The Honest Chumba Casino Review
Although I believe Chumba Casino is probably a legitimate operation, due to recent policy changes, I no longer recommend them.
There are better online casinos than Chumba for every player.
- 1There is no bonus. My favorite online casino, Ignition Casino, gives you 200% extra if you use Bitcoin.
- 2There are no live dealers. It's painfully outdated for online casinos not to have live dealers at this point.
- 3The game selection is limited. Chumba Casino won't pay to license third-party games, so you're stuck with their few in-house games.
- 4You can't use Bitcoin. Most players have moved on to Bitcoin for speed and privacy. Not Chumba.
- 5Payouts are too slow. Ignition Casino sends me my Bitcoin payouts within an hour. Chumba takes at least several days.
NAME | Chumba Casino |
|---|---|
WEBSITE | https://www.chumbacasino.com/ |
USA PLAYERS | Yes, (except Washington State) |
LIVE DEALERS | No |
ONLINE SINCE | 2017 |
BONUS | 2,000,000 Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins Free on Sign Up; $30 Gold Coin package, including 3,000,000 Gold Coins for $10, plus Bonus Free 30 Sweeps Coins |
LICENSED BY | Malta Gaming Authority |
OWNER | VGW |
LOCATION | Malta |
GAMES | 65 Slots, Blackjack, Video Poker |
SOFTWARE | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Instant Play |
BANKING | Visa, MasterCard, Skrill, Instant ACH, Rapid Transfer |
SUPPORT |
Chumba Casino
Overall
2.7-
Bonus
-
Software
-
Mobile Casino
-
Game Variety
-
Purchases
-
Redemption
-
Player Support
-
Promotions
-
Jackpots
-
Live Dealers
Pros
- $2 in free Sweeps Coins for new players
- Legal for cash prizes to USA and Canada
- All credit cards should work for purchases
- Very small minimum purchases
- Free redemption directly to your bank account
Cons
- Limited selection of games
- No live dealers
- Unintuitive website layout
- No live chat or telephone support
- Bonus is minuscule compared to other online casinos
Table of Contents
Unfortunately, due to poor service, a low bonus, and no live dealers, I can no longer recommend Chumba Casino. Please see this updated page full of in-depth reviews of casinos I currently trust. The information in this review was gathered prior to removing them from my recommended list.
Chumba Casino Review – Overall
Chumba Casino hit the online gaming playground in 2017 when it was established by VGW Malta Limited. It’s a unique casino since it employs a sweepstakes-based system that makes it possible for players from the US (excluding Washington) and Canada (excluding Quebec) to register and play legally for cash prizes.
Chumba Casino sells Gold Coins that come with bonus Sweeps Coins, which can be played with and redeemed for cash prizes.
For example, you make a purchase for $5 and receive Gold Coins as well as a bonus 5 Sweeps Coins. Your Sweeps Coins winnings can be redeemed for cash prizes.
Chumba is limited in its number of games and lacks things like live dealers, but because it can accept almost every US credit card for purchases and send cash prize redemptions right to your bank account, it should be considered more convenient and user-friendly than almost any other online casino.
However, this is not enough to save this negative Chumba Casino review. I would not call this a reputable or trustworthy site; on top of all of the gaming aspects which leave something to be desired, this makes it a casino that I just cannot recommend.
✅ How do you get free Sweeps Coins at Chumba Casino?
Chumba Casino is now giving players 2 free Sweeps Coins simply for verifying their account. You'll need to visit Chumba Casino, create a new account, and follow the verification steps. You'll then see 2.00 listed in your Sweeps Coins balance within 24 hours.
✅ Can you win cash prizes at Chumba Casino?
Yes, so long as you live in the United States (excluding Washington) or Canada (excluding Quebec), you can redeem any Sweeps Coins winnings for cash prizes. This is sent directly to your bank account.
✅ Is Chumba Casino legal in the USA?
Chumba Casino is the only online casino that claims to be legal in 49 US states. That's because they based around a sweepstakes system rather than how traditional online casinos handle real money. Technically, you purchase Gold Coins and receive free bonus Sweeps Coins.
✅ Does Chumba Casino take PayPal?
No, Chumba Casino doesn't work with PayPal, but they're arguably doing something better. For purchases, they accept almost any credit card legally without getting blocked and for prize redemptions, Chumba Casino sends cash prizes directly to your bank account. They're the only online casino that can claim either of those things for USA players.
