Social sportsbooks give you betting-style experiences without having to risk real money. The books generally use two virtual currencies, Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Gold Coins are the fun currency that has no monetary value, whereas Sweeps Coins can be exchanged for real money prizes.
Social sportsbooks can offer many different types of betting-style products, from mirroring real money sportsbook betting to creating DFS-style Pick'Em games. We have reviewed countless social sportsbooks, rating everything from their games and plays to their prize redemption process. We always keep our lists fresh with the latest updates and newest social sportsbooks, and below you can find our top-tested platforms.
As a quick breakdown:
Open Thrillzz
Open Thrillzz
Social sportsbooks work similarly to conventional sportsbooks, with betting markets, parlay building opportunities, and promotions, but they don't use real money. You don't deposit dollars into your account and stake your bets, instead, you have the Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins to fund your bets with, and you win if your bet settles as a winner.
You are essentially getting the fun from betting, but without spending a dime unless you want to purchase more Gold Coins to top up your balance. You do, however, continuously get Gold Coins through daily login bonuses or promotional offers. Sweeps Coins, on the other hand, are the promotional currency that you cannot buy directly, but you can only get through promotions. These do actually have a monetary value, as you can collect Sweeps Coins and then exchange them for real money prizes, in the form of payouts, gift cards, or associated merchandise.
Gold Coins are only used for fun, you can rack up thousands or millions of these, but you can never exchange them for real money. You play the Gold Coins in wagers or in contests against your peers. Gold Coins can also be purchased if you need more, but the best social sportsbooks give you login bonuses or daily Gold Coin top-ups, so you won't need to make any real money purchases unless you really want lots more.
Sweeps Coins on the other hand are the promotional currency that can be exchanged for real money prizes. These may be offered in daily login bonuses, but social sportsbooks don't offer them as lightly as they offer Gold Coins. You accrue Sweeps Coins through these giveaways or bonuses, and then you have to use them. The promotional currency carries wagering requirements, so you can't just collect Sweeps Coins through giveaways and then redeem them. You have to use them, clear the requirements, and then you can exchange your Sweeps Coins for payouts, transferred via bank wires or any gateway the social sportsbook supports.
When it comes to finding yourself a top social sportsbook, plenty of features need to be taken into account. Although we all have our preferences, the following provide the backbone to our dedicated comparisons – a great place for you to get started on your search.
First things first, you’ll want to consider how you can actually get onto your chosen social sportsbook. In our latest Fortune Coins review, you’ll have noticed how simple this can be. For the most part, the same is true of social sportsbooks, requiring little more than a few basic details or for you to link one of your social accounts. Most sites let you register in under a minute using Facebook, Google, or email – no ID upload required. This makes the process especially convenient for mobile users who want quick access to free-to-play sports betting.
As mentioned, you won’t be expected to make a purchase to bet at a social sportsbook. Instead, you’ll find that a combination of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins are released into your account, allowing you to test out your strategies in both fun and promotional mode.
Naturally, first-time purchase promos are still a thing at social sportsbooks, though. So, if you don’t mind spending the cash, you will find that you can soon add a sizable amount of extra Gold Coins and free bonus Sweeps Coins this way. Just pay attention to any promotional codes, bonus expiry times, and your own limits. Some platforms even offer mystery bonuses, spin-the-wheel promos, or time-limited coin drops tied to your first purchase
When it comes to playing at a social sportsbook, you’ll want to make sure that a fair number of sports and markets are covered. Sure, these sites aren’t going to quite match the range of a real-money alternative. However, you only need to look at our latest Stake.us review to see how things could turn out in a few years. This social casino now has over 750 casino-style games available – more than many real-money gambling platforms available today. I’m sure it won’t be too long until social sportsbooks offer much more beyond moneylines, spreads, and over/unders. Look for sites offering betting options on NBA, NFL, soccer, MMA, and even esports, depending on their daily rotation.
Alongside finding yourself a platform that is home to a solid selection of social betting opportunities, you’ll want to find somewhere that is simple enough to use. You should be able to log in freely, access your account on the go, build bets within a few clicks, and find that all pages are responsive. Modern social sportsbooks are optimized for fast navigation, with mobile-first layouts and instant loading times.
