Suppose you want to play casino games without any of the risk involved with actual gambling. Or just live in a US state where gambling for real money online is not yet legal. Then these cashless varieties are a great alternative, where you’ll use the social casino’s own currency system (“coins”) rather than to wager your own money.

Online social casinos are meant for players who are looking for gameplay more geared toward entertainment and free games, not racking up big wins. Since online gambling is only legal in six states, social casinos fill the void for most other states. You can't necessarily win money at social casinos (which is why they are permitted) but through various legal workarounds, players can play with the coin currencies and eventually exchange them for various prizes.

Different social casinos have contrasting names for their virtual currency, such as G Coins, Virtual Credits, Wow Coins, Gold Coins, and more. There are two different models of obtaining coins when playing at social casino sites. Here are a couple of examples:

• Purchasable Coins: You can purchase coin bundles and use them to play games and accumulate even more virtual credit. Coin purchases are the one way that social casinos can make a profit.
• Collectible Coins: Most social casinos provide several ways of collecting coins, such as contests, gameplay, and social media promotions. Obtaining coins this way is more common at sweepstakes casinos, where you can use this virtual currency to play games and redeem your winnings for real cash prizes.

Social casino bonuses and sign-up promotions work differently from standard casino bonuses with monetary value. Often, they comprise an exclusively priced package of virtual currency coins.

Depending on the social casino you sign up to, you might receive coins as a bonus for just signing up, or you may have the option to purchase coins. Social casino promo codes are also common to find if you dive into the promotions-section at most social online casinos.

You likely won’t find wagering requirements on social casino bonuses, since there are no direct cash withdrawals.

While social casinos are intended to be enjoyed for fun, there are some sites that combine the cash free model with redeemable cash prizes, and are therefore not strictly social. These are still not considered real money casinos, but in some states, it’s as close as you get! 

The inclusion of “sweeps coins” means that you can win cash prizes. I've listed some of the best social casinos that include sweepstakes below. Clicking on the logo takes you to the full review of the site.

Social/sweepstakes casinos are ideal if you’re keen to play online casino games but are not located in a state with legal online gambling, but there are a few exceptions. Generally speaking, social casinos are legally active in almost every country globally. However, due to its conservative stance on gambling activities, they’re still banned in Washington.

If you’ve run out of virtual cash at a site you already play at, or just looking to try out a new social casino, this page is a good start. Whether you want to play strictly at social online casinos or find a site that offers Sweeps-mode, I’m testing and listing the best options available. Some of the already established sites also get makeovers after a while, and sometimes when new features are implemented, it could be worth more than finding a brand new social casino. However, as soon as one is launched, it will be highlighted here!

Global Poker is another new online social casino on my list, and for many reasons. You get 5,000 Gold Coins upon registration but there are regular Sweeps Coins on offer as well. And unlike most social gaming sites, this one has put more focus on Poker than others.

Chumba isn’t the newest social casino online, it’s one of the latest reviewed social casino sites here! On top of giving new players 2,000,000 Gold Coins and 2 free Sweeps Coins just for registering an account, you have the choice of playing various games in both modes.

Just like at an actual casino, you’ll find a massive range of all sorts of games in an array of types and genres, such as slots, table games, and live dealer experiences. They come from the same game developers and work just like their real cash counterparts. You name it, and you can likely play it at the top-rated social casinos I recommend! 

On top of the categories listed below, you’ll likely find more exciting options once you have a look at a game lobby. Let’s get you started on what to look forward to:

Social slots - A classic casino game staple, online slots is the biggest game category at all social casinos online. After all, all you need to do is match up rows of symbols on the reels in exchange for wins.

Social Table Games - Although most social casinos offer an eclectic variety, this varies from site to site. You should however find some variants of classic games like Blackjack, Roulette and Baccarat.

Live social casino - Many social sites feature live versions of traditional table games. Via live video stream, you can play classic table games with real live dealers and experience the atmosphere of live casinos.

Before you start spinning the reels of thrilling slots, you’ll need to register at a social casino. Fortunately, that process is super straightforward at the top-rated sites. To help get you started, follow my simple step-by-step guide below:

Even though you aren’t playing games for real cash, you still may wish to purchase coin bundles to boost your playing bankroll. This is why having your preferred payment method handy is best for quick and effortless payments. Fortunately, the recommended social casinos that you find here accept payments through numerous secure and popular banking options, like:

• Credit/Debit cards
• Trustly
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay
• PayPal
• Neteller
• Skrill
• Bank transfer

Any of the social casinos that I recommend have passed all experts’ criteria on safety and security. This means that they maintain the following standards:

• Licensing: Social casino sites don’t need a gambling license and aren’t regulated by specific state regulars. However, these sites still adhere to strict security measures to guarantee a safe gaming environment, such as utilizing data encryption technology to keep your personal data secure and confidential.
• External Auditing: All the top-rated social casinos on this page are externally audited by reputable third parties. These measures ensure that casinos operate fairly and that games use RNGs (Random Number Generators) to maintain fair outcomes.
• Responsible Gambling: Sites should offer responsible gambling resources to help players find support should they wish to seek professional advice on their gaming habits. These include tools like session and time limits and self-exclusion. 

Efficient customer support is usually pretty easy to come by on social casinos via a number of contact methods. Usually, you’ll have access to comprehensive FAQ sections and a live chat function, allowing you to talk with a customer service representative in real-time. Some social casinos also offer online forms to submit, email addresses, and telephone lines.

As with any casino, it’s always worth checking out each site’s customer support section to see if its support system suits you.