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It can be difficult to find the best online social casinos on your own, especially if you’re a newcomer. That’s where we come in with this expert guide can help you find the top-ranked operators in the US.
It will make your search for the best social casino with real money much shorter, and will highlight what to look for to save you time and effort. This guide also includes an editor’s recommendation if you want to get straight into the action, as well as some tips to get you started in the best way possible.
Social casinos allow people to play slots and table games in a semi-realistic environment without wagering any money. This is particularly useful for people who want to play ‘real’ casino games but live in states where real money online casinos are not legal.
Instead of wagering real money, players use virtual coins, similar to what you can expect at sweepstake casinos. There are two types of virtual coins at social casinos called Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Here is how they work:
Note that Gold Coins and Sweeps coins are general names and different social casinos call them differently. For example, at Stake.us Sweeps Coins are called Stake Cash and on WOW Vegas Gold Coins are called WOW Coins. But they all work as described above, just the names are different!
Social casinos are legal in the US primarily because they operate under a model that does not require players to bet with real money to play. Instead, they use virtual currencies, which we described above, that are categorized as non-monetary credits.
Social casinos are legal in all US states apart from Idaho, Washington and Nevada.
If you remember, Gold Coins can be purchased but can’t be exchanged for real money, while Sweeps coins can’t be purchased but can be exchanged for real money, which gives social casinos a legal loophole to operate in the US. This model complies with US sweepstakes laws, which allow “no purchase necessary” games of chance.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides guidelines on sweepstakes, which help defines how social casinos must operate to remain legal. Each state can have additional regulations, for example some states allow only playing for fun.
But as a general rule, as long as there is no mandatory purchase required for playing, and the virtual currencies have no real-world value, the model is considered legal.
⭐ Social casino | 🎁 Sign up bonus | 🎰 Number of games | ⚡ Average RTP |
---|---|---|---|
Stake.us | Claim $55 No Deposit + 260,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback | 1000+ Games | 96.8% |
McLuck | Claim Up to 57.500 Gold Coins + 27.5 Free Sweeps Coins | 300+ Games | 97% |
High5Casino | Claim $5 No Deposit + 250 GameCoins + 600 Diamonds | 800+ Games | 97.1% |
Sweeptastic | Claim 55,000 Lucky Coins and 34 Sweeps Coins on the First Purchase | 1000+ Games | 95.8% |
WOW Vegas | 1.75 Million WOW Coins + 35 Free Sweeps Coins | 700+ Games | 97.3% |
Sportzino | Claim 180,000 GC + 8 FREE Sweeps Coins | 270+ Games | 96.7% |
Zula Casino | Claim 100,000 FREE Gold Coins and 10 FREE Sweeps Coins | 550+ Games | 95.8% |
Vegas Gems | 1000 Gems + 50% Extra Gems on Your First Purchase | 550+ Games | 96.7% |
Pulsz | 367,000 Gold Coins + FREE 32.3 Sweepstakes Coins | 700+ Games | 97% |
Fortune Coins | Claim Free 630,000 Gold Coins & 1,400 Sweeps Coins | 180+ Games | 97.3% |
Betrivers.net | Daily Rewards up to 10k in V$C | 550+ Games | 97.2% |
One of the reasons why Stake.us is our is their excellent sign in offer that gives you $55 in Stake Cash and 260,000 Gold Coins. If you use our exclusive Stake.us promo code TGTSOCIAL, you’ll get additional 5% rakeback, which means that the casino will give back to you 5% of everything you loose!
There are few sweepstakes casinos out there that offer services like that of Stake.us. For instance, they are the only social casino on the web that is completely compatible with cryptocurrency funding. You will be able to deposit and withdraw using all the popular crypto coins such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC) and many others.
Among their 1000+ game library, you will find titles supplied by NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming and Kalamba Games, just to name a few. They also carry their own in-house designed games such as Plinko, Dice, Mines and Hi-Lo.
Stake.us has also launched their own in-house live dealer studio, one of the first ever to be established among social casinos.
