What are California sweepstakes casinos?
The easiest way of defining sweepstakes casinos is to think of them as online casinos that use virtual currency instead of real money. You can play a large range of online slots, live dealers, and table games. Plus, you can even take part in an array of promotions provided by the casinos.
The in-house virtual currencies used by sweepstakes casinos are typically known as Gold Coins (GC) and Sweepstakes Coins (SC). Gold Coins do not have a financial value, but many operators allow you to redeem Sweepstakes Coins for real money prizes. GC can be purchased in packages using real money, but SC can only be awarded by the operator. This is usually done via promotions or as add-ons to GC purchases.
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in California?
It is important to note that, since you are not wagering real money at sweepstake casinos, the regulations surrounding them are a lot less strict. Due to this, you can play at sweepstakes casinos in a number of locations that prohibit real money online gambling. Most significantly, it means that whilst real money online gambling is prohibited in the state of California, sweepstakes law does allow sweeps casinos to operate within the Golden State. In order to be legal, any sweepstakes casino needs to ensure that:
- No Purchase is Necessary: You need to be able to play for free without a required purchase. This means that the sweepstakes casino will always have ways to give you coins for free.
The legal age to join sweepstakes casinos in California is 18+, but some brands like Stake.us restrict it to 21+.
What was the Fliff Class Action?
Although sweepstakes casinos are legal in California, there were times in recent years when their legality has been contested. In June 2023, Fliff player Bishoy Nessim opened a class action lawsuit in California against the sweepstakes brand Fliff. Nessim accused Fliff of running an illegal online sportsbook.
However, this was thrown out by Judge Sykes in January 2024, who agreed that the
lawsuit should be sent to arbitration. This means that for the time being, the legality of sweepstakes casinos will remain uncontested in the territory of California.
How to find your ideal California sweepstakes casinos
Hopefully, the above information has convinced you that sweepstakes casinos are a great option. The next step is to locate the perfect California sweepstakes for you. There are a lot of factors to consider when making this decision, so to hello you out, here are four key areas you need to explore when assessing sweeps casinos:
Since you are not playing with real money, sweepstakes casinos are often extremely generous when it comes to giving away Coins. You will find plenty of variety in the new player offers and existing player promotions at sweeps casinos. It is useful to check out the promo pages of casinos before signing up at any of them – this will help you establish if the casino runs promotions that are attractive to you. Plus, don’t forget to read our expert reviews, as these often contain exclusive codes such as the Stake.us BONUSDROID promo code.
Website and mobile options
Whenever you play at a California sweepstakes casino, you want your gambling platform to be fast, reliable and user friendly. If you are a mobile player, then you will find that some
California social gambling
operators have mobile apps, whereas others have mobile optimized websites that can be accessed via browsers. Take the time to tour these websites and apps to find out which ones you enjoy using and which ones are easy to navigate.
The game libraries at sweepstakes casinos are usually vast and full of popular table games, online slots and live casino titles. Some
US sweepstakes casinos, like Stake.us, even have their own exclusive games (known as Stake Originals) for you to try. By exploring the game libraries you can establish which sites have your favorite games and/or new titles you want to try out.
This means checking out the supporting areas of a sweepstake casino provision. How good are the customer services? Which methods are available for buying Coin packages? Does the site allow you to chat with other players? The more information you have, the easier it is to make informed decisions on which California sweepstake casinos to join.
Our favorite sweepstakes casino bonuses
1.
Up to 125 SC FREE + 625K Golden Coins + 1250 VIP Points
2.
Get 150% More Coins on First Purchase: 40 SC FREE + 800K Crown Coins
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus
3.
$55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Requirements (WR): 3x
4.
150% Purchase Offer: 25 SC FREE and 50K GC
5.
100% Purchase Bonus, Spend $20 get a 200k GC and 40 SC Bonus
Our pick for the Top 3 CA sweepstakes casinos
In the final part of our guide, we are going to take a little look at three of the very best California sweepstakes casinos on the market:
1. Stake.us
In our opinion, Stake.us is the number one sweeps casino in California. The operator has a high quality website, an impressive selection of casino games (both exclusive and from renowned providers), and provides top of the range customer support. Best of all, the promotions at Stake.us are second to none, meaning you will never have to purchase a Coin package. Simply put, if you love California sweepstakes casinos, you will absolutely love Stake.us.
