- Sweepstakes casinos allow players to play online sweepstakes games for cash prizes, with casino games that operate as mini-sweepstakes contests. Sites like Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Funzpoints present the opportunity to play online slots and table games, with cash prizes rewarded.
- Sweepstakes online casino – Chumba Casino Chumba Casino was one of the first sweepstakes sites that appeared on the US market in 2018. Players who purchase virtual currency from Chumba are awarded sweepstakes tickets at a 1:1 rate, which is also maintained when you redeem them for cash.
Out of all states, California enjoys the most potential for regulated online casino gaming. The state houses the largest population at almost 40 million residents and boasts the largest economy at $3 trillion in gross state product.
Chumba Casino is operated by Virtual Gaming Worlds out of Perth, Australia. With a range of such activities as different styles of poker, a wide range of free video slot games and other online casino games, Chumba Casino seems to have found a place in social media that allows the inner gamer in us to play. Chumba Casino is operated by Virtual Gaming Worlds out of Perth, Australia. With a range of such activities as different styles of poker, a wide range of free video slot games and other online casino games, Chumba Casino seems to have found a place in social media that allows the inner gamer in us to play.
The problem, though, is that California hasn't legalized online casinos. The only legislative efforts it has put forth involve online poker.
The state is missing out on a goldmine of tax dollars from online gaming. Meanwhile, several other states are already capitalizing on the opportunity by offering residents and visitors legal gaming sites.
Regulated online casinos in California will likely take advantage of the opportunity in the future.
Here, we'll cover what types of games online CA casinos would offer. But first, let's discuss the current gaming market and why past legislative efforts have failed.
California-based businesses aren't allowed to operate casino sites because of the federal Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, or UIGEA. This law prohibits all US companies from knowingly accepting payments related to bets or wagers placed over the internet.
Sweepstakes casinos for real cash prizes in California
Fortunately, Californians aren't completely out of options for playing casino games online. One solution is to use sweeps cash casinos – like Chumba Casino andLuckyland Slots, which run on virtual currencies while simultaneously providing their customers with an opportunity to win real money prizes.
The model is simple: players need to purchase virtual currency bundles to play the games. Each of those bundles comes with a promotional set of sweepstakes tickets, which can also be used to play the games. The catch is that you can win more of them if you put them at risk. Every ticket that has been played at least once can be used to redeem real money prizes, i.e., cash out.
Legally, what makes this model work is the fact that virtual currency is the purchasable product, and the sweepstakes tickets are handed out for free as promotional gifts. Because sweepstakes-based promotions are legal in California and virtual currency holds no intrinsic value and can even be transferred outside the casino site, California residents are free to play on such platforms without violating Section 330.
California Online Casino fact sheet:
| State-sanctioned sites: | No. UIGEA still in effect. |
| Offshore casino sites: | Illegal |
| Social sites: | Legal |
| Sweepstakes sites: | Legal |
| Online casino bill: | No. All efforts were focused on poker. |
The current legal status of California online gambling
The Golden State hasn't regulated gaming sites yet. As a result, California doesn't offer any legal online casinos.
Operating an internet-based casino in this state is illegal. No law directly addresses gambling at an unregulated gaming site.
However, penal code 330a, which discusses illegal gambling, could be applied to playing through a smartphone, tablet or PC:
'(…) any slot or card machine, contrivance, appliance or mechanical device, upon the result of action of which money or other valuable thing is staked or hazarded (…) is guilty of a misdemeanor.'
Assuming California regulates online gambling, the state constitution would likely include new excerpts that clear up the legality issue.
California fails to legalize online gaming
Several other states have already legalized online casinos.
However, California was one of the firststates to consider internet-based gaming. The initial online poker bill was proposed in 2008.
Had this bill passed, California would've been four years ahead of any other state in legalizing online gaming. The 2008 legislation failed, though, like many other efforts throughout the past decade.
We mentioned that California's size sets it up to be a lucrative online casino market. However, it also creates difficulties in passing legislation.
Licensed card rooms, tribes and racetracks all serve the state's gambling needs. Each of these entities has its take on how a regulated online poker market should work.
The tribes, which earn billions annually from their casinos, are especially dragging their feet. They're not interested in sharing revenue with card rooms and racetracks, nor do they want to upset the status quo.
Card rooms and horsetracks, on the other hand, won't cede online poker to tribal casinos. They want to share in any revenue generated by poker sites.
This impasse spells doom, not only for online poker rooms, but also for online casinos. If the tribes are worried about poker upsetting their status as market leaders, they're probably even more against casino sites.
Sweepstakes online casino – Chumba Casino
Chumba Casino was one of the first sweepstakes sites that appeared on the US market in 2018. Players who purchase virtual currency from Chumba are awarded sweepstakes tickets at a 1:1 rate, which is also maintained when you redeem them for cash. The site also runs a promotion that allows you to receive ten tickets for purchasing your first $5 bundle.
