
Thanks to the launch of Stake Originals Poker, sweepstakes poker is hot right now. So, to help you get to grips with what it’s all about, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide on how it works and the prizes available. 3r112t
For poker players who live in a state with few legal casino options, sweeps poker is the next best thing. Plus, when you one of the best sweepstakes poker sites, Stake.us, as a new player, you’ll receive 55 SC + 260K GC + 5% Rakeback thanks to our exclusive Stake promo code, ‘WETTENSOCIAL’.
Thanks to a heady combination of strategy and luck, poker is easily one of the USA’s favorite casino table games. But given the country’s 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 that’s exploded in popularity in recent years. Available in dozens more states than its real-money counterpart, this unique poker variant could be just what you’ve been looking for – whether you’re a poker newbie or a high roller out for their next flush.
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 – just , tap in, and play.
Sounds simple enough, right? Well, there’s an extra element to online sweepstakes that makes them even more interesting.
You see, it’s possible to win real prizes by playing these free casino games online. That’s made possible by sweepstakes coins (SC) – 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 they’re much more widely available than their real-money equivalents, with sweepstakes brands like Stake.us enjoying excellent coverage across the States.
We should clarify that you can’t win real cash prizes simply by playing poker sweepstakes games online. There’s no cash betting here, so there’s 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:
Since sweepstakes coins are free to collect and redeem, brands usually apply a playthrough requirement. This instructs how many times you’ll need to use a single SC before it can be redeemed and is usually expressed as a multiplier (i.e., 1x, 2x, 3x).
Some sites offering online poker sweepstakes have a minimum SC redemption requirement. This means that you’ll need to collect a certain quantity of SC before you can make a redemption request – be it 50 SC, 100 SC, or 1,000 SC.
That’s right – 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 – more on that later.
Playing poker online for free might sound implausible. But when you throw sweepstakes coins into the mix, it becomes an exciting proposition indeed.
If you’ve never used a sweepstakes casino, you may not be familiar with how free games like poker work. So, let’s take a quick step-by-step look at how you’d typically get started.
The whole premise of sweepstakes casinos hinges on using virtual coins instead of real cash. , 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.
You might assume that free poker games with sweepstakes would be fairly limited in of their features and gameplay, but you’d be mistaken. As you’ll 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 ed for.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the different forms of sweepstakes poker available online.
Regular poker players should be very familiar with this style of free poker. Yes, Texas Hold’em 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 Hold’em poker? Here are a few pointers to get you started…
Omaha poker is a variant of Texas Hold’em that’s popular with players looking for a unique gameplay experience, particularly in an online setting. You won’t find it on every site offering poker sweepstakes, but it’s definitely worth trying out if you stumble across it.
Here’s a quick overview of the rules.
While most casual poker fans will be happy to play either Texas Hold’em 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 Hold’em and Omaha games with unique features and in-built tournaments.
So, if you’re 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.
If you’ve played poker previously, then you should be pretty clued in on the different ways to win at sweepstakes-only tables. Total beginner? Let’s 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 | You’ll 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 you’re looking at a Four of a Kind hand. Add a high-value ‘kicker’ 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. It’s 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, it’s 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 you’re 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.
Can’t 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.
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, we’ve 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 Hold’em and Omaha. Some even let you personalize different elements of your poker table setup, for an authentic and immersive experience.
Don’t settle for sweepstakes casino brands with a poor bonus offering. You can receive a handsome pile of free coins and other rewards when ing the best free online poker sites, so look for brands with generous welcome and reload bonuses.
If you’re 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 and detailed poker guides can help you hit the ground running and master the game in no time.
to double and triple-check the FAQs to ensure that the brand is permitted in your state. Sweepstakes casinos aren’t available in every US jurisdiction, so you should always reference the small print for any mention of restricted states.
If there’s one brand that just gets free online poker, it’s 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 – 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 Hold’em and Omaha poker games, with lots of additional features to help you personalize your overall gameplay experience.
And as if all that wasn’t enough to convince you that Stake Poker is worth your time, we’re currently offering an exclusive bonus to all new Stake.us . Simply add code ‘WETSOCIAL’ during to grab 25 SC + 260K GC + 5% Rakeback when you your Stake.us , followed by an additional 30 SC when you claim the Reload Bonus over your first 30 days.
Sure, you can’t 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 aren’t all that common right now, there’s still room to be choosy about the brands you play with. Consider everything from the types of poker available to the strength of a casino’s customer offering, and prioritize bonuses to get more free GC and SC to play with.
Speaking of bonuses – don’t forget that we have an exclusive deal currently available with Stake.us. Available to all new , our Stake.us welcome bonus grants you a whopping introductory reward worth 55 SC + 260K GC + 5% Rakeback. Drop code ‘WETTENSOCIAL’ into the promo box during registration to score this epic offer.
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 Hold’em poker against real opponents.
No, you can’t win cash playing free poker at sweepstakes casinos, since you’re 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.
Provided you play poker on a reputable sweepstakes casino that’s permitted in your state then, yes, it’s perfectly legal. Be sure to check a brand’s T&Cs and existing player reviews before you sign up and play.
Depending on the site, you can play classic poker games like Texas Hold’em 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.
Yes, you can access Stake in many different parts of the US, except for Washington, Idaho, and Nevada.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.