You can legally play hundreds of quality slots and table games at the leading online sweepstakes casinos in California.
These sites allow you to play for fun, but, if you win enough, you can also redeem free Sweeps Coins for cash prizes and gift cards.
If you’re looking for the best California sweepstakes casinos, we’ve got you covered. This page will explain how to receive free Sweeps Coins, discuss how the dual currency system works and walk you through the prize redemption process.
Best sweepstakes casinos
WOW Vegas takes top spot as our best sweepstakes casino for California players in January. It offers a strong range of online slots and a no purchase bonus of 5 free Sweeps Coins and 250,000 WOW Coins.
How sweepstakes casinos work
Sweepstakes casinos feature the same games found at real-money online casinos in states like Pennsylvania and Michigan. Since online casinos aren’t, yet, legal in California, sweepstakes casinos are the best option in the state.
Games include:
- Online slots, including progressive jackpot slots
- Virtual table games, such as blackjack, baccarat, and roulette
- Live dealer games, including blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker-style games
- Video poker games, variety games, scratchcards, bingo, and keno
These games are sourced from highly-regarded providers such as NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, and Relax Gaming. The games are tested and verified to ensure fair, accurate results.
You can play the games online, and some sweepstakes casinos offer mobile apps, as well. These operators typically use two forms of currency.
- Gold Coins — These coins can only be used to play for fun. Depending on the site, they may go by other names, such as WOW Coins, Lucky Coins, or Game Coins. At Vegas Gems Casino, for example, they call their non-redeemable currency Shards and their redeemable currency Gems to fit their theme.
- Sweeps Coins — You can unlock free Sweeps Coins, which will convert to withdrawable cash, gift cards, or crypto prizes if successfully played through during sweepstakes mode. These tokens may be referred to as Fortune Coins, Stake Cash, or Premium Funzpoints, but the concept is the same.
Sweepstakes casinos must adhere to the local sweepstakes laws in each state. They are essentially sweepstakes contests rendered in the form of casino games, which allows these sites to operate legally in most states.
(One notable exception to this is Horseplay Casino. They are generally considered a sweepstakes casino because they feature casino-style games for real cash prizes. However, they are actually regulated by horse racing laws instead.)
There are two ways to collect Gold Coins at sweepstakes casinos:
- Earn them for free via bonuses and promotions.
- Purchase them via a debit card, credit card, online banking, or web wallet.
To be clear, there is never any obligation to make a purchase. You can simply enjoy casino games for fun using free Gold Coins earned via the site’s bonuses.
As for the sweepstakes currency, Sweeps Coins can never be sold, only given away for free. You will often receive free Sweeps Coins through bonuses, and you will also be given free Sweeps Coins if you purchase Gold Coins.
You will normally receive a small amount of free Sweeps Coins via the sweepstakes casino’s sign-up bonus. After that, there are various ways to unlock additional free Sweeps Coins:
- Take part in social media contests to win free Sweeps Coins.
- Claim ongoing bonuses that provide players with free Sweeps Coins.
- Write to the company and ask for free Sweeps Coins.
- Complete tasks and missions, such as posting on social media or referring friends.
- Earn free Sweeps Coins via leaderboard contests or bingo games.
However, the easiest way to get more free Sweeps Coins is to buy Gold Coins. When you make a purchase, the sweepstakes casino will essentially reward you with free Sweeps Coins. The more Gold Coins you buy, the more Sweeps Coins you get. If you decide to purchase Gold Coins at a sweepstakes casino, please play responsibly.
It is easy to claim the no deposit bonus at a sweepstakes casino. Just choose one of the sites recommended on this page and click the “PLAY NOW” button displayed next to it.
That will take you through to your chosen sweepstakes casino, and you will automatically qualify for the no deposit bonus. You can then quickly sign up for an account, and you will receive Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins when the process is complete.
Many sweepstakes casinos will then give you a bonus for simply logging into your account on a daily basis. You will receive Gold Coins, allowing you to play games for fun, and some will give you Sweeps Coins, too.
You need to earn free Sweeps Coins and then win while playing with those coins if you want to redeem cash prizes.
Some sweepstakes casinos impose only a 1x rollover requirement on their Sweeps Coins. That means you just need to play them through once, and they will convert to prizes. Others impose a higher wagering requirement. For example, you need to play your Stake Cash through 3x at Stake.us before redeeming it for crypto prizes.
When the playthrough requirement has been completed, you can request a prize redemption. Just bear in mind that there is normally a minimum redemption amount. It’s typically 100 SC (for $100)
The site will present you with a list of available redemption methods. Select one, enter your amount, and request your prize. On the sweepstakes casino’s end, this process can take anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of days. The funds will then arrive in your bank account or your digital wallet.