Chumba Casino software is 100% browser-based, which makes it compatible with most modern computers and mobile devices. Its game library is relatively small, composed of 42 video slots (including four progressive jackpot games), one video poker game, and one blackjack game, but all the available titles were designed in-house and cannot be accessed via any other site.
While Chumba games tend to be based on slots designed by well-established developers, they're far from being cheap knock-offs. Their production value is top-notch, and the gameplay is smooth and satisfying.
What's more, Chumba's blackjack is arguably one of the most newbie-friendly table games on the market at the moment as it comes with a Show Odds feature that allows you to check the odds of winning your hand if you opt to stand instead of hitting.
There is also a new sweeps based casino launched in 2019, Lucky Land Slots is now available for California residents.
Social casino sites
Section 330 applies exclusively to real money games, which means that California residents are free to play on social casino sites such as Slotomania, Zynga, or Big Fish. While those sites are entertaining, we recommend playing on MyVegas, which is a social platform operated by MGM, a company that also owns the MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel & Casino located in Nevada.
The loyalty points accumulated by playing on MyVegas can be exchanged for comps at MGM Grand, which include free meals, retail items, and free hotel stays.
Can we look forward to legal CA online casinos?
No online gambling legislation has been introduced since 2017. The lack of a recent bill means that online gaming is currently a non-issue.
However, we shouldn't take this as a sign that online poker or casino games will never be legal. A lot can happen within the next five to 10 years.
California gaming interests may see that other states, e.g., NewJersey and Pennsylvania, are earning lots of revenue from online casinos. All sides involved should then be more motivated to reach an agreement.
Of course, any gambling bill must pass the state legislature by a two-thirds majority vote. This rule only adds pessimism to internet-based casinos ever becoming a reality.
Politicians could be more willing to listen as they continue missing out on more tax dollars. This scenario, combined with more states regulating online gambling, might change the current sentiment in California.
What online casino gambling could we expect in California?
The Golden State seems a way off from passing the long-discussed online poker legislation, let alone regulating casino games. However, legal online casinos are within the realm of possibility in California.
Here's speculation on what CA gaming sites would feature.
California online slots
Slots would no doubt be the crown jewel of the Golden State's online casino market. After all, internet-based slots rule every other regulated casino gaming market.
New Jersey provides an example of what to expect. Most of their operators feature hundreds of online slots, compared to dozens of table games.
California online casinos would likely be supplied by the same slots developers that cover the Garden State: Bally, High5, NetEnt, NextGen and WMS are some of the most popular software providers in New Jersey.
Table games
The slots selection dwarfs tablegames at most online casinos. However, these games are still popular in regulated markets.
Blackjack is always a favorite at gaming sites. New Jersey features plenty of blackjack variations.
These variants range from micro-limit games (10 cents per hand) to side bets like Crazy 7s and MegaMatch. The house edges are relatively low, with one single-deck version featuring just a 0.26% house advantage.
Baccarat, craps, Let It Ride, pai gow poker, roulette and Texas Hold 'em bonus poker are some of the other available games.
Video poker
You can look forward to cheap video poker at CA online casinos in the future. Some regulated games feature a 5 cent denomination, versus the 25 cent denomination at land-based casinos.
Unfortunately, the return-to-player (RTP) percentage isn't anything to deserve excitement. Jacks or Better (99.54% RTP) is the only high-paying game available in legal markets now.
Several land-based California casinos offer a JokerPoker variation that delivers 99.92% RTP with perfect strategy. That said, you shouldn't expect to be wowed by CA online video poker.
Live dealer gaming
Live dealer casinos feature real dealers and tables. They stream an authentic, land-based gambling experience straight to your smartphone or PC.
Live dealer games that are available in other states include baccarat, blackjack, casino hold 'em and roulette.
Live casinos are relatively new in regulated markets and will likely grow in the coming years.
Virtual sports
Virtual sports see you wager on 3D sporting events and horse races. For example, you might bet on a virtual tennis match between two generic players.
After placing your wager, you get to watch the 3D match play out. Results are determined by a random number generator (RNG), which takes historical sports data into account when determining the winning and losing bets.
How easy would it be to play at California online casinos?
Another hypothetical worth discussing is playing at CA gaming sites. California casinos would probably feature a similar playing process as the rest of the industry.
If you haven't played at regulated sites, though, you may have questions about this process. Below, you can see the main aspects to consider with signing up and playing at CA casinos in the future.
PC vs. mobile California casinos
Your experience should not dramatically change when moving from PC to mobile casinos, and vice versa. However, the two gaming types have their nuances.
A mobile site either requires you to download an app or play via your internet browser. The former involves installing the app on your phone or tablet.
Regulated gaming sites don't offer downloadable software for PC or Mac players. You automatically play through your browser with a desktop or laptop computer.
Account registration vs. no registration
You need to register for an account at any casino where you wish to deposit money. However, registration isn't necessary if you want to play for free.
