Sweepstakes Poker Sites Compared: Global Poker vs ClubWPT Gold vs Stake.us vs Clubs Poker
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If you live in one of the many US states without regulated online poker, sweepstakes poker sites (also called sweeps poker sites) are the main legal way to play online for prizes you can turn into cash. But the four biggest names, Global Poker, ClubWPT Gold, Stake.us and Clubs Poker, work very differently. They have different minimum redemptions, different playthrough rules, different state lists and very different poker traffic.
2026 has also been a rough year for sweeps poker. States have passed bans, operators have pulled out of key markets (ClubWPT Gold left Nevada in September), and redemption rules keep changing. This guide compares all four side by side so you can pick the right one for where you live and how you play.
Quick Comparison: The Four Biggest Sweeps Poker Sites
| Global Poker | ClubWPT Gold | Stake.us | Clubs Poker | |
| Operator | VGW | World Poker Tour | Sweepstakes Limited | KHK Games (Philadelphia) |
| Launched | 2016 | 2025 (beta late 2024) | 2022 | July 2024 |
| Prize currency | Sweeps Coins (SC) | Chips | Stake Cash (SC) | Sweeps Coins (SC) |
| Value | 1 SC = $1 | 1 Chip = $1 | 1 SC = $1 | 1 SC = $1 |
| Minimum cash redemption | 50 SC | 20 Chips | About 40–50 SC | 100 SC |
| Playthrough | 1x | — | 3x on bonus SC | 1x |
| States restricted | 14 | 8 | About 21 | About 17 |
| Minimum age | 18+ (21+ in some states) | 21+ | 21+ | 18+ |
| Best for | Tournaments and veterans | Big guarantees, low redemption floor | Crypto users, high stakes | Mixed games, variety |
Restricted-state counts as of Oct 2026. These lists change often, so always check the site’s terms before signing up.
How Sweepstakes Poker Works (in 60 Seconds)
Sweeps poker sites don’t take real-money bets. Instead, they use two currencies:
- Gold Coins (GC): play-money coins for fun. You can buy them, but you can never cash them out.
- Sweeps Coins / Stake Cash / Chips: promotional currency that comes free with Gold Coin packages, daily logins, mail-in requests and promotions. Winnings in this currency can be redeemed for cash prizes, usually at $1 per coin.
Because you never directly buy the redeemable currency, these sites operate under US sweepstakes law rather than gambling law. That’s why they’re available in states without regulated online poker. But more and more states are closing that route.
State bans to know about: As of August 2026, eight states had laws in force banning dual-currency sweepstakes: California, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New York and Tennessee. Oklahoma has a November 1, 2026 deadline for sweeps operators to leave the state.
1. Global Poker: The Original Sweeps Poker Room
Global Poker launched in February 2016 and is owned by VGW, the same company behind Chumba Casino and LuckyLand. For most of the last decade it was the sweeps poker site.
| Detail | Info |
| Welcome offer | 5,000 GC at signup; first purchase 150,000 GC + 30 free SC for $10 |
| Minimum redemption | 50 SC cash (lower for gift cards) |
| Playthrough | 1x |
| Redemption methods | Online banking, Skrill |
| Redemption time | About 3–5 business days |
| Games | NLHE, PLO, PLO Hi/Lo, Crazy Pineapple, Jackpot Sit & Go, MTTs, quarterly GPC series |
| Restricted states | CA, CT, DE, ID, LA, MI, MS, MT, NJ, NV, NY, TN, WA, WV |
Strengths:
- The longest track record of reliable redemptions in sweeps poker
- A 1x playthrough, so winnings from poker count toward redemption right away
- Jackpot Sit & Gos (spins) and a regular tournament series
- Also available in Canada (except Quebec)
Weaknesses:
- The software feels dated compared to newer rivals
- It left California on January 1, 2026 under the state’s AB 831 sweeps ban
- Bank or Skrill redemptions are slower than crypto
Verdict: The safe, established choice, especially if you mainly play tournaments.
