Real money online casinos in California have yet to be legalized. However, close alternatives are available in the form of social and sweepstakes casinos.
This article introduces the top three sweepstakes casinos in California, where players can win cash prizes. Additionally, bonus information has been provided as well as a guide to how sweepstakes casinos work. We even share our exclusive Stake.us promo code MIKBONUS that gives new players 5% rakeback on their funds!
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Top Sweepstakes & Social Casinos
- Stake.us – The best sweepstakes casino for original and unique games.
- Pulsz.com – Over 300 slots and sweepstakes cash prizes available.
- BetRivers.net – Free-to-play social casino and sportsbook.
Compare California Online Casinos for Offers
This table provides a quick overview of the essential details you need to know about the top three sweepstakes casinos in California:
| Site | Best For | Bonus Offer | Games |
| Stake.us | Original games | 5% cashback with exclusive promo code | Slots, table games, live dealer, Stake Originals |
| Plusz.com | Cash prizes | 5,000 Free Gold Coins | Slots, tables games, hold and win, Megaways, jackpots |
| BetRivers.net | Large selection of games | 250 free virtual coins | Slots, table games, social sportsbook |
Win Money Playing at Sweepstake Online Casinos
Sweepstakes casinos are different from gambling sites, in that you cannot directly bet with real money. With that being said, you do still have the chance to win cash prizes with some sweepstakes casinos. Below, everything is explained in more detail.
How Does The Currency System Work?
There are three different currencies that you need to be aware of when playing at a sweepstakes casino. First of all, you have two different types of virtual currencies – Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Added to that, real money also comes into play, even if it cannot be used to bet directly.
Here is how each of the three works:
- Gold Coins: This is the main virtual currency that you can use to play games at a social or sweepstakes casino. Gold Coins exist for the purposes of entertainment only, meaning that they have no real world value, and cannot be withdrawn or used to redeem prizes.
- Sweeps Coins: This is the secondary virtual currency, and plays the role of sweepstakes entries. Sweeps Coins can be used to play promotional games at a sweepstakes casino. You can then redeem real-world prizes with them, including cash where available.
- Real money: You might not be able to gamble with real money at a sweepstakes casino, but it still comes into play as a currency. You can purchase Gold Coins in bundles using real money on both social and sweepstakes casino sites. Additionally, as mentioned above, some sweepstakes casinos also have cash prizes that can be won.
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How Does The Coin System Work?
As stated in the paragraph above, there are two different virtual coins that can be used at most sweepstakes casinos – Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Each of these serves a slightly different purpose, and can also be accrued in different ways.
Gold Coins can be gained both through bonuses, promotions, giveaways and can also be bought in bundles. Sweeps Coins, on the other hand, cannot legally be bought and sold. As a result, you can only get them for free, through multiple different means that will be covered later on in this article.
How To Play Without Buying Coins
Although you can purchase Gold Coin in bundles, you do have the possibility to play without buying coins. All sweepstakes casinos offer you a welcome bonus to get started with. This will always consist of some Gold Coins, and will even come with free Sweeps Coins in some cases.
Following this, all social casinos have a small daily reload bonus that again consists of free coins. You will also be able to find multiple other promotions and giveaways that you can take advantage of.
Manage Your Bankroll
Of course, getting your free coins is only half the battle. The real trick lies in making them last and building up your coin balance over time. The best way to do this is by implementing a basic bankroll strategy – set a per-unit budget for each bet, as well as win/loss limits for each gaming session.
By doing this, you can limit losses in the worst case and see your bankroll increase in the best case. Basically, if you don’t run out of coins, then you have no pressing need to buy them. At the end of the day, it effectively boils down to one simple thing – treat your coins as cautiously as if they were your own real money.
How To Get Free Sweeps Coins?
