Believe it or not, social casinos have been around since the early 2000s. Back then, they were mostly just free-to-play casino games on social media sites like Facebook and MySpace.
Things started to change around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, when more operators began adopting the sweepstakes model and giving players opportunities to redeem real cash prizes. Since then, the industry has really taken off, especially in the U.S.
But social casinos are still changing in 2026. The industry feels much different today than it did just a few years ago, with new platforms, features, and trends continuing to emerge. Below, I’ll break down five of the biggest changes I’ve noticed at social casinos so far in 2026.
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ATS.io uses affiliate links. If you sign up through a link on this page, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Rankings are based on hands-on testing and published criteria, and affiliate relationships do not determine placement.1. First-Purchase Bonuses Keep Getting Bigger
One of the biggest changes I’ve noticed recently is that social casinos seem to be in somewhat of an “arms race” when it comes to welcome offers. With more and more platforms launching, operators are constantly trying to outdo one another to attract new players.
For the most part, this hasn’t really affected no-deposit bonuses since social casinos still want players to eventually make purchases, not just sign up and play for free. Instead, the bigger change has been the rise of much larger first-purchase bonuses.
These days, 300% first-purchase bonuses — where players receive around 3 free Sweeps Coins for every $1 spent on Gold Coin packages — are pretty common. Lunaland, Clubs Poker, and SpinQuest are just a few examples.
Some sites have started taking things even further. McLuck and The Money Factory, for example, don’t just offer a first-purchase bonus anymore. They also have second- and third-purchase offers designed to keep players spending after they sign up.
In a way, the growing number of social casinos has actually been a net positive for players. With so many brands competing against each other, it’s easier to shop around for better offers and potentially get more value than players could just a few years ago.
2. More Social Casinos Are Launching Mobile Apps
Another trend I’ve noticed recently is that more social casinos are starting to launch dedicated mobile apps for players. For years, most players had to access social casinos through a website or PWA instead.
Part of that simply comes down to cost and convenience. Websites and PWAs are usually cheaper and easier for operators to manage, especially smaller companies. There can also be extra approval and compliance hurdles that come with launching apps through Apple’s App Store and Google Play.
But as the social casino industry has continued to grow in the U.S., more brands seem willing to invest in dedicated apps to improve the player experience and help their platforms feel more polished and legitimate.
Stake.us, Crown Coins, High 5, Modo Casino, Cider Casino, Gains Casino, and Cashoomo are just a few examples of social casinos that now offer dedicated mobile apps.
It’s also worth mentioning that iOS apps still seem much more common than Android apps right now, which makes sense given Apple’s larger market share in the U.S.
3. Social Sportsbooks Continue to Grow
One trend I’ve been following closely over the last few years is the rise of social sportsbooks.
Like social casinos, these platforms use the sweepstakes model, but instead of casino games, they let players make picks on real sporting events across the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college football, college basketball, and more.
These brands continue to grow in popularity across the U.S., especially among players in states where traditional online sportsbooks still aren’t legal. They’ve also become popular among bettors who already use traditional sportsbooks and want additional options for comparing odds and line shopping.
Fliff, Rebet, Sportzino, Legendz, Thrillzz, Play Bracco, ProphetX, and Novig are some of the most used social sportsbooks right now. Many of these platforms have also started adding slots and other casino-style games as they continue expanding their offerings.
4. Crypto Is Becoming More Common at Social Casinos
Another thing I’ve noticed lately is that more social casinos are starting to accept cryptocurrency.
Instead of only using debit cards, credit cards, or bank transfers, players can now use Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, Solana, Dogecoin, BNB, and other cryptocurrencies to buy Gold Coin packages and sometimes redeem prizes too.
Stake.us, FreeSpin Casino, and MaxQuest are a few examples of social casinos that currently support crypto payments.
A lot of this probably comes down to demand. There’s already a pretty big overlap between people interested in crypto and online casino gaming, so it makes sense for operators to start offering more crypto-friendly payment options.
And with so many social casinos competing for players right now, accepting crypto is another way for brands to separate themselves a bit from everyone else.
5. The Sweepstakes Model Faces More Scrutiny
A fifth and final trend I’ve noticed recently is increased scrutiny around the sweepstakes model used by most U.S. social casinos. More states are starting to view sweepstakes casinos as something that looks a little too similar to traditional online gambling.
As of July 1, 2026, sweepstakes casinos will officially become illegal in Indiana after Governor Mike Braun signed HB 1052 into law. Before that, California banned sweepstakes casinos on January 1, 2026, after Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 831.
Other states like Connecticut, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, and Washington have also taken action against sweepstakes casinos through bans, enforcement actions, or regulatory pressure. And honestly, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more states follow over the next few years.
A lot of states simply don’t like unregulated forms of online gaming, especially when there are concerns about player protections, oversight, and the fact that states aren’t collecting tax revenue from these platforms the same way they do from licensed sportsbooks and online casinos.
