Best California Online Casinos December 2024

California is progressive in many areas, but online gambling unfortunately isn't one. The Golden State doesn't permit online casinos or sportsbooks, and there's very little to suggest this will change any time soon.

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But if you're in Cali and want to play casino games, there is an alternative: sweepstakes casinos. These offer all the fun of online casinos, but via a convoluted yet entirely legal sweepstakes model, where you never truly purchase the coins used to gamble - but you can still withdraw them as real money. But anyway, we're getting ahead of ourselves - there's much more on this further down the page.

For now, let's jump head first into the world of online California casinos and learn exactly what the casino playing landscape is like in the country's most populous state...

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Real money online casino gambling is not permitted in California, but like many other states, you can sneak through this prohibition by playing at legal sweepstakes casino sites.
• Of the scores of sweepstakes casinos available to California players, we rank High 5, WOW Vegas, Pulsz, Hello Millions, and McLuck as the best.
• There's very little appetite to legalize online sports betting and casino, so California could lag behind the crowd for a while yet.

LIST OF CALIFORNIA ONLINE CASINOS

Check out our list of the best sweepstakes casino apps. And for other alternatives, check out the best no deposit sweepstakes casinos.

OVERVIEW OF THE CALIFORNIA ONLINE CASINO LANDSCAPE

Here's the TL;DR: online gambling in most forms is not licensed and regulated in California, which is unfortunate for the millions of Cali residents looking to play online casino games and bet on sports. In fact, there are only seven states where casinos are legal online.

While many want legalization, the clamor isn't yet loud enough for California lawmakers to listen. There's also the matter of safeguarding tribal casino profits, which will come under threat if online casinos in California are legalized. However, this hasn't yet been documented in other states with coexisting tribal and online casinos. It's all politics, really, and we're staying out of it.

But there is a liberator ready to smash the system: the sweepstakes casino. Through an intricate web of chicanery and loopholes, you can play these casinos anywhere in California and still win real money prizes. And it's completely legal, so there's nothing the anti-casino lobby can do about it. It's a small win, but one we're willing to take. Viva la revolución.

CONTENTS

• Social and Sweepstakes Casinos: The Legal Alternative
• Top California Online Casinos
• Is Online Gambling Legal in California?
• Best Online Casino Games for California Players
• Bonuses and Promotions at California Online Casinos
• Payment Methods for Online Casinos in California
• Responsible Gambling in California
• Future of Online Casinos in California

SOCIAL AND SWEEPSTAKES CASINOS: THE LEGAL ALTERNATIVE

Social casinos and sweepstakes casinos are terms used interchangeably, although they're actually slightly different.

Social casinos are entirely free, and offer no opportunity to win money. Think the kind of casinos you'll find on Facebook, which hook middle-aged surfers with catchy commercials. They're played just for fun and bragging rights.

Sweepstakes casinos, however, are where the real fun is at. You don't technically need to make a purchase to play, as you can play just with Gold Coins. These are free coins, which are for fun only. There's none of that je ne sais quoi only found by risking real hard-earned cash.

But - and this is a big but - there are also Sweeps Coins, which are worth cash. However, you can't buy them. Instead, they come as a 'free gift' when you buy Gold Coins. You can then play games with these Sweeps Coins, and redeem anything you win for real money. How this gets around various state laws is beyond us, but take our word for it: sweepstakes casinos are 100% legal in California and most other states.

FEATURES OF SWEEPS CASINOS

Sweepstakes casinos are very similar to the legal real money online casinos found in states like Michigan and New Jersey. Some offer 1,000+ games, from major names like NetEnt and Pragmatic Play. You'll often notice slots from micro names too - give them a chance, they could be hidden gems! But they could also be trash. You're a gambler though, so you should be prepared to take the risk.

These casinos also offer regular bonuses - far more than you'll find at real money online casinos. Huge welcome bonuses are available (they're even bigger when you head to a sweeps casino using our links), as an enticement to sign up. Then most sweeps casinos give out free Gold Coins every day, to keep you coming back. Sweeps Coins aren't handed out so liberally, but you can still get them for free occasionally.

Other features at sweeps casinos include loyalty schemes, various payment options, and mobile sweepstake casino apps. Basically, they're just like real money casinos, but with a different betting structure.

What are sweeps coins? Learn here!

TOP CALIFORNIA ONLINE CASINOS

Okay, let's delve into the world of sweepstakes casinos and see how the fine people of California can hop aboard the online gambling bandwagon without breaking a single law.

