Your introductory guide to sweepstakes poker
Thanks to a heady combination of strategy and luck, poker is easily one of the USAās favorite casino table games. But given the countryās strict anti-gambling laws, few Americans ever get to play an authentic version of poker online.
Enter sweepstakes poker, a free virtual version of this classic table game thatās exploded in popularity in recent years. Available in dozens more states than its real-money counterpart, this unique poker variant could be just what youāve been looking for ā whether youāre a poker newbie or a high roller out for their next flush.
What is sweepstakes poker?
To understand online poker sweepstakes, you first need to get your head around what sweepstakes are in general. So, allow us to explain.
Online sweepstakes are casino games that you can play for free. No deposit, no payment, and no real cash betting ā just log in, tap in, and play.
Sounds simple enough, right? Well, thereās an extra element to online sweepstakes that makes them even more interesting.
You see, itās possible to win real prizes by playing these free casino games online. Thatās made possible by sweepstakes coins (SC) ā redeemable tokens that can be exchanged for things like vouchers, merchandise, and even cash.
So, back to poker sweepstakes. These are free poker games that you can access with no deposit and no cash betting required, while still having the opportunity to collect SC to win real prizes. Oh, and theyāre much more widely available than their real-money equivalents, with sweepstakes brands like Stake.us enjoying excellent coverage across the States.
Can you win real prizes playing sweepstakes online poker?
We should clarify that you canāt win real cash prizes simply by playing poker sweepstakes games online. Thereās no cash betting here, so thereās no prize pot to play for in each round.
With that said, you can play for sweepstakes coins that can be exchanged for prizes, including cash in some cases. There are a few things to note regarding sweepstakes poker prizes, though, so you should consider the following:
Playthrough requirements often apply
Since sweepstakes coins are free to collect and redeem, brands usually apply a playthrough requirement. This instructs how many times youāll need to use a single SC before it can be redeemed and is usually expressed as a multiplier (i.e., 1x, 2x, 3x).
Thereās usually a minimum redemption requirement
Some sites offering online poker sweepstakes have a minimum SC redemption requirement. This means that youāll need to collect a certain quantity of SC before you can make a redemption request āĀ be it 50 SC, 100 SC, or 1,000 SC.
1 SC is equivalent to $1 in most cases
Thatās rightĀ ā you can usually think of 1 SC as a buck, which gives you an idea of what you stand to gain. For example, in our
Stake.us bonus review, we discuss the fact that you can get a welcome promo of 55 sweepstakes coins ā more on that later.
How do poker sweepstakes work?
Playing poker online for free might sound implausible. But when you throw sweepstakes coins into the mix, it becomes an exciting proposition indeed.
If youāve never used a sweepstakes casino, you may not be familiar with how free games like poker work. So, letās take a quick step-by-step look at how youād typically get started.
- Register with your favorite sweepstakes poker site
- Access the brandās welcome bonus to claim free gold coins and sweepstakes coins āĀ the two virtual currencies youāll use like regular cash.
- Tap through to the games library and select poker. You can then play just for fun in gold coins mode or with sweepstakes coins if youāre gunning after real prize redemptions; most brands make it easy to toggle between the different play modes.
The whole premise of sweepstakes casinos hinges on using virtual coins instead of real cash. Remember, gold coins (GC) are used purely for fun-only gameplay, while SC can be used to enter sweepstakes for the chance to get a hold of prizes like cash, gifts, and vouchers.
What type of poker do sweepstakes poker sites offer?
You might assume that free poker games with sweepstakes would be fairly limited in terms of their features and gameplay, but youād be mistaken. As youāll discover from our
Stake.us review
below, the best free social poker sites offer a surprisingly authentic experience, with lots of different poker styles and game modes accounted for.
With that in mind, letās take a closer look at the different forms of sweepstakes poker available online.
Texas Holdāem
Regular poker players should be
very
familiar with this style of free poker. Yes, Texas Holdāem is the default game mode on most sweepstakes-only poker tables, so provided you have a grasp of the basics, there should be no learning curves to overcome here.
