Best US social betting sites in 2024

Written by Paul Portanier

Checked by Lorella F. •

Last updated on November 27, 2024

Social betting sites allow players in most states to enjoy a spot of sports wagering without having to put down a bankroll.

Players can place predictions on sports through virtual currency that is gained from various promos. Sometimes virtual currency can be redeemed for cash prizes or gift cards.

Wondering what all the fuss is about? I explain it all while showing you the best social sportsbooks, apps, and bonuses to enjoy.

• Best social betting apps
• Expert picks
• How they compare
• Social betting explained
• Are they legal?
• Social betting apps
• Social betting promos
• Social sportsbook transactions
• How to choose
• Sources

Top social betting sites in the US for December 2024

Ads disclosure

Sportsbook logo	Odds rating	Bonus	Go to sportsbook Button	Show more	T&C
1 Best for jackpots Sportzino review	84/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 91% Playscore based on 6 critics	Up to 200,000 Gold Coins + 9 Sweeps Coins	Play now	Show more Good to know 41 sports Early Withdraw option Politics and entertainment betting 6 payment methods Show less
2 OwnersBox review	80/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 87% Playscore based on 4 critics	100% match up to $500	Play now	Show more Good to know Twist on the traditional User-friendly DFS platform Available in 37 states 7 payment methods Show less
3 Fliff review	80/100 Expert rating by Ramona D. 83% Playscore based on 8 critics	100% up to $100 FC TIME2PLAY copied to clipboard	Play now	Show more Good to know Good sport selection Offers college sports Available in 41 states 5 payment methods Show less
4 Betr review	80/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 83% Playscore based on 8 critics	100% up to $100 BC	Play now	Show more Good to know Free and cash betting Rewarding tournaments Offers college sports 5 payment methods Show less
5 BetRivers.NET sportsbook review	80/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 86% Playscore based on 6 critics	250 Virtual Credits	Play now	Show more Good to know Politics and entertainment betting Free credits every 2 hours Live social betting 6 payment methods Show less
6 ParlayPlay review	78/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 86% Playscore based on 4 critics	100% match up to $100 + $5 Promo Pick	Play now	Show more Good to know Mix of DFS with sports betting Members Club rewards Available in 27 states 4 payment methods Show less
7 Thrillzz review	67/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 81% Playscore based on 8 critics	Spend $10 get $30 of Sweeps Coins	Play now	Show more Good to know Six ongoing promos Major soccer events available High-value welcome bonus 7 payment methods Show less

The top three social sports betting sites – my picks

There is a lot to consider when trying to find the best social sportsbook. How many sports does it offer bets on? Is there a wide variety of bet types? Are there plenty of bonuses, and do these bonuses offer enough virtual currency to the players?

These are just a few of the many factors I consider, not to mention odds fairness, mobile compatibility, and the site’s availability in the different US states. These three social sportsbooks have floated to the top of my recommended social sports betting sites for you to enjoy.

🥇1. Sportzino Best overall

Sportzino is one of the biggest sportsbooks I’ve ever reviewed, offering 41 sports to bet on including esports. There’s also politics and entertainment betting like the Oscars through into the mix.

It’s available in 46 US states, with the same offering available in each state. You’re immediately handed a no-purchase bonus of up to 200,000 Gold Coins and 9 Sweeps Coins on sign-up, with an additional 20,000 Gold Coins and 1 Sweeps Coin available every day as a daily login bonus.

🥈2. OwnersBox Best DFS app

OwnersBox is a unique daily fantasy sports app, as it mashed it together with season-long tournaments. With a bit of magic and charm, they created weekly fantasy sports.

It’s a fresh experience available in 36 different states. The app itself is excellent to navigate, with plenty of filters and a sticky chat for any messages you’d like to send to your friends.

🥉3. Fliff Best platform

Fliff is an innovative sportsbook app, presenting a mobile-only social sportsbook that uses daily challenges to award players currency that can be used for predictions. With some challenges, you can win more currency just by placing a bet.

