Global Poker
Overview
If someone mentions sweepstakes-model online poker, there's a good chance they mean Global Poker. It's poker through and through, no slots in sight, and it runs on the same two-currency setup you'll see everywhere else on this list: buy Gold Coins to practice, and each purchase comes bundled with Sweeps Coins you can redeem for cash. That's the trick that lets it offer real poker payouts even in states where regulated online poker isn't on the books.
It holds a Malta Gaming Authority license, a real one we could actually verify rather than a claim taken on faith, and it's stuck around long enough to be the name people default to for sweepstakes poker specifically.
Games
Everything here is poker: cash games, tournaments, the usual variants, all running on Sweeps Coins for real stakes and Gold Coins for practice. No slots, no table games, so if that's what you're after, look elsewhere. But if poker on the sweepstakes model is the goal, this is the most fully built-out option we've come across.
Getting your money out
Sweeps Coins, earned or purchased, convert to cash through the standard redemption process. Here's the catch though: the exclusion list runs longer than most slots-focused sites. Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Connecticut, West Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Louisiana, California, and Washington are all currently locked out, and the operator has quietly pulled back from a few more states over the past couple of years. If you're set on playing here, check your state's status carefully first. This list has been shrinking, not growing.
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?
Yes, it holds a Malta Gaming Authority license, a real and checkable one, and it's the go-to name for sweepstakes-model online poker. Still, always double-check 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 it's worth confirming current status for wherever you live.
Does Global Poker have slots or table games?
Nope, this one's poker only. If you're after slots or table games on the sweepstakes model, one of the other names on this list will suit you better.