The Chumba Casino Sweepstakes System
Officially, Chumba Casino is a social casino that allows users to play their games for free. Members of the casino can play the games on the website using two types of social currencies:
- Gold Coins
- Sweeps Coins
Once you register, you can visit the cashier and buy Gold Coins for real money, but you cannot buy Sweeps. However, when buying Gold Coins, Chumba Casino will give you a certain number of Sweeps Coins for free.
When playing games, you can choose which currency you want to use to bet. Gold Coins (GC) have no monetary value and cannot be redeemed for real money afterwards, which is different than a traditional casino like Ignition. On the other hand, if you play with Sweeps Coins (SC), you can later redeem them for cash prizes.
Is Redeeming Sweeps Coins for Cash Prizes Legal?
According to Chumba Casino, they have employed some of the best lawyers and legal advisers in the iGaming industry to make sure that their Sweepstakes system does not violate any US laws.
The parent company of Chumba Casino, VGW, are experts at navigating this system and have gotten a Malta Gaming license as a result. Another property of VGW that utilizes the exact same system on the poker side is Global Poker.
Even if the US legal system decides against the Sweepstakes system, there is no risk involved for players at all. You will not be breaking any laws and you can freely play and redeem your cash prizes unless you are a resident of Washington (USA) or Quebec (Canada).
The sweepstakes format Chumba uses is almost identical to other social purchase-only casinos such as Funzpoints.
Chumba Casino No-Purchase Gold Coin Package
For new players, Chumba Casino once offered a no-purchase bonus of 2,000,000 Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins, which were automatically credited to your account after verifying it.
This offer is no longer available, sadly.
However, the minimum redemption in Chumba is 100 Sweeps Coins, which means you cannot redeem it just yet. This isn’t hurdle was the first red flag I encountered.
Chumba Casino Promotions
Only the 2 free Sweeps Coins are available at the moment of writing this review, as well as the $10 Gold Coin package. So, there really isn’t a range of promotions available here.
Last year, I contacted Chumba Casino customer support and asked about future plans. One of the customer support reps assured me that the casino is working on new bespoke promotions – but I have yet to see the fruits of that labor.
Chumba Casino Software
Overall, the software looks appealing and has a modern touch to it. This is Chumba’s proprietary software, along with all of the games in the package.
Main Page Layout
The layout of the front page is quite simple, which makes the UI generally positive. At the top of the page, you can see your account balance and switch between Gold Coins and Sweeps. This is also where you can buy more Gold Coins or redeem your Sweeps Coins for cash prizes.
In the left corner, you can see a small window that is constantly updated with recent wins.
While the site might look great, one of the major problems I had was the software seems slow at times, with the issue occuring most often when I was trying to load a game. Moreover, I’m not a big fan of the central interface that shows 8 games at a time. Slots and other games do not have their own sections, so it can be tricky to find the game you want to play.
Game Variety
Chumba Casino has more than 150 games that you can play as soon as you register on the website, without making a purchase. The majority of the games are slots, but there are several blackjack and video poker variations available as well.
As I’ve mentioned, these are proprietary games, which means that Chumba Casino develops them in-house. Therefore, you should not expect to play popular titles that you would find at other online casinos such as Starburst, Age of Gods, Gonzo’s Quest, and so on.
Blackjack and Video Poker
If you want something other than slots, note that Chumba Casino has some blackjack and video poker games as well. The blackjack game pays 3:2. The minimum stake you can play with is 10K Gold Coins or 1 Sweeps Coin, depending on which currency you choose.
If you like video poker, you can find the Jacks or Better game. The minimum bet you can make in this game is 10K Gold Coins or 1 Sweeps Coin, the same as with blackjack. The weakest winning hand, as the name tells you, is a pair of Jacks.
Live Dealers
Chumba Casino does not have any live dealer games. If you’re looking for somewhere to play live dealer games at a US-facing casino, you’ll need to play at a site like Wild Casino.
Chumba Casino on Mobile
Chumba Casino’s mobile app and website work exactly the same way as the desktop site. Normally, this would be a good thing but this just means the issues I encountered while playing on my computer were replicated when playing from my smartphone.
Chumba Casino Purchase Methods
Even though the concept of purchasing money at Chumba Casino is different due to the Sweepstakes System, the experience of making a purchase is pretty much the same as with any other casino you’ve played in.
To purchase Gold Coins and get free Sweeps Coins, you need to click on the red Buy Now button at the top of the website. A new screen with then open and show you the exchange rates: how many Gold Coins you get for your purchase, as well as your bonus Sweeps Coins.
