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Whether you’re an experienced poker player, or you’re just taking your first tentative steps into this popular casino favorite, free social poker games make for an entertaining and immersive experience.
This guide covers everything you need to know, from a rundown of how social poker works through information about getting started. There’s helpful advice to ensure you make the most of your poker sessions too, including tried-and-tested sites offering the chance to play free games,
Social poker is a type of free online poker that is designed to enhance your social interaction and enjoyment of the game. You can expect social and community-driven features such as chat channels, leaderboards, friends lists and community tournaments, which allows for a gaming experience that’s as close as possible to the real thing, but without having to lay your bankroll on the line
You won’t be making any deposits into your sweepstakes casino account, but other than that the gameplay is exactly the same as at real-money sites. Your aim is to build the best possible five-card hand from a combination of ‘hole’ or private cards and shared ‘community’ cards. But before going into the details of gameplay, it’s important to understand how social gameplay works. Social poker is completely free to play, but as you’ll see, there’s potential to redeem Sweeps Coin winnings for real cash prizes.
Online poker games using real money are thin on the ground across the US, but it’s a different story when you remove all cash deposits from the gaming equation. Gambling laws only apply where something of value is being wagered on a chance outcome, so playing with virtual game tokens means those laws simply aren’t relevant. Every state is allowed to decide what it will and won’t accept in terms of sweepstakes gameplay, and social poker is widely available, thanks to the use of virtual Coins.
These aren’t Coins as you’d usually think of them, as they only exist within the confines of the site that creates them. You won’t be able to touch them or withdraw them, and they have no cash value. They’re used for powering your gameplay, with more added to your balance for winning poker hands. There are two types of Coins available, and an understanding of their differences is essential, if you’re going to make the most of every social poker gaming session:
Experienced poker players can skip this section, but if you’re a beginner, or need to brush up on your gaming skills, the following information serves as a great introduction to social poker, including a guide to gameplay.
The aim of the game is to form the best possible five-card hand, using a combination of your own ‘hole’ cards and the shared ‘community’ cards. The Royal Flush is the strongest hand, but it’s possible to win even if you don’t hold great cards, by forcing the other players at the table to fold – if you’re the last player standing before the final showdown, then you’ll take the pot!
A player is selected to make a mandatory bet known as the big blind, which is a task allocated to each player in turn during tournaments. All players are obliged to call or raise this bet if they want to keep playing. Now there are four betting rounds to navigate, as follows:
Once the final bets are made, if two or more players remain, a showdown occurs where players reveal their hole cards. The player with the best five card hand, using a combination of private and community cards, wins the pot.
Every experienced player starts to develop their own strategies, although the jury’s out on just how effective they might be. But there are a few things you can do to add extra value to your social poker session, and at least keep Sweeps Coin losses to a minimum.
Take a look at the various options on this page offering social poker games, and it quickly becomes obvious that there’s something here for everyone. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player you’ll find poker games to suit, with opportunities to explore other casino favorites too, from slots through roulette, and even cutting-edge Crash-style games.
Everyone has to start somewhere, but you’ll need to know how a poker game unfolds, and the various steps you’ll be taking before you take your seat at a social gaming table. You won’t need to have any in-depth knowledge, but understanding the terms and their meanings will help to ease you into gameplay.
Sweepstakes casinos always give out free Gold Coins and bonus Sweeps Coins, so make sure you understand how to claim your full quota. The bonus guides here at Jaxon.gg are packed with information about ongoing promotions, along with advice tailored to each site to ensure you make the most of your free-to-play social poker opportunities.
You’ll find many social poker players go a little crazy when playing with Coins, on the basis that they’re not using their bankroll, so there’s no need to play within any usual limits. But careful use of your Gold Coins means you’ll have an advantage when you switch to using your Sweeps Coins, with winnings that can be redeemed for real cash prizes.
