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Sweepstakes blackjack is more popular than ever and this guide is here to tell you what it is all about. Essential reading for all blackjack fans looking for a safe and legal way to play online.
Here you’ll get to see exactly why sweepstakes blackjack sites are legal in most states and learn how to play the classic card games on them. Plus we’ll reveal how the sites work to help you play blackjack for free and even redeem any Sweepstakes Coins winnings for real prizes.
Sweepstakes blackjack is just standard blackjack that you can play at a sweepstakes casino site. Sweepstakes casinos let you play for free and there is no real money gambling involved.
These sites offer an appealing alternative for playing blackjack online, especially so in locations where traditional online casinos are restricted. Here are some of the key reasons why playing social blackjack games at a sweepstakes casino is hugely popular:
Sweepstakes casinos operate under a different set of regulations to traditional casinos, meaning they are legal in the majority of US states. This makes sweepstakes blackjack games far more accessible to a much wider audience.
One of the reasons that sweepstakes casinos are permitted to operate is because they observe a ‘no purchase necessary’ rule. Rather than real money, you’ll only play at sweepstakes casinos with two virtual currencies, often called Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins.
Although you can’t play free blackjack and win real money, most sweepstakes casinos allow you to redeem your Sweepstakes Coin winnings for real cash prizes, once all applicable T&Cs are met.
Sweepstakes Coins and Gold Coins are made readily available to players for free via bonuses, promotions and giveaways. You’re not obliged to make a purchase at any time and playing socially is actively encouraged.
Many sweepstakes casinos incorporate social elements, allowing players to interact with friends and other players. This could be through chat channels, social events, social media or other channels. See how you can play free blackjack sites online with friends.
Sweepstakes casinos provide an excellent opportunity for beginners to learn and practice blackjack in a free and low-pressure environment. You can use Gold Coins to play social blackjack games for fun, allowing you to develop your skills, understand the rules and test new strategies.
Now that we know what sweepstakes blackjack is, we should probably clarify what the original game of blackjack is all about.
Online blackjack is a digital version of the classic card game. It’s also sometimes known as 21. In this game, the objective is simple, you will need to beat the dealer by having a hand value closer to 21, but without going over. Numbered cards (2-10) are worth their face value, an Ace can be worth either 1 or 11 points, depending on which has more value to the hand, and face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are worth 10 points each.
Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games in the world, primarily due to the fact of it being such a simple game to learn. However, there are still many different strategies that have been developed over the long history of the game, which adds layers of complexity, skill and excitement.
The great thing about playing free blackjack, is there are so many different variations to the game. Each has its own unique twist, offering a new way to approach the game, and with different strategies and techniques to learn. Some of popular variants are listed below:
European Blackjack is one of the most popular variations of blackjack. In this game the dealer receives only one card, face up, at the start of the game and only draws their second card after all of the players at the table have made their decisions. This affects the strategy since you can not easily anticipate the dealer’s potential hand when the second card is dealt.
Perfect Pairs Blackjack adds an exciting side bet to the traditional game. In addition to the regular blackjack bets, you can place a side bet on whether the first two cards will be a pair. There are three types of pairs, each with different payouts:
In Spanish 21, all of the 10s are removed from the deck, leaving only 48 cards. Additionally, the game offers different rules to the traditional game, for example players can double down or ‘resplit’ on any hand, no matter how many cards have been dealt at that point.
This allows you to bet on multiple blackjack hands at one. Only play this once you have mastered the standard version of blackjack.
Live dealer blackjack games are the perfect option for bridging the gap between online and land-based casinos. These games feature dealers who interact with the players in real-time via a live video stream. You can interact with the dealer and other players using an audio chat feature, creating a more immersive and social experience.
Here is an in-depth guide on how to play blackjack, right from the basics onwards:
Sweepstakes blackjack is a card game that is played against a dealer. The goal is to have a hand value as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it. For this to be possible each card is assigned a value, these values are as follows:
During the initial deal each player and the dealer is dealt two cards. The players’ cards are dealt face up, while the dealer has one card face up, (which is known as the “upcard”) and one card face down (the “hole card”). After all players have considered their hands, the dealer reveals their hole card. The dealer must “hit” (draw more cards) until reaching at least 17 points.