But before looking at the best online casino sites, a word on offshore casinos and sportsbooks. Often licensed in places like Curaçao and Costa Rica, these gambling sites are not places you can trust. Their reputations precede them, and the reputation they've developed is entirely warranted. Avoid offshore real money casinos, just like you avoid MLM schemes and three-day-old burritos. They might look attractive now, but they'll cause issues down the line.

Okay, here we go, starting with the number one California online casino, High 5.

HIGH 5 CASINO

First up, we have High 5 Casino. EGR claims it's the '#1 USA Sweeps Casino' and who are we to disagree? Bonus-wise, you can get Get Up To 200 GC + 40 SC + 100 Diamonds!. Because sweepstakes casino players needed a third currency to think about, as things aren't already confusing enough. No High 5 Casino promo code is needed to claim this bonus.

When it comes to games, they mostly have slots, although they do have around 1,400 of them, which is pretty impressive. They come from names like Pragmatic Play, Relax Gaming, and Playson, with some of the top slots including:

• Gates of Olympus 1000
• Secrets of the Forest
• Diamond Strike
• Cash Pig
• Loco Habanero

Some 'Variety Games' are also offered, which are mostly Slingo titles. There's also a very small selection of live dealer games (one version of roulette and five versions of blackjack), but something is better than nothing.

Other reasons to play include the selection of regular bonuses, which includes a Daily Harvest bonus giving out Sweeps Coins, and Game Boosts, which can be activated by spending diamonds. Definitely give this site a try if you're looking for a new place to play.

WOW VEGAS

Next, WOW Vegas (it's in upper case, so really scream it). It didn't wow us as much as High 5 Casino, but it's still a fantastic sweepstakes casino. New players heading there from Vegas Insider can Get 1.75 million WOW Coins + 35 FREE Sweepstake Coins!. There's no WOW Vegas promo code needed, so no way to forget to claim them.

But what can you expect at WOW Vegas? There's a decent selection of games to start. Well, of slots, anyway - there are no other game types here. They've got titles from BetSoft (who make the best-looking slots online), Habanero, and EvoPlay, including:

• Festival of Fortune
• Coins of WOW Vegas
• Gold Express Hold and Win
• Take the Bank
• WOW Vegas Wilds of Fortune

But that's it - no table games, keno, live dealer games. This is really a slot-lover's paradise, but pretty barren for those looking for other games. And if you want to browse through the selection of slots, you'll need to sign-up, as non-members can't get past the homepage.

Other reasons to choose WOW Vegas? Regular bonuses are a big draw, as is the site's reputation. Plus they have a deal in place with Paris Hilton, and, well, that's hot.

PULSZ CASINO

Next, there's Pulsz Casino - perhaps the biggest of all social casinos, but not big enough to elbow their way to the top of our list. We like to stand up for the little guys. But you should head there if you're looking to claim a big bonus, with new Pulsz players able to Get up to 367,000 Gold Coins + 32.3 FREE Sweepstakes Coins. Yeah, we know - that's a shedload of free stuff. And you won't even need to remember a Pulsz Casino promo code to claim it.

But what about the games? They claim to offer over 900 of them, and we're not going to count them to check. Nearly all are slots, which is no surprise, and they come from names like NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, and Relax Gaming. The best of them include:

• Black Wolf
• Epic Joker
• Mustang Gold Megaways
• Starburst
• Wild Chicago

Away from slots, they have Texas Hold'em Poker and Multihand Blackjack - that's it for the range of table games. They also offer Slingo. However, there are no live games, which is a black mark against their name.

Other reasons to choose Pulsz? Their app's pretty decent, to start, plus they have regular giveaways. Make sure you follow them on Facebook, Insta and whatever Elon calls X nowadays, as they're pretty active there.

HELLO MILLIONS

Okay, so you won't be saying hello to millions when you play here, but you could find yourself welcoming a few bucks to your bank account when you play.

It impresses with its welcome bonus - which is exclusive to Vegas Insider readers, you lucky things - allowing you to Get 65,000 Gold Coins + 27.5 SC FREE! Claim it using Hello Millions bonus code VIBONUS

Like other best California online casinos, you'll find an impressive array of games, including loads of slots, along with table games and live dealer games. The top slots at this casino include:

• Great Rhino Megaways
• Aztec Bonus Pot
• Samurai Code
• Hoop Kings
• Gangsterz

Other reasons to consider Hello Millions? Plentiful promos, an intuitive desktop site, and a decent app.