McLuck is one of the best new social casinos around, with a solid welcome offer that gives you 57,500 GC and 30 SC. As soon as you register, you can claim the McLuck no deposit bonus of 7,500 Gold Coins and 5 free Sweeps Coins, while you’ll get the rest after purchasing the first coins package.
McLuck is an overall great social casino, with over 300 games, including live casino, which is something you don’t see every day. Some of their top games include slots like Buffalo King Megaways, Black Wolf Hold & Win and Sugar Rush. But the real treat are jackpot slots that can turn huge prizes on every spin.
As soon as you register, you’ll be welcomed with Sweeptastic no deposit bonus of up to 55,000 Lucky Coins and 34 Sweeps Coins. You get 30k Lucky Coins and 4 Sweeps Coins just for registering an account, while the rest comes after you make the first purchase of $14.99.
On top of that, Sweeptastic also has a range of other free SC offers to keep you going, which includes daily login bonus, tournaments, social media giveaways etc.
When it comes to the selection of games, Sweeptastic is ahead of the most of it’s competitors with over 1000 games available. They offer a great range of slots, as well as table games, like roulette, blackjakc and baccarat.
There is a big High5Casino no deposit bonus waiting for all the new joiners. All you need to do is register and verify your account to claim 5 Sweep Coins, 250 Gold Coins and 600 Diamonds. No purchase required!
High 5 Casino offers an extensive games library with over 800 slot titles, so it’s safe to say that they have something for every player. On top of that, they also offer a plethora of live casinos games, such as blackjack and a few variations of live roulette.
But the highlight of this social casino is their award winning mobile app that boasts an incredible 4.9 star rating on the App Store. So if you’re a fan of slots or live table games and prefer to play on the go, High 5 Casino may be just what you were searching for.
If you are looking for a straightforward social casino with great games and lots of promotions, then WOW Vegas is the right choice. Right of the bat, you’ll be welcome with WOW Vegas no deposit bonus of 250,000 Gold Coins and 4 Sweeps Coins.
But if you decide to purchase a coins package for $9.99, you’ll get more coins that boosts this sign up offer to incredible 1.750.000 Gold Coins and 35 Sweeps Coins. Yes, you read that right!
They are well known for their regular social media giveaways and raffles, so you’ll never run of coins at WOW Vegas. Their game lobby is supplied by Betsoft and Pragmatic play, totalling over 700 spectacular casino games – including slots and table games.
If you want to play at real money social casinos that offer the best bonus offer, check out the list bellow you can find a quick overview of the best social casino ranked based on the quality of their offer. We also listed the daily bonuses you can expect to get from each casino.
Some of these operators offer sweepstakes casino no deposit bonuses, while with others you’ll have to make a purchase to release the entire bonus. But the most important thing is that you won’t need to deposit to start playing, as purchasing extra coins is strictly optional.
Real Money Social casino | Sign Up Bonus | Daily bonus |
---|---|---|
Stake.us | $55 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback | $1 Stake Cash, and 10,000 GC |
WOW Vegas | 1.75 Million WOW Coins + 35 Free Sweeps Coins | One free SC |
Fortune Coins | 630,000 Gold Coins & 1,400 Sweeps Coins | 30,000GC and 100 FC |
Golden Hearts Games | 250,000 Gold Coins + 500 Sweeps Coins + 100% Bonus on First Purchase | A daily spin on the bonus wheel |
High5 Casino | 5 Sweeps Coins + 250 Game Coins + 600 Diamonds | Spin the Daily Wheel for up to 10k GC |
Zula Casino | 100,000 Gold Coins and 10 Sweeps Coins | 10,000 GC and 1 SC |
Betrivers.net | Daily Rewards up to 10k in V$C | Up to 10,000 VC on the daily wheel |
Sweeptastic | 55,000 Lucky Coins and 34 Sweeps Coins on the First Purchase | 1,000 Lucky Coins |
High 5 Casino | $5 No Deposit + 250 GameCoins + 600 Diamonds | Daily wheel spin |
Pulsz | 367,000 Gold Coins + FREE 32.3 Sweepstakes Coins | up to 2.4SC |
Social casinos are known for offering many types of promotions for both new and existing customers. You can play casino games every day without investing a single dollar, but to do that you must know all the ways these casinos provide free coins to their players.
