How is sweeps betting different from real money sports betting?
In many ways, sweepstakes betting is the same as traditional, real money sports betting. You have to look at betting markets, make predictions based on what you think will happen, then sit back and hope that your predictions are successful. As with real money sportsbooks, sweeps betting sites have moneylines, spreads, totals, props and a host of other betting options covering a variety of sporting events.
However, there are a few important differences we need to make you aware of. So, before we delve into the world of sweepstakes odds, we want to first give you an overview of how sweeps betting works and how it differs from traditional online sports betting.
Quick facts about sweepstakes betting
- Sweepstakes social betting
allows you to place bets using virtual currencies.
- These virtual currencies are usually, but not always, known as Gold Coins (GC) and Sweeps Coins (SC).
- If you meet a sweeps betting site’s SC redemption requirements, you can exchange your Sweeps Coins balance for a prize.
- Gold Coins cannot be exchanged for prizes and are only for fun, social betting.
- Every time you predict a sweeps betting site, you need to choose between using GC or SC.
- Sweepstakes sites allow you to play for free every day by awarding you GC and SC via free promotions and no purchase welcome bonuses.
- You can also get additional Gold Coins by using real money to purchase a GC package.
Sweepstakes betting: Pros & cons
Pros and cons
- Daily freeplay opportunities
- Exchange your Sweeps Coins for real world prizes
- Available in up to 47 US states
- Some sites have very high prize redemption thresholds
Sweepstakes odds in a nutshell
Every betting option at a social sportsbook will have odds attached to it. These odds are calculated by the sweeps betting site to reflect the likelihood of the event occurring.
By interpreting the displayed odds (more on that in a bit), you can calculate your returns if your prediction is successful. Once you have decided on your betting choice, you need to select how many GC or SC you are using to make your prediction and then submit your bet.
Just so we’re clear: virtual currencies is all you’ll be able to use here. Social sportsbooks do not accept deposits or real money bets, which is also why
there are no social sportsbooks with no deposit bonus
offers in the market.
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How are sweepstakes odds displayed?
The majority of sweepstakes sportsbooks in the US display their odds in the American format. However, you will usually be able to adjust your settings so that the odds are shown in either a Fractional or Decimal format. Confused? Don’t worry, here’s a guide to how all three formats work:
This is arguably the simplest odds format to understand. To work out your potential returns, you just need to multiply the amount of GC or SC you are using by the displayed odds.
Decimal odds example: If the odds on the New York Jets beating the Cleveland Browns are 3.00 and you place a 10 GC bet on that happening, your potential return is 30 GC (odds x value of your bet).
This format is favored in the UK and shows you the potential returns you will receive in comparison to your social bet size. This is displayed using two numbers separated by a slash or a dash. Your potential return is: (the odds x the value of your bet) + the value of your bet.
Fractional odds example: If the odds on the Buffalo Bills beating the Las Vegas Raiders are 1/2, then the sweeps sportsbooks will give you 1 GC for every 2 GC that you bet.
So if you place a successful bet on the Bills with 100 GC, you will receive 50 GC, plus your original 100 GC bet.
American odds are displayed with either a positive or negative symbol. For the favorite in a market, a negative symbol is followed by a number that indicates how much you would need to bet to receive a 100 GC or SC return. For all other options in the market, a positive number is followed by your winnings if you have a successful 100 GC or SC bet.
American odds example: An NFL matchup is priced as follows: Seattle Seahawks -660 Denver Broncos +685
If you think the Seahawks (the heavy favorites) will win, you would need to bet 660 GC to get a return of 100 GC. So if you bet 330 GC on the Hawks, your winnings would be 50 GC.
If you back the Broncos (the big underdogs), then a 100 GC bet would give you 685 GC in winnings in the event of a Denver victory. If your bet was for 50 GC, then your potential returns would be 342.5 GC.
Which site has the best sweepstakes odds?
We’d love to give you a solid answer here, but unfortunately, it’s a bit more complicated than that. In truth, the identity of the site with the best sweepstakes odds will vary from event to event. As such, it is a good idea to sign up with an array of different sweep betting sites, as this will enable you to compare odds and find the best value whenever you want to make a pick.
