iGaming Editor
Loading ...
Big Fish Casino offers free-to-play online games powered by virtual chips – some of which are casino-inspired. But guess what? There are other sites like Big Fish Casino out there that do the same thing, but better.
How? Well, brands like Stake.us, McLuck and WOW Vegas are far more sweepstakes casino-oriented in terms of their game offerings. They source most of their titles from market-leading software brands, too, and offer introductory and recurring bonuses that are remarkably easy-to-use. Here’s what you need to know about these sites and their promotions.
Big Fish Games first stormed onto the scene way back in 2002, specializing predominantly in online PC and Mac games, such as puzzle and board games, for example.
More recently, the brand has branched out into the sweepstakes casino world, having launched around 100 Vegas-inspired slots games via its “Big Fish Casino” site and app – which is a rather small selection compared to the average 500 to 1,000 games offered by most other brands.
Personally, I wouldn’t play there – particularly at a time when there are a ton of amazing sweepstakes casino alternative sites out there like Stake.us, WOW Vegas and McLuck, for example. I’ll be exploring all three of these in more detail throughout this guide.
In a word, no – there’s no Big Fish Casino sister casino. All the operator’s sweepstakes-style games are offered on one site only, known as Big Fish Casino. It’s available in app form for iOS and Android, too, but the user-experience is a bit on the clunky side – a complaint several reviewers on Google Play seem to agree with me on.
Big Fish stands alongside sites like BSpot, in that it isn’t exactly the easiest to navigate and use, and game options are a little limited when compared to much larger, and generally better put-together platforms like Stake.us.
Unsurprisingly, then, a lot of gamers come to me asking about good alternatives to Big Fish Casino – which is why I decided to put together this guide. So, allow me to introduce you guys to three of my favorites.
With more than 1,000 different games up-for-grabs, I’ve found that Stake.us is undoubtedly one of the best alternatives to Big Fish Casino when it comes to game variety. Having said that, McLuck’s games have some of the fastest-loading software and sharpest graphics I’ve seen, while WOW Vegas arguably offers the best bonuses.
Here’s a site-by-site comparison on what you guys can expect, game-wise:
Social Casino | Game options |
---|---|
Stake.us | 1,000+ slots, jackpots, roulette tables and dice games, as well as several other more unique titles like Mines and Crash. |
McLuck | 700+ slots, tables and live dealer-led games from 12 big-name software developers like NetEnt and Habanero. |
Wow Vegas | 900+ slots, fruits and one-armed-bandit-style games. |
And when it comes to bonuses:
Social Casino | Latest welcome bonus for new US players |
---|---|
Stake.us | 260,000 GC, $55 in SC and 5% rakeback – code “JAXONSOCIAL” required. |
McLuck | 7,500 GC and 2.5 SC. |
WOW Vegas | 250,000 WOW Coins (and 5 SC. |
As you can see, it’s a pretty mixed bag – but in the absence of any Big Fish Casino sister sites, I’d argue all three of the above offer a much more rewarding sweepstakes gaming experience than Big Fish Casino itself. After all, they each offer a lot more games, as well as some really competitive bonuses.
All three sites run on a remarkably easy-to-follow two-tier coin system, where Gold Coins or “GC” (called WOW Coins at WOW Vegas) can be played for fun only, while SC can be entered into sweepstakes tournaments and redeemed for real-world prizes after meeting the platform’s playthrough and eligibility criteria. Simple.
I’ve plenty of guides on how said coins work if you need a refresher course. But for now, let’s take a closer look at Stake.us, McLuck and WOW Vegas’ all-round offerings…
Whether you’re into age-old slots like Sweet Bonanza, bingo-inspired Dice games or state-of-the-art Video Poker, Stake.us offers the whole lot – with more than 1,000 different games available in total, criss-crossing a dizzying range of different genres.
What’s more, at a time when Big Fish Casino’s bonuses aren’t very clearly defined, and there are zero Big Fish Casino sister sites to speak of, this popular alternative is currently advertising one of the most competitive welcome offers around – though you will need to remember to enter my code, “JAXONSOCIAL” to activate it.
When registering from an eligible US state with this code, you can claim $55 in free SC, 260,000 GC and 5% rakeback from day one of playing.
A little later on, you can unlock free daily reloads, too – or perhaps even get involved with the operator’s Affiliate Program, where you can collect commissions whenever you recommend Stake.us to other gamers via a unique referral link.
With approximately 700 games to choose from, your sweepstakes gaming options are a little more limited at McLuck, but the site really goes the extra mile when it comes to software.
