Everybody remembers the online poker ‘boom’ of the mid-2000s. Well, it’s happening again, only this time in a completely different form: sweepstakes poker. This is a free-to-play version of online poker available to play in sweepstakes casinos and poker sites using the sweepstakes model, setting the stage for what looks to be the start of a new era.

Sweepstakes Poker: A Free-to-Play Alternative for Poker Fans

Sweepstakes poker is a type of online poker that uses a dual-currency system, where users get to play with Gold Coins (GC) or Sweeps Coins (SC) instead of actual money. Gold Coins are the ‘freemium’ currency that let you play for free, while Sweeps Coins are for entering lobbies and tournaments where you can potentially redeem cash prizes and gift cards at the end. Outside of that, the rules and gameplay are exactly the same, whether you’re playing a sweepstakes version of Texas Hold’em or 5-Card Draw.

⛁ Gold Coins

Gold Coins are a hit with casual online poker players who simply want to play for free. Usually, you’re given hundreds of thousands of these coins for free and can use them as you like across countless different poker lobbies and even Gold Coin tournaments designed for fun. Some sweepstakes poker sites even have GC leaderboards that you can climb by winning poker games, the same way you collect XP in regular video games.

⛁ Sweeps Coins

Sweeps Coins are most popular with serious poker players and those who want to win prizes. If you collect enough Sweeps Coins when playing in different poker games and tournaments, coins become redeemable for prizes. Top picks include cash transfers and gift cards, with 1 Sweeps Coin converting to $1. This means winning 500 Sweeps Coins would make you eligible for $500 worth of prizes.

Where to Play Sweepstakes Poker

If you actually want to start playing online sweepstakes poker, you have three different options: sweepstakes poker sites, sweepstakes casinos, and social casino apps with poker games. The platform you go with is entirely up to you, with each one coming with its own unique benefits. Let’s unpack them a little more closely.

✔ Sweepstakes Poker Sites

If you’re a die-hard online poker fan, a dedicated sweepstakes poker site is the best option for you. Global Poker and Clubs Poker are the best options on the table. For example, Global Poker offers Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Bounty Poker, Jackpot Sit’N’Go, and more, along with its popular weekly tournaments like ‘Sunday Scrimmage’ and ‘The Hydra’. What’s great about these types of sites is that you get the full sweepstakes poker experience and countless lobbies to enter, so you’re never short on games. Plus, they serve as a great starting point for existing online poker players looking to make the transition over to the sweepstakes version.

✔ Sweepstakes Casinos

Next, you have sweepstakes casinos. These are extremely popular free-to-play casinos that have exploded in the US over the past few years, offering slots, table games, and more. Luckily, many sweepstakes casinos also offer sweepstakes poker, with one of our top picks being ‘Stake Poker’ over on Stake.us and the cowboy-themed Texas Hold’em on Pulsz. The only difference with these casinos is that they’re not exclusively dedicated to poker and have all the other types of casino games to choose from as well.

✔ Social Casino Apps

If you’re more of a mobile poker player, you can download a social casino app and access sweepstakes poker that way. There are plenty of social casinos you can download across iOS and Android, and all you have to do is navigate these apps and choose from their available poker games. The advantage here is that it’s easier to play on-the-go.

Is Sweepstakes Poker Legal?

As sweepstakes poker follows a dual-currency sweepstakes model, it’s legal in the majority of US states. However, a small number of states, including California, New York, and New Jersey, have banned sweepstakes casinos and dual-currency games that let you win prizes, so you can’t play there. Compared to traditional online poker, though, the sweepstakes version is much more widely accessible and in most cases anyone over the age of 21 can play.

Practice with Gold Coins First, Then Try to Win Prizes with Sweeps Coins

If you’re just getting started out with sweepstakes poker for the first time, the best way to go about it is practice with Gold Coins first. This way, you can get to grips with betting, calling, and raising using Gold Coins rather than actual cash, and because it’s a free-play currency there’s absolutely zero pressure involved. Then, once you’ve built up some experience, you can switch over to playing with Sweeps Coins, allowing you to then potentially bag prizes like cash transfers and gift cards.

Redeem Prizes Using Sweeps Coins

Whether you’re playing on Global Poker or Stake.us, you’ll hopefully get into a position where you’ve collected enough Sweeps Coins for prize redemption. For instance, you might have paid a 10 SC buy-in to a Texas Hold’em tournament and won 400 Sweeps Coins at the end. To redeem those coins, all you have to then do is head over to the prize part of the menus and choose from:

◼ Cash transfers

◼ Gift cards

Most of the time, gift cards have extremely low minimum redemption thresholds, usually around 10 SC, making them super easy to get. Cash transfers tend to be higher, at least 50 SC or more, so you might have to be more patient and save your Sweeps Coins up to get them. Depending on the operator you’re using, cash transfers can be sent to your bank or PayPal account, and there are sometimes even additional withdrawal options available.

Verdict 

You officially know all the information and facts you need about sweepstakes poker.

It’s the fastest growing variation of poker out there at the moment, offering both casual and pro players the opportunity to play free poker online or compete for prizes if that’s their preference.

Remember, sweepstakes poker is exactly the same as regular poker, with the only difference being you’re playing with virtual coins instead of actual cash.

Gold Coins are used in free-to-play games and lobbies, while Sweeps Coins open the gateway for serious competition and those all-important prizes.

You can play today using a dedicated sweepstakes poker site, sweepstakes casino, or social casino app, most of which require you to be 18+ or 21+ in order to start playing.