What is a social casino?
Before we focus our attention on finding you a top place to play, let us run through the basics of a social casino. Much like sweepstakes gambling online, you can join a social casino across the US and play casino games without ever making a purchase.
Laws and legislation
The no purchase necessary laws allow social casinos to legally operate in 49 states, leaving just Washington out of the mix. As social casinos are strictly play-for-fun sites, you don’t need to worry about terms surrounding sweepstakes prizes either.
In fact, once you have registered and redeemed your Gold Coin bonus, you can head straight to the casino library and begin searching for your favorite slots and casino titles. Then, all that is left is to load them up and enjoy some great risk-free online casino action.
Gold Coins: Where can I find them and how do I use them?
As briefly noted, Gold Coins can be unlocked once you have registered at your chosen social casino. These coins act as a virtual currency and allow you to play across casino games in a way that mimics the real casino experience - of course, you won’t be able to take home any of your winnings.
Return, redeem, and enjoy
Alongside the welcome bonus, you’ll also be able to pick Gold Coins up throughout your stay. Generally, the main ways to redeem Gold Coins include unlocking bonuses, making your way through the rewards program, winning on casino games and by returning the very next day. Although there is no purchase required to play, you can also look to make a Gold Coin package purchase to top up your virtual currency pot.
Our favorite social casinos
1.
Stake.us Social Casino Bonus
5% Rakeback
Highlights
- Regular reload bonuses
- Redeem Crypto
- Log in & earn Stake Cash!
2.
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE
+ 30 Sweepstake Coins
Wow Vegas Social Casino Bonus
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE
Highlights
- Nice table games
- Megaways slots
- Top welcome bonus
3.
140k GC + 400 FC
+ $8 FREE Coins
Fortune Coins Social Casino Bonus
140k GC + 400 FC
Highlights
- Get real-life rewards when exchange Fortune Coins
- Interact with the site and Earn Fortune Coins
- $8 FREE Coins
4.
Join GOLDEN2000 for 2,000 FREE coins
Golden Hearts Games Social Casino Bonus
Join GOLDEN2000 for 2,000 FREE coins
Highlights
- Charity Casino with Bingo & Slots
- Slim mobile design
- Chose the VIP subscription and get more coins
5.
7,000 Gold Coins + 10 Sweeps Coins
LuckyLand Slots Social Casino Bonus
7,000 Gold Coins + 10 Sweeps Coins
Highlights
- Free to play with Daily rewards to claim
- Easy to play on your phone
- Exclusive slots to try
How does a social casino differ from a sweepstakes casino?
In this next section, we take a closer look at the differences between social gaming and playing sweepstakes from home or at the internet cafe. We already know that both social and sweepstakes casinos are legal in 49 states and can be enjoyed without ever making a purchase but what is the difference between the two?
| Social Casino | Sweepstake Casino |
| Makes use of Gold Coins only | Uses two currencies - Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins |
| No wagering requirements | Sweeps Coins will have specific requirements that must be met |
| Bonuses and rewards hold no real-world value | Any Sweeps Coins can be converted into cash, vouchers or exchanged for merchandise |
| Unavailable in Washington | Unavailable in Washington |
The top social casinos today
Now that we've discussed the differences between social and sweepstakes casinos, it’s time to take a look at the very best places to enjoy some risk-free online casino action.
Stake.us
Although Stake.us is considered a sweepstakes casino, they feature on our list as they also offer the complete social casino experience. You can register with ease, using an email address or social account and can make use of our exclusive promotional code to unlock a 5% Rakeback bonus, too.
When you’ve verified your account, you’ll also be able to redeem the daily login bonus. Here, you can unlock Gold Coins and Stake Cash. However, for the social casino experience, you only need to worry about Gold Coins.
Your Gold Coins can be used across every single casino title found at Stake.us. Currently, that number exceeds 300. The majority of the Vegas-style sweepstakes casino games are powered by Hacksaw Gaming and Pragmatic Play, covering casino categories that include slots, table games, scratchcards, live casino and Stake Originals.
These Stake Originals can be played online or through your mobile browser and offer unique takes on casino classics like Plinko, Dice and Crash. To keep things social you can also discuss any winnings and strategies in the onsite player forum.
Stake: Pros & Cons
- 300+ casino games
- Daily login bonuses
- Exclusive promotional code
BetRivers.net
BetRivers.net is a true social casino site that allows you to play across one of the most complete gaming portfolios risk-free. The registration process may take a little longer than the competition but this is only because you are required to pass KYC straight from the off.
Once verified, you will be able to make your way around the casino lobby and will even find that 250 $VC is now available to use. These $VC have no real-world value and cannot later be converted into cash prizes. To keep your $VC topped up, BetRivers.net also offers a four-hourly bonus, a daily spin wheel and a rewards program.
