Legal Social Casinos & Sweepstakes Sites in NY
Playing online sweepstakes games gives you a chance to redeem your winnings for cash prizes without risking a dime.
Currently, social casinos are legal in nearly every state, including New York. Social casinos and social poker sites are a great alternative if you don’t have the option of playing at NY casinos. These sites allow you to play popular casino games where you can win prizes and convert to cash prize redemptions.
There are only a few sweepstakes and social sites available in New York. This page explains why social casinos are legal, how the sweepstakes system works, and which sites offer these types of contests.
Best Social Casinos & Sweepstakes Sites in NY
Are sweepstakes gambling sites legal in NY?
Yes, although skepticism about the legality of playing on a sweepstakes site in New York is forgivable. Even without knowledge of New York’s own sweepstakes law, it might seem hard to believe that you can legally play slot machines, table games, and poker online in the Empire State.
In fact, according to LegalBytes, New York has one of the strictest laws against promotional sweepstakes in the country. An operator that wishes to run a Promotional Sweepstakes must place a bond and comply with stringent registration and reporting requirements.
Furthermore, New York law essentially defaults to the position that the Promotional Sweepstakes are either gambling or a lottery. The only way that an operator can proceed is if the company can show it has eliminated one of three elements: prize, chance, or consideration.
However, the sweepstakes sites that are available in New York accomplish this task by negating the third element — consideration. It is possible to play for cash prizes on these sites free of charge. We’ll tell you how.
How do Promotional Sweepstakes sites work?
Promotional Sweepstakes sites use a unique dual system in order to stay in compliance with the law. In effect, the system makes it impossible for players to buy chips that are worth real dollars.
Instead, a player will buy a certain amount of one type of coin, and sometimes in return, they will receive a concurrent amount of a second token for promotional play with that purchase. These second coins are the ones that are redeemable for cash prizes.
The games all function using both types of tokens. Players can switch back and forth readily between the two.
However, only the secondary coins are ever eligible to redeem. The tokens that players purchase remain on the site forever.
What are online sweepstakes?
The sweepstakes model is available at several top social casinos and free-to-play sweepstakes sites. You can play blackjack, slots, or online poker for free, and earn cash prize redemptions via the sweepstakes.
Chumba Casino and its sister site, Global Poker, are social casinos and follow the sweepstakes laws to run their games. Best of all, sweepstakes are free to play, and no purchase is necessary.
New York’s state gaming laws apply to sweepstakes and prize promotions. It is legal for social casinos to offer prizes because you can acquire coins for free.
Let’s take a closer look at how the coin system called Sweeps Coins works.
Playing for Sweeps Coins online
When you sign up with a free-to-play social casino like Chumba Casino, you can purchase “Gold Coins.” The coins hold no monetary value, and you can’t win real jackpots or prizes using them. If you hit a winning slot spin or win a hand of blackjack, you earn more Gold Coins to add to your account.
With your purchase of Gold Coins, you may receive an amount of Sweeps Coins for free. You can use these Sweeps Coins to play hands of slots, table games, or poker.
Any Sweeps Coins contests that you manage to win yield Sweeps Coins. Sweeps Coins are then eligible for redemption as real cash prizes.
Social casinos and social poker sites are similar to promotions used by major outlets to award prizes. Big brands, e.g., McDonald’s, have run similar contests for years in observance of federal gaming laws.
Online casino sweepstakes and social sites
Sweepstakes and Sweeps Coins are currently on offer at a handful of social casinos. Chumba Casino is the largest and the most established, but the promotion is also available at Luckyland Slots Casino.
1. Chumba Casino – Social Casino
Chumba Casino is a social casino regulated and licensed in Malta. It offers around 40 video poker, slots, and table games to players in the US and Canada. You can play games like blackjack and roulette on mobile or desktop.
It is currently illegal to play real money blackjack online in NY, as well as other popular table games. If you live in New York, however, you can play at Chumba Casino and redeem your acquired Sweeps Coins as cash prizes.
In order to get started, you’ll need to secure some Sweeps Coins of your own. Thankfully, there are plenty of different ways to acquire Sweeps Coins.
You can be awarded bonus Sweeps Coins at times by purchasing Gold Coins or using an alternative method of entry (AMOE). This method can include sharing posts on Facebook or other social media. You may also contact Chumba directly for Sweeps Coins – see their terms and conditions page for more details.
2. LuckyLand Slots – Social Casino
LuckyLand Slots forms part of the VGW group of sites that also includes Chumba Casino and Global Poker.
LuckyLand focuses on video slots. There are dozens of exciting games available, including the 57-ways-to-win slot Vaults of Valhalla with four bonus features. Mardi Gras Money features 50 paylines and a free spins bonus with mystery stacks.
You can download a dedicated Android app at LuckyLand or play games on your desktop through a browser. The company is continuously adding new games.
Play free poker for cash prizes at Global Poker
You can also win Sweeps Coins by playing poker online. Sweeps Coins prize pools are shared out among winners, and you can purchase “Gold Coins” to sit down at free-to-play tournaments.
Global Poker forms part of the VGW group, which also includes Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots. To purchase coins, use a valid US credit card or transfer funds using PayPal, though these methods can change in the future.
You can enter a range of Sit ‘n Go (SNG) and Texas Hold ’em tournaments at Global Poker. The site also offers hold ’em, crazy pineapple, and pot-limit Omaha (PLO). Ring games start at SC0.05 / SC0.1 blinds.
Jackpot SNG tournaments are popular. Global Poker also schedules these fast-and-furious games.
Jackpot SNGs feature three players in fast, hyper-turbo Texas Hold ’em games. If you are the last player standing, you win the jackpot. Entries start at 2,000 Gold Chips or 2 Sweeps Coins. The computer randomly determines the prize before you play.
How to get free Sweeps Coins
The legality of all of these sites is based upon the idea that it is possible to win prizes without spending any money. The good news is that it’s 100% possible to do so.
Certain Gold Coin purchases feature an accompanying amount of Sweeps Coins for free. You can use both coin systems as you like on one of the company’s sites, but you can never redeem Gold Coins for prizes. Only Sweeps Coins are permitted to be redeemed for cash prizes.
Security and verification for NY players
You can redeem Sweeps Coins for a real prizes. It’s 100% legal in New York.
In order to make yourself eligible for a redemption, you will need to undertake an ID verification. This procedure is painless. You only need to scan and email valid documents.
Providing ID: You need two forms of identity. First, you must send a scan of a primary photo ID, such as a US passport, driver’s license, or a national or state ID. The online social casino will also accept a scan of another government-issued form of ID.
In addition, you must email supporting documentation like a recent utility bill or bank statement. You can also provide proof of medical insurance if you have it available.
Verification times: Once you send correct identification, participating social casinos take five business days to complete the check. You should receive your money five days later.
Taxes: You need to report any winnings for tax purposes. Gambling winnings are subject to state and federal taxes. Even if the amount is low, you must declare it to the IRS.
Play and win Sweeps Coins today
It is legal to play at sweepstakes and social casino sites under New York’s current laws.
Sweeps Coins sites are beginning to appear online. If they prove to be popular, you can expect more to pop up.
Social casinos, like Chumba Casino and Global Poker, offer a decent spread of games. Sweepstakes sites are a good option if you don’t want to risk your bankroll at an unregulated offshore casino.
Give online social casinos a try and see that they are an excellent alternative to traditional video slots and table games. The best social casinos have a healthy range of games available, so you’ll likely find something you’ll enjoy.