California Sweepstakes Casinos

While real-money online casinos aren’t available in California, anyone 18 and up in the state can play at sweepstakes casinos. These sites offer slots, blackjack, roulette, and more casino games for cash prizes, plus rewards programs, live dealers, mobile play, and other features that make them just as good as the real thing. Here’s everything you need to know about playing casino games online in California.

Best Sweepstakes Casinos in California

Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in California?

Yes, sweepstakes casinos are still legal in California as of 2025. These platforms use a sweepstakes-based model that distinguishes them from real-money online casinos, which remain unregulated in the state.

At a sweepstakes casino, players use virtual currencies like Gold Coins for casual play or Sweeps Coins (or their equivalent) for a chance to win real cash prizes. Critically, no purchase is ever required to participate—players can request free Sweeps Coins via mail or daily bonuses, keeping the model compliant with both California and federal sweepstakes laws.

Each game on these platforms functions like an individual sweepstakes drawing, with pre-determined odds and outcomes, ensuring fairness. This setup makes them a popular and legal alternative for Californians who want the experience of online casino games without violating state gambling laws.

For a deeper breakdown of how these casinos work and your options, see our full guide to sweepstakes casinos in California.

California Online Gambling Laws

California has limited real-money online gambling options. Check out this breakdown of what’s legal and what’s not.

How To Win Cash Prizes Playing at Sweepstakes Casinos

With a little luck and strategy, you can win cash prizes playing at sweepstakes casinos quite easily. Here’s how.

1. Collect Sweepstakes Coins

You get free Sweepstakes Coins (or the casino’s equivalent) when you sign up at a new sweepstakes casino. You can also receive Sweepstakes Coins by purchasing Gold Coins, which is the fun-play currency and cannot be redeemed for cash prizes. But when you purchase Gold Coins, you receive free Sweepstakes Coins as a bonus.

Other ways to collect Sweepstakes Coins include the daily login bonus, social media contests, email promos, mail-in requests, and seasonal promotions for existing players.

2. Play the Casino Games

You have to play with the Sweepstakes Coins before you can redeem them for a cash prize. But the Sweepstakes Coins that you win on the games, whether it’s slots and jackpot slots or table games like blackjack or craps, can be redeemed for a cash prize.

For example, if you have 1 Sweepstakes Coin, play a slot, and win 100 Sweepstakes Coins, you can redeem the winning coins for a cash prize.

3. Win Enough to Redeem for a Prize

All sweepstakes casinos have a minimum for cash prize redemption of at least 50 Sweepstakes Coins. Because the welcome bonus and daily login bonuses don’t require a purchase, you only receive a few Sweepstakes Coins at a time (unless you purchase Gold Coins, in which case you can receive a lot of Sweepstakes Coins as a bonus depending on the size of the purchase). It can take a bit to build up enough Sweepstakes Coins to get a cash prize, but it’s certainly possible, and it’s a lot of fun to try.

Top 7 Best California Online Casinos

Stake.us – Best for Instant Cash Prize Redemption

Stake.us stands out as a premier sweepstakes casino for Californians seeking swift and straightforward prize redemptions. Legally accessible in California, Stake.us offers a user-friendly platform where players can enjoy a variety of games and redeem their winnings efficiently.​ Once players accumulate sufficient Stake Cash (SC), they can redeem their winnings for cryptocurrency prizes. Redemptions are processed promptly, often within an hour, depending on the chosen cryptocurrency. However, Stake.us does not offer standard redemption options like PayPal or online bank transfer.

Crown Coins – Best Sweeps Casino App for iOS Devices

For iPhone and iPad users in California, Crown Coins Casino offers a top-tier sweepstakes gaming experience. With its dedicated iOS app, players can enjoy a seamless and engaging platform that combines high-quality games with user-friendly features. Available exclusively on the Apple App Store, the Crown Coins Casino app provides a smooth and responsive gaming experience tailored for iOS devices. Users have praised its performance, contributing to an impressive average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. The app features over 450 games, including slots, jackpots, Slingo, and live game shows, from renowned providers like Ruby Play, Hacksaw Gaming, and Microgaming.