All the games here have been hand-picked from 12 of the market’s top developers, including such names as EvoPlay, Habanero and Relax Gaming. You’ll find anything from high-volatility slots like Buffalo Blitz, to live roulette and blackjack tables. So, you can expect lightning-quick loading times and exceptionally good graphics across the board, too.
As far as sites like Big Fish Casino go, McLuck’s one of the best for recurring promotions as well. You’ll have opportunities to win “McJackpots” when playing any game at any time, and there’s a Loyalty Club that spans as many as eight climbable tiers. Wow.
Sure, the 250,000 WOW Coins and 5 SC sign-up bonus available at WOW Vegas right now is pretty difficult to match, but it’s when you start looking at this operator’s existing player offers that WOW Vegas really comes into its own.
On the “Promotions” page, you’ll find daily reloads and regularly rotated slots tournaments, while the “Happy Hour” and “Super Sunday” offers frequently shared on their Instagram can help you unlock tons of free coins weekly.
If you were looking for a good place to play slots in the absence of any Big Fish Casino sister sites, you’ll find more than 900 of them here, too – ranging from themed cartoon games like Elvis Frog Trueways, to more traditional fruit machines like WOW Rush.
WOW Vegas is available in 46 different US states, too – with WA, MI, NV and ID the only exceptions at the time of writing. And the brand also offers both iOS and Android apps.
Stake.us, McLuck and WOW Vegas are all highly-trusted alternatives to Big Fish Casino that boast excellent game selections and bonuses.
These platforms are all widely available in the US, too, though state-by-state rules do apply – with McLuck being off limits in AL, GA, ID, NV, KY and WA, for example. If you’re region doesn’t make the cut, or you’re interested in shopping around for other sweeps sites elsewhere, be sure to keep the following in mind when comparing any other sweepstakes sites like Big Fish Casino that you encounter:
Check the site’s “Sweepstakes Rules” page to make sure it’s legally available in your state. To do this, open up the T&Cs, then look out for the “customer acceptance policy” to determine what’s what.
Look at how many games are offered, what genres are covered, and whether any reputable software names have developed the individual titles on offer. Sites like Vegas7Games don’t always offer the best and broadest selections. But longer-established operators, like McLuck for example, are likely to offer well-balanced game catalogs sourced from top software houses.
While Big Fish Casino has an iOS/Android app (albeit a flawed one), you’ll need to double-check whether any other sites are compatible with your device. I find operators like Stake.us, that run on mobile-friendly sites rather than apps, tend to be the most user-friendly. These platforms also offer you the added benefit of being able to access their games immediately, with no download requirement.
The best sweepstakes casinos run on a clearly defined, two-tier coin system – using GC and SC in a similar manner to McLuck. Sometimes, though, sites like PCH Games and others might have a slightly more confusing coin system in place. For obvious reasons, I’d suggest opting for brands with easy-to-follow rules and regs. You’ll certainly thank me later once you start redeeming your SC for prizes.
The best alternatives to Big Fish Casino should always offer responsible gambling tools – like self-exclusion and limitation options, for example. I’d recommend looking out for sites that offer easy links to external support organizations, too, just on the off-chance you might need them.
To recap, then, Big Fish Casino is not a site that I’d suggest playing at – largely due to its limited game options. What’s more, there aren’t any Big Fish Casino sister casinos available in the US right now, meaning that the next best thing is registering with an alternative brand – of which, fortunately, there are plenty to choose from.
The best of the bunch are Stake.us, McLuck and WOW Vegas – though as we’ve seen, each one has its good and bad points, so I’d suggest thinking long and hard about which has most appropriate bonuses and game selection to suit you.
Should you instead wish to go looking for other alternatives elsewhere, don’t forget to check the state-by-state eligibility rules of any other sweeps brands you’re looking at, as well as whether their platforms are compatible with your device, and easy-to-understand as far as their GC versus SC coin systems go.
No. All sweepstakes casinos offer games that are playable without any up-front purchase requirement – Big Fish Casino included. That said, as there are only around 100 games available here, and the brand’s bonuses aren’t very well-defined, I’d suggest shopping around for alternatives.
I couldn’t find any clear info regarding which US states Big Fish is legal in on the operator’s “Terms of Service” page, which is another reason I’d never personally play there. WOW Vegas and McLuck make for excellent alternatives, though – and are both widely available in more than 40 US states each.
If you’re looking for an iOS or Android app that offers the same kinds of sweepstakes-style games as Big Fish, you’ll find that both McLuck and WOW Vegas are available in downloadable app form on the App Store and Google Play.
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.