Short for Tight-Aggressive, the TAG strategy requires you to be extremely selective about the hands you choose to play, going in hard with your Coin stakes when you have a strong starting hand. Many social poker players tend to play every hand as a matter of course, but the scattergun approach is unlikely to yield positive outcomes overall.
These are social gaming sites, so take full advantage of your opportunities to join in the chat with other players – and maybe invite your friends to join in the fun too, which can often lead to a referral bonus of extra free Coins. Most importantly, remember that playing social poker is about having fun – and as you can see from the brands on this page, there’s plenty of it available!.
The great thing about poker is there are so many variations on the game. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can switch it up with variants that introduce subtle changes, allowing for different strategies and playing styles. These are the most popular poker games that you’re likely to come across, although it’s by no means an exhaustive list.
Free Texas Hold’em poker is the version you’re most likely to come across at social casinos, so this should be the first game variant you get to grips with. It forms the basis for all other versions of the game, requiring you to create the best five-card hand using two hole cards and five community cards. The game progresses through the pre-flop, flop, turn, and river betting rounds, during which players can choose to check, bet, raise or fold.
This poker variant is very similar to Texas Hold’em, but you’ll start with four hole cards, and you’ll need to use exactly two, along with three community cards to build your hand. Free Omaha poker is one of the options that’s now available to play at Stake.us in the live poker room, and you’ll also find it at Global Poker, along with Pot Limit Omaha and Hi-Lo Omaha.
In this version of the game, you’ll receive three hole cards, discarding one of them after the flop. Following on from this, you’ll be able to create your hand using any combination of the remaining hole and community cards. Playing free Crazy Pineapple poker games is the best way of getting to grips with gameplay without ever having to lay your bankroll on the line.
Sit & Go tournaments
These are tournaments played out with a specific number of players, usually 2 – 10, which commence as soon as every seat is filled. Player compete against each other, with increasing blinds, until there’s only one remaining.
Jackpot poker
Technically a type of Sit & Go tournament, jackpot poker games play out superfast, starting the moment three players have committed to the game. The prize pool is determined by a random multiplier, with potential for some big Coin prizes when playing at a sweepstakes casino
Free video poker games are the starting point for plenty of beginners, combining elements of gameplay with slot mechanics for an entertaining and immersive experience. Rules vary according to the software provider, but winning hands are usually based around Jacks or Better.
There’s no shortage of world class sweepstakes casinos that offer social poker games, so it could easily become confusing trying to work out which one to sign up to. The following selection all make ideal starting points, as you can see from the poker games they offer, along with their introductory bonus details.
| Operator | Poker Games Available | Bonus Offers |
|---|---|---|
| Stake.us | Stake Poker Video Poker Online Live Poker | Up to 55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakebac |
| Sweeptastic | Video Poker Caribbean Stud Poker Video Poker | 70,000 Lucky Coins + 44 Sweeps Coins |
| Global Poker | Omaha Poker Crazy Pineapple Jackpot Sit’n’Go Tournaments Bounty Poker Caribbean Poker Stud Poker Razz Poker 5 Card Draw Badugi H.O.R.S.E 8-Game Mix Texas Hold‘em | 100,000 Gold Coins + 10 ‘rare’ entries to Jackpot Sit’n’Go |
| BetRivers.net | Extreme Texas Hold‘em Casino Hold’em 2 Hand Casino Hold’em | $20 of virtual credits ($VC) |
| Pulsz | Texas Hold’em Poker | 367,000 Gold Coins and 460 VIP Points |
| Fortune Coins | Joker Poker Jacks or Better | 650,000 Gold Coins + 1,400 Fortune Coins |
| Golden Hearts Games | Old School Jacks Better Video Poker | 250,000 Gold Coins + 500 Sweepstakes Coins |
Now it’s time to take a closer look at some of the top social casinos offering the chance to explore free-to-play poker games at your leisure. As you can see from the list on this page, there’s no shortage of options, but the following brands all deserve a special mention for their social poker provision.