You can also request a gift card if you successfully play through your Sweeps Coins. The minimum redemption is often lower if you select a gift card as opposed to a cash prize.
Just head to the site’s redemption page and select a gift card redemption. You will then receive details on how to claim your gift card via email.
They are often issued via the Prizeout platform. When the email arrives, click “Claim My Gift Card,” and you will be taken to the Prizeout lobby, which will present you with a choice of retailers. They include Amazon, Uber Eats, Domino’s and many more. You will then receive a digital gift card to use at your chosen retailer.
List of sweepstakes casinos
The best sweepstakes casinos offer excellent sign-up bonuses to new customers. You will receive free Gold Coins (often the term for free-to-play tokens) and Sweeps Coins immediately after creating your account, so you can start playing games straight away.
Fortune Coins is the latest sweepstakes casino to launch. Its no purchase welcome bonus provides new players with $44 worth of free Fortune Coins. You can then play more than 150 slots from leading providers such as Pragmatic Play, Relax Gaming, Booming Games, and Evoplay.
| Sweepstakes casino | No-deposit bonus | Welcome bonus | Games offered | Our favorite game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WOW Vegas Casino | 5 free Sweeps Coins and 250,000 WOW Coins | 35 Free Sweepstakes Coins With 1,500,000 WOW Coins Purchase | 1,000+ slots | Gates of Olympus Jackpot Play |
| High 5 Casino | 600 Diamonds, 250 Game Coins and 5 Sweeps Coins | None | 800+ slots, live dealer games | Live dealer blackjack |
| McLuck Casino | 7,500 Gold Coins and 2.5 Sweeps Coins | Buy 50,000, receive 25 free Sweeps Coins | 550+ slots | Buffalo King Megaways |
| Pulsz Social Casino | 2.3 Sweeps Coins and 5,000 Gold Coins | Purchase 173,500 Gold Coins for $9.99 and receive 15 free Sweeps Coins | 700+ slots, virtual table games, scratchcards, variety games | Multihand blackjack |
| Crown Coins Casino | 100,000 CC + 2 Free SC | Buy 800,000 Crown Coins and receive 40 free Sweepstakes Coins | 70+ slots | The Great Pigsby |
| Realprize Casino | 2 free SC | Up to 625,000 GC + 1,250 VIP Points + 125 SC on first purchase | 150+ slots | Moleionaire |
| Stake.us Casino | 250,000 Gold Coins and $25 in free Stake Cash | None | 550+ slots, virtual table games, live dealer games, variety games | Live dealer baccarat |
| Carnival Citi | 5,000 SC free plus 10,000,000 Coins | None | 200+ games | Mayan Lost Treasure |
| MegaBonanza | 7,500 Gold Coins and 2.5 SC Free* | $9.99 for 50,000 GC plus 25 free SC | 800+ slots | Tiny Toads |
| Jackpota Casino | 7,500 GC and 2.5 free SC | 50,000 GC and 25 free SC on first $9.99 purchase | 100+ slots | Buffalo King Megaways |
| Hello Millions Casino | 15,000 Gold Coins and 2.5 free SC | 50,000 GC for $9.99 plus 25 free SC | 300+ slots | The Dog House Megaways |
| Chanced Casino | 20,000 Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins | Make a $20 purchase and receive 20 free Sweeps Coins | 150+ slots, virtual table games, live dealer games | Pug Life |
| Funzpoints Casino | Get $2.50 on sign-up | Matched bonus of up to $20 when you make your first deposit | 50+ slots | The Wizard of Wilds |
| LuckyLand Slots | 7,777 Gold Coins and 10 Free SC | $10 value GC purchase for $4.99 | 80+ slots | Neon Valley |
| Chumba Casino | 2,000,000 GC and 2 free SC | 12,000,000 GC for $10 (normally $30) plus 32 free SC | 150+ slots | Stampede Fury |
| Funrize Casino | 75,000 Tournament Coins + 10,000 more on verification | 1,100,000 TC for $19.99 plus 3,600 free SC | 100+ slots | Dancing Lanterns |
| Sweeptastic Casino | 20 Lucky Coins + 1 Sweeps Coins | 50% discount: Buy 20,000 Lucky Coins for $14.99 and receive 20 free Sweeps Coins | 600+ slots, virtual table games, video poker, variety games | French roulette |
| Fortune Coins Casino | $44 worth of FREE Fortune Coins | 7 million Gold Coins and $30 worth of free Sweeps Coins on your first purchase | 150+ slots, fishing games, variety games | Wheel of Luck |
| DingDingDing Casino | 100,000 GC and 25 Free SC | None | 550+ slots | Gold Rush |
| Zula Social Casino | 100,000 Gold Coins and 10 Sweeps Coins | 250,000 Gold Coins and 10 free Sweeps Coins on first purchase | 300+ slots | Wolf Gold |
*No purchase necessary. Not available in AL, CT, DE, GA, ID, KY, MT, NJ, NV, LA, MI, OH, PA, WA. Void where prohibited by law. Must be 18 or older. Additional terms and conditions apply.