MCLUCK CASINO

This highly regarded sweepstakes site certainly starts things off on the right foot, letting our readers Sign Up and Get 7,500 Gold Coins + 2.5 free Sweepstakes Coins + 150% Extra Coins! Use McLuck promo code VIBONUS to claim this bonus.

And they're not done. Once you've spent all your free goodies, they'll add an extra 150% to your first purchase of coins.

But free coins are nothing if there are no decent games to spend them on. However, McLuck's got you covered. They offer broadly the same games as Hello Millions, but this isn't surprising - the two sites are owned and operated by the same group. Clearly sweepstakes casinos are a good investment, as the owners went ahead and ran it twice.

Slots are their mainstay - no surprise there - and they have games from big names, including Pragmatic Play, Novomatic, and Habanero. Slots to look for include:

• Mustang Gold Megaways
• Raging Riches
• Secret Book of Amun-Ra
• Volcano Rising
• Big Bass Bonanza (+ hordes of sequels)

There are table games and Slingo, but where McLuck really differentiates itself is with its live dealer games - something most sweepstakes casinos haven't ventured into quite yet. Granted, the choice is limited, but it's better than nothing.

Other pros of McLuck include a top-notch app, a truly rewarding loyalty scheme, and plenty of ongoing bonuses.

IS ONLINE GAMBLING LEGAL IN CALIFORNIA?

In California, the legal state of online gambling is pretty easy to pin down: it's not legal. In almost any form. In fact, the only online gambling permitted in California is DFS and pari-mutuel betting.

Oh, and there are the social casinos too, but they're not technically gambling, hence why they slide past the state regulations. So, you can't legally play online poker, casino games, or bet on sports. What a drag.

But what will happen if you do gamble online in California? Pretty much nothing. The law is there, but it's not enforced. That being said, you still shouldn't gamble at real money offshore sites, as they're shady, to say the least, and often downright untrustworthy. Use social casinos instead.

But is legal online gambling ever coming to the Golden State? Not anytime soon. Sports betting is usually first to come, but legal sports betting was resoundingly rejected in November 2022 (less than 20% of voters were in favor) and the subject hasn't made much noise since. And online casino legislation doesn't even seem to be a thought in lawmakers' minds.

We will, of course, keep you updated as to the status of legal online gambling in California. Just don't expect to hear much about it for the next few years. Thank goodness for social casinos, eh?

BEST ONLINE CASINO GAMES FOR CALIFORNIA PLAYERS

So, you're now savvy about California casinos online. Great. But what online casino games should you play after signing up for one? Well, at many, you won't have a choice, as online slot machines are the only option.

But what if you're at a casino with games other than slots? Take a look below, where you'll see the more popular casino gambling options for California residents. Starting with online slots, of course.

ONLINE SLOTS

95% or more of the games at social casinos are slots. That's not by accident - they're the number one game with players, offering plenty of action and a chance to win mega jackpots. Any top California online casino should have hundreds, if not thousands, of online slots, and they should come from a variety of names. Some of the bigger software providers with titles at social casino sites include:

• NetEnt
• Pragmatic Play
• Habanero
• Betsoft
• Thunderkick

You'll find a range of online slots at California online casinos, but most are 5-reel video slots. These are the games with funky themes and loads of bonuses. These bonuses include free spins (a favorite with every slot fan), second-screen bonuses, and simple picking games. The one thing binding them all? They generally offer some whopping prizes to the luckiest players. Some slots even let you buy bonuses - it's up to you to balance the risk and reward.

There's also a decent range of classic slots. These 3-reelers might be considered dull by some, but they hark back to days of old - think fruit on the reels, ringing bells, and no confusing bonus rounds. They usually have smaller top prizes, but can still chuck out some sizable wins.

Progressive jackpot slots are also widespread, and they're the big boys of the slot world, with jackpots that'll make you the richest guy or girl on your block. Unless you live in Malibu. These progressive jackpots keep going up and up, until one lucky player scoops one, at which point the jackpot resets and starts building up again.

And then there are more specialist slot types - slots with particular features. Of these, Megaways slots are the most widespread, and are beloved by slot aficionados. In truth, we love them too - who can resist the forever changing number of paylines, which can reach into the hundreds of thousands?

ONLINE BLACKJACK

Online blackjack is on the menu at some casinos, but certainly not all. Make your bet, get dealt in, then try getting closer to 21 than the dealer. Without ever going over, of course.

Blackjack's one of the only casino games to genuinely incorporate an element of skill, which is why many MIT-minded folk flock to it. And yes, card counting can swing the game in the player's favor. But no, you can't do it online.

