The Best Social Casinos Review 2024
Check out our in-depth review of the best social casinos online.
Check out our in-depth review of the best social casinos online.
Social casinos are a recent phenomenon and they’re gaining traction fast. In social casinos, you don’t gamble for real money, and most are set up for pure, no-risk entertainment.
There is a new breed of social casinos, too, that allow you to exchange the in-game tokens and play for hard cash instead of just for funzies. Others payout prizes for the right amount of points, like a modern version of the fairground tickeft system or airline points cards.
As the name suggests, the social element is critical, and multiplayer games, leaderboards, and online challenge matches are an integral part of the setup. Players can also earn tokens to use in the games by pushing the brand on social media, so the players are a significant part of the marketing effort.
Their meteoric rise shows a massive demand for games that can be found in a casino without the risk of actual gambling. And there is money to be made. More than 250 million people played social casino games last year. In 2023, the industry sector was worth £4.7 billion, and it’s expected to break through the £6.5 billion mark in 2026.
Those numbers will get bigger as the social casino movement grows. But who are the big players in the social casino sector? Here are our top picks:
With no money up for grabs, there is more freedom to develop the in-game ‘currency.’ These tokens range from the typical Gold Coins to poker chips and diamonds. This is one of the areas for growth in the future. Tokens with a movie or TV tie-in, cars, or footballers could be a step forward.
Of course, you will see classic poker, roulette, blackjack, and slots. But as social casinos aren’t subject to the same regulations as you get with a full gambling license, they have much more freedom in terms of themes, gameplay, and graphics. A lot of social casinos opt for the same online game developers you find in the best online casinos, though.
Social media is the lifeblood of these casinos, and so they’ll give you any reason they can to push the casino on your socials. From publishing your big win to your friends to comparing your place on the leaderboard and issuing challenges, the social element drives these casinos’ engagement.
The freemium model has turned out to be the blueprint for social media. The common tactic is to let players play for free, for a while, but impose strict limits or lock off levels. Tokens are the keys. While you can earn tokens with social media activity, that’s really a side mission. Serious players will inevitably buy tokens, special access, and privileges through in-app purchases.
Daily bonuses, in-game rewards, and special matches are all part of the social casino experience. These can be simple in-game upgrades, from a new deck of cards to free gameplay tokens.
Social casinos often have free-to-play options, which means players don’t have to hand over their card details or risk losing a penny to play. This accessibility makes these games appealing to a broader audience, including those who may not typically engage in traditional gambling. The freemium model allows players to enjoy the games without any financial commitment or having to worry about security with financial details.
Who would have known casino games without the gambling aspect would prove so popular? And what is behind this wave of popularity for casual casinos with no money on the table?
As always, there isn’t just one answer. The social casino phenomenon is down to:
People dig casual games on their phones and have done so since Snake hit our Nokias in the late 1990s. Of course, phones have come a long way since then, and the touchscreen, massively improved processor power and graphics displays have all contributed to a casual gaming revolution.
Despite the advanced gear, the most successful games remain relatively simple. There’s something about the small screen format and limited control that means complicated games rarely cross over to mobile devices.
While console gamers demanded advanced gameplay and narrative storylines, mobile gamers were super happy with Angry Birds, Mafia Wars, Candy Crush Saga, Animal Crossing, and Pokemon Go.
These cultural icons were largely simple puzzle games with a glossy covers. They would never sell on the open market for computers or consoles. But with a freemium model on social media, these games became juggernauts.
Casino games are also perfect for the mobile format and simple controls. The simple mechanics of slot games, poker, or bingo, combined with the chance to win virtual rewards, make social casinos particularly appealing to casual gamers.
These games often feature vibrant graphics, daily bonuses, and frequent updates, which help maintain player interest over time.
Before social media, we used to get together for game night. Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit were seriously hot properties, and guys used to meet at the weekend for poker night and by the water cooler on Monday to work out Fantasy Football scores on paper. We even had casino board games. Facebook changed all that.
Suddenly, we had a platform where we could all play together, in real-time, with simple games that everyone could understand. You could send instant challenges to your friends and constant reminders about how you’re trashing their high score on a daily basis.
There was no need to get together; we could have Poker Night at home, dip out whenever we needed to, and come back to play another hand. The games were fair and controlled by a higher force, the bets never got confused, and the results were clean.
After every game, you could rub it on your friends’ faces with a smiley face emoji or a full-on victory dance gif. Social media was just a better way to handle these competitions and show the results in glorious technicolor.
Everybody with a smartphone had a game console that could handle these small, colorful, and simple games. And everybody was suddenly just a notification away from a quick match of just about anything.
Casino games and social media are a near-perfect match. The straightforward games that don’t require your full concentration and come with a clearly defined winner and loser in moments.
Casinos have studied psychological triggers and player journeys since the very beginning. Now, with the help of real-time player feedback and vast quantities of data from free players on social media, social casinos have refined this art form into a fully-fledged science.
Daily rewards, virtual trophies, and leveling up all have a profound psychological impact and keep players coming back for more. The intermittent wins that are an integral part of every casino game are also proven techniques to give players the dopamine rush they need to keep going and keep playing.
