Are sweepstakes casinos in Ohio legal? Read our guide to Ohio social casinos and discover the best places to play slots and other games for winning chances.
Sweepstakes and social casinos are growing in popularity as a fun and legal alternative to traditional online casinos in Ohio. These platforms allow players to enjoy slots, bingo, and other games while offering opportunities to win real prizes, including cash and gift cards. Unlike standard online casinos, sweepstakes and social casinos operate within legal frameworks in most states, including Ohio.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos in Ohio Legal?
Sweepstakes casinos in Ohio are legal and accessible to residents of the Buckeye State. However, before signing up for Ohio social casinos, you must be aware of how they work and that they’re different from real-money gambling sites, which aren’t currently legal.
So, let’s begin by reviewing the legality of Ohio social casinos and discovering which other forms of online betting are currently allowed in the state.
Available Sweepstakes Casinos in Ohio
- Wow Vegas
- NoLimitCoins
- Stake.us
- High 5 Casino
- Pulsz
- Zula Casino
- Vegas Gems
- Hello Millions
- Chumba Casino
Disclaimer: Ohio laws can change—new bills may affect sweepstakes casino legality or licensing. For the latest updates, always check the Ohio Casino Control Commission official site and closely follow any new legislation
Are Ohio Social Casinos Legal?
Social casinos are accessible in Ohio. While real-money online casinos are illegal in the state, Ohio social casinos are open to anyone looking to play casino games for the chance to win virtual sweeps coins, which can be redeemed for cash prizes and gift cards.
Sweepstakes casinos operate independently from real-money casinos, meaning they’re legal in many states where real-money casino gameplay is not permitted.
For context, here’s an overview of the different forms of gambling and whether they’re legal or illegal in Ohio in 2025:
| Legal Gambling in Ohio | Illegal Gambling in Ohio |
| ✅Online sweepstakes casinos | ❌Real-money casino gambling |
| ✅Online sports betting | ❌Online poker |
| ✅Land-based sports betting | ❌Private poker rooms with rake |
| ✅Land-based casino gambling | |
| ✅Land-based poker | |
| ✅Parimutuel horse racing | |
| ✅Gambling at racinos | |
| ✅Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) | |
| ✅The Ohio Lottery |
Sweepstakes v Real Money Casinos
Sweepstakes casinos are legal in Ohio because they are not classified as real-money gambling websites. The only form of online gambling legally permitted in Ohio is sports betting. The Ohio Casino Control Commission regulates every legal sports betting site and app in the state.
Real money casinos are legal in several states in the United States, including Michigan and Pennsylvania, but legislation has yet to be passed to legalize the practice in OH. So, in the meantime, if you want to play online slots and table games in Ohio, sweepstakes casinos are your best option.
The table below will help you distinguish between sweepstakes and real money online casinos, giving you a better understanding of why one is legal and the other isn’t in Ohio:
| Real Money Casino | Sweepstakes Casino | |
| Currency | USD | Gold coins & sweeps coins (virtual currencies) |
| Payouts | Cash | Cash & gift cards, over a specific redemption limit |
| Typical minimum payout/redemption | $10 | $50 or $100 |
| Games | Slots, table games, poker, live games, instant-win games, keno, bingo, and others | Mainly slots but some sweeps sites have limited live games |
| License | State-issued license | None |
| Welcome bonus | Deposit match | No-deposit bonus |
| Legal in Ohio? | ❌ | ✅ |
How Sweepstakes Casinos in Ohio Work
To appreciate why sweepstakes casinos in Ohio are legal, you must understand how they operate. The main distinction is that they use two types of virtual currency, rather than accepting real-money wagers.
Gold Coins
Gold coins are free to all players who create an account at sweepstakes casinos. These coins have no real-world value and cannot be exchanged for prizes. They let you play casino games like slots and blackjack for free.
You can top up your gold coin balance by logging into your account daily, participating in social media giveaways, and purchasing coin bundles directly from the casino.
Crucially, if you win a payout with a gold coin, you cannot redeem it for a cash prize or gift card. The winnings show in your sweepstakes casino account, but cannot be redeemed or cashed out in any way.
Sweep Coins: GC, SC
The other type of currency at social casinos is the sweepstakes coin. Again, you may receive sweepstakes coins in several ways, often by participating in competitions and logging into your account daily. Also, when you buy gold coins, the casino will provide you with sweepstakes coins for free.
When you play and win with sweepstakes coins, you can redeem them for real-world prizes, including cash and gift cards. However, you must play through them at least once before cashing out, and you will need to meet the minimum redemption requirement (often 50 or 100 sweepstakes coins).
At most social casinos, one sweepstakes coin is worth $1, so you will need to win upwards of $50 at most sites before receiving a cash prize or gift card, though redemption limits vary.
Which Games Are Available at Ohio Social Casinos?
Most Ohio social casinos offer slot machine games. These play out on reels and rows, and deliver wins when matching symbols land on any of the paylines.
Some sweepstakes casinos offer exclusively slots, while others have video poker, which is an instant-win-style title based on the popular card game. You may also find classic table games like blackjack, baccarat, and roulette at some social casinos, but they’re not overly common.
A few sweepstakes casinos in Ohio also offer live casino games, but again, they’re few and far between.
The Best Sweepstakes Casinos in Ohio
Dozens of social casinos are accessible in Ohio, but which are the best? Below are the top five sweepstakes casinos in Ohio, with details of their pros & cons, game variety, and welcome bonuses for all new customers.
NoLimit Coins Casino
Welcome bonus: 400,000 Gold Coins + 500 Super Coins with promo code COINGMBLR
Game variety: 400+ slots
Why we recommend it: “With 400 titles, NoLimit Coins is one of the best sweepstakes casinos for slot fans in Ohio, with cool games like Big Banker Bonanza, Devil Fire 2, and Big Catch Bonanza Perfect Haul available.”
