Sweepstakes casinos in a nutshell
The term sweepstakes casino (also known as social casinos or sweeps casinos) refers to an online casino where you do not place real money wagers. Instead, you play with two virtual currencies: Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins. They may be called something different at some live sweepstakes casinos, but their purposes remain the same. Whenever you play a game, you can choose whether to use your Gold Coins, or your Sweepstakes Coins balance.
One, or both, of these virtual currencies are often awarded by sites as part of welcome offers and ongoing promotions. Alternatively, players can use real money to top up their balance by purchasing Gold Coin packages. You cannot use real money to purchase Sweeps Coins. Instead, they are awarded as add ons to Gold Coin packages or as prizes in promotions.
Whilst you do not win real money when you play at the
best sweepstakes casinos, if you get enough Sweepstakes Coins in your account, you can exchange your balance for a prize. The specific prizes you can claim vary from brand to brand, in some cases you can redeem cash, whilst other sites reward you with vouchers and other prizes.
In most other ways, a sweepstakes casino is exactly the same as a real money casino. There are slot games, table games, and in many cases, a free play live casino. You will also find that the customer support channels and banking options are broadly the same as those at real money casinos.
A big benefit of social casinos is that because you are not playing with real money, sites do not have to comply with the same laws as standard online casinos. As such, sweeps casinos are available in many locations that otherwise prohibit online casino play.
Pros and cons of sweeps casinos
- Free gameplay
- Available in locations that prohibit real money gaming
- Regular promotions for existing players
- Top games developers represented
- Difficult to win cash prizes
How I assess live sweepstakes casinos
Whenever I look at live sweepstakes casinos, I always take a holistic approach to the task. I thoroughly examine all the key areas of the site, so that I can deliver an informed verdict on the brand. Here are the areas I cover:
Naturally, I want to see a large selection of live sweepstakes casino games. Pretty much all live sites offer
free live blackjack, roulette and other popular table games, but how many game variations are there? And can you also play game show titles such as Deal or No Deal or Monopoly Live? Or even live bingo or poker? Aside from quantity, I am also looking for high quality and performance from the games. That means professional dealers, excellent graphics and smooth gameplay.
As they are not giving away real money, live sweepstakes casinos are often very generous when it comes to promotions. As well as a big welcome bonus, you can also expect to find daily log in bonuses, and a host of reload offers. In my guides, I assess each of these promotions, looking at important issues including game eligibility, expiry dates and any stake limits.
The support channels available at sweeps casinos are largely the same as those at real money casinos. Email support is usually available, many brands also offer live chat and/or telephone assistance. I always try out the available customer service channels, so I can evaluate the quality of the operators, the opening hours and the speed of response.
If you do decide to purchase a coin package or have a cash prize to redeem, you want a solid selection of payment methods to choose from. You also want those methods to be fee free, rapid and easy to access. I look at all these issues in my guides, plus assess the full range of coin packages available to purchase.
Although sweepstakes casinos are available in many locations that do not allow real money online gambling, they are not available everywhere. In fact, the list of available locations can vary from site to site. My guides provide a comprehensive list of where each sweeps casino brand is licensed.
The best live sweepstakes casinos: My selections
Now that you know how I assess live sweepstakes casinos, it’s time to reveal my selections for the four best brands on the market:
| Site | Best for live… |
| Stake.us | Blackjack |
| Golden Heart Games | Bingo |
| Global Poker | Poker |
| High5 Casino | Roulette |
Stake.us - Great games for everyone
Pros & Cons
- Excellent live game selection
- 15 Stake Original Games
- Coin packages can be purchased using cryptocurrency
Let’s start with what is arguably my favorite social casino brand of all. Stake.us is a fantastic option for all social casino fans, but it is especially attractive for live casino fans. That is because the site offers an excellent variety of titles to choose from. There are free live dealer baccarat tables, plenty of blackjack tables plus a few roulette variations. And to help you make the most out of these games, Stake.us provides you with a fantastic welcome bonus, regular reload offers and even a generous rewards program.
Away from the live casinos, Stake.us is home to a vast online slot library of over 500 games. This includes games from renowned software developers including Hacksaw Gaming and Pragmatic Play. There are also around 15 exclusive Stake Original games if you are looking for an exciting twist on traditional casino play. If you decide to purchase a coin package at Stake.us, they are one of the few social casinos that accept crypto purchases and redemptions. Throw in some world class support channels plus a great looking website, and it is clear to see why my
Stake.us review
is so glowing.
up to 260K GC +
55 FREE SC
+ 5% Rakeback
Stake.us Highlights
- EXCLUSIVE welcome bonus code
- Coins can be used on all games
- Unmatched Stake Original games
Golden Hearts Games - The social casino with a big heart
Pros & Cons
- Bingo games every ten minutes
- All Coin purchases include a charity donation
- Big rewards for bingo winners
Bingo fans are going to absolutely love Golden Heart Games. A new bingo game starts every ten minutes, with each round giving you the opportunity to land a selection of coins that can be redeemed for gift cards or cash prizes. If you want a change of pace, this is also a selection of slot and table games available on the site. However, there is no live casino, so if you are looking to play live roulette for free you will need to look elsewhere.
