Social sportsbooks are an excellent alternative to real-money sportsbooks in several ways. Not only do they allow players residing in states where online gambling is illegal to bet on their favorite sports, but they also offer you an opportunity to play for free, earn cash prizes, and connect with other users.
Best Social Sportsbooks in the US: Sweepstakes Betting Guide
In this guide, our sports betting experts dissect all key elements of social sports betting, recommend some of the best social betting apps, and help you learn how to capitalize on free sports betting opportunities, so let’s start from the top.
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The Best 7 Social Sportsbooks - SweepsKings picks
Best Social Sportsbook Choice
1
1000 Gold Coins and 3 Sweeps Coins
- Social casino and sportsbook
- 200% discount
- Pick’Em real money bets
3
220,000 Gold Coins + 10 FREE SC
- Social betting with prizes
- 10 free sweeps no deposit
- Powered by Blazesoft
5
3,000 Thrillzz Coins + 3 Free Thrillzz Sweeps
- Android and iOS apps
- Social betting features
- Daily login sweeps
6
2% back up to 300 Prophet Cash
- Sweepstakes betting exchange
- Live betting
- Regular boosters
7
4 Free Bucks + 150,000 Bits No Deposit
- Social casino and sportsbook
- Full-fledged welcome bonus
- High redemption caps
After months of research, our team has pinpointed free sports betting sites that offer optimal playing conditions, great market coverage, solid bonuses, and stellar customer support service.
Our top picks include SportsMillions, Fliff, Sportzino, Rebet, Thrillzz, ProphetX, and Kickr, so if you’d like to learn more, consult our reviews below.
SportsMillions
SportsMillions is quite the refreshment in the social sports market. Operated by B2Services, a popular sweepstakes company, this site brings the best of casinos and sportsbooks.
With a sports bonus of play $10, get $30, a casino welcome bonus of 1,000 Gold Coins + 3 free Sweeps Coins, and a first purchase package that rewards 200% more, you can play 1,000+ games or make sports predictions. You don’t know how to bet on sports? Not an issue – SportsMillions can do it for you, via Blitz’Em. You just need to spin the wheel to reveal the prize, watch the automatically generated projections, and win real money if they turn out right.
For starters, you’ll find MLS, NFL, and MLS bets, but we expect to see more soon. The only downside so far is that you’re limited to using only credit cards for purchases.
Pros
- Unique social sportsbook with Blitz'Em, Pick'Em, and Spin'Em features
- Huge muiltipliers up to 5,000x your bet
- Great first purchase offer
- Accessible to newbies
Cons
- Limited payment methods
Fliff
Fliff is among the leading US social sportsbooks, brandishing a sleek mobile app for iOS and Android devices, but you can also download the web app if you prefer betting from a computer.
They offer an excellent 400% welcome bonus where you can net up to 1,250,000 Fliff Coins + 500 Fliff Cash on a $100 purchase, although playing for free is also possible as the platform provides free currency on daily logins, via referral programs, and other regular promotions.
This social sportsbook covers all major sports leagues, such as the NBA, MLB, NHL, NFL, and various soccer teams. The only thing I disliked was that they primarily deal with credit cards.
Pros
- Superb app design
- A hefty sign-up deal
- Quick and simple registration
- Legal in 40+ US states
Cons
- Only a few payment options are available
Sportzino
Sportzino does an amazing job of emulating authentic sports betting experiences with superior sports market coverage, website and mobile compatibility, outstanding bonuses, and a UI that you’d expect from a real-money sportsbook.
This is the only social sportsbook I found that covers over 35+ sports categories, more if we count e-sports like Valorant, Mobile Legends, CS, League, or Dota.
Simply joining Sportzino will net you 220,000 Gold Coins and 10 Sweeps Coins for free. Still, you’ll have to authenticate your social media accounts, consent to email/SMS notifications and verify your phone number.