When players use Facebook or another social platform to access games, it gives multiple touchpoints, too. Players can get notifications when a friend beats their score or receive multiple bonus offers during the day. They can also let their friend circle know when they have a big win in the slots or poker, and lots of people do.
Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and more have poured massive money into gamifying their own experience to keep people on the platform. Everything from notifications to ads have come under the microscope and been tested every which way.
Both of these industries combine their strengths to pursue a common goal of keeping you on a platform and eventually handing over money, which really should give you pause for thought.
Online casinos had enough tricks to keep players engaged, but adding social media to the mix was effectively pouring gasoline on a fire.
While we think of the likes of Farmville, Fortnite, and Candy Crush Saga, online casinos have absolutely smashed it out of the park with the Freemium model. The idea is simple: give the game away for free but offer lots of in-game purchases, microtransactions, and other payments for committed players who already trust and like the platform.
Letting people play for free, especially when it’s just for fun, and there’s no cash at stake, is a master stroke. It takes all the friction out of the deal and removes the element of gambling, which means anybody can play guilt-free.
Once in the casino environment and they get the sights and sounds of the big money slots or live casino games, they’re already signed in and so much closer to making a deposit to keep playing or skip levels.
Some of the top social casino games generate millions of dollars in revenue annually through microtransactions alone. Players are often willing to spend money to enhance their experience, either by speeding up progress or gaining access to exclusive content. It used to be a badge of honor to grind the lower levels of a game for a scant reward just to unlock other games, maps, and levels. Now, it’s normal to pay your way through the boring bit.
Other games have spawned entire industries. Remember people buying skins in Fortnite?
We’re still in the early days of social casinos, and there are big things coming. The leading lights in the casino industry are building relationships with Hollywood blockbusters, TV shows, cartoons, and YouTube influencers to create the next generation of social casino games.
They have already expanded the online gaming market to more than $6 billion, and this number is only going to grow. New free-to-play online casinos launch by the week, often with a huge advertising budget, and it’s easy to see how the market can grow in the years ahead if the regulators don’t clamp down on social casinos.
So far, they’re seen as an anomaly and largely left alone, apart from some high-profile court cases from aggrieved losers. That includes the casinos that allow you to swap the Coins for cash or prizes. But there are signs that it is changing. Officially, these games are just entertainment right now, but the regulators in several countries have one eye on them.
These sites have been labeled as gateway drugs for online gambling, and it’s easy to make a case for that argument. Social casinos come with all the excitement, glitz, and flashing lights as their real money siblings, and it’s easy to progress to the paid ranks of online gamblers once you’re playing free games.
When choosing a social casino, there are several factors to consider to ensure you have the best possible experience. Here’s what to look for:
The social casino scene is a huge battleground and a new market, so new contenders will always go hard with the bonuses to win your business:
With no real money gambling on offer, social casinos aren’t beholden to the same regulations when it comes to responsible gambling policies. The truth is, though, these are the same games built on the same psychological triggers. So, you should be aware and keep your game time under control.
Some of the best social casinos have a full suite of responsible gambling tools like reality checks, timeouts, self-exclusion, and more. Look out for these.
No, social casinos are there for entertainment only unless you choose to go down the route of a social sweepstakes casino and buy Coin packages. They are freemium models, on the whole, giving ample free gameplay and then giving you the option of buying more Coins. Always look for a reputable social casino, though, with positive user reviews, solid SSL protection, and clear company registration. The lack of proper gambling licensing does mean there are platforms out there that will pressure you to spend excessively and lack clear terms and conditions.
Yes, if you choose wisely, then social casinos are totally legal and legitimate in most jurisdictions because they don’t involve real money gambling. They offer free gameplay with virtual currencies, and some allow redeeming tokens for cash or prizes. That is a loophole, but it is legal. However, always do your own research and make sure you’ve chosen a platform with a solid reputation, good security measures, and that they take care of their customers.
Some social casinos operate a sweepstakes model with separate Sweeps Coins that players can redeem for cash or prizes. Pure and traditional social casinos, however, are purely for fun with no real money gambling. Check the platform’s terms and make sure you know what you’re getting into.
Social casinos make money through in-app purchases on the freemium model. Players can buy virtual currencies, tokens, or other game enhancements to progress faster or access exclusive content.
Social casinos are just for fun, so they use virtual currencies with no real-money rewards. Sweepstakes casinos, on the other hand, operate on a legal loophole, allowing players to use Sweeps Coins that can be redeemed for cash or prizes. While both offer similar games, the ability to win real money sets sweepstakes casinos apart.
Social Casinos vs Sweepstakes Casinos
If you’re looking to play free casino games, then the social casino vs sweeps casino differences will be almost non-existent. They both have casino games, slots, and occasionally a live dealer section and a sportsbook.
The only real difference is that sweepstakes casinos come with Sweeps Coins, which are often awarded as bonuses or given free together with Gold Coin pack purchases. You can then use those to gamble and eventually redeem for real cash.
That is the key difference: a true social casino doesn’t have the Sweeps Coins element. It’s just for fun. The two terms have become wilfully intertwined, though, and you’ll often see a casino described as a social sweeps casino. Indeed, it can be both.