Aside from the strong emphasis on bingo, the other way in which Golden Heart Games stands out from the crowd is in the way you purchase coins. Wherever you opt to purchase a package, your funds go to a charity of your choosing. So not only does Golden Heart Games provide a high quality social casino experience, it also allows you to help your favorite causes. Get to know the operator more in my
Golden Hearts Games
review.
up to 625K GC +
125 FREE SC
+ 1250 VIP Points
Real Prize Highlights
- Games from top developers
- Fair 1x playthrough requirement
- Real live dealers
Global Poker - A unique sweepstakes casino
Pros & Cons
- Four poker variants
- Flexible poker game options
- Generous daily login bonus
As the name suggests, Global Poker specializes in poker games. There are four different ways for you to
play live poker online for free
- Omaha, Omaha Hi Lo, Texas Hold’Em and Crazy Pineapple. Each game type can be played with no limits, fixed limits or pot limits. There are also tournaments you can join and a range of jackpot poker events. There is also a slot library at Global Poker, although it is somewhat smaller than the ones found at other sweepstakes casinos.
The promotions at Global Poker are another big strength of the brand. Their welcome offer gives you a massive selection of free coins, whilst the daily log in bonus is one of the most generous on the market. In addition, the brand’s website is a world class gambling platform that further solidifies Global Poker’s standing as one of the most appealing live sweepstakes casinos around. Read my
Global Poker Review
to know more about the sweepstakes casino operator.
High5 Casino - The best games around
Pros & Cons
- Superb live game variety
- Huge slot library
- Fantastic graphics
- Very hard to win real prizes
If you want a truly exceptional live sweepstakes casino experience, then High5 Casino represents a fantastic choice. The professional dealers and realistic settings provide an authentic live experience that rivals many of the best real money live casinos. Players can choose from a range of blackjack, baccarat, roulette and poker games, all of which feature high quality graphics and slick gameplay.
The live sweepstakes casino is far from the only reason why my
High5 Casino review
is so positive. Their slot collection contains over 800 games, including many of the most popular slots in the world. There are also video table games to try, and thanks to the daily bonuses, you can pick up a regular supply of free coins.
up to 250 H5C +
5 FREE SC
+ 600 Diamonds
High5Casino Highlights
- 1200+ Games, Slots & Live Dealer Games!
- FREE Daily Rewards
- Authentic brand, made in the USA
Three steps to finding the best live sweepstakes casinos for you
Finding the best live sweepstakes casinos for you is a fairly straightforward task. Here are the three easy steps you need to follow
1. Establish what you are looking for
Your first step involves carefully considering precisely what you require from a live sweepstakes casino. What type of games do you play? Will you be playing every day? Will you purchase coin packages? Try to form a picture of what your perfect live sweeps casino looks like.
2. Read my reviews
As outlined earlier in this guide, my live sweepstakes casino guides provide a comprehensive overview of everything a site has to offer. By reading these guides you will be able to ascertain which brands best meet the requirements established in step one.
3. Sign up
After discovering your ideal brand, just head over to their website and complete the registration process. Compared to most real money casinos, live sweepstakes casinos tend to have relatively simple sign up processes. In most cases, you will just need to provide the following details:
- Full name
- Postal address
- Email address
- Username/password combination.
You may be asked to verify your account via email, but regardless of that, your account should be up and running almost immediately. You can then claim your welcome offer and begin playing your favorite games.
Final thoughts: Play at the best live sweepstakes casinos today
Hopefully, this article has shown that there are some great live sweepstakes casinos out there. And whilst there is plenty to consider when deciding exactly which sites you want to join, if you follow my guidance you should be up and running in no time at all.
In particular, make sure you pay attention to the promotions provided by the brands you are interested in. Receiving free virtual coins is imperative to your social casino experience, so look for the sites that provide you with daily live casino free play opportunities. Also, weigh up the relative merits of the welcome offers provided by casinos, the best live sweepstakes casinos give you a huge array of both Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins when you first sign up. Perfect, for starting your live sweepstakes casino journey in style.
Our favorite sweepstakes casino bonuses
1.
up to 625K GC +
125 FREE SC
+ 1250 VIP Points
2.
150% Purchase Offer:
25 SC
FREE and 50K GC
3.
up to 57500 GC +
27.5 FREE SC
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus
4.
up to 260K GC +
55 FREE SC
+ 5% Rakeback
Requirements (WR): 3x
5.
up to 1.75M WC +
35 FREE SC
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: 9.99
Live sweepstakes casinos: FAQs
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What is the best live sweepstakes casino?
That is down to your personal choice. Think about what you are looking for from a live sweeps casino - the games, the promos, the mobile options et al. After that, check out my expert reviews to find out which social casinos best match your requirements.
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Which social casinos offer live games?
Live games are available at some social casinos, including Stake.us and High5 Casino. The specific games on offer at these sites can vary, but you will typically find a selection of black, roulette and baccarat tables. My expert social casino guides outline the live sweepstakes casino games you can play at each site.
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Are live sweepstakes casinos legit?
Yes. And the great news is that they are available in many locations that prohibit all other forms of online gambling. Before you attempt to join any live sweeps casinos, don’t forget to read my expert reviews. These reviews contain full details of where each social casino is available.
