Can you guess which state is the biggest one where you can play online casino games and win prizes that can be redeemed for real money? Yep, it’s California! 😎
There are only a handful of states that have regulated, real money online casinos, and California isn’t one of them. But players in CA can enjoy online casino games through sweepstakes casinos. They operate under a different set of laws but they are legal and safe. There are hundreds of game titles available, and some sweepstakes online casinos even offer live dealer and table games.
This guide explains how sweepstakes online casinos work, and will introduce you to the top operators available to players in the Golden State.
Can I play online casino games in California?
Yes! If you live in California, you can play on sweepstakes online casinos. They offer casino-style games of chance, and no purchase is necessary to play; you can receive free entries either online or by mailing a postcard. Sweepstakes casinos offer prizes that can be redeemed for real money — all without requiring direct wagers. The sweepstakes casino we recommend is High 5 Casino.
| Online Casino Gaming in California: Key Facts | |
|---|---|
| 📢 What’s Legal | Social casinos, including sweepstakes casino sites |
| ✨ Main Highlights | Sweepstakes casinos offer prizes that can be redeemed for real money | 😎 Top Site | High 5 Casino is the top recommended sweepstakes online casino site |
| 🔮Real Money Online Casinos (Regulated) |
Unlikely to launch anytime soon |
| 🃏 Available Games | Slots (including progressive jackpots), table games, and live dealer games |
| 🔞 Legal Age | Players must be at least 18 years of age | 👥 CA Population | 39 Million (ranks 1st) |
The Best Online Casinos in California
Sweepstakes casinos are legal in California and most other states. They offer what are considered games of chance, but they offer them under the conditions of sweepstakes law.
Players can get free entries, usually through a mailed-in postcard or online, and use them to play various casino-style games. Sweepstakes casinos often award prizes or cash payouts to winners without requiring direct wagers, which make them an attractive option for players in most US states, including California.
Sweepstakes casinos operate like this: First, players can purchase an operator’s digital products (a virtual currency usually called Gold Coins) that can be used for free-play games on the casino site. Then, as a reward, operators issue a second type of virtual currency (called Sweeps Coins on most platforms). These are considered free entries into a sweepstakes, and players use them to play games that award prizes that can be redeemed for real money.
Remember that you don’t have to make any purchase to play online sweepstakes casinos. Some operators award Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins to players every day, just for logging into their site. Players can also receive both types of currency when they sign up, or for sending a mail-in postcard. You can never purchase Sweeps Coins directly.
There are five sweepstakes online casinos that we recommend to players in California. Here are short descriptions of each platform:
High 5 Casino
High 5 Casino has more than 800 unique game titles in its huge portfolio, and more than 1,200 games in total.
Most of the games are slots, but High 5 also offers live dealer and table games like blackjack and roulette — something that isn’t offered by most sweepstakes online casinos.
The platform features some of the most popular titles in the world, with many created by studios like IGT and Pragmatic Play. Video slot leaderboards and jackpot titles can also be found on High 5 Casino.
Read our full review of High 5 Casino »
Funrize Casino
Funrize Casino is a fairly new sweepstakes online casino site, having just launched in 2022. Since it’s new, Funrize doesn’t offer as many games as other platforms. All of the 90-odd gaming titles in its portfolio were developed by NetGame Entertainment.
Players on Funrize Casino can compete against other players on the platform in daily slot races. They can earn extra rewards for performing better than other players.
Funrize has a wide selection of video slots. The platform also has fishing games, which are interactive arcade-style games where players shoot at moving targets to win a prize.
Read our full review of Funrize Casino »
No Limit Coins Casino
No Limit Coins launched in 2021, making it another fairly new sweepstakes casino site. The casino has more than 90 game titles available, all of which were developed by NetGame Entertainment.
Despite its small portfolio of game titles, the casino offers daily slot tournaments with large prize pools. It also has progressive jackpot slots and several arcade-style fishing games. No Limit Coins does not have live dealer or table games.
