
Real money online casinos are currently prohibited in the state of California, which is why alternative, Vegas-inspired gaming options like social gambling in California are growing increasingly popular.
Casino-influenced websites known as sweepstakes or social casinos have emerged to fill a gap in the market. They offer all the fun of ordinary online casinos, but with games powered by virtual coins as opposed to USD, plus a California social gambling angle whereby gamers can compete with their friends to climb leaderboards. Here’s everything you need to know.
Social casinos originally started out as Facebook-integrated games which enabled social media users to play at Vegas-style slots and tables with their buddies – but these sites have evolved an awful lot since then.
Today, these social casinos still offer leaderboard-based competitiveness, but also act as full-service, independent online gaming websites where players can enjoy all the same kinds of games you’d find at an ordinary, cash-based online casino, but with virtual coin-powered gameplay and a few other important differences.
The key thing to note about these sites before using them is that you’ll be placing bets using either GCs or “Gold Coins”, which are played for fun only, or Sweepstakes Coins, which can be entered into sweepstakes tournaments and games and exchanged for real-world prizes at your social casino’s online store. USD gameplay is never permitted.
In a word, yes – and this is the reason these unique online gaming operators have grown so popular of late. Social casinos don’t offer direct USD gambling services, and they also don’t require their customers to make cash deposits or purchases to play at their games either, as GC games can be enjoyed purely for fun, and for free.
These important distinctions from regular online casinos mean that social gambling sites or top sweepstakes casinos aren’t classed as “gambling” under US law and therefore, in California, don’t necessarily require a CA gaming license. Under most circumstances, the vast majority of social casinos are fully accessible in all US states bar Washington, though you will need to double-check with any site you’re thinking of registering with that it’s definitely CA-friendly before you get playing.
Social casinos are immensely popular right now, which means competition is fierce and would-be gamers have tons of options to choose from. Even though you’ll be playing using virtual coins rather than cash, it’s vital to ensure any site you use can be properly trusted and will offer you a fair and secure gaming experience.
TheGameHaus can connect you with reliable operators that offer huge prize potential. Here’s what you ought to look out for when comparing the market:
While California sweepstakes and social casinos don’t strictly require a California gambling license, it’s sensible to look out for operators that do hold some kind of license elsewhere. Most social casinos offering their services to Californians are based in other countries, and the best ones will be regulated by reputable offshore bodies such as the UK Gambling Commission, for example.
Keep in mind that while virtual coin-based social casinos are permitted in CA, real money online betting of any kind remains strictly prohibited. This means that you should avoid signing up with any sites that offer USD-powered casino games.
The best social casinosgaming companies should offer a good variety of games, such as blackjack and poker, but also slots and jackpots, too. These should ideally be powered by software companies you’ve heard of and have Random Number Generators (RNGs) working behind the scenes to ensure randomized game outcomes. Any promotions should be transparent and fair, too.
All the operators you’ll see mentioned across our comparisons and the banners on our site have been fully checked out reputation-wise, but there’s no denying that some sites stand out much more than others when it comes to game selection and prize potential. The social casinos we’d most highly recommend are:
With more than 2,000 games available in total, the selection of slots, tables, and niche Hi-Lo and Plinko games on offer with Stake.us is hard to match anywhere else. What’s more, all our readers here at TheGameHaus can claim a 5% rakeback promotion by entering the one-time code “TGHSOCIAL” at the point of account creation.
WOW Vegas might be themed on the glitzy city of Las Vegas, but it’s fully compliant with social gambling laws in California and available to all CA residents. It offers slots, tables, jackpots, and a whole lot more, with over 300 games available in total and some superb GC coin package discounts on offer to all new customers.
This operator offers kind-hearted Californians the chance to support local or international charities while simultaneously enjoying Vegas-style casino games powered by GCs and Sweepstakes Coins. You can make donations to whichever charitable organizations you please whenever you purchase coin packages online.
140,000 GCs and 500 Sweepstakes Coins are available to all new customers who head over to Fortune Coins and create an account from within CA. This operator also offers 24/7 support, tons of payment options and some of the best slots and progressive jackpot games we’ve seen anywhere across the social gaming market.
Chumba Casino operates a slots-heavy game portfolio that you can access using any device. Its game selection also spans video poker and jackpot titles powered by high-end software, and this operator is well known for frequently advertising tantalizing bonuses via its social media accounts – so be sure to follow Chumba on Twitter and Instagram.
Social gambling is legal and accessible in The Golden State, so long as you stick to sites that definitely accept CA gamers and only offer access to social casino games that are playable using virtual coins.
Any social casinos you’ll see recommended by TheGameHaus are 100% safe and trusted, but you should think carefully about what you ideally want to get out of a social gaming provider prior to choosing which site is best to register with. Whichever operator you choose, make sure they have a solid license and rep, and a diverse and fair selection of games.
The laws that apply to social gambling and real money online casinos are a little different from each other, and it’s important to understand what is and isn’t legal in your region before registering with any betting sites that promise big bonuses and great gameplay. TheGameHaus can help you get to grips with the latest gaming laws for CA.
Californians have a whole lot of social gaming sites to choose from, but while some sites are best known for video poker and live dealer tables, others almost exclusively offer slots and jackpots. Visit TheGameHaus today to compare all the different social casino gaming options currently available in your region.
Before betting on sports or enjoying casino gaming activities in any US state, it’s important to read-up a little on local laws. Find out all you need to know about California gambling laws today with our latest betting guides.
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