Other popular sweepstakes casinos
Below are some more online sweeps and social casinos available for players in California. They are also great alternatives to our top picks.
- Clubs Poker Casino
- Golden Hearts Games
- Horseplay Casino
- Loyal Royal Casino
- Modo-US Social Casino
- MoonSpin Online Casino
- PUNT.com Casino
- Real Prize Online Casino
- Rush Games Social Casino
- Sweepslots Online Casino
- Vegas Gems Online Casino
Sweepstakes casinos vs. real money casinos
Real money online casinos are more straightforward than sweepstakes casinos. You can make a cash deposit and then play your favorite games. Your cash balance will increase or decrease after each bet, and you can then withdraw whenever you like.
Sweepstakes casinos require a slightly more convoluted process, which involves earning (never buying) free Sweeps Coins and then redeeming them for cash prizes.
Here’s a breakdown of the key differences between these casino types.
| Sweepstakes Casinos | Real Money Online Casinos |
|---|---|
| Find them in 46 states. | Find them only in Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia. |
| Play for fun with Gold Coins or vie for cash prizes or gift cards with Sweeps Coins. | Play games for fun in demo mode and switch to real money play whenever you like. |
| The process of redeeming cash prizes can be slightly convoluted, as you need to unlock free Sweeps Coins and play them through. | Make straightforward cash deposits, and you can then win or lose real money on every single bet you place. Request a cash withdrawal at any time. |
| Most sweepstakes casinos offer hundreds of slots, but table games are not always available, and live dealer games are rare. | Some real money sites offer thousands of slots and a huge variety of table games, while almost all real money casinos have live dealer lobbies. |
| You can always play online, but only a few sweepstakes casinos offer a native app. | Most real money online casinos offer native apps for download via Google Play or the App Store. |
| Earn Gold Coins and unlock free Sweeps Coins via a range of bonuses. | Receive a deposit match welcome bonus and regular promotions. |
| The minimum age varies on a state-by-state basis, but it is often 18. | You must be 21 or older to play at a real money online casino. |
Terms and conditions for prize redemptions
- You need to win with your Sweeps Coins before they convert to redeemable cash prizes.
- Check the site’s terms for the playthrough requirements and contact customer service if you are unsure.
- Sweeps Coins normally convert to cash at a rate of 1 SC to $1, but the rates are different at some sites. For example, 100 Fortune Coins convert to $1 at Fortune Coins.
- You must also meet a minimum redemption limit to cash out a prize. It is typically $100, but this can vary, too. The minimum redemption limits are normally lower for gift cards.
- You will be required to verify your identity, your age, and your home address before you can redeem a prize.
- Some payout methods will only be available if you previously used them when making a purchase.
Overview of how purchase and redemptions work
It is easy to purchase Gold Coins at a sweepstakes casino. Just click “Buy Coins,” and you will be presented with a list of options. It will explain the price, the number of Gold Coins you will receive and the number of free Sweeps Coins that will come along with the GC purchase.
Click one of the options and then select one of the payment methods. Options typically include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Skrill, and online banking. Enter your details and confirm the payment. You will receive a confirmation message, and the coins will be reflected in your account balance.
If you complete the wagering requirements attached to your Sweeps Coins, you can redeem them for a cash prize. Click the “Redeem” button and follow the simple steps provided. Remember that there is always a minimum withdrawal, which is typically $100, so you will only be able to cash out after playing through at least 100 Sweeps Coins. It can take around three days for the funds to arrive in your account, but payout speeds vary from one site to the next.
Verification
You will also need to verify your account before making a purchase or redeeming cash prizes at a sweepstakes casino. To do so, you will need to provide your full name and address, and you will also need to upload a scanned copy of a government-issued form of ID, such as your driver’s license or passport. A team member must approve your account before you can purchase or redeem a prize.
Your source for the best sweepstakes casinos
Bottom line, PlayCA is an essential resource for everything about legal California social and sweepstakes casinos. We explain how they work, their currency system, how you can unlock free Sweeps Coins and how to redeem prizes. So bookmark this page and check back often, especially to see our updated list of sweepstakes casinos in California.