The team at PlayNY has tested all of the social casinos available in New York and across the US. With so many options, it’s difficult to determine what the best social casino is, especially if you don’t have previous experience with them. We’ve made this task easier by narrowing down the options based on trustworthiness, game availability, bonuses, redemption options, and more. Let’s dive right in and get you started with social casinos.
Our top picks of social casinos
To make the task of finding the best social casino easier, here are our top choices. We’ve tested every aspect of each of these casinos, ensuring they are truly top-of-the-line options for both new and seasoned gamblers.
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List of social casinos
We’ve compiled a list of social casinos available now, where players can enjoy various online casino games. As you can see, each of them offers a join bonus giving you coins with which to play games. There are other welcome bonuses available, including some that require making purchases, but these are entirely optional. We discuss that further below.
Click through the links on the right-hand column to ensure you receive the welcome offers when signing up at a social casino.
| Social Casino | Number of games | Join Bonus | Welcome Bonus | Promo Bonus Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casino.Click | 400+ | 100,000 Gold Coins + 2 Free Sweep Coins PLUS 10 Free SC Spins DAILY | 200,000 Gold Coins + 20 Free Sweep Coins for $10 | Click to claim promo |
| Spinfinite | 250+ | 3,000 GC + Mystery Bonus | 200% Extra on 1st Purchase - GC 60,000 + FREE SC 40 + Infinity Wheel ($20 package) | Click to claim promo |
Who can play at social casinos?
Those in New York, and in the US in general, who wish to play the games at social casinos must be at least 18 years old to do so, although in some cases the minimum age is 21. The sites also typically require you to be a resident of the United States.
There are some states where these sites do not operate, and indeed, New York is changing its approach, which has forced many of these sites to leave the state as well.
Are there social casino apps?
Some social and sweepstakes sites offer apps that allow you to play the games using a mobile device. Like many other mobile games, these apps feature in-app purchases. These are entirely optional, as you can always play these games for free.
Be cautious when searching for social casino apps, as the results may sometimes yield false versions of the apps.
How social casinos differ from other social games
On the surface, many sites that feature social slots, table games, and sometimes live-dealer games resemble other kinds of social games people play on their phones via Facebook and/or through apps or other means. For example, in both cases:
- You can play the games for free
- You have an option to purchase items to use within the game (e.g., coins, spins, chips)
As noted, many social casino games can be played for free, but most also have options to make “in-app purchases” of various kinds. Players of these games are accustomed to encountering pop-up ads frequently, which advertise various items that can be purchased. In most cases, these items are meant to enhance their game experience.
For example, Monopoly GO! players are invited to purchase dice rolls or other in-game items. The same is true for Coin Master, the popular social game that involves spinning a slot machine, developing villages and attacking others’ villages, and collecting cards. You can play for free, but you can also make purchases of spins, coins, chests, pet food, and XP points.
Other popular games at social casinos, such as Candy Crush, Farmville, and Solitaire Social, operate according to a similar principle regarding optional in-app purchases. Poker games like Zynga Poker and the WSOP Poker Texas Hold’em Game also invite players to purchase play chips.
There is one big difference, though, between these games and social casinos:
- You can often win cash prizes or gift cards playing games at the best social casinos for real money, but you generally cannot when playing other social games.
These other social games generally offer the chance to win in-game points or level increases, and new social casino games are released more often than at real money sites. But for the most part, they don’t allow you to redeem winnings for actual prizes the way social casinos do.
Types of social casinos
Social casinos can vary in terms of the kinds of games offered, but they all fall into one of three categories:
- Sites where you can redeem winnings for cash prizes,
- Sites where you can redeem winnings for non-cash prizes and perks, and
- Sites that do not offer any form of prize or perk for winning.
Social casinos that offer ways to redeem winnings for cash prizes
Among the many social casinos, some offer ways to redeem SC for cash prizes and/or gift cards. The ones that do sometimes refer to the games they offer as “sweepstakes contests.”
They follow a sweepstakes-style model, offering games played with two different virtual currencies, only one of which can be redeemed for prizes. You can’t purchase these “premium” coins (sometimes called Sweepstakes Coins or Sweeps Coins) like at other social casinos. You can either receive them as bonuses or win them in games. Then, when you redeem them, you can receive either cash or gift cards in exchange. For example, both Casino.click and Spinfinite are among those where you can redeem winnings for prizes.