Some sites allow you to play before registering and becoming a member. All you need to do is choose the desired game and load it in your browser.
Other online casinos force you to register before playing free games. Luckily, this process only takes a few moments.
You need to supply the casino with simple information before submitting your account for approval. This includes basic details such as your name, address, email, gender and date of birth.
Making a deposit
Before joining an online casino, look at the bankingsection to ensure the site offers both a deposit and withdrawal option you can use.
If California ever legalizes online gaming, banking options won't be in short supply. Many financial intermediaries will likely serve this market, including Neteller, PayPal, Skrill, Visa and Mastercard.
Take advantage of California online casino bonuses
Internet-based casinos in states with legal online gaming offer excellent bonuses. California can expect the same if it regulates the activity.
These offers are favorable in both size and terms and conditions (T&Cs). Deposit bonuses can be worth as much as a 100% match on your first deposit of up to $1,500.
T&Cs are much lighter than what you can find in many other markets. Typically, you only need to wager your bonus 20x at regulated casinos, versus the 40x gaming industry standard.
Legal gaming sites exist in a highly competitive environment. They're willing to offer generous bonus deals to entice new players.
California would be no different in this regard. Casinos in the Golden State might feature even better deals thanks to the massive online casino gambling market.
What's in store for the future?
The UIGEA includes an exception permitting the states to explicitly legalize online gambling, which is why it doesn't apply to licensed gambling sites operating in Nevada, New Jersey, or Delaware. California lawmakers haven't made a serious attempt at legalizing online casino games as all their efforts have been concentrated on internet poker.
This prohibition was tested in the court by one of the casino-operating Native Californian tribes, the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel. The tribe launched a small bingo platform called Desert Rose Bingo to test the waters before expanding its online operations to poker.
Desert Rose Bingo servers were located on reservation land, and the tribe argued that it had the right to offer its services over the internet under the compact signed with the state. Had the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel succeeded, it could have paved the way for Native American casinos.
Online Casino Like Chumba
Unfortunately, the site was quickly subpoenaed, and in 2018, the tribe lost the legal battle to keep this project afloat in the Ninth District Court of Appeals. The judge noted that while the argument pertaining to the tribe's jurisdiction over gambling on tribal land had merit, the act of making a bet took place elsewhere and thus constituted a violation of UIGEA.
If a bingo site powered by servers located on Native American land could be shut down by the California courts, then there's no hope for any California-based business, tribal or non-tribal, to launch a casino site without an explicit legalization bill being put on the books.
California is lagging behind many other states in the US when it comes to legalizing online gambling. However, if you currently live in California and don't want to drive down to one of the tribal casinos, you still have options for online gaming in the form of sweepstakes casino sites.
Basically, sweepstakes casino sites are totally legal in California even though regular online casinos are not. These sweepstakes sites offer fun casino action, allowing you to play with digital currency instead of real money. Once you've accumulated a certain number of Sweeps Coins, you can exchange them for cash prizes.
Below, we'll tell you everything you need to know about sweepstakes casinos in California.
Best Sweepstakes Online Casino Sites In California
While California law is pretty anti-gambling in general, it does allow sweepstakes gaming. Online sweepstakes sites, of which two are particularly notable, can be enjoyed from anywhere within California borders. The two notable sites are Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots.
| Online Casino | Sign-up Offer | Purchase Offer |
|---|---|---|
| Chumba Casino | Two free Sweeps Coins on sign up | $30 Gold Coin package when you spend $10 |
| Luckyland Slots | Ten free Sweeps Coins on sign up | 10 Gold Coins when you spend $4.99 |
Chumba Casino provides slots and table games, while LuckyLand Slots offers a good selection of slots. Both sites use Sweeps Coins and Gold Coins as currency for games. Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots are similar to Funzpoints, b spot, and Zitobox Slots which are all incredibly popular in California and throughout the rest of the US because of their excellent user interfaces and diverse game selections.
In a nutshell, sweepstakes casino sites are legal because players don't put real money on the line. Instead, games are played with digital Sweeps or Gold Coins, which operate as digital currencies without a real-world monetary equivalent.
What Are The Bonuses At Sweepstakes Casinos In California?
Like most online casino sites, both Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots provide opening bonuses for new players to get people to try out their sites. Both sites also provide daily bonuses to encourage regular players to keep signing in. Thus, the opening bonuses here keep on giving. They aren't one-and-done offerings only to draw in new players. Regular players also benefit.
Both sites, to start, provide daily free Gold Coins when you log in. These are automatically placed into your account balance for use with whatever games you please. However, you only get these daily free coins once per day. You can't log in multiple times per day to claim the daily bonus repeatedly, even if you swap between different devices.
Chumba Casino offers an opening bonus of two free Sweeps Coins when you sign up for the site. Make an account, verify your information and you'll get the free Sweeps Coins once you enter the site. Furthermore, it provides a $30 package of Gold Coins when you spend $10 on the site for Gold Coins.