Stake.us Casino
Stake.us is an unusual sweepstakes online casino platform in that it only supports cryptocurrency, so when you win a prize it will be redeemable for crypto — more than 20 different types are supported.
Live dealer and table games are also available on Stake.us, which is rare for a sweepstakes online casino. The site launched in 2017, and over those years it has built a deep library of games, with more than 1,000 slot titles to choose from.
Some players might be reluctant to try Stake.us because it only accepts crypto, but the site offers excellent rewards that make playing on the the site worth the effort.
Read our full review of Stake.us Casino »
Tao Fortune Casino
Tao Fortune Casino is another fairly new sweepstakes online casino site. It launched in 2022 and currently has a portfolio of more than 100 titles, all of which were developed by NetGame Entertainment.
An exciting selection of slots and fishing games are available on Tao Fortune Casino, but there are no live dealer or table games.
Sweepstakes Online Casinos in California: What To Expect
Live Dealer Games
Live dealer games aren’t typically found at sweepstakes casinos, but two of the five sites described above, High 5 Casino and Stake.us Casino, do offer them.
Both casinos offer baccarat and variants of roulette and blackjack.
By offering live dealer games, sweepstakes online casinos offer players the same level of excitement they get from sitting at a table in a brick-and-mortar casino — from the comfort of home. Sweepstakes casinos have their own studios and livestream all of the action. They also use the same gaming materials used in brick-and-mortar casinos (the gaming tables, cards, roulette wheel, etc.).
Sweepstakes casinos have real dealers and croupiers that are ready and available to start a game at any time. Bets can be placed immediately through a virtual interface; winnings are also paid right away.
Bonuses and Promotions
Sweepstakes online casinos offer bonuses and promotions, but they are structured differently than those found at traditional online casinos in order to comport with sweepstakes law.
One example of this involves deposits. Sweepstakes casinos are not allowed to accept traditional deposits, match offers, or anything of the like. Instead, players purchase virtual coins (they’re called Gold Coins on most platforms) and receive Sweeps Coins as a free gift. The latter are considered sweepstakes entries and are used to play games where you can win prizes that can be redeemed for real money.
There are other promotions offered by sweepstakes casinos. Most offer new players a boost when they make their first purchase, and some give Sweeps Coins to players for free when they first sign up.
It’s important to remember that the most common promotion found on sweepstakes casinos is one where players receive Sweeps Coins for free with any purchase of Gold Coins. But the most valuable promotion is one where players can receive a certain number of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins for free — such as logging into the site on a daily basis.
Slot leaderboards and tournaments can be found on sweepstakes casinos and function in the same way as those found at traditional online casinos. For example, players can win points based on the amount wagered, their overall winnings, their biggest win multipliers, etc.
Avoid playing real money online casino games on offshore sites You should be aware that there are real money online casino based offshore. These sites are not recommended, in part because they have a bad reputation with players. Many people feel cheated after playing on such sites. We recommend playing on sweepstakes online casinos instead.
How to Sign Up to Online Casinos in California
Getting started with playing sweepstakes online casino games is easy, and in many cases can be as simple as one click.
Players on most sweepstakes casino sites are able to sign up using their Facebook or Google profiles. Both social media platforms will send players an email confirming their desire to register with the casino. Once a player receives that email and confirms their request to sign up, they are clear to start checking out the free-play side of the casino.
You will need to verify your identity before being able to play games where the prizes can be redeemed for real money. Keep in mind that some sweepstakes casinos perform a tighter level of scrutiny as part of the initial sign-up process.
Step-by-step Guide to Signing Up to Sweepstakes Casinos
- Visit the site you want to play. Follow our links below to receive exclusive bonus offers.
- Click the “Join” or “Sign Up” button.
- Select your method for joining. Your options will likely include your existing Facebook or Google account, but you can also join using an email account of your choice.
- Once you’ve decided how you’ll join, check your inbox for an email with a verification link.
- Click on the link to finish setting up your account.
- With your account created, you will be able to purchase Gold Coins and receive Sweeps Coins as rewards for your purchases and other activities on the site. You will also get a daily bonus for signing in to the site.