Below we break down all the most common bonus types at online social casinos and explain how to claim them. Note that not every bonus type is available at every casino, so keep an eye on casinos Promotions page to stay in loop with the latest offers.
1. Social Casino Welcome Bonuses
Social casinos always offer a sign up bonus to new players. This can include a substantial amount of free coins to start playing various games. To claim this bonus, a new user typically needs to register an account, and the bonus is automatically credited. Some casinos will give you an additional bonus when you make the first coins purchase, which is called a purchase bonus.
2. Daily Login Bonuses
Many social casinos reward players with free coins simply for logging in each day. These bonuses might increase with every day you come. So, more days in a row means greater bonus. To claim, players just need to log into their account daily and the bonus will be added to their balance.
3. Refer a Friend Bonuses
Players can earn free coins by referring friends to the casino. When a referred friend signs up and starts playing, both the referrer and the new player usually receive a bonus. Claiming this bonus generally involves sharing a referral link or code with friends. Note that you can invite as many friends you want and claim a bonus for each of them.
4. Social Media Contests
Social casinos frequently run contests and giveaways on their social media platforms where players can win free coins. Participants may need to like, share, or comment on posts to enter. Winners are typically announced on the casinos’s social media page and need to follow instructions to claim their prize.
5. Loyalty Programs
Loyalty or VIP programs reward regular players with points that can be converted into free coins. Players automatically accrue points by playing games, and can claim these bonuses by redeeming accumulated points through the casino’s loyalty page.
6. Bonus Codes
Occasionally, operators will distribute social casino promo codes through emails or promotional materials. Players can enter these codes in a designated area on the casino’s website or app to redeem free coins.
All real money social casinos in the US offer an option to play on mobile, but not all of them have native apps. If you prefer to play on downloadable app, we suggest you check out casinos such as High 5 Casino or WOW Vegas.
High 5 has one of the best social casino apps on the market that offers a very smooth experience and access to over 800 games, including popular live casino. WOW Vegas also has a polished app we liked, as well as an excellent welcome bonus to get you started.
However, even if a casino doesn’t have a dedicated app, it doesn’t have to be a deal breaker. Many renowned social casinos offer only mobile websites. Take Stake.us for example, they don’t have a native app, but we enjoyed playing on mobile non the less. You do miss some features, like push notifications or easier logins, but the gameplay is pretty similar.
Social casino | Native mobile app? | App Store Rating | Play Store Rating | Top mobile slot |
---|---|---|---|---|
High 5 | Yes | 4.5/5 ⭐️ | 4.2/5 ⭐️ |
|
WOW Vegas | Yes | 4.9/5 ⭐️ | 4.5/5 ⭐️ |
|
McLuck | Yes | 4.3/5 ⭐️ | 4.1/5 ⭐️ |
|
Stake.US | No | N/A | N/A |
|
Pulsz | Yes | 4.4/5 ⭐️ | 4.1/5 ⭐️ |
|
Before you start taking our advice though, you’ll want to know that we have knowledge and expertise to provide such advice and how we rate online social casinos. The answer to that is that our team checks out social casinos in much the same way that they would look at a ‘real money’ online casino.
We check out these areas in particular:
You might not be playing for real money, but they will still have your data. We check that the site’s security certificate is in order; and, if you do happen to make a purchase of more virtual coins, that SSL encryption is in place so transactions will be secure and private.
It might not be real money, but sign-up bonuses will vary wherever you go. We size up the bounty on offer in comparison to stakes on the various games to see how much bang you’ll be getting for your (virtual) buck.
As well as your starting balance, we’ll also look at how many virtual coins you’ll be awarded each day for turning up. We’ll compare that to what other social casinos are handing out, and let you know if you might be better off elsewhere.
While we carry out our own in-depth objective review, we still look at online user reviews to see if there is anything in particular we need to take a closer look at. We’ll report back if any of those problems are still a concern.