Pros
- Superior sports markets and highly competitive odds
- Amazing user interface
- Best choice for props and SGP betting
Cons
- Full verification is required to claim the entire welcome bonus
Rebet
Rebet is another great choice if you’re looking for a free-to-play online sportsbook, as they offer users 100 free Rebet Coins and 1 free Rebet Cash every day atop a munificent 100% sign-up deal of up to $100.
I warmly recommend this betting app as it rocks a few innovative features such as togglable “Easy to Read Betting Lines”, extensive profile personalization tools, and a polished social media-style feed where you can connect to other players and see their recent wagers.
Beyond monelines, spreads, and totals, Rebet also supports same-game parlays and a variety of proposition bets for basketball, soccer, football, hockey, and several other sports.
Pros
- Excellent social features
- Great daily login bonus
- Supports friendly betting contests
Cons
- Mobile-exclusive app
Thrillzz
Thrillzz stands out among prominent social sportsbooks with one of the best welcome bonuses available. You’ll receive 3,000 Thrillzz Coins and 3 Thrillzz Sweeps on sign-up and receive a 100% boost of up to $25 on your first deposit.
I also love that they offer multiple payment methods, including Visa, Skrill, Amex, online bank transfers, and Apple Pay.
This sports betting app covers all mainstream sports, including basketball, football, baseball, hockey, soccer, golf, tennis, combat sports, and motorsports. They’re not my first choice when it comes to proposition bets, but they do offer competitive odds on moneylines, over/unders, and spreads.
Pros
- Superb no deposit and daily login bonuses
- Covers all mainstream sports categories
- Supports five types of payment methods
Cons
- Subpar coverage
ProphetX
ProphetX is among the handful sweepstakes betting exchanges. It previously operated as a licensed real money sportsbook but changed course to bring its unique features to a wide audience.
What they lack in welcome bonuses they provide in sports categories and leagues. At ProphetX, you can back or lay odds on MLB, NHL, NBA, NFL, and more gaming options. The social betting exchange is still building up its base, if you are in one of the 35+ states it operates make sure to join in.
The ProphetX boosters, 10 SC referral bonus, and automatic GC coin refills make this social betting site a perfect place for anyone with an Android or iOS device.
Pros
- Innovative betting exchange model
- Competitive promos for existing members
- Highly-rated iOS and Android apps
Cons
- Cashback instead of welcome bonus
Kickr
Similar to Sportzino, Kickr is a rapidly growing social sportsbook and casino. This site offers 4 Bucks (sweeps) for free on registration and a 50% first-purchase discount on the 5,550,000 Bits (Gold Coins) + 21 Bucks pack.
Kickr is slightly inferior to my other recommendations, but they cover all major US sports events and brandish some of the trendiest slots from Relax, RubyPlay, and Kalamba Games.
This social sportsbook also offers numerous regular bonuses, such as the sign-up bonus and daily login promotions, plus a great referral program.
Pros
- Good welcome bonus offer
- Available in 45+ US states
- Excellent redemption and payment limits
Cons
- Only supports credit cards and online bank transfers
How SweepsKings Reviews & Rates Social Sportsbooks
We at SweepsKings have created a comprehensive reviewing system that our experts follow when scrutinizing social sportsbooks. Our system is based on the following points:
Features Comparison of the Best Social Betting Apps
| Social Sportsbook | Welcome Bonus | Sports | Apps |
|---|---|---|---|
| SportsMillions | 1000 GC and 3 SC | 3+ | iOS |
| Fliff | 1,000 Free Coins + 1 Fliff Cash | 9+ | Android, iOS, and Web App |
| Sportzino | 220,000 Gold Coins + 10 Sweeps Coins | 35+ | PWAs for Android and iOS |
| Rebet | 100 free Rebet Coins + 100% Rebet Cash up to $100 | 60+ | Android and iOS |
| Thrillz | 3,000 Thrillzz Coins + 3 free Thrillzz Sweeps | 6+ | iOS and Android |
| ProphetX | n/a | 8+ | iOS and Android |
| Kickr | 4 Free Bucks + 150,000 Bits | 20+ | Mobile browser only |
Understanding Social Betting
Sports betting in every shape or form was illegal almost nationwide until a few years ago (2018). The concept of “social betting” slowly crept across the states as loopholes in legal frameworks were discovered that allowed certain betting sites and apps to operate within the “gray area” as neither legal nor illegal.