Jackpota Casino – Best Jackpot Slots

For Californians seeking substantial prizes through sweepstakes play, Jackpota Casino stands out with its impressive selection of SC (Sweeps Coins) jackpot slots. These games offer the thrill of progressive jackpots, providing players with opportunities to win significant cash prizes.​ Jackpota’s progressive jackpot slots feature SC jackpots that can exceed 100,000 SC, equating to over $100,000 in redeemable cash prizes. This makes it one of the most rewarding sweepstakes platforms for jackpot enthusiasts.

4. Mega Frenzy – Best for Fast Cash Redemptions

Mega Frenzy is quickly becoming a go-to platform for California sweepstakes casino players thanks to its sleek interface, lightning-fast redemptions, and generous no-purchase welcome offer. New users in California receive 30,000 Gold Coins and 10 Sweeps Coins completely free upon signup—no payment required—making it easy to explore over 300+ games, including slots, jackpots, and live dealer tables.

One of Mega Frenzy’s biggest selling points in California is its ultra-fast cash withdrawals. Players can redeem Sweeps Coins for real money via bank transfer, and many report payouts processed within 24 hours—a major plus compared to slower competitors. Redemption is straightforward, with a minimum of 75 Sweeps Coins for cash redemptions. (Gift card redemptions are not available.)

Californian players also benefit from a daily Mega Wheel spin, offering a chance to win bonus coins, extra spins, or promotional rewards. The site also features a tiered Hype Club VIP program, which grants exclusive offers, boosted wheel spins, and personalised perks as you move up the ladder.

While the overall game count is smaller than some larger platforms, Mega Frenzy’s focus on speed, ease of use, and strong daily rewards makes it a great option for California players who value quick wins and low-friction gaming.

5. McLuck – Best for Live Dealers & Jackpots

McLuck Social Casino has established itself as a favourite in California for players seeking a premium sweepstakes experience with live dealers and huge jackpots. New users in the Golden State receive a no-purchase welcome bonus of 7,500 Gold Coins and 2.5 Sweeps Coins, making it easy to get started without spending anything upfront.

McLuck’s biggest draw is its live dealer suite, one of the most expansive among U.S.-legal sweepstakes casinos. Powered by ICONIC21 and Playtech, players in California can enjoy live-streamed blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and more—bringing the feel of a real casino to your screen.

The platform also features massive progressive jackpots, ongoing tournaments, and a highly rated mobile app on iOS and Android. The first-purchase bonus is one of the best available: 80,000 Gold Coins and 40 Sweeps Coins for just $9.99—a 150% value bump.

McLuck’s VIP Loyalty Club unlocks even more rewards, including exclusive Mega Wheel spins and personalised promotions. Redemptions start at 10 SC for gift cards or 75 SC for cash, with typical processing times of 3–5 business days.

With a 96.78% average win rate, consistent daily bonuses, and best-in-class live dealers, McLuck is a top pick for California sweepstakes casino players looking for immersive, high-quality gameplay.

6.Spinfinite Casino – Best for Missions & Slots Tournaments

Spinfinite Casino offers one of the most interactive sweepstakes platforms in California, blending classic slots gameplay with daily missions and competitive tournaments. It’s the go-to site for players who want more than just spinning — they want to chase goals, climb leaderboards, and win real prizes along the way. At Spinfinite, players complete rotating missions like “Win 10 times on Megaways” or “Play X slot for 10 minutes” to earn extra Gold Coins, Sweeps Coins, and Stars (Spinfinite’s rewards currency that helps you climb the tiers with increasing benefits). With leaderboards that refresh daily and weekly, players can win free SC and bonus coins just by climbing the ranks in their favorite games. And the Stars earned through gameplay unlock tiered bonuses, giving mission-completers and tournament grinders more perks over time.

