What are US social casinos and how do they work?

Social casinos offer a unique mix of social interaction and casino entertainment, giving you the fun of the casino floor without having to spend a cent.

Unlike traditional online casinos, social casinos provide a platform where you can chat with friends, family, and new acquaintances while playing your favorite casino games. That's because the games at online social casinos in the US are meant to be played for fun, and do not involve placing real money bets every time you spin the reels.

Are social casinos legal in the US?

Due to their "free play" nature, social casinos have gained popularity partly through their widespread availability. Social casinos, as they don't require deposits and transactions, are legal across the US.

That means all of the recommended US online social casino sites we've recommended should be available to play in whichever state you call home. You will need to be 21+ to enter and play at most social casinos, but please check your local state regulations for full details.

What is the difference between social casinos and sweepstakes casinos?

This question comes up a lot, and to be honest the lines do blur here. In saying that, the key difference between the two is that at a social casino there is no 'cash out' option while some top sweepstakes casinos in the US allow you to redeem coins for prizes or cash. Sweepstakes are also widely available in the country.

Why play at US social casinos online?

Whether you're new to gambling online in the US or are a casino fan, playing at social casinos are well worth your time and consideration when it comes to choosing where to play.

The best social casinos in the US will offer most, if not all, of the best real money games to players, with one important difference - they are free to play. So, by playing social casino games, you are able to try out some of the biggest titles in the industry without risking a loss as you do. This also means you aren't just having fun when you play some of the best social casino games around, you're actually developing skills and experience you can put to use on real money versions of the game if you decide to make the switch.

Here are some of the pros and cons of playing at a social casino.

How we rate social casinos

With so many great social casinos available to play across the US, it can be difficult to know which is the right site for you. At Casino.org, we've created and used a 25-step review process on all of the casinos we test specifically to help you solve that problem.

Our team of expert casino reviewers considers a wide range of factors when looking at all of the brands we check. This includes checking the available gaming options, the type and quality of bonuses, how good the customer service is, what payment methods are available, along with the site's approach to safe online casino gaming, and more.

• Online casino games & software

  Social casinos offer all the same great casino games you find on real money sites. Therefore we expect to see a range of themes, styles, table games, bet rages, and software providers. The best social casinos in the US even offer some live dealer games which ups the ante for fun. All of the sites we recommned provide hundreds of titles for hours of entertainment.

• Social casino bonuses

  It might not be the first thing that springs to mind, but casino bonuses for social online casinos are important. They can boost your bankroll and allow you to play games you may not have considered. Welcome bonuses are particularly popular with many top social casinos offering big packages for new players, including Gambino Slots that gives you a ton of extra coins to get started.

• Safety and licensing

  Before recommending a social online casino we vet the site's security. We check for a license first and foremost as this is the biggest indicator of a safe site. Each state has regulators where you can check if a site has the credentials it claims so we make sure that everything lines up. Once we're sure it is licensed we look for other factors such as reputation, firewalls and any additional security measures.

• Purchasing methods

  You can, of course, purchase coins at a social casino when you run out. Having trusted methods such as PayPal, and debit cards as options ensures you keep your details safe. We want to see a variety of options including cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, and even specific methods for mobile such as Apple Pay. We recommend that you look for what methods are available before you sign up to avoid any disappointment.

• Mobile casino experience

  Not only do we try the site out on our desktop but we also put the smartphone experience under the microscope. The registration process should be just as easy, and we expect the same games, bonuses, and overall user experience to match, if not better the desktop version. More sites are moving towards a mobile-first approach so we do this for every casino we review.

• Customer support

  For the final step, we contact services. We do this to check that you will get support promptly if need be. There's nothing worse than waiting for days to get a response and we have high standards for quality. We also expect to be able to contact via email, live chat, and possibly even be able to call and chat with someone.

• Online slots

  Social casinos usually offer a wide range of free slots games. Slots are known for their engaging themes, bonus features, and the excitement of spinning the reels to land winning combinations. These will also often make up the bulk of any social casino online. I look for variety here in terms of themes and software providers as this gives you the most choice.

• Blackjack

  Free blackjack is a classic card game that is available at many top social casinos in the US. In free blackjack you play against the dealer with the aim to reach a hand total as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it. It's both simple and fun!

• Social casino roulette

  If you have ever played at a casino before, or seen a movie featuring a casino then you will have seen roulette! In the ultimate game of chance, you place your bet on where you think the roulette ball will land on the wheel. The best thing about free roulette is that you can try out strategies without risking any cash.