Blackjack provides an impressively high RTP (when playing perfect strategy), plus it's an exceptionally enjoyable casino game. But the range of online blackjack options isn't high at California online casinos - expect to only find one or two at most sweeps sites.

ONLINE ROULETTE

Roulette is the seminal online casino game, but not at social casinos. There seems to be a bordering on criminal neglect of roulette, so you'll only find one or two max at most online gambling sites in California. You'll also sometimes find roulette live dealer games, but these are even rarer. Not as rare as online craps, but still rare.

If you do find a roulette game you like the look of, playing is simple. Place your bets, spin the wheel, and hope the ball lands on a number you've picked. It's as easy as that. Don't trust the 'roulette systems' you'll find online, as they don't work, regardless of what so-called 'experts' have to say.

BONUSES AND PROMOTIONS AT CALIFORNIA ONLINE CASINOS

Online casino players love a bonus. It's like catnip to them. Luckily, sweeps casinos - which are the only real money casinos legal to California residents - hand out bonuses like Oprah handing out cars. So bonus-lovers should be in paradise.

You'll find plenty of bonus types at California online gambling sites, including:

• No deposit bonuses
• Deposit bonuses
• Giveaways
• Social media bonuses
• Rewards/loyalty programs

These reward newbies for signing up and making first purchases, while also keeping existing players sweet, rewarding them for their loyalty. But don't think you have to be too loyal - spread your time over several sites and claim all the juicy bonuses you can. Greed is good.

NO DEPOSIT BONUSES

These are king at sweeps casino sites. Not only will most sign up bonuses feature a hefty giveaway to new signees (check out the mega bonuses our top sites offer further up the page), but casinos also generally give away free coins every day, just for logging in and playing. Social media is also a top place to sniff out no deposit bonuses.

But no deposit bonuses generally give away Gold Coins, and we know from earlier that Gold Coins are worthless. However, sometimes small amounts of Sweeps Coins are handed out, and if you're patient and collect them up, you can gather quite a few. Of course, you need to wager them before you can cash them out though, but that seems fair.

DEPOSIT BONUSES

These are generally the biggest casino bonuses. In the world of real money casinos, you'll find your deposit matched up to a certain amount. For example, you might get your deposit matched 100% up to $500.

But at sweeps casinos, which is what California residents should be most interested in, these deposit bonuses see you receiving Sweeps Coins as a bonus for purchasing Gold Coins. That's the sneaky way sweeps casinos work - you never technically purchase the Sweeps Coins, so it's okay to gamble with them. It's some seriously impressive law-bending from casino execs.

FREE SPINS

It doesn't take a genius to work out what free spins are. They give you the chance to spin the reels of a slot or slots without risking your own cash. They can come as a no deposit bonus, but more commonly, they're part of a deposit bonus package.

Free spins are super popular at real money casinos, but they're not as common in sweeps casinos. Still, they can be some of the best casino bonuses around, so keep your eyes peeled for them.

LOYALTY PROGRAMS

Casinos want you to stay - they don't want you running off to the next site offering a juicy welcome bonus once you've spent their one. That's why they incentivize you to keep playing.

Many online casinos allow you to collect points as you play, which you can then exchange for rewards, such as bonus money or coins. Others have a tier system - the more you play, the higher you rise. And the higher you rise, the better the perks are.

While we'd encourage you to use these systems to your advantage, this isn't the mafia - you don't have to remain loyal to one godfather. Instead, spread yourself over several casinos, and earn all the bonuses you can. Welcome bonuses are generally much more lucrative than loyalty programs.

PAYMENT METHODS FOR ONLINE CASINOS IN CALIFORNIA

There are various payment options at real money casinos and sweeps casinos, although the latter often have a smaller selection. Still, most should find a method suitable to them.

Credit and debit cards are the most popular choice, as most people have one or two floating around in their pockets, but e-wallets are also very popular - especially to security conscious players looking to limit entering precious banking details online.

Other options include crypto for the cool kids, and vouchers for those who can be bothered to go to the store. Some real money casinos even let you deposit money at a casino cage.

CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS

Unless you're dedicated to the off-grid lifestyle (in which case you won't have access to online casinos), then you've probably got a Visa or MasterCard hanging around. That's why they're the most popular way to deposit and buy coins.

Aside from convenience, credit/debit card transactions are almost instant, plus they come with top security features. Most providers also won't charge you for using their cards online, unless you fail to repay any money spent on credit.

