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Sweepstakes Poker

The 2000's saw an online poker craze that swept across the country, as states such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania were first to move on legislation that made the industry legal. Not long after, sweepstakes poker sites began popping up as a unique and legal way for players across the country to enjoy online poker where legislation had not yet been passed.

Johnny Covers By: Johnny Covers
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Unlike their real-money counterparts, sweepstakes poker sites operate under a model that uses virtual currency to operate where online gambling is restricted. Using a dual-currency system that consists of Gold Coins and Sweep Coins, players can earn both via promotions and in-game play.

Best Sweepstakes Poker Sites

The table below shows the best sweepstakes poker sites in the US right now according to my research, together with their welcome offer for new players.

🃏 Global Poker 🎁 150,000 GC for $10 + 30 FREE SC
🃏 Clubs Poker 🎁 100% First Purchase Bonus

Global Poker

Global Poker Sweepstakes Poker

Since launching in December 2016, Global Poker quickly became one of the top sweepstakes poker sites in the USA thanks to their wide range of games and daily tournaments. Following the dual-currency system, players can purchase Gold Coins for fun play and receive sweeps coins via promotions, which can be used to enter tournaments and play in sweepstakes games.

Another key selling point of Global Poker is its user-friendly interface, which allows beginner and experienced players to enjoy the platform from the very time they play. Offering a mix of poker types such as Texas Hold’Em and Omaha, Global Poker tailors to a variety of skill levels and poker preferences. 

Lastly, Global Poker has ascended to be one of the best sweepstakes poker sites in the USA thanks to their advanced technology, which ensures games are safe and transparent for everyone. Add in strong customer support options, and you can’t go wrong when starting a new account with Global Poker, one of my favorite sweepstakes poker sites in the USA today.

Clubs Poker

Clubs Poker Sweepstakes Poker

One of the newest sweepstakes poker sites in the USA, Clubs Poker has already made a splash, offering players an exciting playing experience as soon as their account is confirmed. Though it has yet to gain the traction of some of its more seasoned competition, Clubs poker follows the same dual-currency models using a mix of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins to allow players to enjoy their platform.

Clubs Poker also leans into its social community aspect, allowing players to engage with each other via a community chat feature. For new players, there is also a robust educational resource center that helps players improve their strategies and skills. Seasoned players can also expect the same level of security, customer support, and fair play policies, making Clubs Poker a top option for all levels of players in the sweepstakes poker space.

What is Sweepstakes Poker?

Sweepstakes poker is a type of online poker that instead of using real money to play, leverages a virtual currency system to comply with US gambling laws in states that don’t have traditional legislation. This allows for players to play their favorite poker games in states conventional online gambling, including poker, is illegal.

Gold Coins VS Sweeps Coins

Sweepstakes poker sites use virtual currencies called Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins to enter tournaments and play poker games.

Gold Coins are used for social play, where players can enjoy the games without the chance of winning real money. These coins often come as part of free bonuses or can be purchased directly from the site. On the other hand, Sweeps Coins can be acquired through various promotional offers or by purchasing Gold Coins, and they provide an opportunity to win cash prizes.

Read more: What are gold coins? & What are sweeps coins?

Registering at a Sweepstakes Poker Site

If it is your first time registering at a sweepstakes poker site, fear not as I have you covered with everything you need to know to get started.

  1. Choose a Sweepstakes Poker Site: Start your sweepstakes poker journey by ensuring you are choosing a reputable sweepstakes poker site. See the list above, as well as our mini-reviews, to find the reputable site that best meets your needs. The key things to look for are ensuring they have the game types you want, they are safe and secure, having reliable customer support, and lastly, a strong welcome offer.
  2. Register for an Account: Once you get to the home page or use one of the trusted links above, look for the button to sign up for an account. You will have to provide some basic information such as your first and last name, home address, email address, phone number, gender, birth date, and strong password. Ensure all the details provided are accurate, and confirm your account.
  3. Acquire Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins: All of the sweepstakes poker sites listed on this page will have welcome offers, which will come with a mix of free gold coins and sweeps coins. You can also purchase gold coins, which will come with free sweeps coins that can be used in games and tournaments for the chance to win real prizes.
  4. Deposit Funds: Depending on your welcome offer, or if you simply want more virtual currency, you’ll have to deposit funds into your account. Using one of the payment methods available such as credit card, e-wallet, PayPal, and more to purchase more virtual currency for use on the platform.
  5. Begin Playing: Now that your account is confirmed and you have currency in your wallet, the time has come to start playing on the sweepstakes poker site. Find the type of game that you are looking for, such as Omaha or Texas Hold’Em, and determine how much you want to play for. In order to cash out your sweeps coins, you will need to verify your account by providing proof of identification such as a Passport or driver’s license, more of which we’ll cover below.

