Chumba Casino Review
Chumba Casino is a social online casino based on a sweepstakes model that provides players the chance to win real cash prizes.
Its unique sweepstakes business model enables Chumba Casino to operate in most states for customers 18 or older.
In most states, Chumba Casino offers the next best thing to full-fledged online gambling.
The ability to win Sweeps Coins that can be redeemed for (sometimes quite substantial) cash prizes makes Chumba Casino an attractive alternative for players in states that do not regulate online casinos.
The same company operates Global Poker in the exact same grey manner.
Editors note: ycgts.shop has serious reservations about the legality and long term safety of player funds at Chumba Casino. At this time we cannot recommend players deposit or play at Chumba Casino. We recommend playing at WOW Vegas instead.
Pros
Available in most statesReal-money slots and table gamesNo-deposit welcome bonusCons
Not licensed or regulated in the USLimited game selectionLimited customer supportQuick Facts
- Available in: 45 states (Connecticut, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, and Washington excluded)
- Licensed by: Malta Gaming Authority
- Casino games offered: Slots, blackjack, roulette, and video poker
Chumba Casino States
Chumba Casino is available in the following states:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Chumba Casino Bonus and Promo Code
Chumba Casino offers a variety of bonuses and promotions that players can leverage for free Sweeps Coins. Upon signing up, new players are welcomed with a no-deposit registration bonus and invited to make a first deposit for an additional bonus of 40 Sweeps Coins.
We are not aware of any Chumba Casino promo codes attached to any special offers, we will update this review as new promotions are released.
Chumba Casino No-Deposit Registration Bonus
Begin with 2,200,000 Gold Coins and 2 free Sweeps Coins. This plus daily bonuses result in players often being able to start with 3 or more Sweeps Coins that can be used to play games and win additional Sweeps Coins (which may be redeemed for real cash prizes).
Chumba Casino First Deposit Bonus: 40 Free Sweeps Coins
Upon logging in for the first time, new players are welcomed with a one-time offer to spend $10 on 5,000,000 Gold Coins and get an additional 40 free Sweeps Coins.
How Chumba Casino Works
What makes Chumba Casino unique among US gambling sites is players do not simply deposit their cash and gamble online. Chumba Casino hosts two different types of games: some that are played with Gold Coins and some that are played with Sweeps Coins.
Gold Coins cannot be redeemed for cash or transferred. They are simply used to participate in play-money games for fun and bragging rights. Rather than making a deposit and playing for cash, Chumba Casino customers purchase packages of Gold Coins to participate in social games.
Sweeps Coins are different in that they can be redeemed for cash. Casino players who participate in Sweeps Coins games and win can redeem those coins for real cash prizes, sometimes for very large sums of money.
There are three main convenient methods to acquire Sweeps Coins at Chumba Casino:
- As free bonuses when purchasing Gold Coins: Players may receive Sweeps Coins as a bonus when purchasing Gold Coins. When logging in and making a Gold Coins purchase, players will see how many Sweeps Coins they will receive as a bonus for that purchase
- Earn Sweeps Coins by participating in contests: Chumba Casino hosts regular Sweeps Coins giveaways on its official Facebook page, Chumba Casino prizes are often awarded for answering trivia questions
- Daily Sweeps Coins bonuses: Chumba Casino players can log in to their accounts once a day, and if they are eligible for a Sweeps Coins bonus, they will be notified that they can claim their free Sweeps Coins
Free Sweeps Coins by Mail Request
Additionally, players may request free Sweeps Coins by mail because Chumba Casino operates on a sweepstakes model, complete with the “no purchase necessary” clause attached to most sweepstakes.
Players can send a letter by mail inside a stamped #10 envelope to Chumba Casino at the following addresses to request free Sweeps Coins
In the USA:
VGW Games Limited
Chumba Casino Sweepstakes Department
PO BOX #8486
Portsmouth, NH 03801
To qualify for Chumba Casino prizes, players must hand write their hand address on the front of the envelope and write the words “Sweepstakes Credits.” On a 4” x 6” postcard or piece of paper of the same size inside, include their full name, e-mail address connected to their Chumba Casino account and include the following statement:
“I wish to receive Sweeps Coins to participate in the sweepstakes promotions offered by Chumba Casino. By submitting this request, I hereby declare that I have read, understood and agree to be bound by Chumba Casino’s Terms and Conditions and Sweeps Rules.”
Chumba Casino Game Selection
Chumba Casino hosts 79 games, with the majority of those being slots. Blackjack, roulette, and video poker are also on offer to provide a standard selection of games. This is well short of some of the bigger online casinos available in regulated states, but the game variety here covers all the classic casino staples.
Chumba Casino Slots
Slots are offered in a variety of shapes, sizes, and themes. Players will find large progressive games with jackpots that occasionally exceed 1 million Sweeps Coins, which if won, would give players enough Sweeps Coins to redeem a payout worth more than $1 million.
Slot themes run the gamut from standard ancient Egypt and Lucky 7 variations that can be found at most casinos to quirky titles featuring themes such as “Gustavo: El Luchador.” Overall, the variety is adequate for a casino that is definitely on the smaller side in terms of game selection.