Not quite sure about the rules of Texas Holdāem poker? Here are a few pointers to get you startedā¦
- In Texas Holdāem poker, players are dealt two cards known as āholeā cards.
- The big blind (BB) sets the play sum and players can choose to ācallā or āfoldā depending on the strength of their hand.
- After each round of ābettingā (we use the term loosely since youāre not technically betting during sweepstakes play), the dealer places a ācommunityā card face down on the table.
- The objective is to make the best five-card hand using a combination of hole and community cards ā or else make your opponents believe you have the best hand by bluffing.
Omaha
Omaha poker is a variant of Texas Holdāem thatās popular with players looking for a unique gameplay experience, particularly in an online setting. You wonāt find it on every site offering poker sweepstakes, but itās definitely worth trying out if you stumble across it.
Hereās a quick overview of the rules.
- In Omaha poker, players are dealt four hole cards as opposed to the two they receive in Texas Holdāem.
- The big blind (BB) sets the play sum and players can choose to ācallā or āfoldā depending on the strength of their hand.
- After each round of ābettingā (we use the term loosely since youāre not technically betting during sweepstakes play), the dealer places a ācommunityā card face down on the table.
- The objective is to make the best five-card hand using two of the strongest cards from your hole deal and three cards from the community deck ā or else make your opponents believe you have the best hand by bluffing.
Other sweepstakes poker games to try
While most casual poker fans will be happy to play either Texas Holdāem or Omaha-style tables, there are plenty of other options out there within the field of free online poker. The likes of Stake.us, in particular, offer some awesome variants on the social poker formula, as well as the option to personalize Texas Holdāem and Omaha games with unique features and in-built tournaments.
So, if youāre looking for the most immersive and authentic live poker sweepstakes experience, we would encourage you to branch out and give different game modes a try.
Try other sites for free play of casino games and more
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How do you win online poker sweepstakes?
If youāve played poker previously, then you should be pretty clued in on the different ways to win at sweepstakes-only tables. Total beginner? Letās take a closer look at some of the winning hand combinations you should be looking to make when you take your seat at the table.
| Poker hand | Meaning |
| Straight Flush | Youāll achieve a Straight Flush if you can make a sequence of five cards in the same suit. Though extremely rare, stranger things have happened. |
| Four of a Kind | Score four of the same card (four jacks, for example), and youāre looking at a Four of a Kind hand. Add a high-value ākickerā to finish the job and seal the win. |
| Full House | A Full House is when you can make three cards of the same rank, accompanied by two cards of the same rank. Itās a tough hand to beat. |
| Flush | If you can make five cards of the same suit, you could win with a Flush. |
| Straight | A Straight is in any five cards in a sequence. If another player also scores a Straight, itās the highest card in either hand that determines the winner. |
This is by no means an exhaustive list of winning combinations, but it does give you a feel for the type of hands youāre looking to make on sweepstakes poker machines. The great thing about playing poker for free on sweepstakes casinos is that you can effectively practice in a safe, risk-free environment, without worrying about losing your own money in the process.
What are the pros and cons of sweepstakes online poker?
Canāt decide if playing poker on a sweepstakes casino is for you? These pros and cons should help you to see the wood for the trees.
Pros & Cons
- Play authentic poker games for free against real players
- Choose from different poker styles including Texas Holdāem
- Win real prizes by playing poker with redeemable sweepstakes coins
- Practice your poker skills without risking your own money
- Access online poker in states with no legal real-money alternatives
- You canāt win real cash prizes playing free poker sweepstakes
What to look for from poker sweepstakes sites
The time has come to choose a place to play free sweepstakes poker games online. So, what should be on your wish list of features and must-haves?
Here, weāve provided a quick checklist guide on all the things
we
would look for from your next sweepstakes poker site.
Not content to offer just one variant of free poker, the best brands give you the option to choose from different styles of the game, including Texas Holdāem and Omaha. Some even let you personalize different elements of your poker table setup, for an authentic and immersive experience.