To make a purchase, you can use the following payment methods:
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Skrill
- Instant ACH
- Rapid Transfer
This is not a lot but most US and Canadian players will find something that works for them. The cheapest package you can at Chumba Casino buy costs $1 and gets you 200,000 Gold Coins and no Sweeps Coins.
The most expensive one will refill your account with 120 million Gold Coins for $300 and comes with 315 bonus Sweeps Coins.
Chumba Casino has some of the lowest minimum purchases of any online casino and, because they’re operating legally, will almost never be blocked by any USA credit card.
This also makes Chumba Casino an appealing option if you’re averse to learning about Bitcoin since your credit card is almost certainly just going to work.
Chumba Casino Payouts
To redeem Sweeps Coins, you first need to click on the green Redeem button at the top of the screen. You can redeem for either cash prizes or gift cards from a variety of retailers like Instacart, Sam’s Club, Starbucks, Lowe’s, Home Depot and more.
After that, if you’re redeeming for the first time from Chumba Casino, you need to verify your identity by providing the following:
- Government-issued photo ID — Driver’s License, National ID, Passport
- Proof of residential address — Utility bills, bank statements
- Bank statement
After that, you can exchange Sweeps Coins for cash prizes and redeem a minimum of 100 Sweeps Coins. If you want to exchange for gift cards, the minimum is 10 Sweeps Coins.
In my experience, 100 Sweeps Coins ends up being about $100 – which is quite a steep minimum withdrawal requirement.
Chumba has been quick to award gift cards but is not particularly timely when it comes to cash payouts. Myself, along with many other players on Reddit, Trustpilot and other casino forums have noted that Chumba tends to drag its heels somewhat when fulfilling bank transfers for winning players. Some don’t ever receive their payouts.
Player Support
Unfortunately, there is no live chat or phone support feature available for players to get in touch with a customer support agent, which is a shame since this has become a must-have for the majority of online casinos in recent years.
More disturbingly, I recently also received reports from multiple Chumba players of support agents disrespecting players, refusing to pay out winnings based on unfounded accusations of multiple accounts.
Chumba Casino Conclusion
Previously, my impressions about Chumba Casino were overall positive but, the more time I’ve spent playing here and reading about what other members of the online casino community have to say, I have to change my tune.
The slow (and sometimes non-existent) payouts, lack of promotions and downright disappointing customer service are unacceptable, even in the US online gambling market.
If those issues were eventually resolved, though, I’d still like to see improvements in the Chumba Casino software as it could definitely work more smoothly. More games, live dealers, and more purchase and redemption methods would be a big plus as well.
Unfortunately, I just cannot continue to recommend Chumba over better online casinos available to USA players, which include more deposit methods, live dealers, and a real bonus.
Bethany has been working in online gambling for over 13 years. She got her start in the industry as her first job after graduating from the Professional Writing Program at York University. Having written for many online gaming publications and worked with top casino operators, she has unique insight into the gambling market. Bethany maintains a personal interest in iGaming as she continues to play poker online as a hobby.
"As a USA player, I think Bovada is the best option. There are always a lot of games going on and the Bitcoin payouts get to me within an hour. No complaints here."
Henry S.
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yeah chumba casino should be sued and shut down by the platforms they advertise on. and by the people that chumba casino trick scamed and robbed so many prople .sounds like we all got scammed they have no problem taking money but soon as you claim or try to claim anything they say have multiple accounts and they shut you down and ban you and won’t do anything about it. can’t do anything about it seems. and they keep the money that you put on there as well so definitely a scam someone needs to do something about it I looked up the CEO of chumba Casino on LinkedIn he just doesn’t respond as well. I don’t know how they have so much advertising on so many platforms yet gets away with scamming so many people. it’s doesn’t make sense. it really doesn’t make sense because it seems like it is a great Casino and it seems like they make a s*** ton of money so why wouldn’t they just pay out what they are supposed to pay out and not make everything so difficult it seems like they would make more Revenue in the end whatever it is it’s shady as crap under a Shady Tree in the dark said I had a second account as well after I claimed a winning for the first time after making a lot of deposits greed is where it is always this greed chumba casino is like FTX . sure is convenient for them to not have a phone number… but i bet the ceo does…
We just hit a big win. and chumba is taking thier sweet time to ID me. Been playing this game for over two years now and they still saying they need this and that when i done sent all they have ask for. I have use everything and contact them
I to am going through the same thing since Nov 2022. Keeps saying they are looking into my credentials. I sent them everything up to date.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYONE HAS HAD TO BE VERIFIED BY THIS NETVERFIY THAT CHUMBA CASINO HAS NOW TO VERIFY YOU BECAUSE I HAVE TRIED TO GET IT TO WORK ON MY COMPUTER AND IT KEEPS SAYING WE CAN NOT RECOGNIZE YOUR FACE DOES ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS VERIFICATION THEY DO NOW AND YES I AM ONE OF THEM THAT CHUMBA CASINO DON’T WANT TO GIVE ME MY WINNING TO EITHER BECAUSE I CAN’T GET VERIFIED BY THIS NEW SYSTEM THEY HAVE WITH JUMIO IF SOMEONE KNOWS ANYTHING PLEASE LET ME KNOW BECAUSE I AM GOING TO THE BBB ON THEM
I let my daughter use my credit card 1 time to buy $10 in play money and when my statement came I nearly passed out. Someone must have hacked into Chumba and ran up over $1000 on my card. So I had to close my card and there is a fraud investigation pending. Has this happened to anyone else?
