Free Poker Online (Best Sites To Try)

Can you play online poker for free?

The short answer is yes! Playing free poker at sweepstakes casinos offers a similar experience to playing at a real money site but is 100% free. This is possible because these sites use a sweepstakes model based around virtual currencies called Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins.

Gold Coins (GC)

Gold Coins are used to play for free at sweepstakes casinos in demo mode. They cannot be redeemed as prizes.

Gold Coins are given to players for free each day via the login bonus and through giveaways. You can buy extra Gold Coins but note that this is completely optional.

Sweepstakes Coins (SC)

Like Gold Coins, Sweepstakes Coins are used to play games for free at sweepstakes casinos. However, the key difference is that Sweepstakes Coins, once they’ve met the specific conditions set out by the site, can be redeemed as real life prizes including cash, gift cards and even cool merch such as t-shirts.

To be able to redeem Sweepstakes Coins as real life prizes, you must meet two conditions:

• Playthrough: Sweepstakes Coins must be used in gameplay a specific number of times. For example, at Stake.us, SC must be played through three times before they become eligible for redemption.
• Minimum balance: A minimum SC balance is required before you can make a prize redemption request. At most sweepstakes casinos, the rate varies according to whether you want a cash prize or a gift card.

Sweepstakes Coins are delivered to players for free via various promotions including a daily login bonus, referral deals and fun giveaways on social media. It’s not possible to buy Sweepstakes Coins.

This table outlines the main difference between real money poker online and sweepstakes poker sites:

Pros and Cons of free poker at sweepstakes casinos

Pros and Cons

• Legal in 40+ states
• Play for free
• Redeem SC for real world prizes
• Wide choice of games

• Not accessible in all US states

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Is it legal to play free poker online at sweepstakes casinos?

As there’s no real money involved in playing poker at sweepstakes casinos, they are completely legal under US law. Currently, three states have made the decision not to allow sweepstakes casinos in their regions - Idaho, Michigan and Washington. However, it’s important to note that there are regional restrictions on where each individual sweepstakes casino operates.

In order to join a sweepstakes casino, you must also be over the legal age limit. At most sites, this is either 18 or 21.

Types of poker games available at sweepstakes casinos

The scope of sweepstakes casinos has increased greatly in recent years and this has resulted in a growth in the number of poker games available. Some of the most popular at free poker sweepstakes casinos are:

Texas Hold’em

The most popular variant, Texas Hold’em poker at sweepstakes casinos follows the same rules as at real money casinos. Each player is dealt two cards face down, and must use these and five face up community cards to create the strongest possible five-card hand.

Omaha

There are several different variants of Omaha, such as hi-Lo and 6-card, but the base game is similar to Texas Hold’em. Each hand is made of a mix of community cards and cards from your hand.

Alongside these individual free poker games, sweepstakes casinos offer a mix of ways to play:

Top free online poker sweepstakes casinos

It can be pretty difficult to track down a sweepstakes casino offering poker. No stress, because I’ve done the hard work for you and identified two first-rate sweepstakes casinos with a strong focus on poker:

Stake.us - highly rated sweepstakes casino with exclusive bonus

Stake US: Pros & Cons

• No real money purchases are needed
• Huge welcome bonus consisting of Stake
• Cash and Gold Coins
• Daily Slot Races available
• Games from top game providers

• No sports betting available

Visit Stake.us

A standout among any list of sweepstakes casinos, Stake.us is a fantastic option for any players looking for free poker. The site is home to two main poker games: Stake Poker, an in-house made game, and video poker, part of the Stake Originals collection.

In addition, Stake.us is home to more than a thousand other games including slots, scratchcards and more table and live dealer games covering blackjack, roulette and more.

Join Stake.us using the banners on this site and tap in our special promo code BALLISLIFE and you’ll receive a special bonus of 560K Gold Coins and 56 Stake Cash (that’s the Stake.us name for Sweepstakes Coins) over the first thirty days of membership. You’ll also receive 5% rakeback on any losses you incur. Signing up is simple and there’s now a Stake.us app so it’s incredibly easy to play from wherever you are.

Clubs Poker - well rounded site with great variety

Clubs Poker: Pros & Cons

• Mobile accessible
• Simple registration
• Selection of ongoing promos
• Impressive welcome bonus

• No live chat options

Visit Clubs Poker

As the name suggests, this is an awesome site for poker; in fact it ranks among the best free Texas Hold’em poker sites available. The site is available in 40 states and offers all new players a welcome bonus of 5,000 Gold Coins. Plus, you can log in every day for more free GC and SC. In addition, Clubs Poker offers a standout Bad Beats jackpot where a jackpot prize pool is divided between the winning player and the player with the second highest hand.

Clubs Poker is home to an awesome range of poker games including Crazy Pineapple, Stud and Hi-Lo, HORSE, 2-7 single draw and, of course, Texas Hold’em. There are Spin ‘n’ Go tournaments and Ring games to suit every type of player. The site also has extensive guides and information for new players which are very useful if you’re learning the ropes.

Getting started at your pick of free sweepstakes poker site

Every sweepstake casino I’ve highlighted here has a unique sign up process but these are the basic steps you'll need to follow at whichever brand you choose:

1. Click on the banners on this page to go directly to your sweepstakes casino of choice.
2. Hit the ‘Register’ button.
3. Follow the steps to input your details.
4. Don’t forget to tap in the promo code if you’re signing up to Stake.us.
5. At this point, you’ll need to verify your account by confirming your email address and personal details. This is required before it’s possible to redeem SC for a prize at a sweepstakes casino but it’s a good idea to get it out of the way.

You’ll be asked to upload documents proving your identity and address. This should be a government-issued ID, such as a passport or driver’s license, as well as a utility bill or bank statement which clearly displays your home address.

Once you’ve submitted these documents, they’ll be approved by the site. Then it’s time to head to the games lobby and start playing.

Conclusion - sweepstakes casinos are the ace up your sleeve for free poker!

For many players, it’s difficult to find sites offering real money poker online in your state (particularly if you live in regions including North Dakota and Hawaii). But sweepstakes casinos are excellent alternatives. These Omaha, HORSE and free Texas Hold’em poker sites use a sweepstakes model which means that they’re free and it’s possible to redeem SC for real life prizes. There’s a fantastic range of poker games to choose from, and a mix of formats means that players of every experience level can find an enjoyable game.

The reviews on Ballislife.com are a great place to start when you’re selecting the best sweepstakes site for your poker action. They detail all facets of the site including games, prizes, customer support and more.

But, if you’re looking for a great first deal then Stake.us should be top of your list. Don’t forget to use my exclusive code BALLISLIFE to grab your special bonus too. Tap the links on this page and get started!

Our favorite sweepstakes casino bonuses

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Free poker FAQ