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One common question among new online casino players is, “Can you play poker online for real money prizes?” The simple answer is yes. Many sweepstakes poker sites let you do this using virtual currencies instead of real money.
Since these platforms don’t require you to use any cash, they are legal in most US states. So, how exactly do these casinos work, and how do they differ from real money poker sites? These are some of the questions we will answer here. Once done, we’ll also explore the top sweepstakes poker casinos and strategies to improve your chances.
Sweepstakes poker is similar to standard poker online for real money. However, you play using virtual currencies, such as Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins, for a chance to redeem SC for real money prizes.
Sweepstakes online poker sites are a great alternative for players in regions where online poker for real money is not allowed.
The objective of online poker is the same, even on sweepstakes casinos. Most poker games get their influence from the Texas Hold’em variant, and the goal is to land the best 5-card hand using your two hole cards and five community cards. Here’s a breakdown of the steps involved:
Here’s a detailed guide on how to play poker and redeem your SC for real money prizes:
The first step is to pick a reliable sweepstakes poker platform. We recommend choosing from any of the alternatives on our recommended list, as they’ve been properly vetted by our team. You’ll be sure of the best experience playing on any of them.
Next, you’ll need to register for an account on the sweepstakes poker casino by following these steps:
Most sweepstakes casinos will reward you with a bonus when you register. Make sure you claim it to get started. You have the option of playing with either Gold Coins, which let you play for fun, or Sweeps Coins for real money prizes.
Pick your preferred virtual currency option and find your ideal poker table. Then, the following takes place:
While there are many online poker real money platforms, we don’t recommend them if you are in a state where gambling is illegal. Instead, opt for sweepstakes casinos that let you play poker to redeem SC for real money prizes. These platforms are legal in most parts of the US, and you won’t get into any trouble playing on them.
Here’s our list of the best online poker platforms to redeem SC for real money prizes.
| 🎰 Sweepstakes casinos | 🎁 Welcome bonus | 🎮 Number of games | 🏙 Unavailable states |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stake.us | 260k Gold Coins + 55 Stake Cash and 5% Rakeback with code JAXONSOCIAL | 1300+ | Washington, New York, Nevada, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Vermont, New Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. |
| RealPrize | 100,000 Gold Coins + 2 Sweeps Coins. | 480+ | Idaho, Michigan, Nevada, Washington, and Montana |
| Clubs Poker | 100,00 Gold Coins +20 Sweeps Coins and a reload bonus | 290+ slot games and 100+ poker tables. | Idaho, Michigan, Washington, and Montana |
| PokerWPT | 5,000 free Play Chips and a 14-day VIP trial with 500 points | 100+ | Washington, Michigan, and Montana |
| Global Poker | 5,000 Gold Coins | 60+ Casino-style games and | Washington, Maryland, Michigan, Connecticut, Nevada, Montana, and Idaho. |
Stake.us remains the number one choice when it comes to sweepstakes games, including poker. New players who register for an account here using our exclusive promo code JAXONSOCIAL will receive 55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback.
This gives them access to 1,300+ sweepstakes casino games consisting of slots, live dealers, and table games. Poker lovers can use the bonus to play different ring games, sit & gos, and tournaments. The variety is unmatched too, with Stake.us offering popular variants like No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha.
If you want something unique, the operator also has you covered. It has an exclusive video poker title, which gives a fresh feel to the well-known Texas Hold’em.
RealPrize is the next sweepstakes online casino we recommend to redeem SC for real money poker prizes. This site is legal in over 40 US states, which makes it less restrictive than Stake.us. Players who open a new account here will claim a welcome offer of 100,000 Gold Coins + 2 Sweeps Coins. This does not require a bonus code, making it easy for anyone to access it and start playing.
Unfortunately, this platform has a smaller game portfolio of 480+ titles. Nonetheless, this does not stop it from covering all the major game categories including bingo, sweepstakes slots, poker, and instant win games.
Players who choose to play poker games will find enough variants, including options like Video Poker, Teen Patti, Texas Hold’em, and Oasis Poker. To keep the momentum going, the operator frequently provides referral bonuses, daily login offers, and many more.
Clubs Poker is a sweepstakes casino that channels most of its efforts to poker titles. As such, you’ll find plenty of options such as ring games, progressive tournaments, bounty tournaments, Sit and Gos, and Spin n Gos. For the best experience, these run across great poker variants like Texas Hold’em, Stud H/L, Omaha H/L, and Omaha.
You will always find an open table since the operator always has more than 100 available at any point. Your budget won’t be a problem either as buy-ins cost as little as 10 GC. If you’d rather play other titles, the operator offers 290+ slot titles from names like Hacksaw Gaming, Relax Gaming, and Netgaming.