- Remember that in order to redeem prizes for real money, you will first need to verify who you are. Completing the operator’s verification procedures will likely include providing your full information (e.g., name, surname, mailing address).
Real Money Online Casinos in California
California doesn’t have a regulated market for real money online casinos. In fact, the state doesn’t have igaming at all. Two rival ballot initiatives to legalize online sports betting fell short in 2022.
The Golden State is currently at a crossroads when it comes to gaming in general. For decades, the state’s tribal casinos and private cardrooms have clashed over the issue of tribal gaming exclusivity.
The tribes argue that the cardrooms are breaking state law and running afoul of the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) by offering banked table games (like blackjack and pai gow poker) through third-party proposition player service providers.
Up until now, the tribes have not been able to make their argument in state court because they’re considered sovereign nations. A controversial bill that would allow the tribes to file one consolidated lawsuit won passage in September 2024 and was sent to Governor Gavin Newsom for his signature.
The cardrooms, all of which are required to register with the state, and many local governments voiced strong opposition to the bill. That’s because the cardrooms in their jurisdictions pay taxes to the local government — and in many communities, such tax revenue supports most or all of their city services.
Supporters fear a state court ruling against the cardrooms could put them out of business.
With arguments about tribal gaming exclusivity kicked into high gear, it seems unlikely that either side would be interested in seeing regulated real money online casinos enter the marketplace.
California Online Casino FAQ
Does California have online casinos?
Yes, there are online casinos in California! You win prizes that can be redeemed for real money by playing on sweepstakes online casinos. There are five that we recommend — High 5 Casino, Funrize Casino, No Limit Coins Casino, Stake.us Casino, and Tao Fortune Casino. Each is profiled earlier in this guide and are included in our in-depth analysis, Best Sweepstakes Casinos in the US.
How do I play online casinos in California?
The process starts by creating an account with a sweepstakes online casino. At some point you will be asked to provide your personal information so the casino can confirm you are who you say you are. Once you’re registered and you have an account, you’ll be able to play games all over the casino. No purchase is necessary to play sweepstakes online casinos and traditional deposits are not accepted. You can also receive Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins every day just by logging in to the site.
What online casino games are available in California?
Slots are the most popular game at sweepstakes online casinos. Video poker and scratch-offs are also available. Some casinos have ventured into the world of arcade-style games like fishing.
Can I play live dealer games or tables games?
Live dealer games and tables games are rarely offered by sweepstakes online casinos, but two platforms that we recommend — High 5 Casino and Stake.us Casino — do offer them. The games they offer include baccarat and blackjack.
Are online casinos legal in California?
Yes, they are legal in most states (including California) because they operate under sweepstakes law, which differ from traditional gaming law. Under sweepstakes law, for example, an operator may not require that someone make a purchase before they can play on a sweepstakes casino site. Operators are also not allowed to accept or match deposits under sweepstakes law.
Is online gambling legal in California?
No, aside from “sweepstakes online poker“https://pokerfuse.com/online-poker/california/ and casino sites, there are no other forms of legal online gambling in the Golden State.
Does California have land-based casinos?
Yes, there are about 70 tribal casinos in California. The casinos are Class III facilities, which mean they are allowed to offer slots plus a variety of tables games like baccarat and blackjack. Each tribal casino operate under a gaming compact with the state, under the provisions of the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). There are no commercial casinos in California.
Will real money online casino gaming ever be legal in California?
It seems unlikely at this stage that real money online casino gaming will be legal in California anytime soon. The state’s tribal casinos are locked in a fierce dispute with the state’s 80-some registered cardrooms on the issue of tribal gaming exclusivity. There’s even a chance that the tribal casinos will soon be able to sue the cardrooms over how they offer banked table games.
Can I play offshore online casino sites instead?
Playing online casino games on offshore sites is not recommended because they don’t provide the same level of robust consumer protections as sites that and regulated in the US. When players disclose their personal information on offshore sites they put themselves at risk of identity theft. Federal officials have warned US citizens to avoid playing online casino games on offshore sites.