On the downside, withdrawals using credit/debit card can take some time, which is a pain. But other than that, they're the top way to add and withdraw money from a casino.

E-WALLETS

E-wallets, the most famous of which are PayPal, Skrill, and Venmo, are perfect for the security conscious. Simply load the e-wallet with cash (or just connect it to your bank account) and then use the e-wallet as a payment method. It's essentially a middleman, meaning you don't have to share banking details with any casinos.

You'll also find e-wallet transactions to be fast. Deposits are pretty much instant, while some withdrawals can take just a few minutes. But there's a big downside to them: they can charge some pretty heavy fees, which you could otherwise use to play slots and other casino games.

If you prefer social casinos, you can learn more about Gameroom777 to explore their features, games, and user experience.

CRYPTOCURRENCY

Cryptocurrency is no longer the sketchy black hole it once was. Now, it can be used as a payment method all over the web, including at some casinos. Just buy your crypto at an exchange, add it to your wallet, then send it to your chosen casino's wallet. You'll then have money to play with.

Crypto has many plusses, with the biggest being anonymity - there's no need to provide any personal details at some crypto casinos. It's also affordable, with the fees generally being negligible. But it's not accepted everywhere, and is completely unregulated. If you lose your crypto, either through carelessness or criminality, there's no way to get it back. Crypto is also volatile - your pile of Bitcoin can get severely devalued in just a few hours.

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RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING IN CALIFORNIA

Regardless of where you're playing in California, you've got to be mindful of responsible gambling. And this includes anyone playing at social casinos - those Gold and Sweeps Coins can become troublesome if you fail to gamble in moderation.

You'll find ways to regulate online gambling at most sites. These can include limiting the amount of time and money you can spend, as well as completely barring yourself from a site for a set period. If you do bar yourself, there's nothing you can do to reinstate your account until the predefined period ends.

There are also places to turn to if you have a gambling problem. These resources include 1-800-GAMBLER.

FUTURE OF ONLINE CASINOS IN CALIFORNIA

Let's not sugarcoat it: the chances of online betting or casino gaming becoming legal in California any time soon are slim. There's simply no appetite for online gambling legislation among lawmakers and citizens. What's more, the land based casinos, such as Pechanga Resort Casino, Thunder Valley Casino Resort, and Morongo Casino Resort, are rallying hard against online legalization, worried about the tribal casinos' monopoly over real money gambling in the state.

So, real money online casino gambling isn't coming any time soon. But you can play online slots and more at sweepstakes casinos perfectly legally, and they offer a pretty similar experience.

SUMMARY

The biggest takeaway from this page on California online casinos is this: while real money casinos aren't legal in the Golden State, you can play at sweepstakes casinos. They're not quite the same, but you'll still get the chance to play for real money. And the best sweeps casinos will have piles of slots to play, plus some even offer table games and live dealer games.

We've recommended five California online casinos further up this page, all of which are perfectly legal and trustworthy. Sign up for one - heck, sign up with them all - and claim your bonuses, before going on to play some of the many games on offer. Win or lose, you should have a great time.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ARE REAL MONEY ONLINE CASINOS LEGAL IN CALIFORNIA?

Real money online casinos are not legal in California, meaning you can't play at sites like BetMGM, DraftKings, and Golden Nugget. And there's no real push to legalize online gambling in any form. But you can play at sweeps casinos, which allow real money play in a more convoluted way. Check out the list of top sweeps casinos further up this page.

WHAT ARE SWEEPSTAKES CASINOS?

Sweepstakes casinos allow you to play with two currencies: Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Gold coins can be bought and played with, but have no value. Sweeps Coins are given as bonuses, and if you win with them, you can exchange the winnings for real money. Essentially, playing with Sweeps Coins is very similar to playing at real money online casinos.

WHAT IS THE MINIMUM AGE TO PLAY AT CALIFORNIA ONLINE CASINOS?

Technically, online casinos aren't legal, so there's no minimum legal gambling age for them. But sweeps casinos generally set the minimum age to play at 18.

HOW DO NO DEPOSIT BONUSES WORK?

No deposit bonuses are handed out at online casino gaming sites without you having to deposit any money. They're often given to players who have just signed up, but sweeps casinos also give them to existing players every day, simply for signing in or playing games.

WHAT PAYMENT METHODS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE CASINOS IN CALIFORNIA?

It depends on the online casino you choose. Most allow credit/debit card to be used, along with e-wallets. Some also permit crypto payments and payment using voucher.