Where it shines though is in its platform, with an intuitive app available on all devices, that is easy to navigate and understand. You can sign up in just a few clicks, and immediately find a 100% purchase match-up bonus of up to $100 if you use our exclusive promo code TIME2PLAY.

Social sportsbooks comparison

I’ve prepared a breakdown of all the major social sportsbooks, based on the data gathered during my research:

How do social betting platforms work?

So what makes social betting sites different from regular online sportsbooks? Simply put, no real-money transactions are required to enjoy a flutter on the races or your favorite football team. Instead, social sportsbooks use the “sweepstakes” model of virtual currency.

The site’s virtual currency is handed out through promos or won through predictions. You can choose to buy this currency if you wish, but that’s an entirely optional choice. In some cases, you can even redeem the currency for gift cards or cash prizes.

1

Gold Coins vs Sweeps Coins

The virtual currency used tends to use these two terms — Gold Coins (GC) and Sweeps Coins (SC). GC usually refers to coins that can only be wagered for fun, without any chance to redeem anything. SC won from bets can usually be redeemed for cash prizes. Both can generally be gained through promos, bought as a purchase package or won through predictions.

2

Prize redemptions

Once you’ve won enough SC, some social sportsbooks will let you redeem that SC for prizes. The SC generally needs to be won through predictions — you can’t use the free SC from promos for redemptions. You’ll also usually need a minimum amount to redeem, with gift card prizes often requiring lower minimums than cash prizes.

3

Social features

It’s called a social betting site for a reason. Most of them offer a social element that you don’t find on regular betting sites, such as chat boxes embedded within the site. Some even offer friend-to-friend betting, laying down a wager directly against your friend. 

Social sportsbooks vs DFS betting – what’s the difference?

Lots of Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) betting sites also double as social sportsbooks, as we’ve seen with OwnersBox and ParlayPlay. However, this does not mean they are the same thing at all. To put it simply, a social sportsbook is a site that uses the sweepstakes model, while DFS is a type of betting.

DFS betting is when users pick a fantasy team of players for a sport and then enter contests with that team. They need to stay under a salary cap to stop them from only picking top-tier players. Once the contest starts, the team will play against other teams and, if the user has picked well, the team will rise to the top and win the contest, and a prize for the user.

This type of betting works well with social sportsbooks where real-money transactions are not necessary, hence why OwnersBox and ParlayPlay use this model. It’s not always the case though — DraftKings also features DFS betting but it’s a real-money sportsbook.

Are social sportsbooks legal?

Thanks to the sweepstakes model used, social sportsbooks are not considered online gambling. Due to this, they tend to be far more widespread than real-money sportsbooks.

There is a catch though. Some U.S. states are much harsher on sports betting than others and crack down even on social sportsbooks. This means that even if a social casino is available in a state, a social sportsbook might not.

The best example of this is Sportzino, which is both a social sportsbook and a sweepstakes casino. Sportzino’s casino section is available across 46 states, however, its sports platform is limited to only 37 states.

It’s also important to note that DFS sites in particular face harsh scrutiny from states and powerful figures, with a Fanduel executive even accusing them of being illegal. Some DFS operators have even pulled out of Maryland and West Virginia altogether after state regulators cracked down on the subject.

Social betting apps

Most social betting sites tend to be optimized for mobile. Even if they don’t have a betting app, they’ll usually perform and look better on a mobile browser than on a desktop.

There are some special cases, such as with Fliff or Betr, where the social sportsbook is available exclusively through a mobile app. These sites will have apps that can be downloaded through the App Store or Play Store and are optimized with solely mobile in mind.

These sites tend to perform better on mobile than social sportsbooks optimized for mobile browsers. Fliff especially is a standout in this department, being incredibly fast and utilizing a comfortable layout that’s easy to navigate. If what you’re looking for is the best social betting app, then Fliff is the sportsbook to go for.