Excellent bonuses and promotions
Donāt settle for sweepstakes casino brands with a poor bonus offering. You can receive a handsome pile of free coins and other rewards when joining the best free online poker sites, so look for brands with generous welcome and reload bonuses.
Customer support, instructions, and FAQs
If youāre coming at free online poker as a complete novice, then you should prioritize sites with lots of help and resources in case you get stuck. On-demand customer support and detailed poker guides can help you hit the ground running and master the game in no time.
Remember to double and triple-check the FAQs to ensure that the brand is permitted in your state. Sweepstakes casinos arenāt available in every US jurisdiction, so you should always reference the small print for any mention of restricted states.
Stake.us: Our #1 sweepstakes poker site
Pros & Cons
- Choose from Texas Holdāem and Omaha poker
- Redeem Stake Cash for prizes
- Personalize your poker experience with additional game modes
- Stake.us isnāt available in Idaho, Nevada, and Washington
If thereās one brand that just gets free online poker, itās Stake.us. Already one of the most popular sweepstakes casino brands in the US, Stake has thrown down the gauntlet to its rivals with the launch of Stake Originals Poker, which looks set to become one of the best free sweepstakes poker games on the web.
So, what makes Stake Poker so special? Well, the game is part of the Stake Originals series ā a collection of reimagined casino games known for their pared-back graphics, intuitive controls, and excellent customization options. It also offers a combination of Texas Holdāem and Omaha poker games, with lots of additional features to help you personalize your overall gameplay experience.
And as if all that wasnāt enough to convince you that Stake Poker is worth your time, weāre currently offering an exclusive bonus to all new Stake.us members. Simply add code āWETSOCIALā during sign-up to grab 25 SC + 260K GC + 5% Rakeback when you verify your Stake.us account, followed by an additional 30 SC when you claim the Reload Bonus over your first 30 days.
56 Stake Cash + 560K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Sweepstakes poker: Are you ready to play?
Sure, you canāt put real cash on the table when playing free poker online, but if you live in a state with few or no legal poker alternatives, the sweepstakes version of this beloved card game should be a welcome compromise. After all, aside from the fact that no real money changes hands, this is very much the poker that we know and love.
While free sweepstakes poker games online arenāt all that common right now, thereās still room to be choosy about the brands you play with. Consider everything from the types of poker available to the strength of a casinoās customer support offering, and prioritize bonuses to get more free GC and SC to play with.
Speaking of bonuses ā donāt forget that we have an exclusive deal currently available with Stake.us. Available to all new members, our Stake.us welcome bonus grants you a whopping introductory reward worth 55 SC + 260K GC + 5% Rakeback. Drop code āWETTENSOCIALā into the promo box during registration to score this epic offer.
Try these top bonuses for social poker
56 Stake Cash + 560K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
35 SC FREE and 1.75M WOW Coins
Poker sweepstakes FAQ
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Which brands offer free sweepstakes poker games?
Plenty of free-to-play sweepstakes casinos offer poker in their library of games, but one of our favorite brands has to be Stake.us. Stake Poker is one of the best free poker games on the web, allowing you to play authentic Texas Holdāem poker against real opponents.
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Can you win money playing free poker online?
No, you canāt win cash playing free poker at sweepstakes casinos, since youāre not actually making any real money bets. You can, however, play with sweepstakes coins for the chance to redeem prizes like cash, vouchers, merchandise, and gift cards.
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Is it legal to play free poker online in the USA?
Provided you play poker on a reputable sweepstakes casino thatās permitted in your state then, yes, itās perfectly legal. Be sure to check a brandās T&Cs and existing player reviews before you sign up and play.
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What type of poker can I play for free online?
Depending on the site, you can play classic poker games like Texas Holdāem and Omaha as well as other lesser-known poker variants. Sites like Stake.us also let you personalize your poker experience to up the ante and play how you want to play.
ā
Is Stake.us legal in the USA?
Yes, you can access Stake in many different parts of the US, except for Washington, Idaho, and Nevada.