• Poker

  Social casinos often offer various poker variants, such as Texas Hold'em and Omaha. You can test your poker skills and enjoy multiplayer games with friends or other users while learning to play for free. I usually play Texas Hold'em and as it is a game of skill (and chance!) it's just as enjoyable for free.

• Video poker

  Video poker combines elements of slots and poker, allowing you to make strategic decisions while aiming for winning poker hands. At social casinos, you can play video poker for free and will find the games within the 'table' section in most cases.

• Social casino bingo

  Social casinos frequently include free bingo games in their library, offering a social and interactive experience where you can digitally daub numbers on virtual bingo cards. Bingo has long been a favorite at online social casinos in the US and with thousands playing every day it shows no signs of dropping in popullarity.

• Keno

  Keno is a lottery-style game where you select numbers and hope to match them with numbers drawn by the game. You can play keno for free at the best social casinos in the US and enjoy the thrill of your card filling up.

• Baccarat

  Baccarat is a card game that involves betting on your hand, the banker's hand, or the result being a draw. It's a simple yet popular game often found as a free play option in US social casinos online. Interestingly, it is one of the oldest card games and is massively popular in Asia.

Live social casino games

Live dealer casino games bring the excitement of a genuine casino directly to you home or anywhere you can use a social casino app. While these games are typical on real money casino websites, they're not commonly found on social casino platforms. At the time of writing, we discovered that you can play them at Stake.us casino. We'll update this section if more follow suit.

Typical live social games include:

• Live free roulette
• Live dealer blackjack
• Live social baccarat

How do social casino coins and tokens work?

At online social casinos, players use virtual currencies or coins instead of real money when gambling. These virtual currencies are provided by the social casino platforms as part of bonuses, promotions, and free daily top ups, and cannot be exchanged for real money as they have no real-world value. The two main types of virtual coins and tokens used at social casinos are:

• Gold Coins: 'Gold Coins' are a form of virtual currency used in social casinos. The best social casinos will hand out a generous amount of gold coins for free when you sign up, as well as topping up your balance every day you log in. You can also buy top-up packages if you need more Gold Coins than you can get for free. These coins are used to let you enjoy various casino games without the risk of losing real money. Gold Coins cannot be redeemed for cash prizes.
• Sweeps Coins: Some social casinos also offer 'Sweeps Coins' as a different type of virtual currency. Unlike Gold Coins, Sweeps Coins have the potential to be redeemed for cash prizes or other rewards, such as gift cards and merchandise. You can get Sweeps Coins several different ways, but they are usually awarded if you choose to buy Gold Coin packages, take part in promotions, register at a social or free sweepstakes casino, take part in a social media offer, or as part of on-site promotions.

Can I earn real money by playing social casino games?

Social casinos are a type of online casino that allows you to enjoy casino-style games without wagering real money. Instead, you can play for free using virtual currencies like gold coins or sweep coins, which are provided by social casino platforms. This is great if you want to play for fun or to sharpen your skills on some of the best free games, but unfortunately, it won't let you earn real money.

Social casino apps

One of the best things about playing social casino games is that they are available on a range of devices, including most smartphones and tablets.

Not only is mobile gaming on the rise, but it is also a convenient way to play, and our recommended social casinos we recommend have worked hard to make sure you can enjoy the best mobile gameplay experiences possible. You can choose to download a casino app where possible or play straight from your phone's web browser thanks to HTML technology. This comes down to personal preference as the experience on them is similar.

Whether you prefer to play on an iPhone, iPad, or Android device, mobile social casino games offer something for everyone.

While you aren't spending any real money while you play at online social casinos, it's still important to keep responsible gambling practices in mind. This is to stop you developing bad habits and transferring them to real money play which could cost you big in the long run.

To help you keep on top of responsible gambling habits, we've listed some tips for you below.

• Set limits: While you don't have to limit your money as social casinos in the US aren't pay per spin, you should still limit the number of spins and the time you spend playing the game. These are great habits to get into when it comes to real money play.
• Don't chase losses: Even though you're not playing with cash, if you're on a losing streak it can be tempting to try and win back what you've "lost" just to "win" the game. Don't. Remember it's not real money and that chasing losses, even pretend ones, is not a safe habit to develop.
• Take breaks: Schedule regular breaks during gameplay to prevent tiredness and compulsive behaviors from developing.
• Keep it fun: Play along with friends, join social chats and communities, and celebrate the pleasure of gaming without the pressure of winning.

If you are ever worried about your gambling habits, or if you think you are currently displaying signs of problem gambling, stop playing and get help immediately. The National Council on Problem Gambling provides assistance for everyone, regardless of which state you're from, and be reached on the phone 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER, by text at 800GAM, or via live chat, and will be happy to help however they can.