Another big advantage of joining multiple social sportsbooks is that it allows you to take advantage of as many odds boosts as possible. Odds boost
bonus offers at social sportsbooks, are when you can get enhanced odds on a specific market. For instance, a social sportsbook might boost the odds on the Philadelphia Eagles beating the Dallas Cowboys from 2.00 to 5.00. Obviously, this represents a huge upgrade in value and significantly increases your virtual currency returns in the event of an Eagles victory.
Seven sites with super sweepstakes odds
The good news is that there are several top social sportsbooks out there, including many that regularly offer top quality odds and a host of other fantastic features. Our sweeps betting experts have extensively
reviewed social sportsbooks
and here are their picks for the top seven brands on the market:
Fliff - Odds boosts at your fingertips
Fliff reviews Pros and cons
- Social sportsbook action
- Badges and challenges
- Multiple sports covered
- Sweepstakes available
- Only available in 45 US states
Speed is of the essence if you want to claim the very best odds for your sweeps betting selections. That is one of the main reasons why our experts love Fliff, an app-only social sportsbook that offers a world-class mobile app you can download for free from the Google Play or Apple App Store. The Fliff app has virtually instant loading times, plus a highly user-friendly interface that makes it easy to find and place your bets in no time at all.
Fliff also excels when it comes to promos. On top of a generous no purchase welcome bonus of 1,000 Fliff Coins and 1 SC (use our exclusive GAMEHAUS bonus code) when you sign up, there are daily bonuses that add plenty of extra value to your sweepstakes betting, including regular odds boosts on major sporting events.
Legendz - Competitive odds and a brilliant mobile site
Legendz: Pros & Cons
- Exclusive games
- Live dealer games
- Sweepstakes casino and sportsbook
- Decent welcome offer
- No Legendz app
- No 24/7 live chat
Whilst Legendz social sportsbook does not have a mobile app, the brand’s mobile-optimized website represents a more than adequate alternative that allows you to easily peruse the sweepstakes odds and find the best value bets. To get you started, new bettors here get 500 GC and 3 SC via the welcome bonus.
Our experts were unable to spot any odds boost promotions on Legendz; however, they were hugely impressed by the odds available at the site. In many cases, Legendz were offering market leading odds, especially in the case of major NFL and MLB fixtures. When you also throw in some seriously good daily promos and a top-notch loyalty program, it is clear to see why Legendz fully deserves its place on this list.
Kickr - Unbeatable daily offers
Kickr Casino: Pros & Cons
- Receive free rewards every 30 minutes
- Generous new player offers
- Top class mobile site
You will struggle to find a sweeps betting site with as many great bonus offers as Kickr. Social bettors at Kickr can claim a lovely no purchase welcome bonus before enjoying some brilliant daily promos, plus a neat Kickr Leagues VIP program that awards you points every time you place a bet. That welcome bonus is good for 150,000 Bits and 4 Bucks, with the latter being the Kickr equivalent to SCs.
There are no specific price boosts at Kickr, as the site uses a unique fixed odds system that means all markets are 50/50 picks. You have to make a set amount of correct picks on a fixture to get a return on your bet. It may sound like a slightly convoluted way of doing things, but trust us, it’s incredibly easy to understand once you join Kickr, and thanks to their superb daily promos, you will be able to play for free every single day.
Sportzino - An incredible boost for NFL fans
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
Sign up at Sportzino today, and not only will you receive a welcome bonus worth up to 170,000 GC and 7 SC, but you will also get a 30% odds boost when you make your first NFL regular season pick. Given the fact that Sportzino generally have very competitive odds for NFL fixtures, this means you can get some truly incredible value when making your opening NFL pick.
Like Fliff, Sportzino has a dedicated mobile app, and whilst it doesn't quite match Fliff in terms of quality it is still a very impressive tool that makes placing sweeps bets an extremely easy and enjoyable task.