2. ClubWPT Gold: The WPT’s Poker Site
ClubWPT Gold is run by the World Poker Tour and has grown fast since launching in February 2025. It works a little differently from the others: after buying Upswing Poker, it changed its model so that players buy poker hand-analysis credits and receive free Chips with them, instead of buying Gold Coins.
| Detail | Info |
| Minimum redemption | 20 Chips ($20), the lowest of the major sweeps poker sites |
| Rake | About 4% |
| Payout time | 72-hour security review, then up to 5 business days |
| Flagship tournament | Gold Million: $218 buy-in, $1M guaranteed, roughly every two weeks |
| Big live tie-in | $400 Super Gold Million, $3M GTD, at the WPT World Championship (Wynn Las Vegas, December 2026) |
| Ambassadors | Phil Ivey, Doug Polk, Ethan “Rampage” Yau |
| Restricted states | CT, LA, MI, MT, NJ, TN, WA, plus Nevada since September 28, 2026 |
| California | Limited to 9 “Game Days” per month for redeemable play |
Strengths:
- The lowest redemption floor ($20) of the four
- Some of the biggest daily guarantees in US online poker
- WPT brand, live-event qualifiers and big-name ambassadors
Weaknesses:
- Pulled out of Nevada in September 2026, citing state regulatory action. It had thousands of Nevada players, including some top pros
- Legal uncertainty in California. A law professor has argued that its “Game Days” model still breaks the state’s sweeps ban
- Controversies: Ambassador Doug Polk publicly criticised a paid feature that lets players see opponents’ folded cards. The WSOP also banned ClubWPT Gold patches at the 2026 WSOP after a chip-dumping scandal involving a ClubWPT Gold bonus at the 2025 Millionaire Maker
- 21+ only
Verdict: The best for serious tournament players who want big guarantees and a low cash-out threshold, but keep an eye on its state status.
3. Stake.us: Poker Inside a Big Sweeps Casino
Stake.us is the US sweepstakes version of the Stake brand, running since 2022. Poker is just one part of a huge casino lobby with thousands of games.
| Detail | Info |
| No-deposit bonus | 250,000 GC + 25 Stake Cash, the biggest free signup offer of the four |
| Minimum redemption | About 40–50 SC for crypto (varies by coin); 50 SC by bank transfer |
| Playthrough | 3x on Stake Cash |
| Redemption speed | Crypto redemptions often approved within about 24 hours |
| Poker stakes | Up to 200/400 SC, the highest of the four |
| 2026 poker promo | “Next!”: $1M in Stake Cash for poker players, from March 2 to December 31, 2026 |
| Restricted states | AZ, CA, CT, DE, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MI, MT, NV, NJ, NY, PA, RI, TN, VT, WA, WV |
Strengths:
- The largest no-purchase-needed bonus of the four
- Fast crypto redemptions
- The highest stakes available, plus a $1M poker promotion running through December
Weaknesses:
- The fewest states of the four, about 21 restricted. Illinois was added in 2026
- A 3x playthrough on bonus Stake Cash, compared with 1x at Global and Clubs
- Poker traffic and game variety are smaller than at the poker-only sites
- Mostly crypto. Not ideal if you prefer bank transfers
- Ongoing lawsuits and pressure from state regulators in 2026
Verdict: Best for crypto users and players who also want casino games. Less ideal if you only play poker.
4. Clubs Poker: The Most Variety
Clubs Poker launched on July 1, 2024 and is run by KHK Games, Inc. of Philadelphia. It has quickly become a favourite with reviewers because of its game selection.
| Detail | Info |
| Welcome offer | 5,000 GC at signup; 300% first purchase: 100,000 GC + 30 SC for $10 |
| Minimum redemption | 100 SC, the highest of the four |
| Weekly redemption limit | $1,000 |
| Playthrough | 1x |
| Redemption methods | Visa/Mastercard debit, bank transfer, Skrill |
| Games | NLHE, PLO, PLO8, Stud, Razz, HORSE, 2-7 Draw, Badugi, Courchevel, Spin & Gos, and about 300 slots |
| Restricted states (Oct 1, 2026) | CA, CT, FL, ID, IN, LA, ME, MI, MN, MT, NV, NJ, NY, OK, TN, WA, WV |
Strengths:
- The only one of the four with mixed games like Stud, Razz, HORSE, Badugi and Courchevel
- Modern, mobile-friendly software that runs in your browser
- Hundreds of daily tournaments plus mystery bounties
- A 1x playthrough
Weaknesses:
- The highest redemption floor (100 SC) and a $1,000 weekly redemption cap
- Its state list has been changing fast; Florida and Oklahoma were added by October 2026
- No live chat support, and some players report inconsistent redemption speed
Verdict: The best software and game variety, especially for PLO and mixed-game players. Just be aware of the higher cash-out threshold.