This means betting fans residing in states that impose gambling bans have an alternative – platforms that offer a similar experience minus the stress of partaking in illegal activities.
Social betting platforms are comparable to real-money sportsbooks in many aspects. They offer bonuses, cover similar sports events, support popular sports betting markets like moneylines, spreads, and totals, and some even offer cash prizes via redeemable sweepstakes currencies.
However, social sportsbooks are usually smaller than full-fledged online gambling sites. They may not cover every league you follow or have the same props for the NFL or MLB as traditional online betting sites. Moreover, their bonuses are usually smaller and constructed around boosted “coin packs”.
Even with a surge of sports betting legalization across the states, social sportsbooks remain strong as ever, allowing gamblers to play for free, claim cash prizes, and connect to other like-minded individuals via social tournaments and contests.
Virtual Currency
Unlike online sportsbooks where everything is measured in real cash, social sportsbooks typically use two types of virtual currency. Though they may be named differently, the most common names for these currencies are Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins.
Gold Coins are designed for entertainment purposes, allowing you to place bets for free to test your sports knowledge and enjoy the thrill of winning. They have no monetary value and are exclusive to the platforms that offer them.
Sweepstakes Coins (“Bucks” at Kickr or “Rebet Cash” at Rebet) are the equivalent of bonus funds at real sportsbooks. You can stake your Sweeps the same way you’d stake Gold Coins, but sweepstakes currencies hold monetary value as they can be redeemed for real cash prizes. You’ll need to meet the wagering requirements to make your sweeps redeemable.
State Availability
Real online sportsbooks are usually legally available in about 20 states. Conversely, social sportsbooks are typically legal in most US states except for a few.
Certain states, like Washington, Idaho, and Michigan, have very strict online gambling laws, so much so that they’ve criminalized most sweepstakes betting sites.
We at SweepsKings recommend you always check the T&Cs of your chosen social sportsbook to ascertain whether you’re eligible to register, play for sweeps prizes, or both.
For example, Fliff’s terms state that only players from Washington and Idaho can’t play at all while users from Hawaii, Nevada, and Tennessee can engage in social betting but can’t participate in sweepstakes games.
Cash Prizes
One of the main draws of social sportsbooks is the promise of cash prizes. The term “prize” here implies that it must be won, which you can do by making accurate sports predictions while staking Sweepstakes Coins.
As I mentioned, all wagering requirements must be fulfilled to make your Sweeps Coins redeemable, regardless of which platform you are playing on. Playing through (wagering) Sweeps makes them redeemable for cash prizes.
The process is almost identical to how online sportsbooks operate. Once you’ve met the bonus rules, you can send a redemption request (similar to “withdrawal requests” at real cash sportsbooks).
Pros & Cons of Social Betting
Pros
- Available in nearly all US states
- Free bonuses, such as AMOE, daily logins, and referral programs
- Most social sportsbooks feature dedicated mobile apps
- Decent coverage of local sports leagues
- Relatively quick payouts
Cons
- Cash prizes may not be available in some states
- Considerably smaller promotions compared to real money sportsbooks
- Some are mobile-exclusive
- Low availability of props and specials
- Limited payment options
Regulations Surrounding Social Sportsbooks
Even though all US states internally organize their legal frameworks regarding sports betting as a whole, a few federal laws like the Federal Wire Act of 2002 and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 played a part in how this was done.
Before these acts came into play there was the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act or “PASPA” passed in 1992, which essentially mandated states to ban every form of sports betting except pari-mutuel horse races, greyhound races, and several lotteries in states like Oregon and Delaware.