Chumba Casino Roulette
The lone roulette game is of the American variety, also known as double-zero roulette, which typically features a house advantage of 5.26%. European roulette (single zero roulette) would be a significant improvement as it has roughly half the house advantage at 2.70%.
Chumba Casino Blackjack
Chumba Casino blackjack features a better ruleset for players by comparison, with blackjacks paying 3:2 and the dealer standing on all 17s – which is better for the player than the dealing hitting on soft 17s.
Chumba Casino Video Poker
The one video poker game at Chumba Casino is Jacks or Better. Players can wager 1 to 5 Sweeps Coins per hand, with payouts that range from 1 Sweeps Coin at the low end for a pair of jacks to 4,000 Sweeps Coins at the high end for a Royal Flush.
Chumba Casino Graphics and User Interface
Chumba Casino is a sleek product wrapped in a not-so-pretty package. Upon logging in, players are taken to a game lobby that looks badly outdated and poorly organized. The games are presented in no particular order, with blackjack, roulette and video poker inserted randomly among the other types of games.
Finding any individual game is an exercise in patience, but the experience improves dramatically once an individual game is launched. Each game features modern graphics, smooth animations and the occasional bonus feature to provide an experience that is much more engaging than the lobby would suggest.
Chumba Casino App Screenshots
Chumba Casino Mobile App
Chumba Casino operates on a responsive website that is by default compatible with all major mobile devices, including iOS and Android, with no download necessary. Mobile users need only point their browser to ChumbaCasino.com and log in as necessary to play while mobile.
The mobile interface is adequate, but some players may find it annoying that the casino requires users to rotate their phone to landscape mode to play. Aside from that, the games are largely the same when played via mobile as they are on the full desktop experience. Graphics, features, and game variety are all maintained when playing via mobile.
Chumba Casino Payment Methods
Chumba Casino issues free Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins to players regularly, but those wanting to get back to gaming faster may purchase Gold Coins packages using a variety of purchasing methods.
Currently, Chumba Casino payment methods include:
All Gold Coins purchases also trigger free Sweeps Coins bonuses that can be used in Sweeps Coins games to win additional Sweeps Coins that may be redeemed for real cash prizes.
Redeeming Chumba Casino Sweeps Coins
Players who win Sweeps Coins while playing at Chumba Casino may redeem them for real cash prizes at a rate of $1 per Sweeps Coin. However, it is important to note redemptions may only be made once a player’s Sweeps Coins balance has reached a minimum of SC 100.
Once a player has a balance of at least SC 100, he or she may redeem them for cash prizes via Visa card, instant ACH or Skrill.
Note: Players must verify their identities before their first redemption. It is a good idea to complete the account verification process early so that there are no delays when redeeming Sweeps Coins later.
The account verification process has each player upload a government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state or national ID, or passport), proof of residential address (copy of a utility bill or bank statement), and a bank statement dated within the last three months.
Redemptions are typically processed within 3-5 business days. In addition, there are two important withdrawal rules players should note from Chumba Casino’s terms and conditions page:
- New York and Florida users may win a maximum of $5,000 on any one spin or play. Chumba Casino will reduce any prize greater than $5,000 to $5,000 for users located in New York and Florida.
- Chumba Casino reserves the right to cap withdrawals to $10,000 per day.
Chumba Casino Customer Support
Chumba Casino’s support options are rather limited with the only contact method being an e-mail form that players can fill out to request help for any questions. However, Chumba Casino does provide an extensive that can be used to solve many issues without needing to contact anyone.
Does Chumba Casino Hold a Gaming License?
Yes. Chumba Casino is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, a well-known online gaming licensing jurisdiction. Many large, international gaming brands hold MGA licenses, including the likes of Bet365 Casino, and Betway Casino.
Chumba Casino Responsible Gaming Policy
Chumba Casino supports responsible gaming and provides several tools to help customers keep their players under control or self-exclude entirely.
- Maximum purchase limit: Set a maximum amount that may be spent (in dollars) on Gold Coins packages per day, week, or month
- Playing hours limit: Set a maximum number of hours the player may play at Chumba Casino per day, week or month
- Maximum bet amount limit: Set a maximum total amount that may be wagered in any single day, week, or month
- Loss limit: Set a limit on the total amount that may be lost during any single day, week, or month – after which the player will be restricted from playing for the remainder of that period
- Time out period: Players may restrict themselves from playing for 24 hours, 7 days, 30 days, 90 days, or 180 days
- Indefinite self-exclusion: Players may exclude themselves from playing indefinitely. Choosing this option will result in the account being closed for a minimum of one week. Players who change their mind may send a written request for consideration
Expert Opinion: Is Chumba Casino Legit?
Chumba Casino is an interesting concept because it manages to dance right on the line of what’s legal in the United States, but BettingUSA has some concerns, including the increased legal risks it faces due to and potential regulatory action.
For one, Chumba Casino is not a licensed online gambling operator in any US state. Its Malta Gaming Authority license is somewhat comforting, but it doesn’t come close to matching the high standards US regulatory agencies set for full-fledged online casinos.
In addition, it’s hard to tell how Chumba Casino is doing financially.
If it was a licensed US casino operator, local regulators would have that information and enact safeguards to protect players’ funds should Chumba Casino run into financial difficulties.