Players who decide to register here will be eligible for a welcome offer of 100,00 Gold Coins + 20 Sweeps Coins, and a reload bonus. Those who become regulars will benefit from other offers like weekly leaderboards and daily login bonuses.
ClubWPT is another excellent sweepstakes casino with a model that’s different from the others on our list. The platform is affiliated with the World Poker Tour, which is one of the most renowned organizations related to poker.
If you create an account on this platform, you will instantly receive 5,000 free Play Chips and a 14-day VIP trial of the platform. With this, you can experience everything the site has to offer and decide if it is right.
The VIP trial comes with 500 Tournament Points, which are the premium currencies on this site. You can redeem them for real cash prizes or entries to the World Poker Tour. If you love the platform, you can subscribe for a VIP membership which gives you access to tournaments.
You’ll also get the ability to get Tournament Points and the ability to redeem Tournament Points for monthly cash prizes. Since this casino focuses on sweepstakes poker, you’ll find Bounty Tournaments, Sit & Gos, Ring Games, and Single & Multi-Table Tournaments. It also covers core poker titles such as Texas Hold ’em, No-Limit Texas Hold’em, Omaha 8 or better, and Pot Limit Omaha.
If you want a break from poker, you can play 60+ casino-style games consisting of slots, table games, and jackpots.
Global Poker is a sweepstakes casino that started operations in 2016. Over the years, it has cemented its name as one of the premier destinations for free poker games. Upon creating an account on the platform, you will receive 5,000 Gold Coins to get started. If you complete the identity verification process, you will receive an extra 100,000 GCs and 10 Uncommon Jackpot Sit & Gos entries.
With these rewards, you can play a variety of poker games, including Omaha, Texas Hold’em, Crazy Pineapple, and Caribbean Poker. Those who love competition can opt for Bounty tournaments, championships, regular table tournaments, or Jackpot Sit & Gos.
For a different feel, you can head to the casino section to play 50+ slots, jackpots, scratch cards, instant win games, and table games.
Poker requires a bit of strategy if you are serious about winning. Here are some of the tips we recommend when playing on the best poker app:
All poker games do not work the same way, and learning how each one works can be the edge you need. Texas Hold’em is the most common variation, but it is slightly different from free Omaha poker. If you try to use the same knowledge for both, you may end up losing all your virtual currency. For starters, we recommend you check out our guide on how to play Omaha poker.
When starting at the table, don’t begin by playing too many hands. This will help you hide the strength of your actual hand, making it harder for other players to beat you.
Knowing when to fold when playing online poker for cash prizes can save you lots of headaches down the line. If you are unsure of your hand, it is best to fold. This will prevent you from calling too often and ensure other players don’t know where you stand.
Use a note to track the patterns and behaviors of your opponents. Do they always play too many hands or call a lot? This will give you insights into their next moves so you can counter them first.
Start by playing with a smaller amount of virtual currencies first. This will help you extend your playtime and build your confidence in the process. Once you are certain of your hand, you can increase the amount of virtual currencies for subsequent rounds.
Leverage replays and other recording tools to review your past games. This can help you spot errors so you can do better and improve your gameplay going forward.
It is easy to engage in other activities when playing online. While this may seem harmless, it can cause distractions that will affect your decision-making and cause you to lose the game. Turn off Netflix, Apple Music, or similar tools and focus so you can give your all to the game.
Sweepstakes poker is fun and can also be as addictive as regular poker games. Therefore, we recommend you adopt responsible gameplay strategies, including taking short breaks, playing with a clear mind, and seeing online gaming as a source of entertainment.
You’ll find many real money poker sites today. However, they are not legal in most US states and pose many issues from shady operations to the absence of recent security measures. Instead of taking this risk and running into problems with the law, it is best to play poker to redeem SC for real money prizes on sweepstakes casinos.
These platforms are a legal alternative since they operate using the sweepstakes model. The top options, like those on our list, provide you with a high level of security, tons of poker variants, and plenty of bonuses for the best experience. Sign up today using and enjoy an experience similar to regular poker sites. And if you’re giving Stake.us a try, remember to use promo code JAXONSOCIAL at sign up to unlock our special offer.
Yes, you can play online poker on sweepstakes casino apps and redeem for real money prizes. However, you’ll need to play using the promotional virtual currencies on the site.
Real money online poker is not legal in many US states. Fortunately, this does not apply if you play in a sweepstakes casino as it has fewer limitations. These sites don’t require any purchase to begin making them a legal alternative in most states.
No, there aren’t. Sweepstakes poker casinos don’t pay you real money directly. Instead, you play using Sweeps Coins, which can be redeemed for real money prizes.
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