LuckyLand Slots offers the same daily bonus, plus you get 10 free Sweeps Coins when you sign up. An additional 10 Sweeps Coins will be placed in your account when you spend $4.99 on other Gold Coins or merchandise.
| Chumba Casino | Luckyland Slots |
|---|---|
| Free Sweeps Coins for logging in daily | 200+ Gold Coins for logging in daily |
| Two free Sweeps Coins on sign up | 10 free Sweeps Coins on sign up |
| $30 Gold Coin package when you spend $10 | 10 Gold Coins when you spend $4.99 |
| Mobile Web App | Android App |
Quick Guide To Sweepstakes Casinos In California
How Do Sweepstakes Casinos Work In California?
As mentioned, sweepstakes casinos work in California because they don't actually require you to put any real money on the line. These games do not require that people play with anything of real-world value, so gaming with these sites is totally legal.
There are two types of digital currencies with which players can participate with the various games on Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, or other online sweepstakes sites.
The first currency is called Sweeps Coins. This is a free digital currency and players can earn more coins from participating in email challenges, signing up for free giveaways, or by getting a bonus every day just for logging in. You spend these coins at games the same way you would real money at a brick-and-mortar casino.
Gold Coins are the second digital currency. Players can purchase packages of Gold Coins and use these at the various games on any sweepstakes site. They have no exchangeable value so they are not redeemable for cash prizes. Many times, online sweepstakes sites provide players with extra Sweeps Coins when they spend money on Gold Coin packages or bundles.
How Do You Win Cash Prizes By Playing Online?
Most sweepstakes casinos work by giving you free Sweeps Coins at a proportionately smaller rate than the Gold Coins you can purchase. You cannot exchange Gold Coins for money prizes, but you can use them to play casino games.
However, players can use their Sweeps Coins and eventually win some of the online casino games. Those Sweeps Coins can later be redeemed for monetary prizes. Because players don't get nearly as many Sweeps Coins as they can get Gold Coins, sweepstakes casinos don't usually offer the opportunity to win big in most cases compared to other online casinos.
Still, these sites are a good alternative if you want to play online casino games but aren't allowed to in your state because of anti-gambling legislation.
How Do You Access Sweepstakes Casino Sites In California?
In California, players must access Chumba Casino through a normal web browser, as it does not provide a mobile app. However, the website is also mobile-friendly for easy access. LuckyLand Slots is accessible through a standard desktop or mobile web browser. There's also an app for Android.
Both sites operate 24/7 and provide browser and mobile-friendly interfaces for your device.
How Do Purchases Work At California's Sweepstakes Casino Sites?
You are required to provide some banking information to sign up for both major sweepstakes sites, and you're required to provide your email to get Sweeps Coins for free. Both Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots also make it incredibly easy to purchase Gold Coins.
Chumba Casino Free Sweeps Cash
You normally purchase Gold Coins in bundles for real-world cash values. For instance, $4.99 worth of Gold Coins could be several thousand, allowing you to play multiple games over the course of a day before needing to buy more.
What Are The Sweepstakes Casino Purchase And Redemption Options?
Sites like Chumba and LuckyLand offer two main ways to purchase Gold Coins (remember, you can't purchase Sweeps Coins). The main version involves opening the browser website or mobile app and purchasing Gold Coins directly in packages. For instance, purchasing $30 worth of Gold Coins from Chumba will give you roughly 2 million Gold Coins to play with, plus some Sweeps Coins that you might be able to redeem for cash prizes later.
Redemption is only an option if you win with Sweeps Coins on one of the games you decide to play. In this case, both sweepstakes sites offer you the opportunity to exchange your Sweeps Coins for cash prizes. The prizes are wired to an attached bank account and should show up within three to four business days.
Alternatively, players can obtain Sweeps Coins by mailing-in to either site.
How Does Entry By Mail Work At Sweepstakes Casino Sites In California?
Practically every sweepstakes casino site offers free Sweeps Coins whenever you send in a request by mail. The sites themselves provide the mailing address and require you to include your account information and your name in certain places specified. The tradeoff is that those sites (or associated advertisers) might then send you advertising mail, but you get free Sweeps Coins out of the deal.
To receive Sweeps Coins from Chumba Casino by sending a mail-in request, use a 4″ x 6″ postcard or piece of white paper inside a #10 envelope, then address the envelope in your own handwriting to: VGW Games Limited, Chumba Casino Sweepstakes Department, PO Box #8486, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Then, all you have to do is handwrite the return address on the front of the envelope along with the words 'Sweepstakes Credits'. On the enclosed paper, make sure to handwrite your full name, email address, and a statement explaining that you want to receive Sweeps Coins from Chumba.
For LuckyLand Slot, the procedure is exactly the same. Mail the postcard or envelope to: VGW LuckyLand, Inc., LuckyLand Slots Sweepstakes Department, PO Box #8486, Portsmouth, NH 03801
What Is The Difference Between Sweepstakes Casinos And Online Casino Sites
Chumba Casino Sign In
The primary difference between sweepstakes casino sites and regular online casino sites is the replacement of real-world money with digital currencies that cannot normally be exchanged for cash.
