Are sportsbooks legal in Georgia?
If you've gone to the trouble of seeking out this guide to Georgia sportsbooks, my guess is you already know the answer to that question. But for clarity's sake, let me confirm: no, online sportsbooks are not legal in the Peach State.
I'm sorry about that. With news that some other states, like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan, have relaxed their online betting laws, you may have been holding onto some hope that GA lawmakers might have followed suit. But, as of yet, that hasn't happened.
Bummer, right? But I'd encourage you not to give up hope just yet, because I might have found the perfect alternative in the form of GA sweepstakes sportsbooks. For more information on social sports betting platforms, check out our social sportsbooks guide.
What is a sweepstakes sportsbook?
Are you familiar with sweepstakes casinos? Then you should have a good idea of what their sportsbook equivalents are. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then let me fill you in.
Sweepstakes sportsbooks are free-to-use sports predictor platforms where you can make selections on real sports fixtures. Rather than wagering with real cash, you'll get free virtual currencies that you can use on a virtual bet slip for an upcoming (or live) game.
How do sweepstakes sportsbooks work?
Sweepstakes sportsbooks are designed to mimic sports betting sites, right up to the point where real cash changes hands. You can't wager, win, or withdraw physical money on these sites and apps, but you can play with two types of free virtual currencies that simulate the experience of "betting" for real.
Let's take a closer look at how these two virtual currencies work:
| Sweeps sportsbook coins | Details | AKA (Coin name can vary by brand) |
| Gold Coins (GC) | With Gold Coins, you can make just-for-fun sports selections on any upcoming fixtures you like. GC is free to collect, and you can also purchase more if you run low. | Fliff Coins, Thrillzz Coins, Onyx Coins, Kickr Bits, etc. |
| Sweeps Coins (SC) | Sweeps Coins are the redeemable tokens found on sweepstakes sportsbooks. If you satisfy a brand’s SC redemption requirements, you can trade these free-to-collect tokens for real prizes like cash and gift cards. Note that you can’t buy more of them. | Fliff Cash, Thrilzz Sweeps, Onyx Cash, Kickr Bucks, etc. |
Armed with "Fliff Coins" or "Thrillzz Cash", you can make selections on real sports fixtures like you would at a regular Georgia sportsbook. For instance, you might play 10 Kickr Bits on the Braves to win against the New York Mets, or 100 Onyx Coins on the Falcons to throw down against the New Orleans Saints.
The thing I like about sweepstakes sportsbooks is that their odds are pretty much in line with real-money gambling (RMG) sportsbooks. This adds to the whole experience, so you can plan your picks based on legit odds data and sports analysis.
Get up to 103 SC + 20,500 GC for FREE with Legendz!
100% purchase match for up to 100 in Onyx Cash Free Picks
150,000 Bits + FREE 4 Bucks
A step-by-step look at using a sweepstakes sportsbook
I get that there's a lot to digest here, so I've put together a brief, step-by-step look at how using a GA sweepstakes sportsbook plays out.
- Choose your favorite sweepstakes sportsbook First of all, you'll need to choose a place to play. I've added five recommendations down below and in the banners around this page, but generally, I'd seek out sites offering decent Georgia social sportsbook promos, great features, and a solid reputation for reliability and speedy SC redemption times.
- Make sure it's 100% available in Georgia As a rule, online sweepstakes gaming sites enjoy much better coverage than their RMG counterparts, since they're not covered by the same laws and restrictions. However, that doesn't mean they're universally available across the USA, so check that any sweepstakes sportsbook (or casino, for that matter) is available in GA before you try and play.
- Sign up for a free account The benefit of using a sweepstakes sportsbook (beyond the fact that they're actually available in GA) is that they're 100% free to use. So, when you register for a new account at a site like Fliff or Sportzino, you won't need to hand over any payment information or make a deposit/purchase of any kind.
- Make your sportsbook selections Since most of the best sweepstakes sportsbooks in GA give you an allowance of free virtual currencies at sign-up, you can jump in and start making selections right away. Visually speaking, these sites and apps are designed to offer a like-for-like sportsbook experience, so you can review odds, choose from multiple "betting" types, and lock in your selections like you would at a regular online sportsbook.
- Wait for your selections to settle Once you've made your picks, it's a case of waiting for them to settle. If you win, you'll receive more free GC or SC equivalent to the odds you selected. Before you can redeem Sweeps Coins for prizes, you'll need to satisfy a brand's "Sweepstakes Rules", so double-check what these entail before you play.
Pros and cons of using a sweepstakes sportsbook in Georgia
- Access legit sports fixtures
- Make free predictions
- Redeem Sweeps Coins winnings for prizes
- Make picks on live games
- Access real sports odds
- Not possible to win or withdraw real cash
- Sweepstakes rules and T&Cs apply
The five best social sports betting sites to try in Georgia
Sweepstakes sportsbooks have only emerged over the past year or so, but they've already been picked up by eager sports fans who live in states with limited sports betting coverage. Since this is the case in Georgia, I've handpicked five brands that you might like to check out for social sports pickin' in the Peach State.
Fliff – One of the OG sweepstakes sportsbook platforms
- Daily bonuses and challenges
- Excellent sports coverage and odds
- Strong social and community features
- No web-based predictions
Fliff was one of the first sweepstakes sportsbooks that came to my attention way back when, and some would argue that it still does it best. In the brand's own words, Fliff "turns sports predictions into a play-for-fun social game with daily credits to play for free". From where I'm sitting, that sounds like a pretty attractive proposition from one of the best free-play sports predictor apps in the business.
