Global Poker
Overview
Global Poker sticks to poker, and it's what most people mean when the topic of sweepstakes-model online poker comes up. The currency setup is the same two-tier system as everywhere else on this list: Gold Coins for practice, and Sweeps Coins riding along with each purchase that can be redeemed for cash, which is the mechanism that lets it pay out real poker winnings in states where regulated online poker isn't on the books.
The license comes from the Malta Gaming Authority, a real license you can actually look up rather than a claim taken on faith, and the platform has been around long enough to be the most established name in this specific corner of the category.
Games
Poker is the whole menu here: cash games and tournament formats across the standard variants, running on Sweeps Coins for redemption and Gold Coins for free play. No slots, no table games. If poker isn't specifically what you're looking for, skip this one, but within the sweepstakes-poker niche it's the most developed option we've come across.
Getting your money out
Sweeps Coins, earned or bought, convert to cash through the usual redemption process. The state exclusion list runs longer than most slots-heavy competitors: Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Connecticut, West Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Louisiana, California, and Washington are currently locked out, and a few more states have been dropped over the past couple of years. If poker is the draw, check the current list closely before counting on it, since the trend has been fewer states, not more.
What's good
- The most established name specifically in sweepstakes-model poker
- Real, verifiable Malta Gaming Authority license
- Long operating history compared to most of this category
What's not
- Poker only, no slots or table games
- Longer state exclusion list than most slots-focused competitors
- Has trimmed state availability over time rather than expanded it
Frequently asked
Is Global Poker legit?
It holds a Malta Gaming Authority license, which is real and checkable, and it's the most established name running the sweepstakes model for online poker specifically. Still, confirm your own state's current eligibility before you sign up.
Which states are excluded?
As of our last check: Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Connecticut, West Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Louisiana, California, and Washington. The operator has trimmed availability in several states over the past couple of years, so verify current status for your own state before assuming anything.
Does Global Poker have slots or table games?
No, it's poker only. If slots or table games on the sweepstakes model are what you want, look elsewhere on this list.