incredible loyalty rewards program where you can earn extra Sweepstakes Coins, exclusive prizes, and discounted coin packs.

This site feels professional, and with Paris Hilton as ambassador, I was pleased to see it live up to the high-class image.

There is a lot of good substance here, with so many games to play.

Although this site has many enticing elements, game variety isn’t one of them, as this is a slots-only casino.

Wow Vegas is available in all states except Idaho, Michigan, Nevada, and Washington.

Pros and Cons of Wow Vegas

  • Pro: Long list of daily promotions
  • Con: Slots are the only type of game
  • Pro: Apple Pay and credit/debit card payments
  • Con: No live chat
  • Pro: Six-tier gold/Sweepstakes Coins rewards program

Stake.us

Screenshot Stake Us Casino

Stake.us is a social casino that packs a big punch. Despite its simple appearance, it has a lot going on under the surface.

A live chat is constantly bubbling, with weekly raffles, multiplier drops, and over 650 games.

You can find slots, blackjack, roulette, video poker, baccarat, scratch cards, and even 12 live dealer games.

I was thrilled to see live dealer and table games on this site.

I also appreciated that there was a live chat available when I had questions.

This site is perfect for every player, whether you want to spin the reels or practice your blackjack strategy. You can find it all here.

Stake.us is available in all states except Idaho, Michigan, Nevada, and Washington.

Pros and Cons of Stake.us

  • Pro: Incredible game selection
  • Con: Limited amount of promotions
  • Pro: Live dealer games
  • Con: Crypto is the only purchase method
  • Pro: Live chat support

Pulsz Casino

Screenshot Pulsz Casino

Pulsz is a colorful, exciting, well-organized site full of casino-style games.

This platform also has Sweepstakes Coins, so you can choose to play for prizes.

There are several coin promotions, tournament options, and a refer-a-friend reward. 

I liked the look of this site and how easy it was to navigate, and I also appreciated that there were over 300 games to choose from.

However, if you’re looking for a huge variety of table games, you might want to play elsewhere. This site focuses heavily on slots.

Pulsz is available in all states but four: Idaho, Michigan, Nevada, and Washington.

Pros and Cons of Pulz

  • Pro: Apple Pay and credit/debit card payments
  • Con: Only two table games
  • Pro: Diverse choice of promotions
  • Con: Somewhat low daily login rewards initially
  • Pro: Arcade games like Plinko and Mines

Chumba Casino

Screenshot Chumba Casino

Chumba is a popular social casino offering Sweepstakes and Gold coins.

This site has over 100 games created by in-house developers. There are plenty of slots, but also bingo, jackpot games, blackjack, and solitaire. 

Newcomers can redeem a reward of 2 million Gold Coins and two free Sweepstakes Coins.

I enjoyed my time at Chumba and found the games unique and impressive. It was also nice to have some different options, like solitaire.

Chumba has a nice variety of titles but doesn’t have it all. When it comes to table games, there are four blackjack options, so if you are into roulette or poker, this won’t be the site for you.

Chumba Casino is legal in all states except Washington and Michigan and only as a gold coin casino in Idaho. Also, some games on the site are not available in Nevada.

Pros and Cons of Chumba

  • Pro: Daily rewards just for logging in
  • Con: No live chat
  • Pro: Bespoke games made by Chumba developers
  • Con: No loyalty program
  • Pro: Credit/debit card payments available

Fortune Coins

Screenshot Fortune Coins Casino

Fortune Coins is a social casino with over 250 games, including slots, keno, poker, war, and fish table games.

You’ll also find a decent array of rewards like daily coins, referring a friend, and weekly rake-backs in the form of prizes.

Fortune Coins is a user-friendly site with quality games I thoroughly enjoyed playing.

Even though customer support is only available through email, they respond quickly and are very helpful when I have questions.

While this site is perfect for slots or fish table games, you won’t find blackjack, roulette, or baccarat here. The table game selection is limited to video poker titles, Joker Poker, and Jacks or Better.

