Best US Sweepstakes Poker Sites

Fortunately, there is now an option for poker players to play real money online poker legally from almost anywhere across the US. Those options are sweepstakes poker sites

Sweepstakes poker sites (sometimes referred to as social poker sites) are legal online poker sites able to offer US citizens the opportunity to play poker online by offering their services under the guise of sweepstakes — which, unlike online casinos, are legal across most of the nation. Of course, not all sweepstakes casinos are created equal.

So in this guide, we’ll be covering the best sweepstakes casinos to play online poker in, as well as the basics of sweepstakes casinos and poker.

Best Sweepstakes Poker Casinos🃏

1. 🥇Pulsz Poker
2. 🥈Global Poker
3. 🥉BetRivers.net
4. Fortune Coins Online Poker
5. Rush Casino4Fun Poker
6. WOW Vegas Casino Poker

#1 Pulsz Poker App – Best Sweepstakes Site for Texas Hold’em

Ask anyone experienced in sweepstakes casinos about their favorite casinos, and you can just about bet your life that they’ll mention Pulsz.

Founded in September 2020, Pulsz Casino may be new — but they have wasted no time cementing themselves as one of the top sweepstakes casinos. While Pulsz may be better known as one of the only sweepstakes casinos to offer mainstream slots, they also top the charts in just about every category, including online poker games — as they’re one of the few sweepstakes casinos to offer Texas Hold’em poker. This online sweepstakes casino provides users with the opportunity to win cash prizes while they play sweepstakes poker and other casino games through the use of sweepstakes coins.

Join now to get two free sweeps coins and 5,000 gold coins free on registration.

#2 Global Poker App – Best Sweepstakes Poker Site With Cash Prizes

Founded by VGW (the same company behind Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots), Global Poker has made a name for itself as the only real money poker site where players all across the US can compete against one another. This feature alone is enough to put Global Poker above any other sweepstakes poker site in the eyes of most players, as sites like Global Poker are hard to come by. Both cash games and poker tournaments are available here. And with their dual currency system, players can play any of the Texas Hold’Em or Omaha variations with either the free-to-play gold coins or the real money sweepstakes coins.

The only real drawback to Global Poker is their no-deposit welcome bonus. 5,000 gold coins, but no sweepstakes coins. This doesn’t mean that Global Poker is a social casino site. Unlike social poker sites, Global Poker does give you the opportunity to win cash prizes, but the sweeps coins needed to achieve this are not included in the no deposit offer. As such, the only way to play real money poker at Global Poker is by first purchasing gold coins — of course, if you’re looking for that authentic online poker experience of playing against other players, then Global Poker should be your number one destination as it’s one of the few dedicated sweepstakes poker sites currently on the market.

#3 BetRivers Social Poker Site – Best Social Casino Poker Site

If you’ve familiar with the big names of online casinos in the US, you may be scratching your head at this one. But don’t. Because not only does Rush Street Interactive run the wildly popular online casino and sportsbook BetRivers — they also own BetRivers.net social casino.

At BetRivers.net you can expect all of the great poker games that the standard BetRivers Casino, except now they’re open to all residents across the US. The only drawback is that BetRivers.net does not offer real money play as it’s purely a social casino. This might not make it the top destination for the most experienced of players; however, if you’re new to poker and are looking for a way to play sweepstakes poker games as much as you like without risking a cent, you should give BetRiver.net a go.

#4 Fortune Coins Online Poker

If you’re looking for a social casino that offers poker for real money play, then Fortune Coins is for you. Available in 48 states across the US, Fortune Coins offers video poker as well as their exclusive game Joker Poker for both real money with their fortune coins currency, as well as for free play with their gold coins. Better yet, they have one of the best welcome bonuses.

When you sign up to this sweepstakes poker site via our links, you’ll get an initial welcome bonus of 140,000 gold coins plus 500 free fortune coins (Fortune Coin’s free sweeps coins), with additional fortune coins available for linking your Facebook account and verifying your identity. This makes Fortune Coins one of the best sweepstakes poker sites around.

#5 Rush Casino4Fun Poker

Another social casino by Rush Street Interactive. But this time it’s Rush Games. Rush Games is a jack of all trades with a plethora of casino games including slots, blackjack, and poker — all on top of their free-to-play sportsbook.

There’s really nothing that you can’t play at Rush Games thanks to its rich selection of casino games. Better yet, if you use code PLAY200 when you first sign up, you’ll get 500 VC$ free.

The main drawback to Rush Games is like BetRivers.net, it does not offer real money poker, and users are instead limited to their virtual coins which have no real monetary value – no sweeps coins that could be exchanged into cash prizes. But hey, you can play live poker games by Evolution Gaming.

#6 WOW Vegas Casino Poker

Founded in 2021, WOW Vegas doesn’t have the reputation of many other sweepstakes casinos on this list. But what they lack in reputation, they more than make up for in eagerness. WOW Vegas has a gaming library full of over 300 games which includes sweepstakes poker.

