What is sweepstakes sports betting?
As you probably know, social and sweepstakes casinos are fun, free-to-play sites that allow you to play casino-style games with virtual currencies that have no real world value. Well, think of sweepstakes sports betting in exactly the same way, but instead of playing casino-style games, you can use virtual currencies, typically known as Gold Coins (GC) and Sweeps Coins (SC), to predict the outcome of sporting contests. Sounds great, right? Here’s how it works in practice…
How to make your predictions at sweepstakes betting sites 🎰
The markets at
free social sportsbooks
are virtually identical to their real money counterparts and cover areas such as over/unders, totals, moneylines, spreads and props. Some sites even let you make live predictions on ongoing events. Consequently, the process for making your prediction is almost the same as placing a bet at a real money betting site. The only difference is that you need to decide whether to use your GC or SC.
Can you redeem prizes at sweepstakes betting sites? 🎁
Yes, yes, and yes again! Another way in which sweepstakes sports betting sites resemble sweepstakes casinos is that they both allow redeem SC for real world prizes once the relevant requirements are met. The specific T&Cs for winning prizes will vary from site to site, but will generally relate to the minimum amount of SC you need to have in your account and the number of times you need to play your SC.
In contrast to Sweeps Coins, your Gold Coins cannot be redeemed for prizes and are purely for making fun, social predictions. Whilst both virtual currencies can be acquired via daily promotions and welcome bonuses (read on for more on that!), you can only buy GC with real money.
Sweepstakes sports betting: Pros & Cons
Pros and Cons
- Free to play
- Socialise with other sports bettors
- Available in the majority of US states
- Free SC is often given in small amounts
Three reasons why we love sweepstakes sports betting
As you can probably tell, we absolutely love sweeps betting and firmly believe that it is worth a try. Here are three reasons why you might want to give social betting a try:
1. Availability
The single biggest advantage that social sportsbooks have over real money online sportsbooks is that they are available in far more locations. Currently, there are around 30 states that allow you to legally place real money sports bets. In contrast, many sweepstakes betting brands are available in over 40 US states, including many that prohibit real money betting.
2. Relaxed betting environment
Compared to the cut and thrust of real money sports betting, sweepstakes betting sites offer a chilled-out betting environment that allows you to fully relax when making your picks. There are active chat rooms, fun daily prediction contests and a host of other great features that help to create a truly laidback betting experience. The fact that you can always get plenty of GC and SC for free also helps.
Are there no deposit bonus social sportsbooks? The answer is no, because you cannot make real money deposits at sweepstakes betting sites. But don’t worry, if you join a top sweepstakes sportsbook, you will be blown away by the volume of promotions on offer. In addition to a generous no purchase sign up bonus, you will be able to take advantage of daily login bonuses, regular GC and SC giveaways, social media comps and a boatload of other amazing promos. The bottom line is that leading sweepstakes sports betting sites bombard you with daily offers that will ensure you can play for free every day.
Seven of the best sweepstakes sports betting sites
There are an awful lot of sweepstakes betting sites in the United States, and the number is growing at a seriously rapid rate. That can make it hard to identify the very best brands to join, but fear not, our sweeps betting gurus have thoroughly
tested social sportsbooks
and have made their selections for the seven best sites to join right now! Let’s take a look:
| Brand |
Number of available states |
No purchase sign up bonus |
| Fliff |
45 |
1,000 Fliff Coins and 1 SC
(Use Bonus Code: GAMEHAUS) |
| Legendz |
37 |
500 GC and 3 SC |
| Kickr |
34 |
150,000 Bits and 4 Bucks |
| Sportzino |
46 |
Up to 170,000 GC and 7 SC |
| Onyx Odds |
36 |
100 Onyx Coins |
| ProphetX |
40 |
n/a |
| Novig |
42 |
1,000 Novig Coins and 5 Novig Cash |
Fliff - Sweeps betting does not get any better than this
Fliff reviews Pros and cons
- Social sportsbook action
- Badges and challenges
- Multiple sports covered
- Sweepstakes available
- Only available in 45 US states
You won’t have any trouble finding
social sportsbooks with welcome bonus
offers, but in our expert opinion, Fliff’s no purchase bonus is one of the best. If you open a new Fliff account today using our exclusive GAMEHAUS bonus code, you will receive 1,000 Fliff Coins (Their version of Gold Coins) plus a free Sweeps Coin.
Of course, a great welcome bonus is only worth claiming if it’s backed up by a great social sportsbook, so we are happy to report that Fliff is probably the most impressive sweepstakes betting site in the United States. There are hundreds of daily markets, plus an absolute mountain of daily promotions and entertaining social features to enjoy. In short, if you only join one sweepstakes betting site, make sure it’s Fliff.
Legendz - Fantastic markets and great odds
Legendz: Pros & Cons
- Exclusive games
- Live dealer games
- Sweepstakes casino and sportsbook
- Decent welcome offer
- No Legendz app
- No 24/7 live chat
Legendz is a fantastic sweeps casino and betting site that excels in both areas. The Legendz Sportsbook offers an extremely large range of markets covering major sporting events happening all over the world. The odds are usually competitive, and thanks to the brand’s excellent range of daily promos, you will never be short of freeplay opportunities.
And whilst this is a sweepstake betting guide, it would be remiss of us not to mention the incredible Legendz sweepstakes casino, which contains over 500 high class sweepstakes slots, plus a wide variety of table and live dealer games. So, whether you want to place sweeps bets or play free slots (or both!), Legendz has you covered. New bettors here get 500 GC and 3 SC via the welcome bonus.