Many social casinos have much in common with their ‘real money’ contemporaries in that they have reward programs for regular players, and some of them even have sportsbooks, where the same virtual coins can be bet on sporting events.
Selection of games is crucial for enjoyable experience, so we always check both the number and quality of games on offer. Having at least a few hundreds of slots is a must for every top social casino, but we also prefer if they have table games and live casino games as well.
Unlike with real money casinos, when playing at social casinos you don’t have to make any deposits to keep playing. You can always get more free sweeps coins and gold coins through promotions and giveaways.
But if you want to fast track your play, you always have an option to purchase more gold coins. And when you get more gold coins, casino will always give you some sweeps coins on top as an reward.
The process is very simple, all you need to do is make a deposit via one of the available payment methods and pick the amount of coins you want. Note that coins are usually bundled in packages set at different price points that look something like this:
Once you know which coins package you want to get, you can buy it using some of the available payment methods. Below you can find the list of the most popular payment options at real money online casinos, but keep in mind that not all of these payment methods will be available at every casino, so always check the availability before depositing.
Payment method | Description | Deposit waiting time | Withdrawal waiting time |
---|---|---|---|
PayPal | A widely used digital wallet that offers secure and fast transactions. The most popular payment method among casino users around the world. | Instant | Up to 24 hours |
Credit Cards (Visa, MasterCard) | Common credit card options available for easy payments. Some players avoid them because they leave casino payments on your bank statements, which can affect your credit rating. | Instant | 3-5 business days |
Google Pay | A convenient payment method for users with Google accounts, allowing you pay directly from your phone. | Instant | Up to 24 hours |
Apple Pay | Secure and private payment method for Apple device users, that has very convenient biometric authentication. | Instant | Up to 24 hours |
Bank Transfer | A reliable method for direct transfers from your bank account to your casino account. It’s slow, but it’s the safest way to send and receive money. | 1-3 business days | 3-7 business days |
Skrill | An e-wallet providing quick and secure transactions, popular in the online gambling world. | Instant | Up to 24 hours |
Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum) | Digital currencies offering anonymity and low fees, increasingly accepted by online casinos. | Instant | Instant to 1 hour |
In case you’re new to social casinos, here is a step by step guide on how to purchase coins. The process is more or less the same at any social casino, so you shouldn’t have any issues.
Even though you don’t have to invest anything, you still can win real money prizes playing at social casinos. How is that possible you may ask? Well, all you need to do is collect enough sweeps coins which you can redeem for real money prizes.
The most common way to earn sweeps coins is by playing games in sweepstake mode, but you can also get them through promotions and giveaways.
Note that casinos impose a minimum threshold of sweeps coins you must have before redeeming. For example, at Stake.us it’s 50 SC, but it can be different at other social casinos.
Once you have enough sweeps coins, all you need to do is go to cashier, pick a payment method and request a withdrawal. Note that most casinos also offer an option to redeem gift cards instead of money. Process is the same in that case as well, you just won’t have to worry about picking a payment method.
If you’re new to all of this take a look at the step by step guide below where we break down the entire process.
If you’re into new experiences, maybe it’s worthwhile to try some of the new social casinos. There are new SC casinos popping up all the time, so you should be able to find fresh casinos to play.
Here are a few of the top rated online social casinos that have been on the market for less then 2 years.
New social casino | Launch date | Number of casino games |
---|---|---|
Vegas Gems | October 2023 | 550+ |
Zula Casino | October 2023 | 500+ |
McLuck | March 2023 | 300+ |
Funrize | April 2022 | 120+ |
WOW Vegas | January 2022 | 800+ |
TaoFortune | January 2022 | 100+ |
But you also may be wondering, why should I take a chance with a new social casinos, when there are already so many excellent, well-established brands? That is completely true, but new SC casinos also have something interesting to offer. Take a look at the few thing these newcomers have over older social casinos:
Our top operators provide almost the same range of social casino games as the regular casinos. Obviously, since classic casinos are earning much more money, the range of games are usually broader, but social casinos don’t fall back too much.