Although the online poker games at WOW Vegas are great, what I really love about them is their tight-knit community. Having a problem? Just ask them on one of their social media channels to receive a near-instant reply. And even if you’re not having a problem, you’ll want to follow them because they are constantly doing giveaways — and in this way their small reputation can be to your advantage as you are much more likely to win one of WOW Vegas’ promotions then one of the more popular sweepstakes casinos.

But you don’t have to follow them on social media to get free coins. Because by signing up via our links you’ll get 5,000 WOW coins, plus one sweepstakes coin for free. If you’re serious about making a profit, this is one that I urge you to sign up for before it gets too popular. Besides poker, their sweepstakes casino games gallery boasts a superb selection of slots that even hardcore poker players won’t be able to resist.

What are Sweepstakes Casinos?

Sweepstakes casinos are the iGaming industry’s clever little way of getting around the restrictive anti-gambling laws which plague the US. In essence, instead of basing themselves around the traditional casino model which has to abide by the gambling laws which restrict them to six states, sweepstakes casinos model themselves after sweepstake companies which have far less restrictive laws. This is done with their free-to-play model.

The gist of it is that at sweepstakes casinos, you’ll always have the option to play for free using the casino’s standard currency which is awarded for free daily; however, you also have the option to purchase this free currency. This is where the magic occurs. Because when you do, you receive the premium currency which has real monetary value as a free bonus. If it sounds like a loophole, it’s because it is.

Though the bottom line is that with it, players outside New Jersey, West Virginia, Connecticut, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Delaware can now play at legal online poker sites and social casinos for real money.

What is Sweepstakes Poker?

Sweepstakes poker, and by extension sweepstakes poker sites, do not substantially differ from their real money online gambling counterparts. The poker games themselves – be it video poker, Texas Hold’em, or Omaha Hi-Lo – operate in pretty much the same manner as they do in traditional casinos. It may even be the exact same poker games you’ve played at regular casinos and come from the same software providers. Hence, the main difference between sweepstakes poker and online real money poker is the platform you play them on: an online sweepstakes casino or a traditional online casino.

Can You Win Real Money at Online Sweepstakes Poker Sites?

Yes. While some social casinos are exclusively free to play and offer no real money services, the majority have some sort of real money option. Most of these options are geared towards slot players, but there are still some places where poker players can play — namely Pulsz, Global Poker, Fortune Coins, and WOW Vegas. With these sites, you can buy their premium currency. Then, once you’ve made some profit, you can convert it to real cash prizes when you want to withdraw.

Sites like Chumba Casino, MyChoice Casino, and Vegas-X Casino are other sweeps poker sites worth checking out.

Who is Eligible to Play at Online Sweepstakes Casinos?

Since sweepstakes casinos don’t follow the traditional online casino laws, they are able to offer their services to many other states outside of the traditional big six. Most allow residents from all states except Idaho and Washington, but for a more accurate list, you should always check the terms and conditions of each site before signing up.

One great thing you’ll notice when you sign up is that since they are considered a sweepstakes company, you don’t have to be 21 to sign up like most online casinos. Instead, you’ll only need to prove that you’re at least 18.

Online Poker Vs Sweepstakes Poker

For US citizens, sweepstakes poker sites are not the only option to play real money poker online.

Sites like BetMGM Poker, FanDuel Poker, and DraftKings Poker all offer large varieties of online poker at their casino. But what separates them from sweepstakes poker sites? A few things. Availability, variations of poker, etc. You can check the table below for a simplistic guide on the differences between traditional online poker and sweepstakes poker.

The big difference in my eyes is availability. And if you live outside of NJ, WV, DE, CT, MI, or PA your only choice is sweepstakes casinos — although if you reside in one of those states it’s a tougher decision, and I’d say I prefer the traditional online casinos mainly because of their superior welcome bonuses for online poker.

How to Get Started Playing at Online Sweepstakes Poker Sites

The process of getting started at an online sweepstakes casino is a little different from that of registering with a standard online casino; however, it’s still fairly straightforward.

1. Using our secure links, navigate to your chosen sweepstakes casino.
2. Click the “Register” or “Sign Up” button. Depending on the site that you sign up with, the location of these buttons will differ — though it will usually be in the top right corner of the screen or in the center.
3. Depending on which site you sign up through, the required information you’ll need to provide to sign up will be different. But at the bare minimum, you will need to provide your full name, email address, and desired password. Once you’ve done that, you’ll need to read through the terms and conditions to ensure that you live in a state that is able to play.
4. Regardless of which casino you signed up for, the next step will always be the same. The casino will send you an email with a registration link. Click it, and you’re in.
5. Any no-deposit sweeps coins bonus will now be instantly applied and will be available in your account. Do keep in mind that for the full amount to become available to you, some casinos may require you to complete your profile. Though once you do that, it’s poker time. Either use the search bar to find your desired game or navigate to the casino games section to find it.