Onyx Odds - No boost, no problem
Onyx Odds: Pros and Cons
- Available in 36 states
- Lists all popular US leagues
- Low 20 Onyx Cash minimum redemption
There are no specific odds boosts available at Onyx Odds, but don’t let that minor issue put you off from joining this top-class social sportsbook. That’s because Onyx Odds regularly provide the best odds on the market, especially for major EPL, NHL and NFL fixtures. Perfect for maximizing the value of your sports predictions.
Onyx Odds is another brand that has opted for a mobile-optimized website instead of an app, but much like Legendz and Kickr, the Onyx Odds mobile site does an excellent job of replicating an app and makes it extremely easy to place bets via your phone or tablet. Join this social sportsbook and you’ll get 100 Onyx Coins (GC equivalent) via the welcome bonus.
ProphetX - Set your own odds
Pros and Cons
- Generous promotions
- Live social betting
- Mobile app
- 1 PC minimum redemption
- Not legal in all US states
ProphetX isn’t a social sportsbook in the traditional sense. Instead, it is a social trading platform that requires you to bet against your peers. This means you can set your own odds and/or take advantage of the odds posted by your fellow bettors. Consequently, you will often be able to find sweepstakes odds that are up to 20% higher than those at other social sportsbooks.
This peer-to-peer system won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is a huge amount of fun, so if you fancy something a bit different from standard sweeps betting, ProphetX represents a brilliant choice. That said, you won’t find a free welcome bonus here.
Novig - The future of sweeps betting
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 peer-to-peer social sportsbook that is jam-packed with innovative features that will take your sweeps betting to another level. These features (such as being able to view the liquidity on markets) are mainly for fairly advanced social bettors, so whilst we wouldn’t necessarily recommend this site for newcomers, Novig is a superb option for experienced bettors.
To help you start your Novig adventure in style, the site gives you 1,000 Novig Coins and 5 Novig Cash (their equivalent of GC and SC) when you join, plus there’s a clever Drip Bonus feature that tops up your Novig Coin account whenever the balance drops below 100.
Summary of our top seven sweepstakes betting sites
Here’s an overview of the seven social sportsbooks we’ve discussed so far:
|
No purchase sign up bonus |
Number of available states |
Mobile app |
Odds boosts |
| Fliff |
1,000 Fliff Coins and 1 SC
(Use Bonus Code: GAMEHAUS) |
45 |
✅ |
✅ |
| Legendz |
500 GC and 3 SC |
37 |
❌ |
❌ |
| Kickr |
150,000 Bits and 4 Bucks |
34 |
❌ |
❌ |
| Sportzino |
Up to 170,000 GC and 7 SC |
46 |
✅ |
✅ |
| Onyx Odds |
100 Onyx Coins |
36 |
❌ |
❌ |
| ProphetX |
n/a |
40 |
✅ (Android only) |
❌ |
| Novig |
1,000 Novig Coins and 5 Novig Cash |
42 |
✅ |
❌ |
Sweepstakes odds vary a lot between sportsbooks
We were extremely impressed by the quality of the sweepstakes odds available to the sites featured in this guide. And because the sweepstakes betting market is becoming increasingly competitive, we expect the quality of sweepstakes odds to keep getting better and better. Hopefully, this guide has given you an excellent understanding of how sweepstakes odds work, putting you in the perfect place to hit the links on this site and sign up at some of the top social sportsbooks in the US.
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 odds: FAQs
🌐 Which social sportsbook has the best sweepstakes odds?
That depends on the event you are betting on. The best way to ensure that you can always take advantage of the best available sweepstakes odds is by signing up at a large number of different sweepstakes sports betting sites.
That’s entirely up to you. Most US sweeps sites display odds in the American format, but you may prefer to view them in the Fractional or Decimal format. Make sure you thoroughly read the expert sweepstakes odds guides at The GameHaus to discover which odds format will work best for you.
🚀 What is a sweepstakes odds boost?
A sweepstakes odds boost gives you an enhanced price on a specific market. By taking advantage of odds boosts, you will increase your returns on successful bets.