This act was in effect until the Supreme Court of the US overturned it in 2018, which unleashed a revolution of sports betting legalization across the US. Even so, many states are still very openly fighting against sports betting with Michigan leading the charge.
States where social sportsbooks are restricted
Social sportsbooks haven’t been properly defined in the laws of most states, so the authorities typically rely on analogy to pass verdicts on a case-by-case basis. Wherever online gambling is legal, social sports betting is legal as well.
Below is a quick list of states and how they treat online sportsbooks.
Alabama: Only pari-mutuel horse races and charitable or tribal-owned sportsbooks are allowed
Alaska: Only charitable or tribal-owned sportsbooks are allowed
Arizona: Minor restrictions on online betting
Arkansas: Minor restrictions on online betting
California: Minor restrictions on online betting
Colorado: Minor restrictions on online betting
Connecticut: Minor restrictions on online betting
Delaware: Legal
District of Columbia: Minor restrictions on online betting
Florida: Legal, minor restrictions on social betting sites
Georgia: Illegal
Guam: Illegal
Hawaii: Illegal
Idaho: Restricted to licensed sites
Illinois: Legal
Indiana: Legal
Iowa: Legal
Kansas: Legal
Kentucky: Legal
Louisiana: Legal
Maine: Minor restrictions on online betting
Maryland: Minor restrictions on online betting
Massachusetts: Minor restrictions on online betting
Michigan: Restricted to licensed sites
Minnesota: Mostly illegal
Mississippi: Minor restrictions on online betting
Missouri: Mostly illegal
Montana: Minor restrictions on online betting
Nebraska: Minor restrictions on online betting
Nevada: Restricted to licensed sites
New Hampshire: Minor restrictions on online betting
New Jersey: Legal
New Mexico: Minor restrictions on online betting
New York: Legal, minor restrictions on social betting sites
North Carolina: Minor restrictions on online betting
North Dakota: Yes with restrictions on betting
Ohio: Legal
Oklahoma: Mostly illegal
Oregon: Minor restrictions on online betting
Pennsylvania: Legal
Rhode Island: Legal
South Carolina: Mostly illegal
South Dakota: Legal
Tennessee: Restricted to licensed sites
Texas: Illegal
Utah: Illegal
Vermont: Illegal
Washington: Restricted to licensed sites
West Virginia: Legal
Wisconsin: Mostly illegal
Wyoming: Mostly illegal
Social betting sites are typically illegal in Washington, Michigan, and Idaho. Florida and New York restrict single-win cash prizes to $5,000. Nevada and Montana also often place restrictions to social sportsbooks. If you reside in any other state, you should be good – check the official T&Cs of your preferred social betting site, or our reviews, to be on the safe side.
DFS vs Social Sportsbooks
Daily Fantasy Sports (or DFS) is a unique form of sports betting where instead of wagers you’re “drafting” a team of real-world athletes and gaining points based on how your team performed in real-life events. Daily Fantasy Sports may have elements of sports betting, but it’s more of a sports fantasy “game” meant for amusement and recreation.
Social sportsbooks strike a similar vein, but they viscerally emulate authentic sports betting experiences. You’re placing real wagers on real events, and the only thing that isn’t real is the “money” if you’re using Gold Coins. With the use of Sweepstakes Coins that can be converted to real cash prizes, social sportsbooks came a step closer to real-money betting sites and a step away from fantasy sports.
Standout Features of Social Sportsbooks
If you’re new to social sports betting, we’d like to break down some of the most prominent features you’ll be able to use at these sites and apps.
Market Coverage
All social sportsbooks I reviewed support the standard 3-way betting markets, including money lines, spreads, and totals, although the odds and margins vary from site to site.
It’s not too common for social betting sites to offer too many special market types, such as same-game parlays, proposition bets, and futures, but there are a few like Sportzino and Fliff that do. Having said that, innovation is on the way, with the new social betting exchange, Novig, letting gamers set their own odds and markets.
Sports You Can Bet On
There’s a huge gap in sports coverage between a regular sportsbook and a social sportsbook. Typically, real cash online betting sites often cover over 30+ unique sports categories.
