What are social casinos exactly?
If you have already been browsing through our list of the best online casinos in US here at Wetten.com, you may have noticed that they are only available in a handful of states in many cases. This is because the complex nature of online gambling laws in the US means that regulation of the industry is done on a state-by-state level. Not all states currently allow legalized online casino gambling, and those that do have a limited number of licenses to give out.
So how can you play online casino games if traditional gambling isn’t yet legal in your state? Allow us to introduce you to social casino slots…
To put it as simply as possible, social casinos online are platforms where you can play popular casino games including slots, roulette, and card games – such as poker, blackjack, and baccarat. Just as is the case with normal online casinos, these sites can also have mobile versions or downloadable apps. Seems simple enough so far right?
So what exactly is the difference between social and normal online casinos?
That’s a very good question, as from the above description, you could be forgiven for thinking that they are exactly the same. However, you may have noticed there’s one crucial element that we have mentioned above – money!
While a traditional online casino requires you to deposit and play online slots with real money, their social counterparts instead require you to play with virtual currency. As a result, it is not deemed as gambling in the eyes of the law in the vast majority of US states. As a result, you will find that social casino games are far more widely available in the US than traditional ones.
We know, this must have left you with a couple of crucial questions, which we’ll kindly answer for you below…
How do social casinos make money?
Essentially, social casinos are free to play, however, if you do run out of virtual currency you will be given the option to buy more via your credit card or another payment option. Additionally, some games will have in-game purchase options and features – similar to some games that you may have on your mobile phone.
At the end of the day though, social casinos can still confidently claim that they are free and not offering a gambling service. This is because you’re free to reject the in-game purchases, and there are always free alternatives to procuring more virtual currency – though usually less than with paid packages.
Can I win real money at social casinos?
Strictly speaking no, as any directly paid out cash prizes would mean that the casino crosses the line into gambling territory. However, many social online casinos manage to get around this by offering sweepstakes games that offer players the chances to win prizes – which in many cases can consist of real cash prizes.
Sweepstakes are not considered to be a form of gambling in the US so long as there’s nothing in the promotion suggesting that players must pay to enter. It’s a fine line, but you can rest aroused that all of the best social casinos operating in the US know the laws inside out. What you will find on the best sites is a very clear and easy-to-find explanation of why their operations are legal.
What is social gambling – and what is it called that?
Now, what you may have noticed so far, is that none of the above has really addressed the “social” element of these online casinos. So where exactly does that come into it? You’ll be pleased to find out that it’s not just a buzzword put in front of the word “casino” for a bit of fun.
The actual concept of social casino gaming is very much alive within these casinos – more so than on traditional real-money platforms. You can exchange and gift coins between your friends when playing in social casinos online, which if you do well, means you can ensure that you all play for free consistently. Additionally, you can also compete with your friends on the leaderboard and set up your own poker games. When we say “friends” here, we’re referring to both real life and online buddies.
What are social casino games and are they different?
Social casino games are pretty much exactly the same as those found in regular online casinos. The slots and table games that you play will most likely look very similar to those found in a regular online casino. Similarly, the rules of the games are more or less exactly the same. Naturally though, there’s one crucial difference – you are never at any stage staking real money when playing in a social casino.
Our favorite social casino providers
1.
$25 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Players from Virginia accepted
2.
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE
Players from Virginia accepted
3.
$5 No Deposit + 250 GameCoins + 600 Diamonds
Players from Virginia accepted
4.
1,000 ($10) No Deposit Free Coins + 360,000 Gold Coins + $8 FREE Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
5.
–
Players from Virginia accepted
Who should make use of our social casino gaming comparison?
Quite literally anyone and everyone (of legal age of course) who’s in any way interested in the concept of social online casinos. Given that you’ve joined us here and made it this far down the page – we’re pretty sure that this comparison is most definitely for you!
It doesn’t matter if you’re a complete beginner who’s only just been introduced to the concept by our above explanation, or you’re a seasoned social pro who’s looking for a newer and more expansive provider. Either way, we’ve got you covered.
Additionally, we also cater to a wide selection of desires and tastes. We understand that some of you may be looking for a nice variety of social casino slots, while others will be more focused on setting up an online poker tournament with your buddies. At the end of the day, what we want to do is provide you with a comparison that feels tailor-made to suit your needs as an individual.
Helping you to find your way in the social sphere
Social online casinos are in many ways a different animal from online casinos. Therefore in helping you to find your ideal site, there are different things that we have to take into account. We understand that some players will be looking for a place to play with real friends, while others will be taking the virtual route. A great many of you, we understand will be residing in states where online gambling is not yet legal, and will simply be looking for the closest legal alternative.
Checklist – 5 things we look for when rating social casinos online
Licensing
Despite technically not being within the remit of legal gambling, we still always check for licensing first and foremost when reviewing any social casino. Ideally, we still prefer to see a US-based provider with a US license. However, overseas providers can legally provide their services to US customers. In this case, though, we only accept the gold standard MGA or UKGC stamps.
Compliance
Social online casinos are completely legal in the majority of US states, and when it comes to casinos that merely offer free social play and nothing else, there is rarely a problem. However, when it comes to those who offer cash prizes via sweepstakes games, we have to ensure that they know what they are doing and aren’t treading a fine line. A solid explanation and statement on their page usually help to give us peace of mind.
Security
With social casino gaming, your personal information, and in most cases your financial info will still come into play. It’s therefore of vital importance to us that the site cuts no slack when it comes to HTTPS and encryption security measures.