Fortune Coins Casino is available in all states except Idaho, Michigan, Nevada, and Washington.

Pros and Cons of Fortune Coins

  • Pro: Fish table games
  • Con: Small game selection compared to other sites
  • Pro: PayPal payments are available
  • Con: The only table game is poker
  • Pro: Weekly rewards and a VIP star-of-the-month program

For more information about online gaming, read our in-depth casino reviews. We cover casino platforms from top to bottom, including games, offers, customer support, banking methods, and more.

Play at a Trusted Social Casino Now

Ready to experience a free-to-play social casino gaming experience? Below, you’ll find the social casino sites I have tried and can recommend. Make sure to play responsibly and review all Sweepstakes rules.

RANK CASINO BONUS LICENSED TOTAL GAMES OUR RATING CLICK TO PLAY
1 Wow Vegas Logo Wow Vegas BONUS 250,000 WoW Coins + 5 SC LICENSED Yes TOTAL GAMES 800 OUR RATING 4.8 / 5 Play Now
2 Stake.us Logo Stake.us BONUS 250,000 GC + $25 SC LICENSED Yes TOTAL GAMES 751 OUR RATING 4.7 / 5 Play Now
3 Pulsz Logo Pulsz BONUS GC 5,000 + 2 SC LICENSED Yes TOTAL GAMES 413 OUR RATING 4.6 / 5 Play Now
4 McLuck Logo McLuck BONUS 7,500 GC + 2.50 SC LICENSED Yes TOTAL GAMES 246 OUR RATING 4.5 / 5 Play Now
5 High 5 Logo High 5 BONUS GC 250, SC 5 & 600 DIAMONDS LICENSED Yes TOTAL GAMES 1129 OUR RATING 4.4 / 5 Play Now

List of Social Casinos Available to US Players

Many social casinos are available to US players. Here’s a list of most of them.

  • Wow Vegas Casino
  • MyJackpot
  • Crazino Slots
  • Celebrity Slots
  • Stake.us
  • Sweeptastic
  • Seminole Social
  • Lucky Charms
  • Pulsz
  • Funzpoints
  • Play To Win Casino
  • Skillz Games
  • McLuck
  • Vegas Gems
  • PCH Games
  • Penn Play
  • Chumba Casino
  • Chanced
  • Bingo Blitz
  • VBlink 777
  • Fortune Coins
  • Slotomania
  • Vegas Sweeps
  • SweepSlots
  • High 5
  • NoLimitCoins
  • Live Social
  • B Spot Casino
  • Underdog Casino
  • Funrize Casino
  • Big Fish Casino
  • BetRivers
  • Caesars Slots
  • Funzpoints
  • ZitoBox
  • Gambino Slots
  • Fliff Casino – Sports
  • No Limit Coins Casino
  • DoubleDown Casino
  • LuckyBird
  • TaoFortune
  • House Of Fun Slots
  • Sweeptastic
  • Funrize
  • Big Fish
  • Wind Creek
  • Billionaire Casino
  • Web Sweeps
  • Fortune 2 Go
  • Paradise Sweepstakes
  • Modo.us
  • Panda Master
  • Golden Hearts Games
  • Heart Of Vegas
  • Huuuge Casino

Discover the Ideal Online Social Casino for You

The perfect social casino for you will depend on your goals. Take the following into consideration when choosing where to play.

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Type of Platform & Style of Play

Are you playing for entertainment, or do you want the opportunity to claim a prize?

If you hope to redeem your coins for a gift card, you’ll want to look for a social casino with Sweepstakes Coins.

If you simply want to play for fun, consider sites that will offer you more gold coins.

Casino Safety Icon Lock and Key

Consider Security & Reputation

It’s a good idea to be cautious about where you share your personal information online. 

Check that the social casino you’re considering playing at uses SSL encryption and trusted banking methods.

Also, read reviews from different sources to get an idea of other people’s experiences on the site.

Casino Game Hand and Poker Chip Icon

Games & Rewards

Social casinos tend to have expansive slot selections, so you’ll have no problem finding places to spin the reels.