How to Purchase Premium Currency at Sweepstakes Poker Sites

While the free sc coin bonuses are great for starting off, it’s unlikely that you’ll make too much money from them. Fortunately, all online sweepstakes casinos have a first deposit bonus. If you’ve played at one of the traditional casinos you may be used to depositing funds directly. But due to legal requirements, you can’t deposit money directly. Instead, you buy the monetarily worthless currency and will then be given the premium currency as a free bonus.

To do this, find the “Buy” or “Purchase Coins” button on your screen. Click it, and you’ll be shown all available purchase options with any bonuses being listed. Next, select the package you want, and select one of their payment methods. Offered payment methods will vary from casino to casino, but generally, you can expect to find:

• Skrill online casinos
• PayPal online casinos
• Trustly online casinos
• Prepaid Card casinos
• Credit/Debit card platforms
• Bank Transfer

Select whichever one is easiest for you. Then click through the prompts, and your funds will instantly be available. One thing to remember is that some bonuses will only come up through random popups. This is often the case on Gambino Slots and Funrize Casino and less often on established poker sites like Pulsz Casino and sites like Funzpoints.

As such, it can pay off to be patient and spend a couple of minutes navigating through the site and playing games with their free currency before jumping in to deposit. And while these methods may differ from traditional poker sites, you’ll find that you’ll get used to them in no time.

Best Poker Games at Sweepstakes Casinos

It’s important to note that one thing you won’t find at most of these online sweepstakes casinos are live poker rooms. Instead, if you’re looking to play games like Texas Hold’Em or Omaha, your best bet is to try poker at either PokerStars or BetMGM or stick with social poker sites like Global Poker.

Of course, while not all sweepstakes casinos may have live poker, they do have other variants. The following four are our favorites.

Video Poker

Video poker is a staple amongst most sweepstakes casinos — and for good reason. It’s a classic. With a very competitive RTP usually between 97-99% for the standard Jacks or Better variant, Video Poker is a favorite amongst players who have their eyes firmly set on making a profit.

If you’re unfamiliar with this variant, it follows similar rules to five card draw poker. You’re dealt an initial five-card hand and must decide which cards to hold onto and which to swap out for new cards. After you’ve made that decision, you’re paid out according to your hand with a pair of jacks being the minimum hand required to make money. It’s simple to understand. And with such a high RTP, it’s the perfect poker variant for new and experienced players alike.

Texas Hold’em

Two different types of Texas Hold’Em are available. Of course, there’s the classic variation available at Global Poker. However, we prefer the Pulz variation, where instead of playing against a real player, you’re playing against the dealer. This poker strategy is a little more complicated, so this variant should only be played if you have a decent amount of experience. However, in return for optimal play, you’ll get an RTP of 97.01%

Triple Card Poker

If you’re looking for a variant that doesn’t require a complex strategy — triple card poker is for you.

In this variant, you first must bet an initial stake to receive three cards. From there, you either fold or place an additional bet the size of your original stake to play — then, if your hand is better than the dealer’s, you win, with straights or better paid out an additional bonus.

The strategy is simple. Play Q-6-4 or better. Fold everything else. Your reward for playing like this is an RTP of 97.99% — though do keep in mind that playing any of the side bets will reduce overall RTP.

Joker Poker

Exclusive to Fortune Coins, Joker Poker is similar to the classic Jacks or Better video poker, though with a twist. A joker in the deck. This joker substitutes for whatever card you need, and while this variant may require a pair of aces or better to qualify, the wild joker makes it worth it.

Joker Poker is played similarly to video poker. However, in this variant, the pay table is skewed towards better hands, and so typically you want to play a little riskier — shooting for a three-of-a-kind or better. While not to everyone’s taste, this variant does inject a little extra excitement for those looking to play a higher volatility variant of poker.

How to Withdraw Money From a Sweepstakes Poker Site

Unless you’re playing at one of the exclusively free-to-play sweepstakes casinos, chances are you’ll want to withdraw your money. And to do so is simple.

1. Navigate to your account page and click the withdraw funds button.
2. Select one of the withdrawal methods as well as how much you want to withdraw. Your withdrawal options will vary based on which casino you’re using, though typically you can expect to withdraw funds either via Skrill, gift cards, or a bank transfer. Likewise, there’ll typically be minimum withdrawal limits — usually of about $25.
3. If this is your first time withdrawing you’ll need to complete the verification process per the KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements of sweepstakes companies. This is because even though a sweepstakes casino isn’t considered a genuine casino, they still have to abide by sweepstakes laws that limit their operation to certain states and people over 18. For this process, you’ll usually need to provide your mobile number, street address, and full name as it appears on your photo ID (if you didn’t supply this information during registration).
4. Once that’s done, you can expect your funds within 48 hours. Although it may take slightly longer if it’s your first withdrawal.

Play Online Poker at a Sweepstakes Casino Today!

That wraps up our guide. At long last you can finally play online poker legally for real money in the US thanks to sweepstakes casinos. Whether you want the next evolution of Texas Hold’Em or the classic video poker feel — you can find it at sweepstakes casinos.

Even better though, you can get in on the action for free with a no-deposit casino bonus by using our exclusive links. With nothing to lose and so much to gain, there’s no reason not to get started today.