Online sweepstakes casino sites use Sweeps Coins, which can be exchanged for cash sweeps prizes. But these are so infrequently handed out compared to their main Gold Coin currency that it's rare for players to win big on these sites.
Sweepstakes casino sites are more often used as recreational gaming activities for people who like these types of games but don't necessarily want to put real-world cash on the line. They're also a good gaming alternative for people who live in states like California, which make it difficult to enjoy casino activities outside of Indian casinos.
Online casino sites, in contrast, use real-world money for gambling activities. California may yet eventually legalize online gambling to the same extent as states like Pennsylvania. However, such a development is likely still quite far off.
In terms of available games, you won't be able to find much of a difference between sweepstakes casino sites and traditional casino sites except in terms of variety. Chumba and LuckyLand Slots both have good catalogs of games. But most traditional casino sites offer more games simply by virtue of there being more real money slots and digital casino games in general.
Beyond those major differences, things are pretty similar. Sign-up processes are the same, as are the opening bonuses to attract new players.
Status Of Online Gambling In California
In California, online gambling is fairly limited, despite there being many in-person gambling activities throughout the state. At the time of this writing, it's legal to gamble at racetracks, visit tribal casinos, enjoy legal poker card rooms, and play the lottery.
However, online gambling lags behind. To date, California does not have any legal online gambling save for horse racing and daily fantasy sports. The former is mostly because of California's rich horse racing history while the latter is because daily fantasy sports technically counts as an activity of skill or strategy instead of chance (and thus is not considered gambling).
Sweepstakes casino and gaming sites like Chumba and LuckyLand Slots represent an excellent alternative as do sweepstakes poker sites like Global Poker.
Is It Safe To Use Sweepstakes Casinos In California?
Are Sweepstakes Sites Legal In California?
Yes. Sweepstakes sites are completely legal to use in California because they do not violate the letter of the law. They do not require that users play with real-world money, and the currency you play with does not hold any real-world value.
Both Chumba and LuckyLand, the two most popular sweepstakes sites in California, use 100 percent legal sweepstakes models to avoid incurring any fines.
Is My Information Safe On Sweepstakes Apps In California?
Yes. Both sweepstakes sites use security software and well-developed online sweepstakes platforms to ensure that player banking and financial information are not vulnerable to hacking attacks. Furthermore, both organizations are well regulated by the California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC).
The CGCC oversees sites like Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots. It keeps a close eye on their activities and ensures that they follow regulations to the letter. They are also available to take complaints if any user ever has a problem with either site.
What Are The Types Of Games Available At California's Sweepstakes Casinos?
Chumba Casino
Chumba Casino currently offers over 70 titles. In comparison to LuckyLand Slots, this site provides a larger variety of online casino games, including several casino titles that you can't find at traditional casino sites. It also includes table games.
Specifically, there are three card-based games. Blackjack and Jacks or Better video poker were its main offerings before, although it recently added roulette. The other games are all slots.
Most of the slot games have spin/plays that start with the values of 250 Gold Coins, although you can find other high-stakes slots that go up to 1 million Gold Coins or 100 Sweeps Coins per hand or spin. The highest slot games demand 50 Sweeps Coins or five million Gold Coins.
Players can find three progressive Jackpot slots at Chumba Casino, including Triple Double Fever, Reelin N Rockin, and Stampede Fury. These are potentially worth cash prize redemptions of up to $1 million if you win with Sweeps Coins instead of Gold Coins.
The biggest draw to Chumba's online slot offerings is that the games are designed in-house, so you won't be able to play them anywhere else. This is particularly nice for online casino enthusiasts who might eventually get bored with seeing the same online slots everywhere.
LuckyLand Slots
LuckyLand Slots is the sister site to Chumba Casino, and both websites are run by the same parent company. Despite this similarity in organization and oversight, LuckyLand provides over 30 unique slot games that you cannot find anywhere else. As a result, it's very worthwhile to sign up for both websites since you'll get different gaming experiences at each location.
Most of the slots use established casino themes, so the majority of the games feel familiar even if they are technically totally new. This is a positive, overall, because new players will get the hang of how games play and feel fairly quickly.
Some of the slots titles include:
- King of the Jungle
- Mayan Gold
- Pirates Bounty
- Buffalo Rush
- Dragon's Den
- Fashion Frenzy
- Enchanted Fairy
Even better, the majority of LuckyLand's slot games feature great 3D graphics and flashy animations. The resulting gameplay is enjoyable and interesting, even to online slot gaming veterans.
LuckyLand does provide some progressive jackpots as well for potentially huge redeemable sweeps prizes. For instance, Neon Valley is a progressive slot that can go as high as 177,000 Sweeps Coins.