How to Redeem Real Money Prizes at a US Sweepstakes Poker Site

With your US sweepstakes poker site now set up and your account confirmed, the time has come to get in on the action. Below I will show you how to redeem real money prizes at a US sweepstakes poker site.

  1. Accrue Sweeps Coins: As noted above, there are multiple ways at every sweepstakes poker site to acquire sweeps coins. Whether it be from promotions, playing poker, or purchasing gold coins, accruing sweeps coins is the first step in the path to redeeming the virtual currency for real money.
  2. Earn Sweeps Coins: Playing in sweepstakes poker games our tournaments are the best way to earn more sweeps coins, and your balance will increase the more you win.
  3. Verify Your Account: Once you have enough sweeps coins to redeem for real cash, you’ll have to verify your account. This involves providing proof of identification that matches the details you provided when registering your account. This will not just make sure your money is routed appropriately, but also prevent fraudulent activity on the platform.
  4. Redeem Real Money Initiation: With your account now fully verified, head to the prize store and select the real money option. Enter the amount you want to withdraw, which will correlate to your sweeps coin balance, and initiate the process. This will involve choosing a payment method to receive the real money, which includes physical checks, PayPal, bank account transfers, and more.
  5. Receive Real Money: Typically no longer than 72 hours after initiating the redemption process, the money will arrive via your payment option of choice.

Different Sweepstakes Poker Games

Different Sweepstakes Poker Games

Just as their real-money counterparts do, there are a few different types of sweepstakes poker games you can get involved with. I break down the options available below.

Poker Types

  • Texas Hold’em: The most popular form of poker across the globe, Texas Hold’em involves players being dealt two private cards and five community cards. The goal is to make the best five-card hand with your two cards and three cards from the community’s five.
  • Omaha: Omaha Poker is the next most popular type of sweepstakes poker game, which is similar to Texas Hold’em except players receive four private cards. They then must match two of those cards with three of the community's five cards.
  • Omaha Hi-Lo: Similar to Omaha Poker, this version splits the pot between the highest and lowest hands on the table. This encourages players to make a mix of high and low card strategies.

Poker Games

  • Sit & Go Tournaments: These are small, single-table tournaments that start as soon as the table is full. All players start with the same number of chips, and once only one player is left, the tournament is over.
  • Multi-Table Tournaments: These are larger, more traditional poker tournaments that involve multiple tables with as many as a hundred or more players. These types of tournaments will involve bigger prize pools, and require more time.
  • Bounty Tournaments: In these types of tournaments, players earn rewards for eliminating players, adding an extra layer of fun and strategy to the game.
  • Freerolls: These tournaments are free to enter, as the name implies, and offer real cash or sweeps coins as prizes to the winners. These types of tournaments are great for new players looking to learn the game and build a bankroll without risking anything. When I first started playing, freerolls were a great way to learn the sweepstakes poker platforms.

Expert Advice When Playing Sweepstakes Poker

While playing sweepstakes poker can be fun and sometimes profitable, it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into. Drawing on more than a decade of playing online poker, below are a few pieces of my experience when playing sweepstakes poker.

  • Understand the Rules: Before you play any sweepstakes poker game, make sure you understand the rules of the game and the nuances between the different types of games. For tournaments, make sure you understand how the blinds work.
  • Free Games: Freeroll tournaments are a great way to learn a platform before you start playing for real. Use Gold Coins to play these games for free initially.
  • Managing Your Bankroll: Whether it comes to sports betting or poker, effective bankroll management is key to success. Set a budget with how many sweeps coins you are willing to use in a given hour/day/week, and make sure you stick to it without overspending.
  • Promotions: Because there are so many sweepstakes poker sites in the USA, each offers promotions to entice new customers. Having more than one account will allow you to take advantage of the promotions offered at each which offer a mix of free gold coins and sweeps coins simply for signing up.
  • Observe Player Behavior: If you are playing in a multi-table tournament, you’ll get to see how players play over hours. Take note of when, and if, players are aggressive, and tailor your game to them to take advantage.
  • Be Patient: Oftentimes, players who win sweepstakes poker tournaments often are simply ones who are patient enough to commit to a strategy. Don’t get impatient if you get some bad hands early, and make sure your play is consistent throughout the tournament.

