Online sports betting with real money isn’t available in every state – and some of us could use some assistance with making our sports picks – but happily for all of us, social sportsbooks are on hand to fill the gap.
Not only will you be able to place risk-free sports predictions using virtual game tokens, but there’s potential to redeem some real prizes along the way too, as I’ll explain. Everything you need to get started is here, including three of my top recommendations for you to check out – you could be making your first sports pick within minutes!
Sports betting laws across the US are famously complex, making it possible to bet legally online in one state and not in another. Ever since PASPA was overturned, more and more states have been reviewing their legal position, but there are still plenty of frustrated would-be sports bettors who don’t have any safe and legal online options available.
But here’s the thing – remove your bankroll from the gaming equation and there’s no longer a problem! Gambling laws are exclusively concerned with wagering something of value on a chance outcome. There’s certainly nothing predictable about sporting events, but social sportsbooks have removed all real money from gameplay, meaning the usual gambling laws no longer apply!
Unlike traditional online betting sites, there’s no facility for depositing any of your bankroll when you sign up to a social sportsbook in the US, so you won’t be able to back any of your sports picks using real dollars. But don’t worry, as you won’t just be randomly making sports predictions without any prospect of rewards for selecting the right outcomes! Social betting sites have come up with the concept of virtual Coins, that work in the same way as cash in terms of activating gameplay, but that don’t have any associated value.
They’re usually called Gold Coins at free-to-play casinos and some social sportsbooks, but sometimes they’re just referred to as branded Coins, such as Fliff Coins or Rebet Coins. But whatever name they go by, these definitely aren’t coins as we know them – they’re digital tokens exclusive to each platform that operate like individual licenses to back your sports predictions.
You’ll start out with an introductory award of free-to-play Gold Coins – occasionally increased by inputting special social sportsbook promo codes for some additional freebies, with more added to your account balance for making accurate sports predictions. There are usually plenty of extra bonus Gold Coins along the way, thanks to regular and one-off promotions, as well as contests, tournaments, prize draws and giveaways.
You can even purchase more Gold Coins, often with a heavily discounted first-time offer, although there’s never any obligation to buy any more, thanks to the ongoing bonuses. The more Coins you have, the more sports picks you can make, but there’s nothing to be gained from your gameplay other than on-site status, more Gold Coins and kudos from friends and followers for your superior sports knowledge!
Sweepstakes Coins, or SC, are the secondary virtual game tokens in use at some social sportsbooks, although once again, branded names may apply, such as Fliff Cash and Rebet Cash. You can expect to receive at least one or two of these promotional tokens when you first sign up for your social gaming account, with more to follow thanks to daily login bonuses and other freebies, including an option to send off postal requests for more of them, as highlighted in each platform’s sweepstakes rules.
You won’t be able to buy any more SC, although there are sometimes a few freebies included with Gold Coin packages, depending on the platform. You can use them just as you would your Gold Coins to back your sports picks, and hopefully win more, if your predictions turn out to be accurate. Pay close attention to those SC winnings, which become redeemable just as soon as you’ve completed the necessary playthrough requirements and fulfilled the terms of the sweepstakes rules.
Collect up a sufficient quantity of redeemable SC winnings and you can request a real prize, usually in the form of a cash payment to your bank account, but some social sportsbooks offer a digital gift card option too. As you can imagine, the sweepstakes mechanic adds a whole extra layer of interest to gameplay, giving you options about how to play and letting you capitalize on your sporting knowledge in a new and entertaining way.
Any social sportsbook offering Gold Coin gameplay only, will be legal throughout the US – but the situation changes slightly when a sweepstakes gaming mechanic is introduced. This is governed by specific regulations that are unique to each state, so not all sweepstakes platforms are available throughout the entire US.
As a general rule, Washington is particularly strict, so although just-for-fun social sportsbooks are permitted, it’s unusual – but not impossible – to find sweepstakes gaming platforms available in the Evergreen State. Idaho and Michigan have some tough regulations too, and perhaps surprisingly, Nevada doesn’t allow all sweepstakes sportsbooks as a matter of course either.
You’ll find detailed reviews for all the best social sportsbooks on these pages, complete with the full information about any state restrictions, making it easy to pick out the available options where you live – as well as some awesome welcome bonus offers and tips for putting them to good use too!
Take a look at any of the gaming platforms listed on the pages of Soccer24, and you can be confident that you’ll be presented with the complete facts, including the advantages and disadvantages of each brand, along with any additional information you need to know about. There’s no single free-to-play sportsbook that’s going to be the perfect fit for everyone, but I’ve selected three top operators that have something to offer for everyone who wants to give social sports betting a try.
I’ve provided a brief rundown to give you a feel for each platform, but I recommend taking a look at the in-depth reviews and guides on these pages too. From the sports you can choose and the picks you can make through customer support options and the prizes you can redeem, absolutely everything is covered. You’ll even find step-by-step guides to getting started and claiming your introductory bonus, so the only things left to chance are your sports predictions!