In addition to the range of slot games offered here, players will also be able to enjoy some instant win and scratcher games. However, LuckyLand does not offer any video poker or table games and has not indicated any plans to provide these games in the future.
California Sweepstakes Casinos FAQ
Yes. Using Sweeps Coins, one of the two digital currencies usable on these sites, you can play slots or other types of games. When accumulate Sweeps Coins as you win games, and you can redeem these Sweeps Coins for a cash prize. You can make the exchange through the sweepstakes casino website, and the money will be wired to your bank account within a few business days.
How old do I have to be to play at sweepstakes casino sites in California?
You have to be 18-years-old to play at sweepstakes casino sites within the state. This is the age at which a person becomes a legal adult and can provide personal identifying information on their own.
Yes. Both Chumba and LuckyLand, the two most popular sweepstakes online casinos in California, offer progressive jackpots. Both of these progressive jackpots are built up using Sweeps Coins instead of real coins so that they're eventually redeemable by a player for a cash prize. In some cases, the cash prizes can get up to over $1 million in value.
This is one of the few ways where sweepstakes casino players can win 'big' compared to players of regular online casinos.
While California law is pretty anti-gambling in general, it does allow sweepstakes gaming. Online sweepstakes sites, of which two are particularly notable, can be enjoyed from anywhere within California borders. The two notable sites are Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots.
| Online Casino | Sign-up Offer | Purchase Offer |
|---|---|---|
| Chumba Casino | Two free Sweeps Coins on sign up | $30 Gold Coin package when you spend $10 |
| Luckyland Slots | Ten free Sweeps Coins on sign up | 10 Gold Coins when you spend $4.99 |
Chumba Casino provides slots and table games, while LuckyLand Slots offers a good selection of slots. Both sites use Sweeps Coins and Gold Coins as currency for games. Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots are similar to Funzpoints, b spot, and Zitobox Slots which are all incredibly popular in California and throughout the rest of the US because of their excellent user interfaces and diverse game selections.
In a nutshell, sweepstakes casino sites are legal because players don't put real money on the line. Instead, games are played with digital Sweeps or Gold Coins, which operate as digital currencies without a real-world monetary equivalent.
What Are The Bonuses At Sweepstakes Casinos In California?
Like most online casino sites, both Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots provide opening bonuses for new players to get people to try out their sites. Both sites also provide daily bonuses to encourage regular players to keep signing in. Thus, the opening bonuses here keep on giving. They aren't one-and-done offerings only to draw in new players. Regular players also benefit.
Both sites, to start, provide daily free Gold Coins when you log in. These are automatically placed into your account balance for use with whatever games you please. However, you only get these daily free coins once per day. You can't log in multiple times per day to claim the daily bonus repeatedly, even if you swap between different devices.
Chumba Casino offers an opening bonus of two free Sweeps Coins when you sign up for the site. Make an account, verify your information and you'll get the free Sweeps Coins once you enter the site. Furthermore, it provides a $30 package of Gold Coins when you spend $10 on the site for Gold Coins.
LuckyLand Slots offers the same daily bonus, plus you get 10 free Sweeps Coins when you sign up. An additional 10 Sweeps Coins will be placed in your account when you spend $4.99 on other Gold Coins or merchandise.
| Chumba Casino | Luckyland Slots |
|---|---|
| Free Sweeps Coins for logging in daily | 200+ Gold Coins for logging in daily |
| Two free Sweeps Coins on sign up | 10 free Sweeps Coins on sign up |
| $30 Gold Coin package when you spend $10 | 10 Gold Coins when you spend $4.99 |
| Mobile Web App | Android App |
Quick Guide To Sweepstakes Casinos In California
How Do Sweepstakes Casinos Work In California?
As mentioned, sweepstakes casinos work in California because they don't actually require you to put any real money on the line. These games do not require that people play with anything of real-world value, so gaming with these sites is totally legal.
There are two types of digital currencies with which players can participate with the various games on Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, or other online sweepstakes sites.
The first currency is called Sweeps Coins. This is a free digital currency and players can earn more coins from participating in email challenges, signing up for free giveaways, or by getting a bonus every day just for logging in. You spend these coins at games the same way you would real money at a brick-and-mortar casino.
Gold Coins are the second digital currency. Players can purchase packages of Gold Coins and use these at the various games on any sweepstakes site. They have no exchangeable value so they are not redeemable for cash prizes. Many times, online sweepstakes sites provide players with extra Sweeps Coins when they spend money on Gold Coin packages or bundles.
How Do You Win Cash Prizes By Playing Online?
Most sweepstakes casinos work by giving you free Sweeps Coins at a proportionately smaller rate than the Gold Coins you can purchase. You cannot exchange Gold Coins for money prizes, but you can use them to play casino games.
However, players can use their Sweeps Coins and eventually win some of the online casino games. Those Sweeps Coins can later be redeemed for monetary prizes. Because players don't get nearly as many Sweeps Coins as they can get Gold Coins, sweepstakes casinos don't usually offer the opportunity to win big in most cases compared to other online casinos.