Kickr - Eyes on the prize
Kickr Casino: Pros & Cons
- Receive free rewards every 30 minutes
- Generous new player offers
- Top class mobile site
Whilst sweeps betting sites are all about having fun, let’s be honest, what you really want to do is redeem a lovely cash prize. At Kickr, you can exchange your Bucks (their name for Sweeps Coins) for a cash prize as soon as you have 50 played Bucks in your account. Not only is that lower than the majority of other sweepstakes betting sites, but Kickr also process redemption requests in around 3-5 working days, considerably quicker than many of their competitors.
The only slight downside is that Kickr is only available in 34 US states. However, we would not be surprised to see that number grow in the near future, allowing more and more fans to get involved. Join today to claim the 150,000 Bits and 4 Bucks welcome bonus.
Sportzino - Sweeps betting in the palm of your hand
Sportzino: Pros & Cons
- Combines the thrill of social sportsbook and casino play
- Realistic sports picks on a wide range of fixtures and events
- Dedicated Android app
It’s rare to find a sweepstakes betting brand with a dedicated mobile app, so our experts were delighted to discover that not only does Sportzino boast a mobile app, but also that the app is a top-class tool that compares favorably with many real money sports betting apps. The Sportzino app is free to download from the Google Play Store and offers smooth navigation, an intuitive betting platform and some seriously slick graphics.
Our experts also love the fact that Sportzino is available in 46 US states (the only exceptions are Idaho, Michigan, Georgia and Washington). This is a lot more than many sweepstakes brands and means that the vast majority of social betting fans in the US can sign up at Sportzino today. New bettors can get a welcome bonus of up to 170,000 GC and 7 SC.
Onyx Odds - Enjoy competitive odds
Onyx Odds: Pros and Cons
- Available in 36 states
- Lists all popular US leagues
- Low 20 Onyx Cash minimum redemption
Although the range of markets on offer at Onyx Odds is somewhat smaller than at many other sweeps sites, our experts were really impressed by the quality of the odds at the site. For many NFL, NBA and MLS fixtures, Onyx Odds were providing longer odds than pretty much any other sweep betting site on the market. Perfect for maximizing the value of your predictions.
Onyx Odds is also a great option if you are a mobile bettor. Whilst there is no dedicated app, the Onyx Odds website is a mobile-only betting platform that performs exceptionally well on phones and tablets. The welcome bonus here will get you 100 Onyx Coins, but no Onyx Cash.
ProphetX - Name your price
Pros and Cons
- Generous promotions
- Live social betting
- Mobile app
- 1 PC minimum redemption
- Not legal in all US states
And now for something completely different. ProphetX is a peer-to-peer sweepstakes betting exchange that allows you to set your own odds and compete against fellow players. If you’ve used betting exchanges before, you’ll know exactly what to expect. If you haven’t used betting exchanges, then the concept does take a bit of time to fully understand, but trust us, it is well worth it.
We’re not going to lie, this peer-to-peer concept won’t be for everyone, but if you fancy trying your hand at a unique way of sweeps betting, we can thoroughly recommend ProphetX.
Novig - Unbeatable daily treats
Novig: Pros and Cons
- Generous sign-up bonus
- All the major sports leagues are covered
- Mobile app with excellent usability
- Robust referral program
- No live streaming for sports
Novig is an app-only sweeps sportsbook that really hits the mark when it comes to daily promotions. On top of the generous no purchase welcome bonus that gives you 1,000 Novig Coins and 5 Novig Cash (yes, this is yet another site with alternative names for GC and SC) there is a progressive daily login bonus, regular prediction contests and a neat little feature that tops up your Novig Coin balance whenever it dips below 100.
As you would expect from an app-only brand, Novig’s mobile app is a top quality tool that makes it incredibly easy to find and place your picks. We’d probably give Sportzino the slight edge in the ‘best mobile sweeps betting app’ department, but Novig runs it a very close second.
Sweepstakes sports betting: Our verdict
Social sportsbooks are worth a try. All of the brands featured in this article offer world class sweeps betting, and because you don’t have to spend a dime in order to join them, there’s no limit on how many sites you can sign up at.
Just remember to use the links on this site when opening your accounts, as that will ensure you get the best possible welcome bonuses that enable you to start your sweeps betting adventure in grand style.
Get off to a great start with these social betting bonuses
1.
Up to 200 Prophet Cash in first 30 days
2.
Spend $50, Get up to $100 in Fliff Coins
+ Get up to $5 Per Day
3.
100% purchase match for up to 100 in Onyx Cash Free Picks
4.
25 US dollars deposit match
5.
Get up to 103 SC + 20,500 GC for FREE with Legendz!
Sweepstakes sports betting: FAQs
🧹 Is sweepstakes sports betting legit?
Yes! Not only is sweepstakes betting completely legitimate, but because you don’t use real money to place bets, it is legally available in over 45 US states, including many that do not allow real money online sports betting.
🏈 What is the best sweepstakes sports betting brand?
There are several superb sweepstake betting sites available, including the likes of Fliff and Novig. As such, it is important to carefully research each brand and decide which ones are best for you.
🧮 Are sweepstakes betting odds competitive?
Yes. In many cases, sweepstakes betting odds are better than what you find at real money sites. This is especially true at ProphetX, a peer-to-peer social betting exchange, that allows players to set their own odds for events.