But if you’re looking for table games, you might have to dig a little deeper. Always look through the games to check that what you want to play is available.

Also, be sure to visit the promotions page at a social casino and see if any offers catch your eye.

Casino Customer Support Icon

Customer Support

You might need help with your account, have questions about a prize, or want assistance purchasing.

On many sites, customer support is reachable through email, but live chat is an even quicker option.

Compare different sites and read reviews to ensure you are making well-informed decisions.

Best Social Casino Rewards Online

Social Casino Real Money Icon

Playing casino-style games means you can access enticing offers, but certain elements set social and traditional online casino rewards apart. 

Social casino prizes typically only require you to play your SC one time before being able to redeem them, whereas traditional gambling sites’ rollovers are much higher.

Social gaming sites also don’t always require you to purchase to get a reward, but you do have to pay for some promotions.

The following offers have value and terms that top other sites’ promotions. Here are the best social casino rewards online.

Wow Vegas Casino Logo Dark

Wow Vegas Welcome Offers

  • 250,000 Gold Coins + 5 Sweepstakes Coins with no purchase necessary
  • Purchase offer of 1,500,000 Gold Coins and 30 free SC for $9.99
  • Immediately in your account once it’s verified
StakeUs Casino Logo Dark

Stake.us Welcome Reward

  • 250,000 Gold Coins and up to 25 Sweepstakes Coins with no purchase necessary
  • SC are gifted every day for 25 days in the form of login rewards
  • No code needed
Chumba Casino Logo

Chumba Welcome Prize

  • 2 million Gold and two free Sweepstakes Coins with no purchase necessary
  • Offer only available to those creating an account
  • No code needed

Social Casino Games

Most games at social casinos are pretty similar to the ones you’ll find at regular online gambling sites, with a few minor differences. Let’s examine them closer.

Online Slots

It’s no surprise slots dominate the social casino scene. They’re colorful, exciting, and fast-paced.

Of course, when there’s no money on the line, there have to be additional ways to keep people’s interest.

That’s why social slots tend to have more in-game features like mini-games and unlockable levels.

Other than that, they are comparable to real money slots and even have jackpots where you can win a large sum of coins.

Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most common table games at social casinos.

The gameplay is the same as regular casinos, but there is a more significant social element with chat rooms and the ability to sync to Facebook.

Other than that, it’s what you would expect from an online blackjack game.

Since it’s free, it’s the perfect way to practice your strategy

Poker

Poker has a social element that makes it more comparable to a Friday night game at your friend’s house than playing casino poker alone.

It encourages interaction with fellow players through tournaments, leaderboards, and live chat.

There isn’t really any difference in gameplay, so it’s accessible to all poker fans.

Live Dealer Games

Live games bring the action of the casino floor to your computer or mobile device.

You can hop into a table game happening in real time with a human dealer just like you would on the casino floor.

Roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and Sic Bo are some of the games you can find, and social casinos often have the added element of challenges and leaderboards.

Other Games

You can also find various other games at social casinos, like bingo, keno, fish table games, roulette, and baccarat.

Many have additional features to keep things exciting, but the base gameplay isn’t much different than their real money casino counterparts.

Social Casino Apps

Social Casino App Icon

One of the most popular ways to play at social casinos is on the go. Many of these sites have apps available for download on your Apple or Android devices.

The interfaces operate as smoothly on a small screen as on a computer, and the game graphics are incredible. 

Social casinos that don’t have apps often optimize their sites to work just as well in your browser on your mobile phone. All you have to do is visit the site and start playing.

Social Casinos Vs. Real Money Online Casinos

While there are a lot of similarities between social casinos and real-money online casinos, they differ in a few key ways.

Let’s take a look at a detailed comparison.

Social Casinos

  • You cannot withdraw real money directly but can redeem your Sweepstakes Coins for gift cards or cash.
  • You can play for free. Social casinos don’t require you to spend any money if you don’t want to.
  • Social casinos have a strong social element, encouraging players to interact and get their friends to join.
  • Most social casinos focus heavily on slots, so they are a good choice for spinning the reels.