When playing blackjack you will have to make a few important decisions based on the two cards you have been dealt. These are your options:
Everyone has to start somewhere, so here is a quick walkthrough guide for how you can play blackjack at a sweepstakes casino:
Just remember that all sweepstakes casinos will require you to verify your identity before you can do things like redeem Sweepstakes Coins for prizes. This can usually be done just by submitting a selfie along with the required photo ID.
Sweepstakes casinos won’t let you use your own money to wager on blackjack. Instead, you will be using two kinds of virtual currency that are usually called Sweepstakes Coins and Gold Coins. Here is how they work:
This kind of virtual currency lets you play blackjack in a sweepstakes mode. If you play through your Sweepstakes Coins the required amount of times and have won back the minimum amount, you may then redeem a prize like cash, gift cards or merchandise. The best part is that Sweepstakes Coins have to be given away for free.
These simply let you play casino games like blackjack for fun, meaning that no prizes can be redeemed. You can either get Gold Coins for free through a special offer or you can purchase them as a package.
While it’s enjoyable to play sweepstakes blackjack for fun, it gets even better when you can redeem some Sweepstakes Coins for prizes from your gameplay. Here is a rough guide for the steps that you can take to do this:
It’s important to remember that while you can always play sweepstakes blackjack for free, you will get the option to purchase one of the Gold Coins packages. These come in a variety of denominations and you may even be given some Sweepstakes Coins as a free bonus.
You can’t make deposits at sweepstakes casinos for purchasing these Gold Coins, but you should be able to make a one-off payment via at least some of the following payment options:
A massive reason why people play blackjack at sweepstakes casinos is the fact that these sites will always give you free credit to play with. Here are just some of the deals that could power your sweepstakes blackjack gaming:
It’s important to understand that sweepstakes casinos don’t feature any real money gambling, and this fact enables them to be available in many states that have outlawed regular online casinos. As such, you can play at most sites featuring online blackjack from well over 40 states. However, there are certain things to be aware of:
Despite being an incredibly straightforward game to play there is more to playing blackjack than initially meets the eye. So here are some tips to help you stay on the straight and narrow.
This may seem a bit obvious, but before playing social blackjack games, you’ll want to be very familiar with the rules of the game. Each sweepstakes casino may have slightly different rules, including variations in card values, and dealer rules. So, it’s important that you check the fine print for each different game before you start playing.
Sweepstakes casinos often offer a range of bonuses and promotions to attract and retain players. So make sure you are taking advantage of these offers to maximise your playtime and increase your chances of winning. One of my favourite bonuses is the welcome package over at Stake.us, which includes 55 Stake Cash, 260K Gold Coins and a 5% rakeback on your virtual currency losses.
The great thing about playing social blackjack at sweepstakes casinos is that it’s completely free to play. Play with Gold Coins while you perfect your blackjack skills in a low-pressure environment. You’ll have plenty of time to familiarise yourself with the game’s rules, develop and test different strategies and become comfortable with various scenarios. This practice time can build your confidence and improve your skills before you start playing with Sweepstakes Coins, where your winnings can be redeemed for cash prizes.
In some blackjack games, surrendering is an option that allows you to forfeit half your bet and end your hand if you believe you’re at a disadvantage. Understanding when to surrender, such as when facing a strong dealer upcard with a poor hand, can help minimise the impact of virtual currency losses.
While insurance bets can seem appealing when the dealer shows an Ace, they are generally not recommended for most players. As the odds of the dealer having a blackjack are not in your favour, and the insurance bet typically has a higher house edge. But, hey, if you’ve got Gold Coins left in your budget or are feeling particularly positive, who am I to tell you what to do?
