Social casinos have become extremely popular because they are regulated in most US states and feature exciting, free casino games.
They also incorporate social elements that allow you to connect with friends on casino platforms.
Early social casinos offered free-to-play games with no chance to win prizes. However, many social gaming platforms have adopted the sweepstakes model, a hybrid of free games and opportunities to redeem cash prizes.
They differ from real money online casinos, where you must risk money to play.
We will discuss more on social casinos online, including the best sites to play at, games, legalities, rewards, apps, and more.
Social Casinos Guide
Jump to specific sections of the page using the following buttons:
What Are Social Casinos?
Social casinos are platforms where you can play free casino games for coins and prizes. Unlike real money online casinos, you don’t need to deposit US dollars to play games, but that’s not to say you’ll walk away empty-handed.
Many social casinos have two types of in-game currency, one basic and one premium.
While the basic coins (eg. Gold Coins) are for playing games and joining tournaments, many sites have complementary coins (eg. Sweepstakes coins) that have no monetary value, but you can redeem them for gift cards, prizes, and even cash.
A purely social casino lets you win (or purchase) more coins and enhances the fun with leaderboards, contests, and social media elements.
Social casinos with cash prizes are, technically, sweepstakes casinos, but two have become one and the same, as most sites have some sort of prize.
Social and sweepstakes casinos offer the same game types as real money online casinos, such as slots, blackjack, roulette, poker variants, and live dealer games.
Best Social Casinos for Cash Rewards in the USA in 2024
We have reviewed many social gaming sites to determine the top ones. Our picks for the best social casinos available to US players are below.
These platforms operate through the hybrid social/sweepstakes model, where you can play games purely for fun or try to redeem cash prizes.
Wow Vegas
WOW provides hundreds of games from software developers like Booming Games and Pragmatic Play. 800+ slots are included in this variety, covering categories like classic, jackpot, and Megaways.
You can also enjoy table games here.
The WOW Vegas welcome reward delivers 250,000 WoW Coins + 5 Sweepstakes Coins for registration. You can also get 1.5 million WC and 35 SC after purchasing complementary coins.
Stake US
Stake US launched in 2022 as the social arm of the famed gambling site Stake.com. It does a great job of incorporating social elements into the gaming experience, like a chat section on the main casino page.
The casino features over 650 games, including slots, blackjack, roulette, and live dealer games. Live gaming lets you play with a real dealer and experience a land-based casino atmosphere.
After signing up, you can score 250 Gold Coins and $25 Stake Cash. On your first purchase, you’ll be eligible for other rewards, such as 200k GC and 20 SC.
Chumba Casino
Launched in 2012, Chumba Casino is among the oldest and most trusted social casinos.
It offers two virtual currencies: Gold Coins (GC) and Sweepstakes Coins (SC). The latter are redeemable for cash and gift cards, bringing a sweepstakes element to Chumba.
You don’t have to spend anything to play here because the Chumba Casino enter reward offers 2 million GC and 2 SC.
You can pick up additional GC and SC through social media contests, mail-in requests, and buying coin packages. Available games include slots, bingo, blackjack, slingo, solitaire, and video poker.
Pulsz
Pulsz has one of the largest game selections of any social casino. It features over 700 games from top software providers like Betsoft, Pragmatic Play, and Relax Gaming.
It also covers all notable categories with its selection, including slots, blackjack, poker, roulette, and scratch cards.
You can start playing these games with the Pulsz Casino welcome reward, which offers 5,000 Gold Coins and 2.3 Sweepstakes Coins. This gaming site also features a VIP program and various promotions, such as login rewards, social media contacts, and coin package discounts.
Fortune Coins
Launched in 2022, Fortune Coins is one of the newer social casinos. It hasn’t had much time to build a game selection and currently only offers 50+ games.
However, it does cover multiple bases with slots, keno, and wheel-based games. Fortune Coins excels the most regarding promos, featuring daily rewards, weekly rakeback, and VIP rewards.
It also offers a welcome reward worth 9,330,000 Gold Coins and 3,900 Fortune Coins (FC).
List of Popular Social Casinos Online
Here’s a list of the most popular social casinos that you find on the internet in case you want to explore some other options apart from those covered above.
Playing at Social Casinos in the USA
No US regulatory body oversees social casinos because no true gambling is involved.
That said, social casino apps are legal in most states. The only exceptions include jurisdictions that have specifically outlawed sweepstakes gaming.
Idaho and Washington have always been staunch opponents of social casino games. Michigan has recently joined the fray to protect its regulated real money online casinos.
Most other states are lax and do not require any regulation for social gaming sites.
How We Review Social Casinos
The following points show the main aspects that shape our reviews and recommendations. The goal is to find social casino sites that perform well in most or all of the following areas.