Real Money Casinos

  • You can withdraw real money winnings without the extra step social casinos require.
  • Most real money casinos require a deposit, although some will let you play for free in practice mode.
  • While many online casinos have chats and tournaments, you can avoid the social aspect entirely if you prefer.
  • Real-money casinos have more game variety. Table games, specialties, and live dealers are much easier to find.

Casino Platforms Compared

Whether you are a seasoned gambler, a player looking to win prizes, or just want to have some fun with your friends, it’s helpful to know about the different casino-style platforms you’ll find out there.

To make things easier, we created a table about the types of casinos you can find online and what each of them has to offer.

FeatureReal Money Online CasinoSocial CasinoSweepstakes Casino
Real Money PlayYesNoNo
Virtual CurrenciesNoYesYes
Cash PrizesYesNoYes
Gambling LicencesRequiredNot RequiredNot Required
Age Limit21+18+18+

5 Tips to Play at Social Casinos

Social casinos do not pay real money. However, you can redeem cash prizes with Sweepstakes Coins.

Here are some tips to play and win.

  1. Socialize With Other Players

    Social casinos encourage you to interact through virtual chats and social media communities.

    Using them makes the experience much more fun.
  2. Set a Budget

    While social casinos are a great way to play responsibly, we still recommend setting a budget to purchase coins separate from your daily expenses.
  3. Learn and Practice

    Learn the rules of your favorite games and practice with gold coins at different casinos.
  4. Consider Rewards

    Look for promotions or daily login perks. No purchase is necessary. You can easily get them by just creating a new account.
  5. Don’t Get Too Engaged With Prizes

    Rushing for rewards can quickly drain your coins. Stay calm, and make your credits last.

Pros & Cons of Social Casinos

  • It’s a fun way to keep up with your friends and engage in a bit of competition.
  • You can redeem Sweepstakes Coins for a huge variety of gift cards.
  • They’re a great way to practice strategy, learn the rules of games, and become comfortable before spending money.
  • You get a set amount of coins each day, and if you run out, you must purchase more if you want to keep playing.
  • Even though you can play for free, you will still need to go through a verification process.
  • If you like to play casino games to win money, social casinos are not your best choice.

Get Started with Social Casinos!

Poker Chps and Hand Icon

Whether you’re a novice player or an expert, social casinos provide endless entertainment that won’t dent your bankroll.

Access your favorite games for free or learn how to play new ones. 

No matter your goals, you’ll find a world of fun at your fingertips. Start exploring social sites today!

Frequently Asked Questions About Social Casinos

Check out our FAQs to get answers to the most common inquiries about social casinos.

Are social casinos considered gambling?

Most states don’t consider playing at social casinos gambling since you are not wagering with real money.

How big is the social casino market in the US?

The social casino market in the US is booming. America was responsible for 60% of the $6 billion global revenue in 2023, and it’s still growing.

Why do people play social casino games?

People play social casino games for various reasons, such as entertainment, interacting with others, working towards a prize, and having something to do in their downtime.

What is the business model of social casinos?

Most social casinos operate on a freemium business model, meaning the base level is free, but they require in-app purchases to unlock certain features.

What’s the difference between social casinos and Sweepstakes?

Sweepstakes sites have Gold Coins as well as Sweepstakes Coins. That means that you can play for fun and not worry about rewards, or you can try to earn Sweepstakes Coins to redeem them for prizes later.

Social casinos are a blanket term for all types of free-play sites, but can also indicate that the site is for entertainment purposes only.

Ashley Grasse

Ashley Grasse Casino, Games, and Trends Specialist

Ashley Grasse is a research writer and casino entertainment expert. She's a game theory enthusiast, and an expert on information accuracy, making difficult concepts easy to understand, dissecting casino games, and reviewing games, software, and online gambling sites.

Learn More About Ashley