Head-to-Head: Which Site Wins in Each Category?
| Category | Winner | Why |
| Lowest redemption minimum | ClubWPT Gold | $20 compared with 40–100 elsewhere |
| Biggest free signup bonus | Stake.us | 25 Stake Cash with no purchase |
| Fastest payouts | Stake.us | Crypto, often approved within 24 hours |
| Biggest tournament guarantees | ClubWPT Gold | Regular $1M Gold Million events |
| Game variety | Clubs Poker | The only one with mixed games |
| Easiest playthrough | Global / Clubs | 1x |
| Track record | Global Poker | Running since 2016 |
| Highest stakes | Stake.us | Up to 200/400 SC |
| Most states available | ClubWPT Gold | Only 8 restricted states (October 2026) |
Which Sweeps Poker Site Should You Choose?
- You mainly play tournaments and want big guarantees: ClubWPT Gold
- You want a long, proven redemption record: Global Poker
- You play PLO, Stud or mixed games: Clubs Poker
- You use crypto and want fast cash-outs: Stake.us
- You want to try free first: Stake.us (25 SC with no purchase), then Global or Clubs with their small signup offers
Tip: Because each site has a different state list, players in some states can use one site but not another. For example, New York players are blocked at Global Poker, Stake.us and Clubs Poker but could still use ClubWPT Gold in October 2026. Check each site separately.
5 Tips Before You Play Sweeps Poker
- Check your state first. Restricted lists change with very little notice. Nevada players got only a few days’ warning from ClubWPT Gold.
- Verify your identity (KYC) early. None of these sites will pay a redemption without ID verification.
- Redeem regularly. If your state passes a ban, sites usually give a short window to redeem. Don’t leave large balances sitting in your account.
- Read the playthrough rules. A 3x requirement (Stake.us) means you need to play through three times the bonus amount before you can redeem.
- Use the free routes. Daily logins, freerolls and mail-in requests can earn you redeemable coins without buying anything.
Is Sweepstakes Poker Legal?
Sweepstakes poker works under US promotional sweepstakes law and is available in most states. However, more states have banned it in 2025 and 2026, and the legal status of some newer models, like ClubWPT Gold’s credit-based system in California, is disputed.
These sites are only available in the United States (and Canada for Global Poker). They aren’t open to players in India, the UK or most other countries. If you’re outside the US, see our poker site reviews for real-money options licensed where you live.
Sweepstakes poker is for adults only (18+ or 21+ depending on the site and state). Play responsibly. Help is available at NCPG.
FAQs
What are sweepstakes poker sites?
Sweepstakes poker sites let US players play online poker with two currencies: Gold Coins for fun play, and Sweeps Coins (or Stake Cash or Chips) that can be redeemed for cash prizes, usually at $1 each.
Which sweepstakes poker site is best in 2026?
It depends on your priorities. ClubWPT Gold has the lowest redemption minimum and the biggest guarantees, Global Poker has the longest track record, Clubs Poker has the most game variety, and Stake.us has the biggest free signup bonus and fastest crypto payouts.
Which sweeps poker site has the lowest minimum redemption?
ClubWPT Gold has the lowest minimum, at 20 Chips ($20). Stake.us requires about 40–50 Stake Cash, Global Poker requires 50 Sweeps Coins, and Clubs Poker requires 100 Sweeps Coins.
Is ClubWPT Gold still available in Nevada?
No. ClubWPT Gold stopped operating in Nevada on September 28, 2026, citing state regulatory action. Players were asked to redeem their balances by October 2.
Which states have banned sweepstakes poker?
As of August 2026, California, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New York and Tennessee had laws in force banning dual-currency sweepstakes. Each site also has its own restricted-state list, so check before signing up.
Can I play sweepstakes poker outside the US?
Generally, no. These sites are built for US players, and Global Poker is also available in Canada except Quebec. Players in other countries should look at licensed real-money poker sites.
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