How Do Social Casinos Work?
Social casinos offer popular table, slot, and specialty games but, unlike many traditional casinos, do not require deposits for playing. This means that you won’t place bets with real money but instead use virtual currencies, which are called gold coins or sweeps coins.
Casinos offer gold coins either for free when new players sign up or as they progress through the platform and earn rewards. Also, players can buy coin packages if they want to extend the gameplay beyond the initial freebies.
Social casinos are about having fun and friendly competition. Many platforms include a chat feature or a community board where players can discuss tips and tricks. They can also celebrate wins and join tournaments. Most social casinos also offer daily login bonuses like free coins or spins that keep players engaged. Remember these three things about social casinos:
- A gold coin is a virtual currency that you use to play games for entertainment, and it has zero monetary value.
- You can receive premium coins at most social casinos, which are known as Sweepstakes Coins or Sweeps Coins.
- Players are not able to purchase premium coins, as they need to earn them through promos and bonuses.
Since there are many social casinos that you can try out, selecting one can feel confusing. I always recommend picking one that’s secure, transparent and offers a comprehensive selection of games.
Social Casinos vs. Sweepstakes: What’s the Difference?
You might often hear the terms “sweepstakes casino” and “social casino” used in the same context, but it does not refer to the same thing. Both sweepstakes and social casinos allow players to enjoy games legally across most of the United States. However, the mechanics differ when it comes to casino offer prize redemption, currency usage, and the overall experience. The differences between the two might not look substantial, but you can have a look at a side-by-side comparison. Check it out in the table below:
Feature | Social Casino | Sweepstakes Casino |
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Currency Types | Gold coins | Gold coins and sweeps coins |
Cash Redeemability | Typically no | Yes, for sweeps coins |
Focus | Entertainment and social aspect | Entertainment, cash prize redemption, and social aspect |
Legality | Legal in most US states | Legal in most US states |
Players can join social casinos and sweepstakes casinos cost-free. From my experience, if you’re only after social entertainment, choose a social casino. However, if you want to redeem prizes, you might prefer a sweepstakes platform. Take a look at this insightful list of sweepstakes casinos and explore your options even further!
Gold Coins vs. Sweepstakes Coins
Understanding the difference between gold coins and sweepstake coins is important, especially when exploring sweepstake casinos or social casinos that have elements of sweepstakes. Remember, gold coins can only be used for entertainment, while players can usually redeem sweeps coins and win real money prizes (i.e., gift cards).
Currency | Purpose | Redeemable Value |
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Gold coins | Used for entertainment and unlimited play | Doesn’t have real monetary value |
Sweepstakes coins | Used for redeeming prizes and some promos | Can be redeemed for real money prizes |
How to Purchase Social Casino Coins?
Anyone can learn how to buy gold coins in social casinos, but the steps can vary depending on the social casino site you’re using. Generally, you can follow these steps.
Sign up or log in.
If you need an account to play, create one and verify your location. You will typically get a verification or confirmation email where you should click on a link.
Go to the purchase page.
Social casinos have a button like “Buy Gold Coins” or “Get More Coins.” The button can vary from one platform to the next.
Choose a package.
Check the available bundles for gold coins, and choose one that you like the most.
Select a payment method.
Most social casinos support options like credit cards, PayPal, and other popular e-wallets.
Confirming the purchase.
The purchase should be processed and confirmed, and the gold coins will appear in your account. Sometimes, they appear immediately, while other times, there’s a slight delay.
Can You Play Social Casino Games with Real Money?
As social casinos aren’t legally classified as gambling, it’s not possible to credit your account with real money – but this doesn’t mean you can’t collect cash prizes. The gold coins that allow free play do not have any cash-in value; they’re worthless in the real world. You don’t need to make any purchases to receive gold coins, as they’re awarded within the game. However, you can purchase additional bundles of gold coins, and when you do, you will receive a different kind of token: Sweepstake Coins. Also known as Sweeps Coins, Sweepstake Coins can also be used to access social casino games, but unlike the gold coins, this can be considered real money play. This is because Sweeps Coins have a value. Typically, each one is worth $1. If you win any of the games with your free Sweeps Coins, you’ll be able to withdraw your winnings as real money. Not all social casinos offer Sweepstake Coins. Some strictly only include free games, so if getting free Sweeps Coins is a priority for you, make sure you check in advance. Using Sweeps Coins is the only way to win real money prizes at a social casino, as it’s not possible to use cash to play the free games.
Features | Social Casinos | Real Money Casinos |
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Can you win real money? | | |
Requires initial deposit? | | |
Offers social interaction tools? | | |
Legal in most jurisdictions? | | |
Skill enhancement & practice? | | |
Wide variety of games? | | |
Regular bonuses & promotions? | | |
Potential for financial loss? | | |
Requires age verification? | | |
How to Redeem Cash Prizes?
To redeem real money prizes, you’ll typically play on sweepstakes or social casinos that use sweeps coins. Here is how you can redeem cash prizes in just 5 simple steps.
Earn sweeps coins.
Get free coins through promos, bonus offers, or by buying gold coins in bundles (which typically include free sweeps coins).
Meet the minimum threshold.
Certain online casinos require players to gather a certain number of sweeps coins to convert them into real money or other redeemable prizes. Mind that you cannot simply withdraw the coins you earned, there are typically some playthrough requirements, which may be quite high for this type of casinos (for example, x75).
Start redemption.
Go to your account dashboard, and look for a button like “Cash Out” or “Redeem”.
Choose a payment method.
You will be presented with options like PayPal, bank transfer, or gift cards.
Submit a request.
Confirm your choice and wait for the online casino to process the request. Usually, this takes no time!
What are the most popular redemption methods of the best social casinos for 2025? Take a look at this table for more info.
Casino | Payment Method | Redemption Speed |
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WOW Vegas | Trustly Online Banking, Skrill, gift cards | 2–5 business days |
Spree Casino | Vouchers, bank transfer | Up to 10 days, especially for the first redemption |
Funrize Casino | Gift cards, PayPal, e-wallets | 2–4 business days |
NoLimitCoins | Bank transfer, PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, gift cards | Up to 7 business days |
FunzCity | Bank transfers, gift cards | 3–5 business days |
The Money Factory | Gift cards, e-wallet, PayPal | 2–4 business days |
High 5 Casino | Gift cards, bank transfers, e-wallets | 2–5 business days |
McLuck | Bank transfers, gift cards | Up to 10 business days |
Hello Millions | Bank transfers, e-wallets, gift cards | Up to 7 business days |
Stake.US | Bank transfer, crypto | 1–5 business days |