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Great slot variety | ❌No table games |
| ✅Excellent refer-a-friend program | |
| ✅VIP club with lots of ongoing rewards |
Unique Features:
- Over 400 unique games, including popular titles like Captain Lobster Fortune and Wild Buffalo Bonus Buy.
- Progressive jackpots offering millions of Gold Coins.
- Twice-daily Lucky Wheel spins, granting up to 500,000 Super Coins and 275,000 Gold Coins daily.
- VIP Club with loyalty rewards.
- Refer-a-friend program where users can earn up to 500,000 Gold Coins and 2,000 Super Coins per referral.
Funrize Casino
Welcome bonus: 75,000 Tournament Coins with the promo code FUNGMBLR.
Game variety: 200+ slots
Why we recommend it: “Each day you log in to your Funrize Casino account, you receive free coins. Also, we like that you can purchase a coin bundle from just $4.99, meaning you don’t have to break the bank to top up your balance.”
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Affordable coin bundles (from $4.99) | ❌Redemptions can take a week |
| ✅Slots from recognized studios like Pragmatic Play | |
| ✅Daily login reward |
Unique Features:
- Over 140 games, including slots, live dealer games, and fishing games.
- Regular promotions like Shooting Stars and the Funrize Wheel, which provide daily chances to win up to 220,000 Tournament Coins.
- Free-to-enter Funrize Races held every two hours, offering prizes up to 4 million Tournament Coins.
- VIP loyalty program granting Experience Points that can be exchanged for bonuses and free spins.
Chumba Casino
Welcome bonus: 2,000,000 Gold Coins + $2 in Sweeps Coins
Game variety: 200+ slots and some table games
Why we recommend it: “Chumba Casino is a great place to play if you like table games, with blackjack and a few others offered. That said, the minimum redemption of 100 SC is high, so it’s only really suited to those looking to play with Gold Coins.”
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Over 200 slots | ❌Minimum redemption of 100 SC |
| ✅Several table games offered | |
| ✅Weekly social media giveaways for free coins |
- Large selection of slots, table games, and jackpot titles.
- Ability to redeem Sweeps Coins for real cash prizes.
- Frequent giveaways and promotions for loyal players.
- Available on desktop and mobile devices.
LuckyLand Slots
Welcome bonus: 10,000 Gold Coins + $10 in Sweeps Coins
Game variety: 200+ slots
Why we recommend it: “A partner of Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots is a decent place to play some top online slot machines from studios like Pragmatic Play and Relax Gaming. Also, the quality of the customer support here is excellent, which is a big plus if you experience any redemption issues.”
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Slots from Relax Gaming & Pragmatic Play | ❌Limited game variety |
| ✅Lots of ongoing promotions for free coins | |
| ✅Great customer support |
- Exclusive slot games with frequent updates.
- Regular sweepstakes competitions with cash prizes.
- Daily login bonuses to keep players engaged.
Global Poker
Welcome bonus: Up to $20 in Gold Coins & Sweeps Coins
Game variety: 20+ poker games & tournaments
Why we recommend it: “While the other sweepstakes casinos on this list are focused on slots, Global Poker is targeted at poker fans, with Omaha, Texas Hold’em, and other games offered. There are also blackjack and Slingo games, and a very small selection of slots under the casino tab.”
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Helpful poker community | ❌Limited slot offering |
| ✅Several tournaments and free games | |
| ✅Blackjack & Slingo offered |
- Wide range of poker formats, including Texas Hold’em and Omaha.
- Weekly tournament leaderboards with lucrative prizes.
- Gold Coins for entertainment play and Sweeps Coins for cash redemption.
- Compatible with desktop and mobile platforms.
Sign Up for Ohio Social Casinos Today
As real-money casino gameplay is illegal in Ohio at the time of writing, social casinos are your best option if you want to play slots and table games online. If you play and win with sweepstakes coins, you can redeem cash prizes and gift cards, provided you meet the minimum redemption requirements.
Don’t forget to claim your welcome bonus when signing up for an Ohio online sweepstakes casino, and follow the site on social media for details on how to access daily coin giveaways and other promotions to keep your balance topped up.
Are sweepstakes and social casinos legal in Ohio?
Yes, sweepstakes and social casinos are legal in Ohio. They operate under specific rules that allow players to enjoy casino-style games while participating in sweepstakes for the chance to win real prizes.
How do I claim bonuses at sweepstakes casinos?
To claim bonuses, register an account and enter the relevant promo code during the sign-up process. Some casinos may also require verification tasks, such as confirming your email or phone number, to unlock additional rewards.
Can I win real money at sweepstakes casinos?
Yes, you can win real money by playing in Promotional or Sweeps Coin modes. Accumulated Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for cash or other prizes, depending on the casino.
Are there mobile apps for sweepstakes casinos?
Most sweepstakes casinos, like NoLimit Coins and Funrize, do not offer standalone mobile apps. Instead, they provide responsive web platforms compatible with both Android and iOS devices.
What is the difference between Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins?
Gold Coins are used for entertainment purposes and have no monetary value. Sweeps Coins, on the other hand, can be earned or purchased and redeemed for cash or prizes when playing in eligible modes.
Sweepstakes and social casinos provide Ohio players with an exciting and legal way to enjoy casino gaming. Whether you’re spinning the reels at NoLimit Coins, exploring unique games at Funrize, or competing in poker tournaments at Global Poker, there’s something for everyone. Sign up today using exclusive promo codes to get started with generous bonuses and free coins!
Explore Ohio’s best legal online betting apps, such as betMGM Ohio, bet365 and Fanduel.