At the time of writing, all forms of real money online gambling are illegal in Texas, other than buying a state lottery ticket. You cannot sign up for real money gambling sites like FanDuel, Fanatics, or BetMGM.
But there’s a viable, legal alternative that lets you play many of the same casino games without spending any money – Texas sweepstakes casinos.
Texas sweepstakes casinos invite you to sign up and play with virtual currency. Sign-up is free and easy, and you can begin with a free coin bundle. There are many ways to top up your virtual currency balance for free, and when you play and win with sweepstakes coins, you can redeem them for cash prizes or gift cards.
Sound good? Join us as we explain how Texas sweepstakes casinos work, why they’re legal, and the best sites to join in the Lone Star State in 2025.
What is a sweepstakes casino?
A sweepstakes casino is an online platform that lets you play games with virtual currencies. It’s not considered real money wagering and is perfectly legal in many US states, including Texas. Most sweepstakes casinos operate with two types of virtual currency:
- Gold Coins: Gold coins can be used to play slots and other casino games for free. They have no monetary value and cannot be redeemed for cash prizes. Players can acquire gold coins by purchasing bundles or competing in competitions and promotions run by the casino.
- Sweeps Coins: Sweeps coins can be used to play casino games in promotional mode. When you play and win with sweeps coins, you can redeem them for cash prizes or gift cards, provided you meet the minimum redemption stipulated by the casino. You cannot buy sweeps coins directly – they are only offered for free by the casino when you participate in a promotion or purchase a gold coin bundle.
When you sign up for a sweepstakes casino account, you can trigger a welcome bonus with free gold and sweeps coins. Then, you can participate in giveaways and promotions to access more coins without spending a dime.
Alternatively, you can top up your balance by purchasing a gold coin bundle. When you do this, the casino will add sweeps coins to your balance for free.
Game variety at sweeps casinos: Slots, table games, and live dealer titles
Most sweepstakes casinos have hundreds of slot games, which form the bulk of their offering. These games are from studios like Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, and Booming Games, among others, allowing you to play top titles from the leading studios in the market.
Though much less prevalent, table games are also available at sweeps casinos. Most sites offer a handful of games, including blackjack, baccarat, and roulette, for you to play alongside slots. There may also be one or two video poker titles.
Thanks to recent advances in casino technology, several sweeps casinos now offer live casino variants, enabling you to play blackjack and roulette with a live dealer. Though only available at a few sites, live sweepstakes casinos are becoming more prevalent in the US.
Redemption options and limits: How do you win prizes?
The fundamental aspect of a sweepstakes casino in Texas is the redemption process. This indicates how you can trade in your sweeps coins for real prizes, should you meet the minimum redemption.
At most sweepstakes casinos in the US, you need at least 50 sweeps coins (worth $50) to redeem a gift card, while you often need 100 sweeps coins (worth $100) to redeem a cash prize.
Gift cards are available for major retailers like Amazon and Walmart, though every casino offers its own prize scheme. As for cash prizes, you can usually redeem them via a bank transfer or an e-wallet like Skrill or PayPal. Most redemptions take about five days to reach your account.
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Texas?
As sweepstakes casinos are not legally considered real-money wagering, they are currently legal in Texas for anyone 18 or over. Some states have launched legislation to make sweepstakes illegal, but there’s no such bill in Texas.
At the time of writing, sweepstakes casinos are only illegal in Washington and Idaho, but several other states are considering new laws. Michigan will likely illegalize sweeps casinos in the coming months, while a few others are considering the legality of such sites.
Moreover, some sweepstakes casinos are not permitted in specific states, with Nevada having tighter restrictions than many other states due to its thriving legal land-based gambling infrastructure.
Why are sweepstakes casinos legal?
It’s a good question, as many people struggle to distinguish between sweepstakes casinos and real-money betting sites.
But the key thing to understand is that sweepstakes casinos are completely free to play at. You do not need to deposit to play games (though purchasing gold coins is an option), and you can top up your balance for free by signing into your account and participating in giveaways. You can then use the site’s virtual currency to play games.
In contrast, to play at a real money gambling site like BetMGM or FanDuel, you must create an account and add cash to your balance. You can then use the USD in your balance to place bets and play games.
Sweepstakes casinos do offer the chance to play games in promotional mode via sweeps coins, but you cannot purchase these coins. If you play and win with these coins, only then can you redeem a real money cash prize or gift card.
Though some see sweepstakes casinos as operating a grey area in the US gambling market, the absence of consideration (making a real money deposit) makes them legal. After all, you don’t need to part with any cash to play slots and table games at these sites and you can merely play for fun if you wish.
The best sweepstakes casinos to try in Texas
So, are you keen to try some of the top online Texas sweepstakes casinos? Here are our top-rated sites for sweepstakes gameplay in the Lone Star State:
McLuck Casino: Best for game variety
Play 700+ games from over 10 providers at McLuck Casino, one of the best sweepstakes casinos in the United States. This is also one of the few sweeps casinos with an excellent live casino, with games powered by Iconic21.
Kick things off with a no-deposit bonus for free gold coins and sweeps coins, and then access a 150% first-purchase bonus if you decide to top up your GC balance at a later stage. Redemptions here are pretty fast, too, with many customers receiving their prizes within 24 hours.
Hello Millions Casino: Best for its excellent live casino
Like McLuck Casino, Hello Millions offers access to over 700 games from studios such as Pragmatic Play, Evoplay, and Relax Gaming. We also love the growing live casino lobby at Hello Millions, in which you can play titles like Buffalo Blitz and Top Card.
Access the no-deposit bonus to begin your gameplay and invite your friends to join you, as you can earn up to 65 sweeps coins each time you use the referral program. Cash redemptions at Hello Millions start at $75, while you can access a gift card when you have a balance of just $10.
High 5 Casino: Best for top-rated mobile app
If you’re looking for a Texas sweepstakes casino with a superb mobile app, look no further than High 5 Casino. When you download the app for iOS or Android, you can play over 1,200 different games, including live dealer titles.
This US-based sweepstakes casino has unique games and an excellent range of ongoing promotions. If you play and win with sweeps coins, you can redeem your virtual currency for cash or a gift card if you have a balance of $100, and your prize should be with you in 1-2 days.
The bottom line: Are Texas sweepstakes casinos legal in 2025?
As we await legislation that legalizes real-money gambling in Texas, sweepstakes casinos are the best option for residents. They are legal and widely available to all Texans over 18.
Whether you choose McLuck, Hello Millions, High 5, or any other Texas sweepstakes casino, you can sign up and play for free, with a chance to redeem real money or a gift card prize.
If you’re new to online gambling, we remind you to play responsibly, even when playing with virtual currency. You should adjust your virtual wagers to manage your bankroll and only play for specific periods. If you take these precautions and play responsibly, you can enjoy Texas sweepstakes casinos. They are legal and a viable alternative to real money gambling, which is not currently legal in Texas