Legally, social sportsbooks are expected to provide you with ways to continue playing for free. So, you’ll really want to be paying attention to the promotions that sit beyond the welcome offer. Most sites will be quick to offer you a daily login; however, you’ll also want to keep your eyes on any social sportsbook that offers the following:
Although many of you will be playing for entertainment purposes, it always makes sense to check out the prize redemption process. Should you wish to play in promotional mode, the chance to later exchange winnings for prizes becomes very real. Obviously, there is little point in joining a social sportsbook that doesn’t allow you to redeem the kind of prizes you are looking for. Redemption options often include gift cards, branded merchandise, or sweepstakes entries depending on the site.
As with any online platform, you’ll want the experience to suit your own preferences. So, once you’ve ticked off the rest of this list, consider a few features found within this table to help bolster your own time online. This could include custom bet builders, real-time match updates, or mobile-exclusive giveaways that enhance engagement.
| Feature | About |
|---|---|
| Mobile apps | Provide you with the complete social sports betting experience on the go |
| Live markets | Allow you to place bets at a social sportsbook in real-time |
| Live streams | Allow you to watch your social sportsbook wagers unfold |
| Cash-out | Gives you full control of your Gold Coin and Sweeps Coin bets |
Signing up to a social sportsbook is a much shorter procedure than a real money sportsbook. Some are mobile-only platforms, where you must download the app to register.
Apart from that, the KYC protocols are shorter and may not be needed immediately, and you won't need to make a purchase straight away - or ever if you don't want to.
You may need to verify your ID upon registration or you can do it later, but social sportsbooks generally need this information before you make prize redemption requests.
Now you know exactly what you should be keeping your eyes on, let us showcase a few of our favorite social sportsbooks in May.
Fliff is a fantastic choice for those of you looking to immerse yourself in the social sports betting experience. As you will have noticed in our latest Fliff review, you can get things started with 600,000 Fliff Coins + $100 in Fliff Cash for simply signing up and verifying your account. These virtual currencies are used to place bets across dozens of US sports without risking real money.
From here, you can start to filter through social sports betting markets across all major leagues before placing your bets using Fliff Coins or Fliff Cash. Fliff offers betting on NFL, NBA, MLB, and college sports with real-time odds and promotions tied to major matchdays.
With every social bet, you’ll add to your player level and slowly uncover new badges and loyalty rewards along the way. Support is available 24/7, too. So, should you need any extra help getting started, you won’t have to wait too long. The mobile-first platform also includes daily challenges, leaderboard rankings, and reward milestones for consistent players.
Thrillzz is next on our list of the best social sportsbooks in May. To get you up and running, you can add 3,000 Thrillzz Coins and 3 Thrillzz Sweeps without ever making a purchase. These virtual tokens let you bet on matches from top leagues like the NBA, EPL, and UFC without using real money.
Of course, the perks don’t end there. The mobile-only platform also offers you an optional 100% matched first-purchase promo of up to $25, daily rewards, and a loyalty program. When it comes to building your social bets, you can invite friends to join in, create squads together, and climb the leaderboards. Social sharing tools and friend-based challenges make Thrillzz one of the most community-driven betting platforms available. Again, support is available 24/7, meaning any issues will soon be resolved for you.
Finally, we have Rebet. This social sportsbook is perfect for those of you who are looking for a streamlined experience from start to finish. Not only can you receive 10 Rebet Coins and 1 Rebet Cash for simply signing yourself up, but you’ll be able to build your social bets with ease thanks to the simplified betting lines. The interface is built for speed, with swipe-to-bet functionality and clear odds presentation for casual users.
For those who don’t mind spending cash, a first-time purchase promo of up to 100 Rebet Cash is also available based on an initial Rebet Coin purchase. Along the way, you can build your predictions, share to your own feed, and begin building your own following, too. This unique social feed feature lets other users like, comment, and follow your picks — turning Rebet into a sports betting community.
Each social bet will also contribute towards a VIP program, releasing bonuses and perks as you work your way up to
Platinum Bettor
status.
Reward tiers include coin boosts, exclusive challenges, and milestone badges tied to your betting activity.
The most common perks you get at social sportsbooks include daily logins, referral bonuses, social media giveaways, prize pool contests and loyalty programs. But every social sportsbook handles bonuses differently.