 

7. Pulsz – Best for Variety & Daily Free Bonuses

Pulsz is a strong option for sweepstakes casino fans in California, especially if you’re looking for variety and reliable daily rewards. New players receive a no-purchase welcome bonus of 5,000 Gold Coins and 0.3 Sweeps Coins, and the platform keeps players engaged with frequent promotions via email, social media, and an escalating daily login streak.

California users can explore a diverse catalogue of over 1,000 games, including Megaways slots, scratch cards, bingo, blackjack, and poker. While it doesn’t offer live dealers, the mobile app and browser platform are both intuitive and highly rated for smooth gameplay.

One of Pulsz’s standout features is its daily login rewards, which increase over time—reaching up to 2.4 SC per day after 21 consecutive logins. Players can also participate in progressive-style jackpots, limited-time leaderboards, and seasonal events that keep the action fresh.

Redemptions start at 10 SC for gift cards and 100 SC for cash, with payouts via bank transfer or Skrill. A six-tier VIP program adds further incentive for regular players by boosting rewards and offering exclusive perks.

If you’re in California and want a sweepstakes casino with broad game variety and reliable daily rewards, Pulsz is a standout pick.

What Makes a Sweepstakes Casino the Best in California?

Choosing the best sweepstakes casino in California comes down to more than just free coins — it’s about legal access, game variety, prize redemption options, and overall player experience.

Fairness and Legitimacy

We take a deep dive into the sweepstakes casino’s security encryption, random number generator (RNG) certification, and other safety measures to ensure every game is fair, legitimate, and displays accurate odds. If a sweepstakes casino doesn’t pass this initial consideration, we do not recommend it under any circumstances.

Game Selection

One of the main aspects we look for when ranking the best sweepstakes casinos in California is the variety of games. Every player has their own unique interests and play styles, so we believe there’s no such thing as too many slots, table games, live dealers, or fish shooting games. The more a casino has, the higher we rank them.

Win Potential

We’re always on the lookout for life-changing win potential, and we highly rate any sweepstakes casino with six- to seven-figure progressive jackpots and high minimums for table games. Players should have the chance to win big on every spin, and any casino that lives up to that gets a thumbs up from us.

Prize Redemption

We love to see sweepstakes casinos with low minimum cash prize and gift card redemption. While it’s not disqualifying to have a cash prize minimum of $50 or more, we give great ratings to sweepstakes casinos that allow low prize redemption (between $10 and $25) for gift cards.

Free Sweepstakes Coins

The more opportunities to get Sweepstakes Coins, the better. Players need these coins to win cash prizes and gift cards, and the more they receive, the better their chances of walking away a winner. We look for the best welcome bonuses, daily login bonuses, rewards programs, social media giveaways, and more to ensure players always have something in their account to play with.

California Online Casino Games

From high-volatility slots to immersive live dealer tables, California sweepstakes casinos offer a wide range of games that mimic the real casino experience.

Slots

Slots is the most prominent game at both online casinos and brick-and-mortar casinos. The reason is simple: it’s the most popular casino game in the world. These games offer the opportunity to win big from small wagers, and their special features keep things entertaining every spin. Every sweepstakes casino we recommend features a great variety of slots.

Blackjack

Blackjack is far and away the most popular table game at the casino, and it’s commonly available at sweepstakes sites. Blackjack features great odds if basic strategy is used, and online blackjack allows for special features not possible at a physical table.

Roulette

Roulette is a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat casino game, where players guess where the ball will land on the reel. Several different versions of roulette are available, with French and European roulette offering the best odds.

Live Dealer Games

Live dealers are becoming increasingly common at sweepstakes and social casinos in California. A live dealer is streamed online to players from physical tables. Players can place digital bets on the tables, just like they’re at a real-life casino, and can even tip the dealers and interact with other players.

Fish Table Games

Fish table games, also known as fishing shooting games, involve shooting fish or other creatures to rack up points. The more points you score, the bigger the prize. Fish shooting games rely on a mix of strategy and luck, so players get better the more they play. Just be sure to play in demo mode or with Gold Coins first to practice before risking Sweepstakes Coins.