Apart from a huge number of slots, including the most popular real money slots, social casinos also offer blackjack, poker, bingo, fish games and even live casino games.
Below we explain all the most popular game types available at online social casinos.
Online slots are a staple at social casinos and our top operators usually offer even over 500 different slots. Players simply set their stakes, spin the reels, and hope to align the symbols along the paylines to win.
At social casinos you can try all the modern slots that have features like Megaways, which offer numerous ways to win, and bonus buy options that allow players to purchase entry into special bonus rounds.
Popular slot games at social casinos include the most popular titles like Starburst by NetEnt and Book of Dead by Play’n GO. If you want to enjoy the best possible range of slots, we suggest trying Sweeptastic or Stake.us, which also offer their own Stake Originals games.
Blackjack is a classic table game widely available at social casinos. The objective is to beat the dealer by having a hand total that does not exceed 21.
Social casinos often feature a few free online blackjack variants, such as Classic Blackjack, Spanish 21, and Blackjack Switch, each with its own slightly different rules. Some of the best social casinos for blackjack are Stake.us and Betrivers.net.
Roulette is another prominent table game offered at social casinos. Players place bets on where they think a ball will land on a spinning wheel. The game comes in several formats, including American, European, and French roulette, each with different odds and betting options.
Roulette is very popular among casino players, and you can play it without risking any money at a few social casinos we recommend here, like Stake.us and Betrivers.net.
Live dealer games provide a real life experience by streaming casino games hosted by real dealers. Popular live dealer games at social casinos include roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and poker.
Some social casinos also offer other types live games like Dragon Tiger, Sic Bo, and Teen Patti. If you want to play live casino games, we suggest checking out High 5 Casino or McLuck.
Video poker combines elements of slots and poker, challenging players to make the best possible hand from the cards they are dealt.
Popular variants include Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Bonus Poker. These games aren’t that common at social casino, but you can still try them at Stake.us.
Poker at social casinos captures the essence of the popular card game by allowing players to compete against each other or against the house without having to risk any real money.
Common poker variants available include Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven-Card Stud. Some social casinos even host tournaments where you can play against other people and enjoy casinos social features.
Fish games have emerged as a popular genre within social casinos. These are skill-based arcade games where players shoot at various types of fish to collect points or virtual currency. The goal is to target high-value fish, with each species offering different point values and some including special abilities or bonuses.
Fish games are particularly popular for their social aspect that allows players to compete against each other in real-time
Once you’ve found the best social betting platform for you, you’ll need to get off to the best start possible, and here are some tips to help you do that.
You tend to get more coins for logging inconsistently as well as other bonuses so make sure you at least check in once a day, even if you don’t play.
Find out which games have lower wagering limits if you intend on only using the free coins each day, as you’ll be able to play longer.
Even though it’s not real money, it will still run out if you flitter it around, and the fun will end. You can play for longer if you wager sensibly.
With this in mind, learn as much as you can about the games you are going to play, so you don’t spend all of your free coins just working out what was going on.
Make sure you know how to get answers should you need them by having those important details readily to hand.
After reading this short guide, you’ll have all the information you need to find the right social casino with real money options. You’ll know that you can save time and effort looking for what you need by using the reviews and comparisons on this site, which are carried out by our expert team of reviewers.
You will also have seen some tips to get you started and make the most of your first time using your social casino of choice. Finally, you will have seen that this site has other guides which will be used by anyone using an online casino even if they are not playing for ‘real money’.
You will find that the majority of social casinos are legit sites where you can play casino-style games for fun. However, it’s important that you register with a secure and reputable operator – check out the best sites here at TheGruelingTruth.com.
At social casinos, you can play casino-style games with virtual currency rather than real money. This virtual currency has no real monetary value and cannot be withdrawn. However, if you play at a sweepstakes casino, prize redemption may be available with SC gameplay. To find out more, head to TheGruelingTruth.com.
Stake.us is consistently ranked as the best social casino, but sites like Wow Vegas and Fortune Coins are also worth mentioning. Discover the top US social casinos online today in this guide here at TheGruelingTruth.com.
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