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Sweepstakes poker 2025: legal poker sweepstakes platforms

Written by Denise Mathey
Checked by Paul P.

Sweepstakes poker sites allow you to enjoy all the fun of playing traditional poker, but without using real money. Instead, you get to play with virtual currencies like Gold and Sweepstakes Coins that you receive for free after signing up. I’ll show you how sweepstakes poker works, what’s allowed and where, as well as how to get started.

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Global Poker
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90/100 Games rating by Paul P. 87% Playscore based on 150,000 Gold Coins for $10 + 30 FREE Sweeps Coins — over 65% off
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Clubs Poker
Clubs Poker review
90/100 Games rating by Denise M. 77% Playscore based on 2,500 Gold Coins + 0.5 Sweeps Coins
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  • Bad Beat jackpot bonus
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Jumbo88 review
98/100 Games rating by Denise M. 76% Playscore based on Get 35,000 GC + 35 SC for $9.99
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  • 41 live games
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Zula Casino
Zula review
96/100 Games rating by Paul P. 87% Playscore based on Up to 120,000 Gold Coins + 10 Sweeps Coins
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Chip And Win
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Pulsz Com
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92/100 Games rating by Paul P. 81% Playscore based on Up to 400,000 Gold Coins + 40 free Sweepstakes Coins
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Jackpota
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90/100 Games rating by Paul P. 82% Playscore based on 15,000 Gold Coins + 3.5 Sweeps Coins
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Moozi review
89/100 Games rating by Lisa S. 69% Playscore based on 20,000 Gold Coins + 1 Sweeps Coin
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Kickr casino review
88/100 Games rating by Lisa S. 73% Playscore based on 150,000 Bits + 4 free Bucks
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Yay Casino
YAY Casino review
86/100 Games rating by Lisa S. 76% Playscore based on 50,000 Gold Coins + 5 Sweeps Coins
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My top 3 sweepstakes poker casinos

I’m a sucker for sweeps poker, so I’ve handpicked my favorite three sweepstakes poker casinos to show you. Sweeps poker casinos come and go, so make sure to come here regularly to see which three new sweeps poker casinos are the best.

🥇#1 Global Poker

The original sweeps proker site, Global Poker has been knocking it out of the park since 2017. This site from the seasoned VGW brand starts you off with an impressive first-time purchase offer of 150,000 GC and 30 SC for $10, a 65% discount provided you use the promo code PLAYPOKER.

Global Poker offers loads of poker variants, including Texas Hold ’em, Omaha, Bounty Poker, Jackpot Sit and Go, and Crazy Pineapple. It also hosts regular tournaments, with big prize pools for the winners.

Pros

  • Multi-tabling available
  • Regular poker tournaments
  • Weekly poker promos
  • Global Poker merch rewards

Cons

  • No SC in no-deposit bonus
  • No live chat

🥈#2 Clubs Poker

The sister site to Clubs Casino, Clubs Poker doubles down on its poker offerings, with 20 poker tables including Omaha, Stud, and Texas Hold’em. The site also stands out for its unique HORSE Poker format, which combines multiple poker types into a single tournament.

Signing up with our exclusive TIME2PLAY1 promo code will gift you with 2,500 GC and 0.5 SC straight away. You’ll be able to get that same amount daily, to spend on its poker tables or 500+ casino games.

Pros

  • Bad Beat jackpot bonus
  • Seasonal tournaments
  • 50 SC cash prize redemptions
  • Mobile-compatible site

Cons

  • No live dealer games
  • No live chat, email, or phone support

🥉#3 Jumbo88

One of the newest sweeps poker casinos on the market, Jumbo88 was launched in May 2025 with a whopping 22 table games, including 2 poker variants. Unfortunately, while the site does have 41 live dealers, it does not offer live poker.

Jumbo’s other offerings are equally excellent. Starting you out with 10,000 GC and 1 SC, you can also get an additional 35,000 GC and 35 SC for $9.99 as a first-time purchase promo.

Pros

  • Huge games library
  • 41 live dealers
  • 24hr redemptions
  • Headquartered in Delaware

Cons

  • No live poker tables
  • Few ongoing promos

What is sweepstakes poker?

Sweepstakes poker is similar to traditional poker except that it is played without real money. You play with virtual currencies like Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. While Gold Coins are purely for fun, Sweeps Coins are eligible for winning prizes.

A sweeps poker casino offers games like Texas Holdem, Omaha, Sit & Go’s, and tournaments. Simply choose the game you’d like to play and read the rules before you start playing. Whether you’re playing traditional poker or sweeps poker, the rules stay the same. The only difference is that sweep poker sites tend to give you less time to act on each hand.

Sweepstakes poker sites are far more accessible since they’re allowed in 40+ US states as of now. Sweeps sites don’t need to obtain gambling licenses or permits to offer services, since they operate under US sweepstakes laws.