Game Selection
Social casinos with many games will keep you entertained longer.
They get extra points when covering several categories, such as blackjack, roulette, scratch cards, Slingo, and slots.
Interface and User Experience
Most social gaming platforms provide an entertaining and user-friendly interface. Nevertheless, we still check to see if the website and app (if available) provide simple navigation and a quick account creation process.
Rewards and Other Promotions
A social casino should greet you with a coin package reward that doesn’t require a purchase. The best social casinos run multiple other promotions and a VIP program.
Social Interaction Features
Social casinos should live up to their name by enabling you to interact with others and social media sites. For example, a lobby chat function lets you and others discuss games, rewards, and more.
Legality and Compliance in the US
While social and sweepstakes gaming is legal in most states, casinos must ensure that they only operate where permitted.
A casino should also use top casino software providers that have undergone third-party game testing from agencies like iTech Labs.
Customer Service
The top social casinos offer knowledgeable support departments through multiple channels, such as live chat and email.
A gaming site should also provide an FAQ page that discusses important topics like banking options, rewards terms, and account security.
Types of Games at Social Casinos
Social casino operators emulate real money online casinos with their game selections by covering multiple areas. Of course, online slots still dominate the industry because they allow for many different themes and features.
The average social casino dedicates at least 80% of its selection towards slot games. It may provide multiple types of slots, such as jackpot, Megaways, and cluster pays.
Other common casino games on social platforms include table games, scratch cards, Slingo, and bingo. Rare operators also provide live dealer games, which feature a human dealer, actual tables, and real cards.
We may see new types of social casino games arise in the future, such as augmented reality and virtual reality gaming. However, AR and VR casino games are still in the early stages.
How to Start Playing at a Social Casino
You can get started at many social casinos within a minute or two. Here are the steps to creating an account in a social gaming site:
1. Choose a Quality Social Casino
You might consider the gaming sites covered here for the best social casinos.
Of course, you can also do your own research on the subject.
2. Create an Account
A social casino will feature a sign-up or join option on the homepage.
Most social gaming sites give you two options for membership.
You can fill out the registration form or sign in through a social media platform like Facebook..
3. Collect Your Free Coins
You will get an initial reward at most sites.
This welcome reward typically includes free coins and sweepstakes funds.
4. Start Playing Games
Social casino games require free coins or sweepstakes coins.
Once you have either—or both—you’re ready to start playing titles like slots, blackjack, and scratch cards.
Understanding Social Casino Gaming
Social casinos have two key aspects that make them stand out from real money casinos:
- They offer free games.
- They incorporate social elements.
Beginning with the first point, social operators offer ways to enjoy games for free.
You can often pick up a coin package after completing registration. You may also get free coins for logging in each day.
In contrast, few real money casinos do not let you play free games.
Of course, many social casinos use a sweepstakes model to offer prizes. They include tokens that are redeemable for cash and other prizes. This part is exciting if you want something more than just the thrill of victory when winning.
The social elements refer to features like chat boxes, social media contests, and the ability to invite Facebook and Instagram friends.
These extra perks make social gaming perfect for casual players who don’t want to gamble real money. The widespread legality of social casinos is also comforting for anybody looking for state-regulated gaming action.
How Do Social Casinos Make Money?
Social gaming sites don’t force you to risk money, so you may wonder how they make profits.
These casinos-style platforms earn revenue through two ways, including in-app purchases and advertising. We’ve covered the in-app purchases when discussing the coin packages.
Also, you will often see brief advertisements when browsing a social casino.
How Can You Win Real Money on Social Casinos?
Although social gaming sites aren’t real money casinos, most provide the chance to redeem cash prizes.
They feature two currencies (GC and SC), with SC being redeemable for cash, gift cards, or other rewards.
You wager these tokens on games in hopes of winning and earning enough to meet the minimum prize redemption amount.
Most social casinos require you to earn at least 100 Sweepstakes Coins (SC) before redeeming your cash prize.
Free Coins and Sweepstakes Coins
Social casinos can either be free to play or offer a sweepstakes element. In the latter case, they will provide two types of virtual currency:
Sweepstakes Coins
These tokens are redeemable for cash once you hit the casino’s minimum prize redemption.
Free Coins
These coins do not have monetary value and are strictly for free games.
Most social operators give you free coins and sweepstakes cash upon signing up. For example, you might get one million gold coins and two SC after signing up for an account.
Of course, you may want to increase your free coin bankroll and add more sweepstakes cash for chasing prizes. You can do so by purchasing coin packages containing free tokens and sweeps.
Buying Coins at Social Casinos
Social gaming sites offer coin packages if you want to play for higher stakes, perform better on leaderboards, and impress your friends.