To show you how great they are at giving back to their players, Stake.us has an exclusive offer just for you. All you have to do is use our exclusive promo code
BONUSDROID
when signing up to get a 5% rakeback to enjoy!
$55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
2. Funrize
Talking of promotions, Funrize is a fantastic choice for players looking to get a regular supply of free Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins. In fact, the sign up bonus includes free 3,600 SC and 1.225 Million Gold Coins. After that, you can enjoy daily promotions like the Funrize Wheel, races, and a referral program. Funrize’s range of games isn’t as extensive as that of Stake.us, but you can enjoy a range of slot games especially fishing games like Galaxy Fishing and Fishing Kingdom.
What’s more, the Funrize website is extremely easy to use and one of the best looking casino sites in California. It all adds up to a hugely enjoyable sweepstakes casino experience.
3,600 SC FREE + 1.225 Million Gold Coins
3. Pulsz Casino
If you love a great welcome bonus, then Pulsz represents a fantastic option. New players at the site can receive 367,000 Gold Coins + 32.3 Sweepstakes Coins + 460 VIP Points. And that’s not the only thing to love about Pulsz, since the operator also boasts an excellent collection of games from NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Playson, and Relax Gaming.
Other defining features of Pulsz Casino include top level customer support – plus, some superb prizes to really get your Pulsz racing!
367,000 Gold Coins and 460 VIP Points
Other Gaming Options for Players in California
Sweepstakes casinos are so popular in California because they’re one of the few attractive options in the absence of legal real money casinos and sportsbooks in the state. However, there are some other options you can look into if you wish:
- Tribal Casinos, such as the Diamond Mountain and the Thunder Valley Casino Resort.
- Card Rooms, such as Hollywood Park, and Hawaiian Gardens
In our opinion, sweepstakes casinos remain the most convenient from the legal gaming options, which is why a lot of Californians flock to these brands.
Responsible Gaming in California: Useful Resources
If you’re worried you might be developing an addiction to gaming, there are lots of resources for Californian sweepstakes players. These include:
- The
California Council on Problem Gambling
- The
California Gambling Control Commission
We also encourage you to stick to legit sweepstakes brands like the ones we promote here as these tend to have responsible gaming features such as timeouts, self-exclusion, and playtime limits.
Conclusion: Find your perfect Californian sweeps casino today
Of course, you may decide that your ideal California sweeps casino is NOT one of our top three. After all, every sweeps casino player is different, so you need to establish what matters most to you when playing. All we can do is give you the facts, so read our expert reviews, do your research, and decide which California sweepstakes casinos are right for you.
And when you have joined your favorite sweeps casinos, remember to check out our expert bonus reviews. They will give you full details of the best ways to claim free Coins and guidance on how to use them. Good luck!
Top sweepstakes casinos for December 2024
1.
Up to 125 SC FREE + 625K Golden Coins + 1250 VIP Points
2.
Get 150% More Coins on First Purchase: 40 SC FREE + 800K Crown Coins
3.
$55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
4.
150% Purchase Offer: 25 SC FREE and 50K GC
5.
100% Purchase Bonus, Spend $20 get a 200k GC and 40 SC Bonus
Sweepstakes casinos online in California FAQs
🏄 Is California social gambling legal?
Yes, social and sweepstakes casinos in California are legal. Since you don’t use real money at these casinos, they don’t fall under the category of real money online gambling, which is still prohibited in California.
🎖️What is the best California sweepstakes casino online?
Some of our Cali sweepstakes casino favorites include Stake.us, Vegas Gems, and Sweeptastic. However, it also comes down to your personal choice. Before joining any CA sweeps casinos, think about the specific elements of an online casino that you enjoy the most. Is it the games? Or the promotions? Or the mobile app? Or something else entirely? Then read our expert guides to find out which operators best meet your requirements.
🧑Do I need a California sweepstakes bonus code?
Probably not because most bonuses are claimable without a bonus code. One exception is Stake.us which requires the code BONUSDROID to unlock the exclusive $55 Stake Cash + 260K + 5% Rakeback. If in doubt, always check out our recommended list because we’ll list any exclusive promo codes you can use.
❓Is McLuck legal in California?
Yes, McLuck is available for sweepstakes players in California.
✅Is Chumba Casino available in California?
Chumba Casino is legal in California and is one of the more popular sweepstakes casinos in the state.
⚖️Is Pulsz legal in California?
Yes, Pulsz has California as one of the available states to play at this sweepstakes casino.