How sweepstakes poker works

Sweepstakes poker, as the name implies, is based on a sweepstakes model, meaning you don’t need to play using real money. You’ll simply need to sign up for a sweeps poker site and grab your free virtual currencies to get started. Here’s a closer look at step-by-step sweepstakes poker gameplay:

  1. Sign up for free: The first step involves signing up to a sweepstakes site and claiming your free virtual currency.
  2. Pick a poker table: Once you’re logged in with your free Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, head over to the casino lobby and search for your favorite poker game, like Texas hold’em or Omaha.
  3. Use your virtual currency to play: Because Gold Coins are purely for fun and have no real-world value, use them to practice on your desired poker tables. Once you’re confident enough, you can use your Sweeps Coins to enter prize tables.
  4. Place entries with your coins: Once the cards are dealt, you can place entries with your coins in each round.
  5. Reveal hands: This is where you find out who wins. Turn your cards face up, check card combos, and the best combo wins. If that’s you, your winnings will be added to your Sweeps Coins balance.

How can you win real prizes?

Here’s some actionable advice you can use to receive real prizes when playing sweepstakes poker:

  • Casino 1

    Play through bonus rounds

    For example, you trigger a spin bonus on your fifth hand, land three stars, and receive 15 additional Sweeps Coins to use at any table.

  • Use your daily login bonus

    Most sweepstakes sites offer a daily login bonus that rewards you for simply logging into your account once every 24 hours. Log in every day to collect and stack up Sweeps Coins, which you can then use on your desired poker tables.

  • Trophy

    Join tournaments

    Navigate to the sweepstakes site’s promotions page and look for poker tournaments or leaderboard challenges offering big Sweeps Coin prizes. For example, a tournament with a 100-Sweeps-Coin prize pool might award 20 Sweeps Coins to the top 10 finishers.

  • Meet redemption requirements

    Once you’ve accumulated enough Sweeps Coins, you need to play them through a set number of times to unlock redemption. Ensure that you adhere to those requirements so you can get your hands on gift cards or real-money prizes.

Poker sweepstakes casinos are legal in 40+ states. But why are sweep poker sites legal in states where online traditional poker sites cannot operate?

Well, sweep poker sites operate under the sweepstakes model according to US sweepstakes laws, and since you don’t need to make a deposit or spend real money to enjoy poker games at a sweepstakes casino, it’s not considered gambling and they don’t need a license. 

If you’re based in a state where traditional poker sites are off-limits, then sweepstakes poker platforms are an ideal alternative, where you can enjoy not just poker games but slots, table games, and live dealer games as well.

How to choose the best sweepstakes poker site

If you want to play poker at the best sweepstakes poker sites, you’ll need to consider a few key factors. Let’s take a look at them below:

Seriously, Stick To Legal Casinos

Understand legal requirements

Sweepstakes online poker casinos are legal in 40+ US states; however, they do operate under strict regulatory requirements and cannot operate in some states like Washington. Check your state’s current sweepstakes laws to see if you can legally sign up and play sweeps poker.

Casino Bonus Terms And Conditions

Read the terms and conditions

The best sweepstakes poker casinos are governed by certain terms and conditions (TS and Cs), so it’s in your best interest to read the overall Ts and Cs, so you understand playthrough requirements, fairness and transparency policies, minimum entry requirements, and so on.

Claim A Casino Bonus

Keep an eye out for bonuses

Since you won’t need real money to participate in poker games or tournaments, you’ll need to rely on keeping your virtual currency balance topped up. Ensure that the sweep poker site offers bonuses not just for new players but regular promotions for existing players too.

Try Free Casino Games

Available poker variants

Make sure your desired poker games and variants are listed before signing up. The most common options are Texas Hold ’em and Omaha, but there are many sweep poker sites that offer unique variations like Short-deck Hold ’em and Triple-draw lowball to spice things up.

Blackjack Bonuses And Tournaments

Look for prize pools

Prize pools are usually available when you take part in tournaments. You should be aware of the contests and challenges that the poker site holds, as well as the potential rewards, before participating.

Buy In

Blinds and buy-ins

Blinds refer to the smallest entry you can make in a hand. For example, if the smallest blind is one Sweeps Coin and the biggest is two Sweeps Coins, you need at least two Sweeps Coins in your balance to join the table. Some poker sites will ask for buy-ins, and this is simply a fixed amount you put down to sit at the table. Choose sweepstakes poker sites that have minimum buy-ins that fit within your budget.

Sweepstakes poker vs. traditional poker

Let’s look closer at the key differences between sweepstakes poker and traditional poker when it comes to gameplay, stakes, and rewards:

Gameplay

In sweepstakes poker, you use Gold Coins to practice and Sweeps Coins when placing entries at the tables. In traditional poker, you can only make real money wagers. 

For example, when engaging in a Texas hold ’em ring game in a sweep poker site, you can place entries using Sweeps Coins, but playing the same poker game on a real-money poker site means you need to wager real money to participate.

Stakes

No real-money risk applies to sweepstakes poker since you’re placing entries using virtual coins that are given to you upon signing up. In traditional poker, you have to place real-money bets, and there’s no other way to participate. 

If you lose a hand when playing with Sweeps Coins, you can top up your coin balance for free by claiming bonuses and promotions; when you lose money at a real-money poker site, there’s no way to cover your losses.