Rewards and bonuses
Good social casinos should still have a solid social casino bonus and rewards system. You might not be playing for real money, but you can still expect a welcome package with virtual coins and a VIP system to reward your custom.
Customer service
Just like with any service industry here in the USA, we believe that customer care is key. We therefore always test out all of the available customer service channels to ensure they offer ample assistance at the very least when things go wrong.
Our editor’s recommendation for the best social casinos
Given the fact that social online casinos are legal and therefore more widely available in the US than regular online casinos, there are naturally far more to choose from. As a result, this gave us a difficult task in choosing one as the ultimate best to recommend to you today. As we mentioned above, the aim of our service is to help find the right platform for each individual. However, we have managed to select one top operator based on overall balance.
Hard Rock – a quality product and a safe pair of hands
Our editor’s recommendation is therefore the Hard Rock Social Casino. This trusted casino resort brand and global restaurant chain also has a regular online casino but has launched an exclusive social platform that is available throughout the US. The range of social casino games throughout Hard Rock is staggering.
However, what makes this operator the easiest to recommend is the fact that it’s a safe pair of hands. Everyone from Montana to Mongolia has heard of Hard Rock. It’s a brand that can be trusted – and you can rest assured all of the correct licensing and security measures are in place.
Finding the right social casino slots for you
As we’ve mentioned throughout this article, our objective is not only to inform but to help each individual find their ideal social casino gaming site. On our site, you can find a number of expert reviews of all the operators available in the US today.
What you will find consistently throughout these reviews, is that they are divided and rated based on a number of detailed categories that should help you to find exactly what you are looking for as an individual. As we said before, no matter what your experience level, location, or flavor – our comparison can most definitely help you.
Casinos to suit all needs and wants
If you’re an experienced player, our reviews will help you to find the best social casinos to up your game. At the other end of the scale, you’ll also find the most beginner-friendly operators around. When it comes to games, we’ll direct you towards everything from the sensational slots specialists to the premier poker platforms and the roaring roulette rumblers.
Although social casinos are more widely available throughout the US, we will still list each and every state that each operator works in. That way, you can be sure to find the best operators where you are today!
5 ultimate tips for using the best social casino slots
Play with friends
They are called social casinos for a reason – therefore it’s essential that you take advantage of that “social” element. Whether you’re playing with your real-life buddies or online acquaintances, socializing can help you to save money, win prizes, and generally have more fun when playing games with these operators.
Take advantage of the freebies
When you run out of virtual currency for the first time, you will be given the option to buy more using real money. However, by the legal nature of social casinos and how they work, there will always be a free workaround. Always explore the avenues that can help you to keep playing for free to save your hard-earned cash!
Look for bonuses
Just like the best new online casinos in US, social casinos also offer you plenty of bonuses to take advantage of. You can expect to find ways to get extra virtual coins when signing up, as well as VIP schemes and existing customer bonuses to reward you while playing.
Cash prizes
You might not be able to gamble in the traditional sense when playing social casinos online. However, with many operators, you can get your hands on cash prizes via the games that offer sweepstakes promotions. You can refer to the earlier sections of this article to find out exactly how such games work and why they are 100% legal if promoted correctly by the operator.
Climb the leaderboard
The majority of social online casinos will have leaderboards throughout their site. You can climb the leaderboard to gain recognition, gain extra coins to play with, and even win gifts and cash prizes. You may also be able to create a mini leaderboard within your group to compete with your friends on a smaller scale.
Social casino gaming – the conclusion
If you currently reside in a state where online gambling isn’t yet legal, then social casinos are the closest legit alternative available to you – in most states at least. That being said, even if you do live in a legal US gambling state, social casinos definitely shouldn’t be overlooked. What they offer is a less risky form of casino gaming that can in many cases be more fun. You don’t even have to completely miss out on the prospect of winning real cash prizes either!
Top social casino bonuses
1.
$25 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 3x Deposit
2.
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE
Players from Virginia accepted
Min. Deposit: 9.99
3.
$5 No Deposit + 250 GameCoins + 600 Diamonds
Players from Virginia accepted
4.
2.5 USD No Deposit + 7,500 Gold Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
5.
1,000 ($10) No Deposit Free Coins + 360,000 Gold Coins + $8 FREE Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
Social Casinos FAQ
🎲 Is social gaming a form of gambling?
This is the most commonly asked question with regards to the concept of social casino gaming. While social casino gaming is done with virtual currency, you may have noticed that some providers do offer the chance to win cash prizes. The distinction is therefore quite complicated. For a detailed explanation, head on over to the social casino page at Wetten.com US.
🎰 How do social casinos work?
At the most basic level, social casinos work very much the same as other online casinos, especially in terms of the games that you’ll find on offer. There are, however, some very big differences that are absolutely essential to know before you even think about signing up and playing at either one. Wetten.com US have provided a very detailed expert guide that explains the distinctions between the two concepts.
🤔 What is a social casino site?
A social casino site is a relatively new concept that has been taking the world by storm in recent years – especially the US. Why the US in particular you may ask? Because social casino sites and apps are more widely available than they are in other countries. You can find out all of the need-to-know details about this phenomenon right here.
❓ What is the difference between social casino games and online casino games?
If you were to be a fly on the wall watching someone play social casino games and online casino games, you could be forgiven for thinking that they are exactly the same e with absolutely no differences. However, there are a couple of vital distinctions which must be made clear.