Still, these sites are a good alternative if you want to play online casino games but aren't allowed to in your state because of anti-gambling legislation.
How Do You Access Sweepstakes Casino Sites In California?
In California, players must access Chumba Casino through a normal web browser, as it does not provide a mobile app. However, the website is also mobile-friendly for easy access. LuckyLand Slots is accessible through a standard desktop or mobile web browser. There's also an app for Android.
Both sites operate 24/7 and provide browser and mobile-friendly interfaces for your device.
How Do Purchases Work At California's Sweepstakes Casino Sites?
You are required to provide some banking information to sign up for both major sweepstakes sites, and you're required to provide your email to get Sweeps Coins for free. Both Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots also make it incredibly easy to purchase Gold Coins.
Chumba Casino Free Sweeps Cash
You normally purchase Gold Coins in bundles for real-world cash values. For instance, $4.99 worth of Gold Coins could be several thousand, allowing you to play multiple games over the course of a day before needing to buy more.
What Are The Sweepstakes Casino Purchase And Redemption Options?
Sites like Chumba and LuckyLand offer two main ways to purchase Gold Coins (remember, you can't purchase Sweeps Coins). The main version involves opening the browser website or mobile app and purchasing Gold Coins directly in packages. For instance, purchasing $30 worth of Gold Coins from Chumba will give you roughly 2 million Gold Coins to play with, plus some Sweeps Coins that you might be able to redeem for cash prizes later.
Redemption is only an option if you win with Sweeps Coins on one of the games you decide to play. In this case, both sweepstakes sites offer you the opportunity to exchange your Sweeps Coins for cash prizes. The prizes are wired to an attached bank account and should show up within three to four business days.
Alternatively, players can obtain Sweeps Coins by mailing-in to either site.
How Does Entry By Mail Work At Sweepstakes Casino Sites In California?
Practically every sweepstakes casino site offers free Sweeps Coins whenever you send in a request by mail. The sites themselves provide the mailing address and require you to include your account information and your name in certain places specified. The tradeoff is that those sites (or associated advertisers) might then send you advertising mail, but you get free Sweeps Coins out of the deal.
To receive Sweeps Coins from Chumba Casino by sending a mail-in request, use a 4″ x 6″ postcard or piece of white paper inside a #10 envelope, then address the envelope in your own handwriting to: VGW Games Limited, Chumba Casino Sweepstakes Department, PO Box #8486, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Then, all you have to do is handwrite the return address on the front of the envelope along with the words 'Sweepstakes Credits'. On the enclosed paper, make sure to handwrite your full name, email address, and a statement explaining that you want to receive Sweeps Coins from Chumba.
For LuckyLand Slot, the procedure is exactly the same. Mail the postcard or envelope to: VGW LuckyLand, Inc., LuckyLand Slots Sweepstakes Department, PO Box #8486, Portsmouth, NH 03801
What Is The Difference Between Sweepstakes Casinos And Online Casino Sites
Chumba Casino Sign In
The primary difference between sweepstakes casino sites and regular online casino sites is the replacement of real-world money with digital currencies that cannot normally be exchanged for cash.
Online sweepstakes casino sites use Sweeps Coins, which can be exchanged for cash sweeps prizes. But these are so infrequently handed out compared to their main Gold Coin currency that it's rare for players to win big on these sites.
Sweepstakes casino sites are more often used as recreational gaming activities for people who like these types of games but don't necessarily want to put real-world cash on the line. They're also a good gaming alternative for people who live in states like California, which make it difficult to enjoy casino activities outside of Indian casinos.
Online casino sites, in contrast, use real-world money for gambling activities. California may yet eventually legalize online gambling to the same extent as states like Pennsylvania. However, such a development is likely still quite far off.
In terms of available games, you won't be able to find much of a difference between sweepstakes casino sites and traditional casino sites except in terms of variety. Chumba and LuckyLand Slots both have good catalogs of games. But most traditional casino sites offer more games simply by virtue of there being more real money slots and digital casino games in general.
Beyond those major differences, things are pretty similar. Sign-up processes are the same, as are the opening bonuses to attract new players.
Status Of Online Gambling In California
In California, online gambling is fairly limited, despite there being many in-person gambling activities throughout the state. At the time of this writing, it's legal to gamble at racetracks, visit tribal casinos, enjoy legal poker card rooms, and play the lottery.
However, online gambling lags behind. To date, California does not have any legal online gambling save for horse racing and daily fantasy sports. The former is mostly because of California's rich horse racing history while the latter is because daily fantasy sports technically counts as an activity of skill or strategy instead of chance (and thus is not considered gambling).
Sweepstakes casino and gaming sites like Chumba and LuckyLand Slots represent an excellent alternative as do sweepstakes poker sites like Global Poker.
Is It Safe To Use Sweepstakes Casinos In California?
Are Sweepstakes Sites Legal In California?