To use Fliff in Georgia, you'll need to download the brand's app onto your iOS or Android device, as there's no desktop/browser version at the moment. That might prove a dealbreaker for some users, but, to be honest, using the Fliff app is by far the best way to make on-the-fly sports selections whenever and wherever you feel like it.
Sportzino – A multi-product sweepstakes gaming platform
- Generous welcome bonus
- Legal in most US states
- VIP “Hall of Fame” loyalty program
- No fees on Gold Coin purchases
- No live chat or phone support
- Not available in ID, MI, GA, or WA
Sportzino is a do-all sweepstakes gaming platform that offers a fully-stocked sportsbook alongside a suite of sweepstakes casino games. Don't for one second think that this means that it offers a diluted sportsbook experience; however, Sportzino's social sportsbook is packed to the rafters with sports markets and "betting" types, including the opportunity to make selections on live, in-play fixtures.
One of the key benefits of using Sportzino is that – unlike some other brands on my shortlist – it has a standard browser site, so you can access its sportsbook on any device you prefer. Add to that the potential to pick up 170,000 Gold Coins and 7 Sweeps Coins as a new Sportzino member, and it does seem like an attractive proposition.
Thrillzz – Classic sportsbook mechanics with a twist
- Highly rated social sportsbook app
- 3,000 Thrillzz Coins + 3 Thrillzz Sweeps welcome offer
- User-friendly interface
- Always free to use
- No desktop social sportsbook
The Thrillzz app offers an authentic sportsbook-style experience, with members able to make free sports selections on "Spread" and "Moneyline" odds. Choose from a wide range of qualifying sports markets and make selections on upcoming and live games; if you win, you could pick up Thrillzz Sweeps, which you can then turn into Thrillzz Tickets, which you can redeem for real prizes like gift cards and cash.
Like Fliff, Thrillzz is an app-only social sportsbook. The brand has picked up thousands of positive ratings in respective iOS and Android app stores, with users favoring its simple mechanics and easy SC redemption system.
Onyx Odds – A slick sweepstakes sportsbook for serious sports fans
- Free sports picks and predictions
- VIP program for existing users
- Low minimum Onyx Cash prize redemption
- Not available in some US states
Onyx Odds is arguably the most "grown-up" sweepstakes sportsbook on my shortlist, offering a slick, hyper-focused sports selection experience that should make it the perfect fit for serious, no-nonsense sports fans. The brand's website alone is a lesson in UX and site design, so if you're looking for a pared-back experience that puts the action front and center, this could be the social sportsbook app to go for.
The welcome bonus at Onyx Odds is 1,000 Onyx Coins as well as a first purchase bonus for your first optional Onyx Coin purchase. This basically means that if you're happy to purchase Onyx Coins, you can pick up Bonus Picks as part of its $10 packages.
Kickr – One of the web's most popular social sportsbook apps
- Free Bits and Bucks for new players
- Several free promos for existing players
- Exclusive VIP program
- No live chat
Originally launched in 2023, Kickr is one of the OG sweepstakes sportsbook apps, and one that I still use regularly two years later. Kickr has only gone from strength to strength since its conception, with the brand recently adding a suite of casino-style games to its app-only platform. However, it's the brand's impressive sweepstakes sportsbook that continues to draw a crowd.
When you join Kickr as a new player, you'll receive 150,000 Bits + 4 Free Bucks, which is equivalent to 150K GC and 4 SC on other sweepstakes sportsbook apps. That's a killer sign-up bonus by any standard, and should give you plenty of flexibility to try out the platform to its fullest.
My verdict on sweepstakes sportsbooks in GA
Don't think of accessing a sweepstakes sportsbook in Georgia as a compromise. In my view, these free-play gaming sites offer lots of benefits versus their RMG counterparts, not least offering a risk-free way to play.
If you've been pining for somewhere to make legit sports selections in GA, the likes of Kickr, Onyx Odds, Thrillzz, Sportzino, and Fliff are open for business. And since they're free to use, you could try them all out for size 'til you find the app that works best for you. Offering a like-for-like sports "betting" experience that's as close to the real thing as you're likely to get, GA sweepstakes sportsbooks are the perfect solution for enthusiastic sports fans in the Peach State. While it could be argued that these apps don't offer quite the same excitement and jeopardy of RMG sportsbooks, they are a super-effective alternative that will help you feel closer to the action.
Convinced? Then use the links on this page to get started at Kickr, Onyx Odds, Thrillzz, Sportzino, or Fliff today. You can also browse our complete sites like directory for more social sportsbook alternatives.
Get off to a great start with these social betting bonuses
Get up to 103 SC + 20,500 GC for FREE with Legendz!
100% purchase match for up to 100 in Onyx Cash Free Picks
150,000 Bits + FREE 4 Bucks
Georgia sportsbooks FAQs
️ What is the best sportsbook in Georgia?
Since sportsbooks aren't legal in GA, you'll need to turn to a sweepstakes version. I can recommend Kickr, Onyx Odds, Thrillzz, Sportzino, and Fliff.
Can you win money on sweepstakes sportsbooks?
No, it's not possible to wager, win, or withdraw real cash on these simulated sportsbooks. You might be able to exchange Sweeps Coins winnings for prizes, but this isn't guaranteed and is subject to T&Cs.
Do sweepstakes sportsbooks offer welcome bonuses in Georgia?
Yes, you can pick up free Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins when joining a new sweepstakes sportsbook in Georgia. Check out the banners around this page for some of my favorite deals of the moment.