When it comes to an all round sweepstakes casino package, Stake.us is the one to beat. The site has become one of the leading sweepstake casinos in the US thanks to the quality of its games, the mobile-first design and endless ways of adding more Gold Coins and Stake Cash to your gaming balance. There’s an exclusive Stake Originals Video Poker game, and now there’s a multiplayer poker room too, giving even more reasons to sign up and play.
Input JAXONSOCIAL as you create your account to receive 260,000 Gold Coins, up to 55 Stake Cash and an ongoing 5% rakeback deal that keeps adding more bonus Coins to your Stake account. There’s no better way to get started, giving you immediate access to poker, slots, Stake Originals and a packed live social casino too.
Global Poker specialises in providing social poker games for US players, with a huge selection to choose from. although the Jackpot Sit’n’Go Tournaments seem to be the main event. As soon as 3 players have registered a random prize pool is awarded, which could be anything from 2x – 200x the buy-in, so it’s easy to see the attraction!
There are plenty of great bonuses and promotions at Global Poker, starting with the introductory package, which offers 100000 Gold Coins and 10 ‘rare’ entries to Jackpot Sit’n’Go along with daily login bonuses. Whether you’re an experienced poker player or you’re just starting out, this is a site that will make you feel right at home.
Sweeptastic is possibly one of the best sweepstakes casinos for bonuses and promotions right now, so when you register as a new player you’ll get your hands on 70,000 Lucky Coins + 44 Sweeps Coins. The website is easy to use, thanks to intuitive navigation and it’s also mobile-friendly, so you can play social poker games from just about anywhere.
In addition to Casino Hold’em, you’ll find hundreds of slots from top developers, as well as a few Crash-style games, including some Sweeptastic exclusives. There’s an inclusive loyalty program too, adding extra benefits to your gaming experience as you progress through the levels.
Fortune Coins is an excellent choice if you love playing a wide variety of casino games. If you need a recommendation for a place to start, the featured game of Joker Poker is a top option to head for, but there’s much more to discover at this entertaining sweepstakes casino.
There’s a huge choice of top slots to explore, as well as an excellent choice of fish games, including the multi-player Emily’s Treasure. And there’s an inclusive VIP program too, with plenty of bonus Coins to collect as you keep returning to play more games.
Last but not least is Pulsz. This sweepstakes brand has a lot to offer, including great bonuses and promotions with a welcome package that includes 367,000 Gold Coins and 460 VIP Points to aid your progress through the rewards program.
Pulsz is probably best known for its huge variety of games from top developers and top-quality apps for iOS and Android devices. The primary focus is on slots, but poker fans won’t be disappointed, thanks to the inclusion of Texas Hold’em Poker 3D from Evoplay, which brings a cowboy vibe to the gaming experience!
As you’ve seen, taking your first steps into the world of free social poker games is incredibly easy, and once you’ve given it a try it won’t take long for you to identify your favorite type of game, along with the best place to play it. All the sites on this page have undergone in-depth testing, so you only need to follow the links to head straight to your preferred site, register for an account and start playing free poker games.
As players continue to make for the poker tables at sweepstakes casinos, it’s likely that more operators will include this provision in the future. Keep checking back here at Jaxon.gg to find out what’s new in the free-to-play gaming world, and keep a watchful eye on our site banners so you can pick up the very latest promo codes.
No, you do not need to pay to play social poker. While sweepstakes casinos give you the option to purchase Gold Coin packages, most social poker platforms offer plenty of ways to collect more virtual currency through welcome offers, daily bonuses, gameplay achievements, and other special promotions.
No, not directly. However, many sweepstakes casinos allow you to redeem your Sweeps Coin winnings for cash prizes, vouchers or other rewards, subject to their individual rules.
Yes, social poker is legal in most US states, because it does not involve real-money gambling. Social poker is typically operated under a sweepstakes model, where virtual currencies are used to power the poker games. This makes it accessible in far more locations across the US than would otherwise be the case.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
