
Social sportsbooks and casinos are causing a rave currently, and more sites keep launching. If you intend to join one, you may want to ask, is social gambling legal in the US? I also had the same question at first.
Indeed, social gambling sites are legal in the US. The reason is that they don’t use real money, and you bet on sports and play games for free using virtual coins. However, there’s more to know about the legality of social sportsbooks and casinos. Continue reading as I break it all down and also uncover the best sites to join.
The large number of social sportsbooks and casinos right now may make it difficult for you to select one. Not to worry, I’ve done the job. From my firsthand reviews of several sweepstakes gambling sites, these are the best ones online:
Number one is Sportzino, my overall favorite social betting site. This sweepstakes sportsbook gave me 170,000 Gold Coins and 7 Sweepstakes Coins for free after signing up. I made no initial purchase and didn’t even enter a promo code. It’s the best welcome offer I’ve received so far. With my bonus, I was set to bet on 40+ sports on Sportzino.
I found football, basketball, hockey, soccer, tennis, and many others. Interestingly, the social sportsbook also covered esports titles like Dota 2, Counter-Strike, and Valorant. I placed moneylines, spreads, totals, and props bets across many sports during my review. The fact that Sportzino supports live social betting further made things interesting.
At Legendz, I was able to bet on 33+ sports for free using Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins. The site gave me a welcome bonus of 500 GC and 3 SC after registration. Indeed, it’s not the biggest offer, but it still went a long way for my NFL, NBA, and NHL bets.
Legendz impressed me more in terms of redemption. After betting with my bonus SC and completing a 1x playthrough, I was set to redeem real prizes. The minimum threshold is 50 eligible SC for gift cards and 100 for cash, which is quite accommodating. I also appreciate the relatively fast turnaround — 24 to 48 hours for gift cards and 1 to 5 working days for cash.
Since launching in 2024, the Thrillzz app has been a favorite for many US social bettors. I love the app, too, especially since it covers all top sports in the US. While carrying out my review, I placed sweepstakes wagers on basketball and football events more than other categories.
The Thrillzz mobile app is available on Android and iOS. Therefore, you can get it irrespective of your smartphone type. After downloading and signing up, I claimed 3,000 Thrillzz Coins and 3 Thrillzz Sweeps via the welcome bonus. Don’t get confused, as Thrillzz Coins and Thrillzz Sweeps are the same as Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins.
With Skillz, you get a unique, competitive social gaming site. The casino boasts a wide range of skill-based games, and I was overwhelmed by the variety when I joined. Additionally, there are regular social casino games such as slots, table games, instant wins, and scratch cards.
Skillz works with Z and Ticketz, which are similar to Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins. From the welcome bonus, I only received 2,500 Zs. While I would have preferred some Ticketz, it didn’t stop me from having a splendid time. I played Dominoes Gold, Spider Solitaire, Panda Luck, and SpaceXY, to name a few.
Last on my list is Stackr, an exclusive social casino. I didn’t find betting options on the website, but it wasn’t a deal breaker. The 500+ games ensured I recorded zero dull moments. Plus, after creating my account, I got a massive welcome offer of 500,000 GC and 5 SC.
Slots are my favorite titles on the Stackr website. For the record, these are not free to play slots that pay real money. However, prize redemption is available when you play with SC and meet the requirements. Among the best slots I had fun with on Stackr are Fire in the Hole 2, Beam Boys, and Duel at Dawn.
Without beating around the bush, social betting is legal. Unlike traditional sportsbooks and casinos, these sites don’t require an initial payment to bet or play. Instead, the sports and games are free to access using Gold Coins (GC) and Sweepstakes Coins (SC).
I must state that GC and SC are fundamentally different. Both work for free social betting, but Gold Coins are only for fun and entertainment. On the other hand, Sweepstakes Coins work as promotional entries, so they allow you to redeem real prizes.
Keep in mind that there are no real money social casinos. By default, Sweepstakes Coins have no direct monetary value. You can only get real money prizes from them after completing a playthrough, besides other requirements.
Social gambling is legal in the US according to federal law. However, local regulations vary from state to state. From my experience reviewing several sweepstakes sportsbooks and casinos, I’ve concluded that no site is active in 50/50 states. Some regions simply do not permit social betting, so there’ll always be some restrictions.
For the above reason, you must verify that a social gambling site is legal in your state before you sign up. Here’s a rundown of where my top five social sportsbooks and casinos are inactive:
Social gambling site | Restricted states |
---|---|
Sportzino | Washington, Idaho, Michigan, and Georgia |
Legendz | Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, North, Dakota, Ohio, and Washington |
Thrillzz | Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio, South Carolina, and Washington |
Skillzz | Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, and South Dakota |
Stackr | Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Washington |
Now, is social gambling legal in your state? You can answer from the above table and sign up accordingly.
At social gambling sites, you bet and play for free, but you get the same sports and games on traditional alternatives. That’s the major advantage, in my opinion. The option to redeem real prizes is another notable benefit, as it means you get something out at the end. I only find it unfortunate that not all US bettors and players can access the sites. In summary, here are my pros and cons of social gambling:
Is social gambling legal? If you were asked the question, we’re sure you can now give a comprehensive answer. The bottom line is that sweepstakes sportsbooks and casinos are legal in the US, although they’re unavailable in a few states.
I recommend signing up with any of my top five sites that are active in your state. Whether you’re a fan of sports or casino, you’ll find a quality option. Plus, there are regular free bonuses with opportunities to redeem eligible SC winnings for real prizes.
Sports betting apps usually need social security to verify your identity. This is also the case with social sportsbooks in the US. The sites must confirm that you’re up to legal age and in a supported state for regulatory reasons.
The best social gambling sites are Sportzino, Legendz, Thrillzz, Skillz, and Stackr. I signed up and tested these sites firsthand, and you can read about my findings via the reviews on this page.
Social gambling involves sports betting and casino gaming using virtual currencies instead of real money. The virtual currencies in question are usually Gold Coins (GC) and Sweepstakes Coins (SC). While GC are for fun and entertainment, SC allow you to redeem real prizes after meeting specific requirements.
Yes, social sportsbooks are legal in the US under sweepstakes laws. They’re different from traditional betting sites because they use virtual coins and not real money. That said, note that some social sportsbooks are unavailable in certain states.
21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.