By now you should understand what sweepstakes casinos are all about and should know if they are right for your gaming needs. So let’s have a quick recap about the pros and cons of playing sweepstakes blackjack rather than real money blackjack:
If you’re serious about playing free blackjack, then you’ll need to find a high-quality sweepstakes casino. Here are some of the most popular brands on the market right now:
| Brand | Blackjack Games Available | Bonus Offers |
|---|---|---|
| Stake.us | Blackjack (Stake Originals) Blackjack (Pragmatic Play) Stake Blackjack (OneTouch) | 55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback |
| McLuck | Gravity Blackjack | 57,500 Gold Coins and 27.5 Sweepstakes Coins |
| Wow Vegas | Just slots | 1.75M WOW Coins + 35 Free Sweepstake Coins |
| Hello Millions | Gravity Blackjack | 65,000 Gold Coins and 27.5 Sweepstakes Coins |
| High 5 Casino | Limitless Blackjack Hearts Blackjack Clubs Blackjack Diamonds Blackjack | 5 Sweeps Coins + 250 Game Coins + 600 Diamonds |
| Pulsz | Multihand Blackjack | 367,000 Gold Coins and 460 VIP Points |
| Golden Hearts Games | Old School Blackjack | 250,000 Gold Coins + 500 Sweepstakes Coins |
Each sweepstakes casino will work in its own unique ways, and the following mini-reviews will help you get to know some market-leading brands a little better:
This brand is one of the biggest sweepstakes casinos in the whole of the United States. And with good reason, you can sign up today and get your hands on a welcome bonus that includes 55 Stake Cash, 260K Gold Coins and a 5% rakeback.
But, it’s not just about bonuses, Stake.us offers a solid games portfolio to match, with over 900 games to choose from. One of the best is Stake blackjack, their in-house exclusive sweepstakes blackjack game. They also have excellent customer support, but sadly no dedicated mobile app, but that said, their website is perfectly optimised for mobile use. Find more free blackjack no download games in my guide.
Featured blackjack game: Stake Originals Blackjack
As a new player at McLuck you’ll get 57,500 Gold Coins and 27.5 Sweepstakes Coins and then there are daily login bonuses and many more promotions to keep you happy. This is paired up nicely with their decent mobile app, letting you play sweepstakes blackjack on the go.
With hundreds of individual games to choose from, many of which are built by leading iGaming developers such as NetEnt and Pragmatic Play. The only downside? There are relatively few payment options, but McLuck will always strive to let you play for free.
Featured blackjack game: Gravity Blackjack
There aren’t too many blackjack games available at Wow Vegas, but if you’re looking for a change of pace why not try out some slot games instead? Wow Vegas is arguably the best destination for slot gaming, they have over 1,200 slot games from developers such as Netent, Microgaming, Play’N Go and more. They also have some generous bonuses including a welcome bonus worth up to 1.75M Wow Coins and 35 Sweepstakes Coins. Be sure to check out their VIP program too, for even more fun rewards.
Featured blackjack game: Just slots here
The welcome bonus from Hello Millions will give you 65,000 Gold Coins and 27.5 Sweepstakes Coins and it is a trusted sweepstakes casino all round, with over 2,400 games for you to enjoy. The platform is also user-friendly, with a sleek design that is easy to navigate through the different gaming options. If you ever find yourself in a spot of bother, you’ll be pleased to hear they have a high quality customer support service.
Featured blackjack game: Gravity Blackjack
One of the best aspects of High 5 Casino is their live casino offering, which includes blackjack, roulette and a selection of popular game show-style options. High 5 also features a fun aesthetic design with some handy usability features, you can find games with easy navigation whether it be through category filters or the search bar. This idea of flawless usability has been mirrored across to their mobile app, which performs just as impressively.
Featured blackjack game: Limitless Blackjack
Sweepstakes blackjack offers you a legal, safe and fun way to play this iconic card game from your computer or mobile in dozens of states across the nation. Not only can you play blackjack for free in at at a classic or brand-new sweepstakes casino , but you also have the option to redeem your Sweepstakes Coins winnings for prizes. As such, it’s easy to see why so many people are so keen to play sweepstakes blackjack.
Yes, sweepstakes casinos operate under a different set of legal regulations to traditional online casinos. This makes them legal and safe to use in most US states, even those where traditional online gaming is heavily restricted. Sweepstakes casinos are permitted to operate by allowing you to play casino-style games with virtual currencies and without the need to make a purchase.
Yes, you can play at most sweepstakes casinos using a free blackjack app if the brand provides one, or via a mobile-optimised version of their website if they don’t.
Bearing in mind that all ‘betting’ is done using one of two virtual currencies, sweepstakes blackjack games typically still have minimum and maximum bet limits. These limits vary by game and the sweepstakes casino brand itself, so it’s essential to check the specific rules for each game.
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