New social casinos are launching every month, many of which also offer ways to convert your winnings into cash prizes and gift cards. You can check out our sweepstakes casinos page for additional information about these sites.
Social casinos with non-cash prizes
You’ll also find examples of social casinos that do not offer ways to redeem prizes for cash, but that do offer other types of prizes and perks. Some of these are associated with retail casinos, including:
- Caesars Slots, Slotomania, WSOP Poker: Texas Hold ’em Game (and others) — Caesars sites where you can earn Rewards Credits.
- MyVegas, POP! Slots — powered by MGM Resorts.
- Hard Rock Social Casino — receive and win “hearts” that can be redeemed for perks at Hard Rock locations.
Social casinos without prizes
There are also social casinos that are entirely for entertainment and do not offer any way to win cash prizes. The games found on these sites and apps are also free to play in their basic versions, although in many cases players can make in-app purchases designed to improve gameplay. Some examples include:
- BetRivers.net — offers many of the same games found on the real money BetRivers Casino site, only for play money only
- Big Fish — originated in the early 2000s and offers a variety of games, including slots, blackjack, roulette, and Texas hold ’em poker
- House of Fun — features over 300 slots plus extra missions and side games
- Baba Wild Slots — exclusively for fun, it’s a great way to stay entertained without the risk of losses
Social casinos we don’t recommend
In addition to this growing list of legitimate social casinos and sweepstakes sites, there is also an ever-evolving list of names that we just can’t recommend to our readers. These brands all present some serious red flags within the sign-up process and cannot be confirmed as safe, secure options. Moreover, some of these sites do not even operate under a legitimate sweepstakes casino framework and instead are more akin to unlicensed online casinos. Read our reviews to see what we have to say about these questionable casinos:
Types of promos at social casinos
There are several social casino sign-up bonuses and promotions that players should always keep an eye out for. These can include the following:
Most social casinos offer free coins when you first sign up. These can be both the regular coins used strictly for entertainment purposes, or the “sweepstakes” coins used in games where you can later redeem winnings for prizes. These welcome offers or sign-up bonuses might be thought of as similar to no-deposit bonuses at regular online casinos. Of course, you never actually “deposit” funds at these sites, although you can make purchases of coins if you wish.
Many social casinos encourage players to sign in and play games by offering daily rewards as an incentive to do so. For example, WOW Vegas gives players both free WOW Coins and free Sweepstakes Coins as a “daily bonus.” Some sites even have hourly rewards. Be sure to check out each site’s informational pages to take advantage of these rewards.
Social casinos like to emphasize the “social” aspect of their sites and build communities over social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and X. Following the official accounts can be beneficial, as you’ll find the sites frequently feature drawings and giveaways that award free coins. Pulsz is well known for its free coin giveaways on Facebook, for example.
Bonus drops are another way sites give players free coins, either within the site while they play or via social media. You’ll see sites give out bonus drop codes over social media that players can then use to pick up the rewards.
Just like at real money casinos, social casinos will sometimes run so-called “bet and get” promos that invite you to play either one particular game or one of a group of games and receive coins in return. These promos sometimes arise when a site adds a new title and is eager to introduce it to players, encouraging them to try it out.
Free spins are also a feature of traditional online casinos, and you’re sure to encounter them at most social casinos as well. Free spins are awarded in a variety of ways and typically can be used either on a single slot or a group of slots. New sign-ups often receive both Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins when registering, but sometimes get free spins, too.
Some sites give players the chance to win ongoing jackpots every time they play. Several sweepstakes sites offer jackpots that run continuously, allowing players to opt in if they wish.
Social casinos that offer the possibility of redeeming coins for prizes follow the “sweepstakes” model and invite those with accounts to write to them requesting free coins. Check the instructions for doing so and be sure to follow those instructions exactly, or else you won’t receive your free coins. You will also need to ensure your account is fully verified before requesting free coins in this manner.
