Finding the best online casinos in California has proven to be quite the challenge. Unfortunately, as things stand, they are still very much unavailable to those of you in the Golden State.
Fortunately, I have kept busy searching through the best alternatives and have uncovered the state lottery, pari-mutuel wagering, and social casinos. It is the latter that I really want to focus on today, though, as these sites have casino–style games that are free to play and are completely legal. Fancy learning more about them? Let’s get into it.
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Although there have been several attempts to legalize new online casinos in California, they remain prohibited throughout the state. This is partly due to the heavy opposition from the state’s tribal casino community. That said, you will find various alternative ways to enjoy real-money gambling throughout the Golden State, including tribal casinos, cardrooms, a state lottery, and pari-mutuel wagering.
Although you aren’t going to be joining a real-money no-deposit online casino anytime soon, you will find that you can still enjoy legal forms of gambling throughout the state. Of course, to be considered legal, establishments must meet the requirements set out by the following organizations.
Obviously, this excludes tribal casinos, which are regulated by a combination of the CGCC, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), and specific Tribal Gaming Agencies (TGA).
The fact that it is illegal should be enough to steer you away from joining the best online casinos in Florida, California, and other prohibited states. However, if that wasn’t enough, you’ll also find that you can be charged in California with the following for doing so.
Unless you fancy picking up a misdemeanor, you must avoid any site that considers itself as the best online casino in California. Instead, I would suggest checking out social casinos. These sites are completely free to join, allow you to enjoy a similar range of casino-style games, and, more importantly, are completely legal in California.
Shortly, I'm going to break down how I create my social casino reviews. But, just before all of that, I want to offer some simple pros and cons of using a social casino in Florida.
To begin, I always like to make sure that a social casino is safe to use. This can soon be confirmed by reviewing the terms of service, checking out the owners, and discovering where each platform is deemed legal to operate. From here, you’ll find that I focus on things like encryption technology, two-factor authentication, verification checks, and safer gaming tools. If I can’t confirm these things, rest assured that I won’t be recommending them to you.
When it comes to playing at a social casino, you’ll find that two virtual currencies are often used. You may find a few differences in what they have been called; however, they will fall into these two categories and offer a similar experience to the following.
Now you know how the virtual tokens work, it is worth reiterating that you can add both Gold Coins and free Sweeps Coins to your account throughout your time online. This can be done through various promotions, including the following.
I am certain that most of you will have been hunting for the best online casinos in California to play top games. So, what a relief it must be to hear that you can do exactly that at a social casino. Now, you will find a number of social casinos that have casino-style gaming lobbies backed by top providers, including NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, and beyond. Over time, this has led to an eclectic mix of social gaming titles that span all types of categories, including Vegas-style slots, three-reelers, jackpots, Slingo, and even live casino games.
Once you’ve found a social casino to join, you’ll want to ensure that you can do so swiftly. A lengthy registration process will put many of you off, so rest assured that I’ve covered the steps to successfully join within my comparisons. I’ve also taken time to detail the design and layout, explaining how straightforward it is to work your way around the site and casino-style gaming lobby. You’ll notice that many of the social casinos mentioned in the banners on this page allow you to enjoy the experience on the go, too. Again, this will all be covered, including how the site transfers over to the smaller screens and whether a mobile app is available.
I will be the first to say that support methods are often overlooked; however, they can prove critical in your search. With this in mind, I tend to waste little time putting the support teams to the test. First, I’ll figure out the range of ways that you can get in contact before reporting back on response times, professionalism, and overall experience. Although these things can change from site to site, you should find social casinos that offer a number of the following:
One of the many perks of joining a social casino is that you’ll be able to redeem your Sweeps Coin winnings for alternative prizes. Although it isn’t quite like a real-money gambling site (where you can deposit, play, and withdraw), it is fairly simple once you get your head around it. Plus, certain social casinos make the process a little bit easier with competitive redemption limits and a range of prizes to choose from.
To recap quickly, the idea is to win additional Sweeps Coins through gameplay, play through them, and click to ‘redeem’ once you have more than the minimum prize redemption limit. After passing verification checks, you should be able to choose from one of the following (depending on your chosen site), before submitting your request.
Down in California, you won’t need to worry about too many state restrictions. For instance, you can join as soon as you turn 18 – just bear in mind that some sites will raise the minimum age limit to 21.
When it comes to Sweeps Coin redemptions, you’ll also need to bear in mind that prizes are taxed on a state and federal level. This means that anything over $600 must be reported, and anything over $5,000 may be subject to federal withholding. This will see 24% of your prize amount withheld.
Although I'll use social and sweepstakes casinos interchangeably, you will find that true social and sweepstakes casinos come with a few differences. In this table, I've compared social, sweepstakes, and traditional (real-money) online casinos, so you get a better understanding of how they operate in California.
| Social Casinos | Sweepstakes Casinos | Traditional online casinos |
| Play for fun only | Play for fun or in a promotional manner | Completely prohibited |
| Legal throughout the state | Legal throughout California | Could result in a fine or imprisonment |
| No chance to redeem winnings | Can win additional Sweeps Coins during gameplay and redeem prizes (terms apply) | No legal sites in California |
If you've decided that a social casino is the right option for you, then these steps will help you get your social gaming experience underway.
For some, I’m sure it is disappointing to hear that the best online casinos in California are strictly prohibited. However, all is not lost when it comes to getting involved with the casino-style gaming experience.
In California, you will find plenty of social casinos that are ready and waiting for you. In fact, you’ll find some of my top picks are even featured in the banners on this page. When beginning your search, make sure you pay attention to the ongoing promotions, range of social gaming titles, and the Sweeps Coin redemption process.
No. You can’t legally join an online casino in California. Fortunately, you will find other forms of gambling are accessible here. Not to mention that you can soon load up casino-style games at a social casino.
No. You won’t ever be able to play or win real money at a social casino in California. You can, however, win additional Sweeps Coins through gameplay. Once you meet the minimum prize redemption limit, you can then exchange for cash prizes or gift vouchers.
The California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) and the Bureau of Gambling Control (BGC) regulate the igaming market in California. However, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) and specific Tribal Gaming Agencies (TGA) have the final say on Tribal casinos.
In California, you will be expected to be at least 18 years old. However, this can rise to 21 years old, depending on which social casino you opt to join.
Yes. Just like I found while reviewing the best online casinos in Texas, social casinos are available to those in California. This means that you can play casino-style games for fun or in a sweepstakes mode, provided you are over the age of 18.
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