Yes. Sweepstakes sites are completely legal to use in California because they do not violate the letter of the law. They do not require that users play with real-world money, and the currency you play with does not hold any real-world value.
Both Chumba and LuckyLand, the two most popular sweepstakes sites in California, use 100 percent legal sweepstakes models to avoid incurring any fines.
Is My Information Safe On Sweepstakes Apps In California?
Yes. Both sweepstakes sites use security software and well-developed online sweepstakes platforms to ensure that player banking and financial information are not vulnerable to hacking attacks. Furthermore, both organizations are well regulated by the California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC).
The CGCC oversees sites like Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots. It keeps a close eye on their activities and ensures that they follow regulations to the letter. They are also available to take complaints if any user ever has a problem with either site.
What Are The Types Of Games Available At California's Sweepstakes Casinos?
Chumba Casino
Chumba Casino currently offers over 70 titles. In comparison to LuckyLand Slots, this site provides a larger variety of online casino games, including several casino titles that you can't find at traditional casino sites. It also includes table games.
Specifically, there are three card-based games. Blackjack and Jacks or Better video poker were its main offerings before, although it recently added roulette. The other games are all slots.
Most of the slot games have spin/plays that start with the values of 250 Gold Coins, although you can find other high-stakes slots that go up to 1 million Gold Coins or 100 Sweeps Coins per hand or spin. The highest slot games demand 50 Sweeps Coins or five million Gold Coins.
Players can find three progressive Jackpot slots at Chumba Casino, including Triple Double Fever, Reelin N Rockin, and Stampede Fury. These are potentially worth cash prize redemptions of up to $1 million if you win with Sweeps Coins instead of Gold Coins.
The biggest draw to Chumba's online slot offerings is that the games are designed in-house, so you won't be able to play them anywhere else. This is particularly nice for online casino enthusiasts who might eventually get bored with seeing the same online slots everywhere.
LuckyLand Slots
LuckyLand Slots is the sister site to Chumba Casino, and both websites are run by the same parent company. Despite this similarity in organization and oversight, LuckyLand provides over 30 unique slot games that you cannot find anywhere else. As a result, it's very worthwhile to sign up for both websites since you'll get different gaming experiences at each location.
Most of the slots use established casino themes, so the majority of the games feel familiar even if they are technically totally new. This is a positive, overall, because new players will get the hang of how games play and feel fairly quickly.
Some of the slots titles include:
- King of the Jungle
- Mayan Gold
- Pirates Bounty
- Buffalo Rush
- Dragon's Den
- Fashion Frenzy
- Enchanted Fairy
Even better, the majority of LuckyLand's slot games feature great 3D graphics and flashy animations. The resulting gameplay is enjoyable and interesting, even to online slot gaming veterans.
LuckyLand does provide some progressive jackpots as well for potentially huge redeemable sweeps prizes. For instance, Neon Valley is a progressive slot that can go as high as 177,000 Sweeps Coins.
In addition to the range of slot games offered here, players will also be able to enjoy some instant win and scratcher games. However, LuckyLand does not offer any video poker or table games and has not indicated any plans to provide these games in the future.
California Sweepstakes Casinos FAQ
Yes. Using Sweeps Coins, one of the two digital currencies usable on these sites, you can play slots or other types of games. When accumulate Sweeps Coins as you win games, and you can redeem these Sweeps Coins for a cash prize. You can make the exchange through the sweepstakes casino website, and the money will be wired to your bank account within a few business days.
How old do I have to be to play at sweepstakes casino sites in California?
You have to be 18-years-old to play at sweepstakes casino sites within the state. This is the age at which a person becomes a legal adult and can provide personal identifying information on their own.
Yes. Both Chumba and LuckyLand, the two most popular sweepstakes online casinos in California, offer progressive jackpots. Both of these progressive jackpots are built up using Sweeps Coins instead of real coins so that they're eventually redeemable by a player for a cash prize. In some cases, the cash prizes can get up to over $1 million in value.
This is one of the few ways where sweepstakes casino players can win 'big' compared to players of regular online casinos.
One of the other biggest sweepstakes gaming sites is Global Poker. This is the best sweepstakes poker site if your state doesn't allow legal online gambling. It's a very viable alternative to regular poker rooms.
There's also FunzPoints, a new sweepstakes casino available in California. It offers slots games. 'Standard FunzPoints' are used in place of Gold Coins and 'Premium FunzPoints' in place of Sweeps Coins.
No. While there's nothing explicitly forbidding live dealer games with sweepstakes casinos, you can currently only find these games at regular online casino sites that allow wagering with real money. Since California doesn't allow these sites anyway, you also won't find live dealer games legally accessible online in the state.
There are currently 77 slot games at Chumba Casino. It also offers three card-based table games for a total of 80 titles to choose from. Because Chumba produces its games in-house for the most part, it doesn't come out with new slot games all that often. But the games that it does produce are generally high quality and either feature excellent graphics or are built on well-tested slot game designs and themes.