Factors to consider when reviewing social casinos
With the list of social casinos being so long, you can afford to spend some time looking through the different sites and even trying them out before settling on your favorites. As you make your decisions about which site to play at, consider the following factors:
Quantity and quality of games
Most social casinos feature hundreds of slots and other games to play. Some even have more than 1,000 games in their libraries, which rivals what some of the largest real money sites offer. Check out our table above to see how many games are available at our recommended best social casinos.
Top online game studios are also represented at these sites, and in many cases, social casino games feature the same top-notch graphics, animation, and sound featured at real money sites. The good news is that since the games are free, you can always try them out without any expense, so choosing the best social casino should be easy and free.
Ways to get coins
We give you a lot of information above about how you can get coins from social casinos with which to play the games. Some of the best social casinos stand out above others when it comes to providing ways to obtain coins, both in the frequency of their promotions and bonuses and the different methods you can use to get them.
Sometimes it is tricky to figure out all the options for getting coins without actually signing up and trying out the sites. You can check out our site reviews to learn more about what each one provides. Also keep your eyes open when playing on the sites and pay attention to the various offers as they come along.
Mobile play
Many social casinos have apps available for either iOS (Apple) or Android devices, though some still are only accessible via a browser on your laptop or desktop computer. The apps are obviously convenient as they allow you to play games on the go, making their availability a plus for many.
Games are optimized for mobile play which means you generally are able to enjoy all the different features of the slots and table games when using your mobile device. Of course, the smaller screen size sometimes affects gameplay, and in some cases the sites don’t include their entire game libraries on the app.
Bonuses and promotions
Speaking of social casino promos and bonuses, that’s another factor worth keeping in mind considering your options. Especially for those sites that provide ways to redeem winnings for cash prizes, the best social casinos usually have frequent promos offering the premium coins you can use for such redemptions.
Think as well about the different types of promos. You might only be interested in free offers like giveaways, bonus drops, free spins and the like. Or if you are willing to purchase coins, you’ll want to examine closely what sort of bonuses come with your purchases.
Loyalty programs
Not every social casino has a loyalty program or “VIP” program that gives rewards to players. But some do, and these programs can be another great way to accumulate coins in addition to the other promotions the site runs.
Many sites also have programs in place that enable you to “level up” the more you play, improving your status and thus giving you extra perks such as unlocking more games you can play or giving you better deals on coin purchases.
Community building
Some social casinos put more emphasis on the “social” aspect of gameplay than others. For some players, this isn’t an issue that matters very much, but many players very much enjoy the communities the sites are able to build via social media.
Joining a site and then also following it on Facebook, Instagram, X, or in other ways can provide a lot of additional fun and entertainment to game players. Not only can you earn free coins via contests, drawings, and giveaways, but you can also interact with others to discuss, evaluate, and recommend different games.
How do social casinos make money?
Social casinos let players play free slots, various table games, and, in some cases, live-dealer games, bingo, keno, and other favorites. There are no real money games at these sites, which means they have no way to win money directly from players. So how do they make money?
Many social casinos invite players to make purchases of coins, chips, or other items or features that can increase the entertainment value of the games. These “upgrades” (as they might be called) are entirely optional, and you never have to purchase them to play the games. That said, in some cases, the sites might limit the number of games you can play for free and only “unlock” other games for those who make such purchases.
The sites and apps enable purchases through a cashier section very much like regular online casinos have. When you download an app, you’ll see a note about “in-app purchases,” and as you play games you might encounter pop-ups and other encouragements to make purchases as you play. Again, you don’t have to buy anything, but many players do and that is the primary way the game designers and operators make money with their games. You can learn more about this and other topics related to social casinos in our sweepstakes casino FAQs page.
Final thoughts on the best social casinos
As one of the fastest-growing gaming markets in the country, the sheer length of the social casinos list is daunting. Add to that the complex relationship between social and sweepstakes casinos, and it’s easy to see why it takes a little reading to figure out how these games work. In reality, though, they are incredibly simple to play once you’ve made the decision to register an account.
Our list of social casinos is designed to help you decide which site suits your style of play, and how to get the most out of your playing experience. Plus, you can test all of the casinos in the list without spending any money before settling on the best social casino for your needs.