You can enjoy making sports predictions at Sportzino using your virtual Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins, and spin up a few slots while you’re waiting to find out whether you were correct. This is a social gaming experience that’s been created by Blazesoft, the name behind Fortune Coins and Zula Casino, so it’s no surprise to find a free-to-play sportsbook offering an incredible selection of sports and fixtures.
There are also opportunities to make picks on esports, adding an extra dimension to your gaming experience, as well as some virtual sports, so absolutely all bases are covered here. Experienced sports bettors and newbies are equally welcome on the platform, with a generous welcome bonus of free-to-play Coins that sets you down in the heart of the action. Make your way through the rewards program tiers for bigger bonuses and more chances to place free picks, potentially redeeming SC winnings for real rewards along the way!
All free-to-play sportsbooks encourage the social aspect, but Rebet takes it one step further with its innovative ‘Rebet’ button, which lets you copy another player’s sports picks with a single tap. Rebet combines elements of social media with free-to-play sports picks, to create an immersive online experience that just about everyone can enjoy.
You can follow other players to improve your knowledge and experience, progressing through five status tiers as you gain confidence. There are bragging rights to be claimed for players who top the leaderboards, as well as some real cash prizes to be claimed. Playing with Rebet Coins is just for fun but Rebet Cash winnings acquired in accordance with the platform’s rules can be redeemed for real money prizes, paid straight into your bank account.
Fliff is a perfect sweepstakes sportsbook for beginners, thanks to its intuitive layout and ease of use. But even the most experienced sports bettors will find plenty of features to love, including a wide selection of sports and wagers, all without the need to lay your bankroll on the line.This makes it a great option for anyone wanting to discover how sports betting works without risk – but it’s also ideal if you live in a state which doesn’t permit real money online sportsbooks to operate.
The dual currency system provides you with Fliff Coins and bonus Fliff Cash to back your sporting predictions, with a very special introductory award for new customers who type SOCCER24 into the promo code box when registering for an account. You can also look forward to XP as you engage with the platform, which you can redeem for digital gift cards or even more Fliff Coins, adding an extra layer to your social gaming experience. And as with all of these social platforms, there are plenty of freebies to look forward to along the way, including bonus XP when your referred friends join in with the fun.
I’ve already touched on the legal aspect of social sportsbooks, which may be available in some states but not in others on a seemingly random basis. Every state has its own regulations concerning sweepstakes gameplay, so to save you the time and trouble, you can check out the restrictions for my recommendations in the following table.
Social sportsbook | Restricted states |
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Sportzino |
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Rebet |
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Fliff |
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Residents of the Evergreen State will be interested to discover that Rebet is available, despite Washington being renowned for having the strictest regulations when it comes to sweepstakes gaming platforms. I recommend double-checking the terms of service and sweepstakes rules of any social gaming platform you decide to sign up to though, as the legal position can change very quickly.
The fine print can also highlight a few other points you might need to take into consideration in terms of accessibility. For example, no sweepstakes gameplay is possible for Fliff players in Hawaii, Nevada or Tennessee, and there are a few further state restrictions when it comes to helping yourself to bonus Fliff Cash. We’ll keep you informed through the various guides on these pages, but the most up-to-date info will always be found on the platforms themselves, as no advance warning is needed when they make any alterations to their terms or rules. If in doubt, always reach out to the relevant platform’s customer support team, who will be happy to put your mind at rest over anything you’re not sure about.
There are all sorts of reasons why you could be searching for a free-to-play sportsbook, whether it’s down to the gaming laws in your state or a desire to kick back and relax without putting your bankroll at risk. Whatever your motivation, there’s a social betting platform that could have been created just for you, and with a little assistance from the reviews and guides on these pages, you’ll be able to identify your perfect gaming partner quickly and easily.
Whether it’s a Fliff, Rebet or Sportzino review, you can depend on Soccer24 to have your best interests at heart, ensuring you always have the full pros and cons of every reliable and trustworthy platform. New social sportsbooks are currently in development, so check back regularly to keep up to date with everything that’s new, as well as seeing how old favorites are developing over time. And be sure to take a look at the page banners before you head off to your preferred social sportsbook and register for a new player account – we update them every day, so you can always be confident of helping yourself to the very latest deals.
No real-money wagering is permitted at social gaming platforms, which means they’re not governed by the usual betting laws. That actually makes it even more important to choose wisely, but it’s not something you need to worry about when you’ve made your way to Soccer24.com. Take your pick from the very best social sportsbooks available in the US, all of which have been thoroughly tested and reviewed to bring you all the essential facts.
There’s no single gaming platform that’s going to fit the bill for every type of sports enthusiast, since we all have our own preferences when it comes to design and features. Fortunately, Soccer24.com is on hand with insightful reviews and helpful guides that make it a breeze to track down your ideal options. There are some special promo codes to watch out for too, so you can really make the most of your new gaming platform.
No, you’ll be making sports predictions using virtual Coins instead of real money, so the only prizes you can win directly are more free Coins. But sweepstakes casinos and sportsbooks also give away free sweepstakes tokens, with winnings that become redeemable when you’ve fulfilled the necessary requirements. Everything you need to know can be found here at Soccer24.com, along with information about how to get started, including some special introductory promotions.