By law, online casinos in California are not allowed to charge money for sweepstakes entries – meaning that you cannot buy Sweeps Coins. As a result, there are a number of different ways that you can get them for free. The means through which you can get free sweeps coins differs slightly from casino to casino. Here are the five most common:
- Welcome offer: When you register an account with a sweepstakes casino in CA, you will always get some free Gold Coins to get you started. On top of that, many operators will also give you a handful of free sweeps as well.
- Reload bonus: All sweepstakes casinos have a daily reload bonus, with some also giving players a weekly and monthly reload as well. Again this always consists of Gold Coins, sometimes with some added Sweeps Coins on top.
- Social media: You should always follow your sweepstakes casino on social media. Invariably, you will find that they advertise extra free sweeps giveaways and competitions on Facebook, Instagram and other platforms.
- Promotional purchases: While you cannot buy Sweeps Coins directly, you can keep an eye out for promotional packages when buying Gold Coins. These come with a bonus that consists of free Sweeps Coins and is the best way to get free sweeps in large volume.
- Postal request: Last but not least, you can send a written postal request to your casino operator’s land-based address. Once the request has been received they will then deposit free Sweeps Coins into your account. This is something that sweepstakes casinos have to make available by law.
Best Online Casino in California
There are many social and sweepstakes casinos available in California just now. Below, you can find a little bit more detail about the top three sites that are available to CA players.
Stake.us: The Most Original Games Selection
Stake.us is perhaps the biggest and best-known sweepstakes casino brand in the US. The Stake Original games offer some of the main highlights of this operator. These in-house developed games offer a unique style of gameplay. With these games, the player has an influence on the overall outcome – unlike slots and table games, which are completely randomized.
As well as the Stake Originals, this casino is also home to over 300 slots, a handful of table games and some live dealer games. Overall, the games here have a high average RTP and a low house edge. If you register your account using an exclusive promo code, you can claim a 5% rakeback bonus on losses.
Pros
- Unique games
- Real world sweepstakes prizes
- Exclusive welcome offer
- Low house edge
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Pulsz.com: Slots and Cash Prizes
In many ways Pulsz.com is the blueprint model for what a good social casino should look like. The design is colorful, welcoming and user-friendly. You then have hundreds of online slot games, including a variety of jackpots and megaways. There are also classic casino table games and 24/7 customer support – which is rarer with sweepstakes casinos than real money gambling sites.
With the welcome offer, you will get 50,000 free Gold Coins when you sign up. On top of that, the daily reload offers players the chance to win up to 2.9 free Sweeps Coins. Speaking of sweepstakes, Pulsz.com offers players the chance to redeem cash prizes with Sweeps Coins.
Pros
- 300+ slots
- Cash prizes
- 24/7 customer support
- Ad-free gameplay
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BetRivers.net: The Only Social Casino with a Sportsbook
This social casino has a massive selection of games that dwarfs that of the other two. More importantly, the games have been provided by some of the most recognized and renowned studios, including Konami, Pragmatic Play and Red Tiger. The live casino contains a decent variety of games, including game shows such as Dream Catcher and Crazy Time.
However, what really sets BetRivers.net apart from the rest is the presence of a social sportsbook. This platform allows you to bet on a selection of sports using virtual coins. It looks and feels the exact same as a real money sports betting site, with the same sports, odds and betting markets.
Pros
- Massive games selection
- Social sportsbook platforms
- Recognized software providers
- Good live casino
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How to Choose A New Sweepstakes Casino
Here are some of the most important things to consider when deciding which sweepstakes casino is right for you:
Game Selection
The main attraction of a sweepstakes casino is the gameplay, and it is what you will spend most of your time doing. You therefore want to ensure that the operators have a diverse selection and, crucially, the types of games that you enjoy.
Offers and Free Sweeps
Always check the promotions that are available and look closely to see exactly what you get. If you want to play for the chance to win prizes, then being able to get free sweeps easily is essential.
Cash Prizes
Read the sweepstakes rules to see what prizes are offered and how you can redeem them. Not all sweepstakes casinos actually have cash prizes available, so if this is important to you, make sure they can be won.