Banking options differ from one sweepstakes gaming site to the next. Generally speaking, you can use credit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers at social casinos.
Some operators also accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Here are the most popular purchase methods that US players can use for social gambling:
You do not normally pay anything to begin playing because many social casinos provide welcome rewards. If you wish to buy coins, packages often range from $5-$20.
Purchase methods like Visa, Skrill, and Apple Pay are easy to use.
Free coins are also available through giveaways, login rewards, and social media. Regarding the latter, you can visit a casino’s Facebook or Instagram page for details on free coins.
Responsible Gaming
Social gaming is not technically gambling because you don’t have to wager real money. Nevertheless, you want to be responsible when playing at these sites since they sell coin packages.
The risk is that you could get addicted to buying packages and spend too much money.
We recommend exercising proper bankroll management and only spending what you can afford on coins.
Some social casinos also have responsible gambling sections that provide tips and helpful resources.
Social Casino Features
Features at social casinos are made to be exciting and engaging, giving you the thrill of casino games without the risk of losing real cash.
These features are included in the social casino platforms, allowing you to have the excitement of casino-style games while just playing for fun.
Social Casino Rewards
Rewards are among the most exciting aspects of social casinos.
They provide opportunities to collect free gold coins and sweepstakes funds. You can expect some of the following promos at any given social casino:
- No-Purchase Rewards
- Coin packages
- Login rewards
- Contests
- VIP Rewards
- Referral rewards
Most social gaming sites start you off with a welcome reward, meaning you only have to create an account on the platform to get it.
The top social casinos consistently offer other promos, such as daily login rewards, Facebook contests, and loyalty rewards.
Social Gaming Apps
Many real-money online casinos cannot offer other apps through Google Play or the App Store because of these platforms’ restrictions towards real-money gambling.
In contrast, social casino apps can be found on the Apple and Google Play Stores. Therefore, you can download most of these apps on an iPhone, iPad, or Android.
You will experience smooth gameplay and high-quality graphics when using the average social gaming app.
Social Interactions and Features
Social casinos provide an all-around entertainment experience with games, rewards, and social features.
The latter vary between casinos, but they are always available in some form. Examples of social features include:
- Social Networking
- Chat Functions
- Share Leaderboard Standings with Friends
- Casino Tournaments
Tips to Play at Social Casinos
The strategy behind social gaming isn’t as intense as that of real-money casinos. However, you can still benefit from the following social gaming tips:
Get a No-Purchase Reward
You will normally be eligible for a social casino reward simply for creating an account.
That said, we recommend choosing a site that offers a valuable welcome package.
Consider Coin Packages
Social casino apps do not require you to pay to play.
However, you might consider purchasing a complementary coin package if the offer is sweet enough.
Pay Attention to Social Media
Many social gaming rewards are available through Facebook and Instagram.
We suggest visiting your favorite social casino’s page and looking for contests and rewards opportunities.
Understand Sweepstakes Coins
Sweepstakes funds are not redeemable immediately because you must meet the minimum prize redemption.
You should check the terms and conditions behind sweepstakes coins beforehand.
Set a budget
You want a plan before mindlessly buying coin packages.
We recommend setting a weekly limit on how much you can spend on social casino games.
Start Playing at Top Social Casinos!
Social gaming offers a unique experience compared to real money casinos. It provides free games, redeemable cash prizes, networking features, and many banking options.
Most importantly, social casinos feature a low-pressure environment that is perfect for casual gamers.
You may appreciate the easygoing atmosphere if you are primarily interested in entertainment—not just winning money.
Of course, you can redeem cash prizes and gift cards due to the sweepstakes aspect.
Social casinos also offer welcome rewards to new players. You will be able to get worthwhile prizes at the top social casino apps; give it a try and start having fun!
Our Readers FAQ About Social Casinos
You can find answers to common questions about playing at social casinos in the USA below.
You can enjoy casino-style games for free without buying coin packages. Social gaming apps provide initial rewards and other ways to get free virtual coins.
Social gaming sites also give you a free coin package for creating an account. You can continue earning free coins through contests and login activity.
People in the United States play games at social casinos for many different reasons. While some play the titles to relieve stress, others do so to get new high scores they can brag about to their friends. Some players enjoy the games just for the love of playing.
Disclaimer
As part of our commitment to transparency, it’s important to disclose that this website engages in affiliate marketing. This means that when you click on our links to online casinos and make a purchase or sign up, we may earn a commission.
These commissions contribute to the upkeep of our platform and the creation of valuable content. While we aim to provide accurate and unbiased information, it’s crucial to note that our reviews are not influenced by affiliate partnerships.
Additionally, we advocate for responsible gaming practices and encourage users to gamble responsibly. If you believe you may have a gambling problem, please seek assistance from relevant support services.