Even at platforms where there are no daily logins, you may have activity-based rewards or timed top-ups to sustain your balance. The uniting aspect is that you never need to make a real money purchase, unless you really want more fun currency to play with.
| Social Sportsbook | Welcome Bonus | Daily Login | Ongoing Promos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thrillz | 3,000 Thrilzz Coins + 2 Thrilzz Sweeps | Increases with consecutive logins | Referral bonuses, loyalty perks, special giveaways |
| Legendz | 500 Gold Coins + 3 Sweeps Coins | 10 free SC spins at casino | Referral bonus, giveaways and contests, VIP club, daily races and early payouts |
| Onyx Odds | 1,000 Onyx Coins | No | Odds boosts, no sweat picks, friend referral and loyalty perks |
| Fliff | 5,000 Fliff Coins + 1 Fliff Cash | Every 2 hours | XP points and challenges, contests, social media giveaways media giveaways, odds boosters |
| Prophet X | 1.5% Back Up to 200 Prophet Cash for 30 Days | No | Referral, daily rewards for activity, prize pools, giveaways |
Social sportsbooks do not fall into the same legal bracket as real money sportsbooks, and as a result, they don't need to obtain US betting licenses. Also, social sportsbooks can operate in states where sports betting bills have not yet been passed, so they are a lot more widespread than real money betting sites. They can definitely serve as a legal alternative betting experience in states where real money betting is not legal. However, loads of sports fans in states with legal betting options also use social sportsbooks, such is their appeal.
These platforms are allowed in all states that do not explicitly forbid them. Currently, the only states that have legislation banning or restricting social sportsbooks are Washington and Idaho, with the likes of Nevada, Michigan, Louisiana, Alabama and Montana having restrictions on these products. But when checking out a social sportsbooks, always be sure to check their availability. State availability can vary by platform.
Social sportsbooks and real money sportsbooks offer two very different betting experiences. The first aspect that you have to consider is the legal options in your state. Then, there is the feel of the betting experience. Social sportsbooks offer bets without the financial risks, and many have diversified into prize pools and DFS-style contests. Sportsbooks provide the classic real money betting, where you put your money on the line, and they generally have more sports coverage and a greater depth of betting markets to dip into.
Sportsbooks use USD, whereas social sportsbooks use dual virtual currency models.
There are no financial risks at social sportsbooks, because you don't play for real money. But you can make real money purchases to top up your balance
Sportsbooks offer withdrawals for the money you win, whereas social sportsbooks have prizes that you can redeem
Sportsbooks are only available in legal betting states, and even these are restricted to a handful of operators that carry local licenses
Social sportsbooks may have fewer traditional betting markets, but leverage this with more contests and challenges. Sportsbooks have more betting markets, but don’t have the same gamified betting experiences that social sportsbooks can provide.
Generally speaking, there are far more social sportsbooks than there are real money books in the US, especially if you look at it state-by-state. Some states only have a handful of legally regulated sportsbook options, but you may find a good 10+ social sportsbooks at the very least. They are more widespread, and you definitely have more options if you look for social sportsbooks.
As more social sportsbooks start to open their virtual doors, you need a team that is dedicated to putting them through their paces. Fortunately, that is exactly where we come in.
As part of our reviews, we’ll test everything from ease of play and registration to eligible markets and prize redemptions. We also evaluate platform speed, mobile performance, loyalty systems, and bonus flexibility to make sure nothing is overlooked.
In turn, you can get a pretty well-rounded look at some of the best social sportsbooks in May. Each recommendation is based on real testing and user-focused scoring, so you know exactly what to expect before joining.
You can get your search started by checking out the banners on this page.
These banners highlight top-rated options with current welcome offers and active daily promotions.
Open Thrillzz
No. Social sportsbooks allow you to bet on sports in a social setting, meaning that you can play in fun or promotional mode.Instead of cash prizes, players use Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, which offer entertainment value and the possibility of redeemable rewards depending on the platform.
Yes. Legitimate social sportsbooks have all been audited by statewide regulators and deemed safe to operate. Although legal in 49 US states, certain state exclusions will restrict specific social sportsbooks from opening their virtual doors. I’d suggest checking the banners on this page to find those legal in your area.
This will all depend on the social sportsbook you select. Generally, though, you can expect all major leagues, including the NFL, NHL, MLB, and NBA. Many sites also feature betting markets for MMA, tennis, soccer, and even esports, with real-time odds and rotating daily matchups.
Technically, yes—but not directly. You don’t bet with real money. Instead, you use Sweeps Coins, which can be redeemed for real money prizes once you meet wagering requirements and hit the platform’s minimum redemption threshold.
Sweeps Coins are a promotional currency used at social sportsbooks. They are typically valued at 1 SC = 1 USD, but must be wagered to meet playthrough requirements before they become eligible for redemption. Most platforms also require a minimum balance (often around $100) to cash out.
No. While social sportsbooks are available in most US states, there are some regions where they are restricted. Availability depends on local regulations, so you should always check whether a specific platform operates in your state before signing up.