Is an App Available?
Mobile gameplay is pretty much essential for most players these days, but not all sweepstakes casinos have an app available. If there isn’t a downloadable app, test out the mobile-optimized website to see if it’s up to scratch.
What to Look Out for on Sweepstakes Casino Sites
There are some essential features that you should check for before using any online casinos in California. These are as follows:
Security
Above all else, it’s vital to ensure that the site is both legal and safe to use. Check to make sure that players for California are accepted and look for security features, such as SSL encryption technology.
Usability
A good sweepstakes casino website should be user-intuitive. In other words, everything should be easy to find, and the games should function without slow loading times or lagging.
Bonus Offers
Sweepstakes casinos have multiple bonuses available – and they can be claimed more than those found at real money gambling sites. Make sure to check in advance so you know exactly what you will be able to claim.
Customer Support
If you do encounter a problem, you want to ensure that you are in good hands. Ideally, you want 24/7 customer support available via the following channels – live chat, email and phone.
Payment Methods
When it comes to purchasing Gold Coins and redeeming sweepstakes prizes, make sure that your preferred payment method is supported. Look for the likes of credit/debit cards, e-wallets and prepaid cards.
Terms and Conditions
Read through the T&Cs yourself to ensure that everything is fair and in order. You don’t want things to crop up and bite you further down the line.
Are Online Casinos legal in California?
Real money online casinos are not currently legal in California and therefore no license exists. That’s why this article recommends social and sweepstakes casinos as suitable alternatives.
For clarification, the following two types of online casinos are legal in CA:
- Sweepstakes casinos: Where you can play using virtual currency for entertainment and the chance to win real world prizes.
- Social casinos: Like sweepstakes casinos, only you can only play with virtual currency for fun – no cash or real world prizes are available.
What is the Legal Age for Sweepstakes Casinos in California?
Officially, the legal age that you have to be to enter sweepstakes in the state of California is 18. However, you will find that many sweepstakes casinos have a minimum age limit of 21. Rather than setting a different age limit for different states many operators instead opt for setting the maximum age limit across the board.
Online Casinos in California – Summary
The most important thing to remember is that real money online casinos are still not legal in California. However, sweepstakes casinos offer you an alternative that is about as close as you can get, legally. If you want to start playing casino-style games for the chance to win cash prizes, or just for fun, then any of the sites recommended in this article can provide you with a good starting point.
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Online Casinos in California – FAQ
Can I gamble real money online in California?
Real money online gambling is not legal for persons of any age in California at the time of writing. Instead, you do have some very close alternatives, with the most notable of these being social and sweepstakes casinos. Social casinos offer you the chance to play casino-style games for free and for fun. With sweepstakes casinos, you have the same service, only with the added opportunity to win real prizes.
What online casinos can I play in CA?
Although online gambling isn’t available in the state of California, there are still some legal online casinos that you can play at. Social and sweepstakes casinos both have legal casino-style games that you can play, sometimes even for the chance to win cash prizes with sweepstakes. The top three online casinos in California are Stake.us, Pulsz.com and BetRivers.net
Can I win real money at online casinos in California?
Yes, while online gambling is illegal in California, you can still play casino-style games for the chance to win real money. Sweepstakes casinos, such as Pulsz.com, give players the chance to redeem cash prizes with sweeps coins. The risks at a sweepstakes casino are not as big, nor is the chance to win. Most importantly though, sweepstakes are legal in CA.
Do California online casinos have bonuses available?
Only sweepstakes and social casinos are legally available in California, and these types of operators offer plenty of bonuses. Almost all sites have a welcome bonus for new players that consists of free Gold Coins and/or Sweeps Coins. You then have daily reload bonuses and multiple other promotions. Stake.us, Pulsz.com and BetRivers.net are three of the best sweepstakes casinos in CA for bonuses.
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