Criteria to Rank Sweepstakes Poker Sites in the USA

Criteria to Rank Sweepstakes Poker Sites in the USA

More and more sweepstakes poker sites are popping up throughout the country seemingly every month. Below are a few of the points of criteria I use when ranking sweepstakes poker sites in the USA.

  • Promotional Welcome Offer: Each of the sweepstakes poker sites we touched on today offer some form of welcome promotion to new customers. Each includes a mix of gold coins and sweeps coins, which we use to gauge how lucrative the welcome offer is.
  • Acquiring New Coins: Though you’ll get free coins from the welcome offer, we also look at how easy it is to acquire new coins through game play. Obtaining new coins is key to the overall sweepstakes poker site experience, so understanding how to get them is key to the process.
  • Transparency Terms and Conditions: Beyond just the welcome offer, each sweepstakes poker site in the USA has its own set of terms and conditions. We dive into just how transparent they are and note what requirements they come with such as wagering requirements.
  • Redeeming for Prizes: Once you acquire enough sweeps coins to redeem for cash, some sites are easier than others in terms of redeeming for prizes. We dive into the criteria for what’s required to redeem sweeps coins for prizes, including real cash.
  • Customer Support: Though all of the sweep poker sites noted in our review today are easy to use and understand, occasionally, you’ll have to get in touch with customer support. Part of our process is diving into how easy it is to get in touch with and work with their customer service.
  • Recurring Promotions: While the welcome offer for each sweepstakes poker site will be more than enough to get started, we also note how generous their recurring promotions are. For many sweepstakes poker sites in the USA, this will include things such as daily login bonuses, social media promotions, and more.

How To Check if a Sweep Poker Site is Legit?

Because they operate in an often “gray” area of gambling law, checking to see if a sweep poker site is legit is critical. Taking a look at the bottom of the home page is a good starting point, as they’ll often list their regulations and licensing credentials proudly.

Another good sign is if the sweepstakes poker site includes HTTPS in its URL, which shows they have a secure connection. This will also include a padlock logo to the left of the URL on the URL bar. 

Lastly, use this review to understand which sites have a great reputation and head for those. Doing your own research, oftentimes from a common sense approach, will ensure that the sweep poker site is legit.

Sweepstakes Poker vs. Real Money Online Poker Differences

Sweepstakes Poker vs. Real Money Online Poker Differences

Sweepstakes poker and real money online poker sites operate under different legal frameworks and currency systems.

For sweepstakes poker sites, they use a virtual currency system that uses a mix of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, which can be acquired via promotions with no real money risked. Real money online poker sites, on the other hand, require depositing (and risking) real funds from the very start of the process.

In terms of cashing out, sweepstakes poker sites require players to go through a redemption process using Sweeps Coins to get real money. Real money online poker sites, on the other hand, allow players to receive the real money they risk right away if they are winners.

Because sweepstakes poker sites don’t actually fall under the real money gambling category, they are available in more states, often those that don’t have gambling legislation. Real money online poker sites only operate in states where there is progressive online gambling legislation, which includes Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New Jersey, Nevada, Michigan, and Connecticut.


FAQ

Are there any age restrictions for playing on sweepstakes poker sites?

Yes, there are age for playing on sweepstakes poker sites. While they vary by state, most states have age requirements of at least 18 years of age or older.

How do I purchase Gold Coins and obtain Sweeps Coins?

You can purchase Gold Coins directly from the sweepstakes poker site of your choice, which will then give you sweep coins as an added bonus. To purchase Gold Coins, first make a deposit using one of the allowed payment methods which include PayPal, Debit Card, Bank Transfer, and more.

What are the common deposit and withdrawal methods available on sweepstakes poker sites?

The most common deposit and withdrawal methods available on sweepstakes poker sites are debit cards, bank transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, e-checks, and direct bank deposits.

Author Details

Johnny Covers

Johnny Covers

Johnny Covers is a veteran in the gambling industry, bringing years of experience and deep knowledge to the table. His work has been featured on top platforms like FantasyPros, Betting Pros, Sportsbook Review, and OddsChecker. As part of the SweepsCasinos.US team, Johnny focuses on testing and reviewing sweepstakes casinos, ensuring players receive accurate and trustworthy information.