Rewards

In sweepstakes poker, you collect and win Sweeps Coins, which you can later redeem for gift cards and cash prizes; in traditional poker, you receive real money straight to your bank account or preferred payment method.

For example, in a sweepstakes online poker tournament, you could win 100 Sweeps Coins and then redeem them for gift cards or a cash prize; in traditional poker, your chips convert to dollars once you cash out.

Advantages of playing sweepstakes poker

If you’re wondering why you should play sweepstakes poker, then let’s take a look at the benefits below:

  • USA Icon

    Legal accessibility

    Traditional poker is legal in under 10 US states, so it’s an extremely limited online gaming option for players in most states. Sweepstakes poker sites are the only ones that can legally offer an online poker experience in nearly every US state.

  • Free Play

    Free to play

    You’ll receive free virtual currency when signing up to a sweepstakes poker site, which lets you get started on your favorite poker variants immediately after registering an account. You use your Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins to place entries at tables, so you won’t need to risk your cash or hard-earned money.

  • Vip Bonus

    Rewards

    Even though you don’t need real money to play at sweepstakes poker sites, you still have the chance to walk away with real rewards; you convert your Sweeps Coins winnings into gift cards or cash prizes. This means you don’t need to invest real money upfront, but you can still walk away with tangible rewards.

  • Live Chat

    Social gaming

    Poker sweepstakes is interactive, and when sitting at a virtual poker table, you can interact with other players. In fact, lots of sweepstakes online poker sites have a built-in chat box right at the table, allowing you to send quick messages and react with emojis as the game moves on. Ultimately, this boosts the amount of time each player spends at the table, and it’s all due to the social interaction.

How to get started with sweepstakes poker

Getting set up takes just a few minutes. Follow these easy steps.

Account of a woman with a green tick mark, inside a mobile phone
Step 1

Create your account

Visit the sweepstakes poker site or download the sweeps mobile app and click sign up. Enter your name, email, and a password. Check your inbox and click the verification link to activate your account

Welcome Bonus Codes
Step 2

Claim your welcome bonus

After you log in, head to your account page. Claim the welcome offer. Most sites give free Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins when you join. For example, you might get 15,000 Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins free on sign-up.

Safe Casino Research
Step 3

Choose your game

Go to the lobby and browse poker tables. Texas Hold ’em and Omaha are the most popular options.

Jacks Or Better Video Poker
Step 4

Start playing

Use Gold Coins to practice and Sweeps Coins to play at poker tables. Pick ring games, Sit & Go’s, or big tournaments to start playing.

Strategies to win at sweepstakes poker

Sweepstakes online poker casinos, like traditional poker casinos, adhere to strict rules of poker games and tournaments. This means you need to understand and use the most basic strategies evenly when playing at a sweepstakes poker site.

Basic poker strategy dictates that you need to pay attention to the cards you’re dealt and make the best possible hand. One important thing to keep in mind is that sweepstakes poker has a shorter time frame for making decisions. You need to be quick on your feet.

Another basic sweepstakes poker strategy is to start small. These sites usually have lower blinds than traditional poker sites, so you can start with smaller entries and build up your bankroll over time. Available bonuses and promotions, like daily login bonuses and ongoing offers, will all help keep your virtual coin balance topped up.

If you already know the basics of poker, then consider some advanced sweepstakes strategies. Let’s take a look at some of those below:

  • Keep an eye out in the first rounds, and watch how others play.
  • Watch the behavioral patterns of your opponents, and learn their moves to help you plan ahead.
  • Keep your emotions in check and stay cool to ensure you make smart calls.

FAQs

Is sweepstakes poker legal?

Yes, sweepstakes poker is 100% legal in the US, though some states may restrict it. It’s available in 40+ US states, so check your state laws to see if you can play in your area.

How do I win real money on sweepstakes poker sites?

You can win real money at the best sweepstakes poker sites by signing up for free and claiming your free Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Gold Coins are used for fun, while Sweeps Coins can be obtained via bonuses and promotions, and then redeemed for gift cards and cash prizes once you’ve met the redemption requirements.

What are the top sweepstakes poker games available?

The best and most popular sweepstakes poker games are Texas hold ’em, Omaha, Crazy Pineapple poker, Jacks or Better sit & go’s, and Caribbean stud poker.

All sweepstakes and social casino information

Denise Mathey
Denise Mathey Time2play contributor
Education
Education Diploma in International Travel and Tourism
Specialization
Specialization US laws and legislation surrounding online gambling
Experience
Experience Six years of freelance content writing

Denise Mathey is a seasoned iGaming writer with over a decade of experience. She started her career in content creation writing detailed business articles for platforms like Chambers of Commerce, where she guided entrepreneurs through starting business entities in various US states.

Denise’s expertise has also focused heavily on iGaming over the last few years, reviewing online casinos, sportsbooks, and sweepstakes platforms for top iGaming publications. Her passion for simplifying complex gambling laws and betting strategies helps players find the best gaming destinations for a safe and enjoyable betting experience.

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