More Games

Sweepstakes casinos will often have just as many casino-style games as a real-money online casino, including video poker, casino poker, craps, keno, bingo, slingo, scratch cards, and more. As mentioned, you can use Gold Coins to play for fun before risking Sweepstakes Coins to try out the game and practice strategy.

Types of Promotions at California Online Casinos

Every opportunity to play more while spending less makes us say yay. Here are some of the promotions you can expect at California online casinos:

• Welcome Bonus: Players get the most promotions up front with the welcome bonus, which includes both a no deposit bonus and a purchase-match bonus.

• No Deposit Bonus: A no deposit bonus or, more accurately, a no purchase bonus, is a common offer that gives players free Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins without needing to make any payment.

• Purchase-Match Bonus: With a purchase-match bonus, players receive extra Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins when they make a purchase. For example, you might see $29.99 worth of coins for just $9.99, essentially a 200% purchase-match bonus.

• Daily Login Bonus: Log in each day at most sweepstakes casinos to receive free Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins. Daily login bonuses usually go up for each consecutive day too, so it’s a good idea to get a streak going.

• Prize Pool Tournaments: Compete against other players while playing the select games, climb the leaderboard, and win a piece of the prize pool.

• Social Media Giveaways: Follow the sweepstakes casino on their social media channels to get in on the regular giveaways on offer.

• Spin the Wheel: Some sweepstakes casinos invite players to spin a prize wheel every few hours or once per day. Wins can include raffle tickets, free coins, and more.

• Mail-In Requests: Players can send in a request for free Sweepstakes Coins by filling out a mail-in request form. Just be sure to carefully follow the instructions provided by the sweepstakes casino to ensure you qualify for the free coins.

Should You Play Online Casino Games in California?

California is a great place to win cash prizes playing sweepstakes casino games. Whether you like slots or table games, fish shooting games or live dealers, it’s all at your fingertips from the Golden State. The sweepstakes casino model also ensures that you can always win for free, no purchase necessary, which, for more casual players, makes it better than real-money casinos.

Responsible Gaming in California

If you or someone you know is struggling with problem gambling, there are numerous resources available in California to provide support.

The California Council on Problem Gambling (CalPG) offers confidential, multilingual assistance. Their services include a 24/7 helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER (426-2537), self-assessment tools, and access to counseling programs.

National organizations such as Gamblers Anonymous also provide support groups and recovery programs for those affected by gambling addiction.

Help is always available—don’t hesitate to reach out for guidance and support. Gambling should always be fun and responsible, so take advantage of the tools and resources designed to keep it that way.

California Sweepstakes Casino FAQs

Are sweepstakes casinos legal in California?

Yes, sweepstakes casinos are legal in California. Players must be at least 18 years or older.

Can I win real money at a sweepstakes casino?

Yes, players can redeem Sweepstakes Coins (or the casino’s equivalent) for a cash prize or gift card. Cash prizes can be withdrawn directly to a bank account or Skrill wallet.

Do I need to make a purchase to play?

No, you do not need to make a purchase to play at a sweepstakes casino. By law, sweepstakes casinos are required to offer the chance to win for free, no purchase necessary.

What games are available at sweepstakes casinos?

Sweepstakes casinos offer slots, progressive jackpot slots, table games, fish shooting games, crash games, and more. Several sweepstakes casinos also offer live dealers.

How old do I have to be to play at a sweepstakes casino in California?

Players must be at least 18 years or older to play at a sweepstakes casino in California. Some sites require players to be at least 21 years of age.

Can I play sweepstakes casinos on my mobile device?

While most sweepstakes casinos do not have a dedicated mobile app, you can usually play the games directly on the casino’s website.

Is there a limit to how much I can win in California at a sweepstakes casino?

No, California does not have limits on cash prizes from a sweepstakes game. The only states with sweepstakes casino limits are Florida and New York, which cap the win potential at $5,000. That means players in California can win up to $1 million or more.