On the other hand, social sportsbooks are usually focused on providing betting options in mainstream sports leagues, such as the Major Baseball League, the National Basketball League, or the National Hockey League, but usually around 10 or less.
There are a few exceptions, though. Sportzino is comparable to real money sports betting sites as it covers both all-popular and more niche sports events and leagues, going beyond basketball, football, soccer, and tennis with markets for cricket, handball, table tennis, and various e-sports.
Social Media Integration
One of the main advantages social sportsbooks have over their real-cash counterparts is their focus on the social aspects of gaming.
Many sites encourage players to sign up by linking their social media accounts, offering a rapid way to join the action. Sportzino, for instance, incentivizes its users to link their Facebook accounts to the platform with a neat bonus of 20,000 GC + 1 free SC.
Social sportsbooks also offer social media-like features, such as account personalization, content exploration, and a user feed where you’ll be able to see what the profiles you follow are doing (e.g. their recent wins).
Betting on the Move
Mobile-friendly gaming is huge in the social sportsbook industry. Virtually all sites I tested have dedicated mobile apps on Google Play and Apple App stores.
Mobile exclusivity is the norm for most of these platforms, although several sportsbooks I reviewed are accessible from desktop devices too. Dedicated apps run smoother compared to mobile-optimized sites, so you can rest assured that you’ll enjoy your online betting experience wherever you are.
Frequent Bonuses and Promotions
Social sportsbooks are required to guarantee real money purchases are unnecessary, so they offer plenty of bonuses and promotions to new and existing users.
What’s special about social betting app bonuses is that registration promos typically come in two parts. There’s usually a humble no deposit bonus to get you started, and an optional first-purchase bonus that offers more value on highlighted GC coin packs.
Beyond the welcome bonus, you’ll get to enjoy a barrage of other promotions, such as the alternative method of entry (mail-in), verification bonus, referral program, daily login bonus, and many others.
Bet for Free With Your Friends at Social Sportsbooks!
Just like pizza or a 6-pack of Mountain Dew, sports betting is best when it’s enjoyed with friends. Social sportsbooks offer a unique opportunity to challenge your buddies in casual contests, catch up by posting on each other’s feeds, and share insights you’ve gained through the experience.
We at SweepsKings warmly recommend using our guide to learn how social sportsbooks work, pick the best sweepstakes gaming sites, and claim superb bonuses.
FAQs
Which social sportsbooks are the best?
SportsMillions, Sportzino, Fliff, Rebet, Thrillzz, Kickr, and ProphetX are widely considered prime destinations for social sports betting, offering the largest bonuses, excellent sports market coverage, and user-friendly interfaces.
Are social sportsbooks legal in all of the US?
Social betting sites are legal in all states that don’t expressingly ban them. Washington, Michigan, Idaho, Nevada, and Montana are some of the states where sweeps betting sites do not operate.
Can you win real cash at social sportsbooks?
Social sportsbooks offer real cash prizes via Sweeps Coins redemptions. Players must wager their Sweepstakes Coins and meet the minimum redemption threshold before a prize can be requested.
Are social sportsbooks free to play?
All social betting sites are required by law to ensure that real money purchases are optional, and as such must be free to play for all users.
Are there any bonuses at social sportsbooks?
Social sportsbooks offer a broad range of promotions and bonuses, including welcome bonuses, referral programs, mail-in bonuses, first-purchase deals, and more.
Author: Mike F.
Updated:
Mike is SweepsKings’ SEO wizard and uses his skills to produce content that answers questions you haven’t even thought of yet! He personally fact-checks all articles posted on SweepsKings and leverages his vast iGaming marketing experience to keep the site feeling fresh.
Mike is SweepsKings’ SEO wizard and uses his skills to produce content that answers questions you haven’t even thought of yet! He personally fact-checks all articles posted on SweepsKings and leverages his vast iGaming marketing experience to keep the site feeling fresh.
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