Common social sports betting bonuses

A good social sportsbook needs good betting promos to guarantee a regular stream of virtual currency. If the promos are subpar, then you’ll be forced to make purchases, and sportsbooks like that tend to rank lower on my list.

But what promos can you expect to find? I’ve listed the most common social betting bonuses below, so expect to see these on the best sites:

Welcome bonus

A staple of any decent social sportsbook, a welcome bonus usually consists of a lump of virtual currency alongside a first-purchase promo. Be aware of the value — It’s pointless getting 50,000 GC only for a minimum bet to require 100,000 GC.

Tournament promos

There’s always a big sports tournament going on, and the best social sportsbooks will capitalize on that by offering promos around it. Some sportsbooks offer boosted odds or parlays on the tournament’s games, or even a few unique bet types.

Daily login bonus

The best social betting sites will hand out a bit of GC and SC every day you log in. This usually isn’t some grand amount, just enough to let you place a few predictions during the day. Some, like Fliff, instead come with daily challenges that award you for placing bets.

Parlay boosts

A common staple at any sportsbook, parlay boosts let you chain multiple bets into one big bet. Be warned — if one bet fails, the entire parlay fails. Social sportsbooks tend to be harsher with boosted parlay terms since you can get the currency for free, with Sportzino regularly rotating eligible sports for parlays.

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VIP Program

Who doesn’t love a good VIP Program? Most programs come in tiers, with bettors climbing up the ranks the more they stake on predictions. You’ll often find promos like weekly, monthly, and birthday bonuses tied to the VIP Program.

Boosted odds

Boosted odds aren’t exclusive to just tournament promos, and most social betting platforms will have a few boosted odds on rotation. Keep an eye on their site’s promos page and see what new sports are benefiting from boosted odds that day.

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Social sportsbook purchases and redemptions

Social sportsbooks let you play for free, but you can always purchase more virtual currency. Some of them even let you redeem that currency for cash prizes or gift cards.

So how does it work? Generally, social sportsbooks have two types of currency, GC and SC. You can purchase GC at the site’s online store, and each purchase of GC usually comes with a free batch of SC.

Purchasing is pretty straightforward, and you can follow the basic steps below:

1. Go to the Cashier or Wallet section in the menu (or an equivalent)
2. Check if there are any payment promos available
3. Pick your preferred coin package
4. Choose a payment method
5. Confirm and enjoy

As for redemptions, those can be a bit trickier. You can only redeem using SC that has been won, and you’ll need a minimum amount of eligible SC to redeem. Some terms even change depending on what you’re redeeming, such as gift cards occasionally having a lower minimum SC requirement.

Always check the terms and conditions. The best social sportsbooks will have a ‘Sweeps Rules’ button in the footer, breaking down all the specific redemption terms. State restrictions will also be in this section, such as Florida restricting large redemption prizes.

Once you’ve done your required reading, you can follow my guide to redeem your winnings:

1. Go to the Cashier or Wallet section in the menu (or an equivalent)
2. Select your redemption method
3. Enter the amount you wish to redeem
4. Photo ID verification and proof of residence will be required before the redemption is authorized
5. Once all steps are complete, the redemption will be processed

Payment methods comparison

Most bettors have one or two betting payment methods they like to stick to, and it can be a hassle checking out every social sportsbook to see which one has what.

That’s why I’ve done the dirty work for you, and prepared a handy table you can use to see if your favorite social sportsbook has the payment method you use.

How to choose a social sportsbook

Finding the best social betting sites can end up wasting precious time. Social sportsbooks which are DFS only are quite different from your average social sportsbook, so it’s easy to get confused. I’ve compiled a few tips to help you out:

Sources

1. https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/03/28/the-rise-of-social-sportsbooks.html
2. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/02/05/fliff-social-sportsbooks/
3. https://www.legalsportsreport.com/126678/daily-fantasy-fanduel-sports-betting-comments/