When making your way to the casino lobby, you’ll find a whole host of gaming categories covered by top software providers. At the time of writing, we found blackjack, slots, Slingo, live casino and table games backed by NetEnt, Konami, Red Tiger, and more. As expected from these top names, all games loaded promptly regardless of whether you played online or through your mobile browser.
Unfortunately, if you encounter any problems, you won’t be able to contact live support. However, you will find that the Help Center has answers to plenty of questions relating to your account, bonuses and purchases. Plus, you can always get in contact by email if you can’t find what you are looking for.
BetRivers.net: Pros & Cons
- Top software providers
- Great range of games
- Recurring bonuses
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins features in our list of top social casinos and offers you the chance to unlock one of the biggest Gold Coin bonuses to date. As things stand, users can redeem 140,000 Gold Coins and 500 Fortune Coins for simply registering and linking their Facebook account.
Of course, as you are looking to play for fun at a social casino, you can disregard the Fortune Coins and make your way across the casino lobby using your 140,000 Gold Coin bonus. Here, you will find a range of slots, Keno, video poker and the chance to play fish table games from home.
Fortune Coins does not have a standalone mobile app; however, you will be able to visit the site through your mobile browser or desktop. The same experience can be found regardless of your chosen way to play and you can even redeem further bonuses and make onsite purchases using Visa and Mastercard.
So far as further bonuses and promotions are concerned, you can look to receive additional Gold Coins by verifying your email and mobile phone number, referring your friends and taking advantage of the daily login bonuses.
Fortune Coins: Pros & Cons
- Large welcome bonus
- One-of-a-kind fish games
- Mobile accessibility
How to judge the best social casinos
We have highlighted a few top contenders above for the title of the best social casino 2023. However, in this next section, we offer a little industry insight to help you find the perfect partner when making your way through our social casino reviews.
Although there is no need to make a purchase at a social casino, personal and financial details may still be stored onsite. When linking your social media account, entering your email or deciding that you do want to make a purchase, you’ll want to ensure that the latest encryption technology is used and your information is kept safe.
Whether you are interested in slots, sweepstakes poker, Keno or something completely different, you’ll want to ensure that the gaming library is backed by some of the best software providers around. Not only will this highlight that games will be of a high quality but they should also load fast and remain glitch-free, too.
Legally, social casinos need to offer you the chance to continue playing without ever making a purchase. So, we are confident that you’ll find plenty of bonuses to enjoy when joining a credible social casino. With that being said, it still pays to check the kind of bonuses offered and whether any games are considered ineligible before opting in and signing up.
As popularity increases and technology advances, more social and sweepstakes casino apps are starting to flood the market. This is a huge consideration for those who like to play on the go or simply like the idea of playing on the smaller screens. For those social casinos that do not offer dedicated apps, you’ll tend to find an optimized mobile experience that can be enjoyed through your browser instead - both have their perks but only you know your preference.
Due to the very nature of social casinos, customer support is often overlooked. The play-for-fun sites do not require a purchase to be made and do not offer any real cash prizes, so support is often disregarded. However, should you have difficulty loading up your favorite games or releasing the latest bonus, you’ll want a dedicated team on hand to help figure out the problem and get you back playing.
Our favorite social casino bonuses
1.
2.
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE
+ 30 Sweepstake Coins
3.
140k GC + 400 FC
+ $8 FREE Coins
4.
Join GOLDEN2000 for 2,000 FREE coins
5.
7,000 Gold Coins + 10 Sweeps Coins
Conclusion - review the top social casinos next
That just about covers all there is to know about social casinos. Before you get started on your search for your ideal social casino, let us quickly recap on the above.
Social casinos are legally available in 49 states and do not require a purchase to play. Gold Coins are the virtual currency used across these sites and they do not hold any real-world value. Although they cannot be withdrawn, they can be purchased, unlocked and won. In turn, this allows social casino players to return and continue to enjoy great casino games risk-free.
We are big fans of Stake.us, BetRivers.net and Fortune Coins; however, you can now make your way through our stream of social casino reviews and find the perfect place for you to play for fun. Of course, those of you from Washington will have to wait until you travel to another part of the US before you can legally enjoy the perks of the best social casinos today.
Social Casinos FAQ
🃏What games can I expect to find at social casinos?
The social casino experience revolves around fun. So, you won’t have to dig too deep to find some top casino titles. At the very best social casinos, you can find slots, table games, video poker, Keno, and much more, backed by reputable software providers.
💯Do social casinos have dedicated apps?
Social casinos are growing in popularity and are considered legal in 49 states. As technology improves, more social casinos are starting to offer dedicated apps. Those that don’t are offering a mobile experience through your browser.
✅Can I withdraw my Gold Coins?
Gold Coins are the only currency used at a social casino and they do not hold any real-world value. Although they cannot be withdrawn, they can still be purchased. So, it pays to find a site that makes use of credible payment methods.
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