sounds suspicious; why wouldn’t you get your daughter her own card, there are at least two ways to do this.
Please ALL having issues with them REPORT THEM!!! We can’t allow them to do this!!! It is technically theft!!! Take our money but won’t verify so we can get ours!!??? Seriously!!
I recently started playing Chumba Casino about a month ago. I won $300 twice every time I try to submit my information for verification the system just keeps loading the page and then it goes blank. I reached out to customer service and they literally sent me 8 emails everyday for 8 days straight saying “DUE TO HIGH EMAIL VOLUME” and yet here we are 2 weeks later and I still haven’t gotten a reply. What I’m trying to figure out is the part of the verification with the bank statement it says it can not be in black and white. I bank with JP Morgan Chase , when tf they started sending out color statements unless I been under a rock for the last ten years. I wish everyone luck and hope they get the winning they are rightfully owed.
Have you finally been verified??? Been over 3 weeks for me!!! I’m close to calling Bbb in NH and filing reports!!! Unbelievable They easily TAKE MY MONEY for coins!!! Is this a scam? I do believe it’s time to contact NH Attorney General and sheriff dept!
I was beating 5.00 a pole on mudosa slots and hit 125 free spins as soon as I picked 125 spins it took all my spins except 31 of them on the first spin . Then I lowered my bet to 3.00 a spin I said to my self if I hit 125 free spins playing 3.00 a spin I’ll video tape it happening . Yep I hit 125 free spins. Got it on video taken my spins . I hit the 125 free spins. On the touch screen. Down on the left side of the slot machine switch to 31 spins on the first spin . It’s been going on two months chumba casino hass not gave me my rest of my spins I had sent them the video and over 30 emails. I did not receive anything no compensation etc all they say is there reviewing it. . It doesn’t take a long time to review it. I’m pissed. So I need help and what can I do so they can give me my spins I didn’t receive. Etc I have the video of it happening.
I was discounted with no explanation whatsoever. So now I can’t even get ahold of customer support to fix the problem an I don’t think I want to if they can just cut you out for no reason
I’ve got over a $150 that I won with Chumba and I can’t get it . Because Chumba failed to delete or cancel my old Visa debit card that is no longer any good . And I’ve been using my new Visa debit card and chumba has been using it to take my money . But in order for me to redeem my winnings they are trying to use my old canceled out Visa debit card and chumba want help in any way to fix they’re messed up but they have no problem in taking my hard on money and trying to keep the money I won . Shame on chamba …
People beware
I previously had an account at chumba casino where twice I hit on two jackpots one was for $700 the other was for $400 and before I could even get to the withdrawal button to start a withdrawal boost x my winnings were completely taking right off the machine.. I wrote The Establishment spoke to their employees was treated with complete disregard and disrespect, then was falsely accused of having multiple accounts and was blocked. I never received any of my winnings I’ve never been allowed back on chumba , and now I’m going to try to go above their heads, the first of all have them clear my name there because it’s a lie I did not have multiple accounts and 2nd to have given into me the money that I won fair and square playing with my money that they never ever made a mistake with and accidentally gave it back to me, as long as it was coming out of my pocket..
Let me know how you choose to fight it. If they don’t honor winnings, and close your account with no proof, I would fight the charges with your card company. After all, you paid for a service that states fairness. Well, they have breached that themselves.
Thats the reason there located in malta ,duh ! If you dont live in malta you have no way to do anything there laws protect them from you doing anything to them no matter where you are in the world!
I love chumba, the only thing I wish there was more bonuses and deals other then the everyday $1sc
I agree with you on this mobile is alot smoother than desktop.
I’ve been playing Chumba for a few months now and used to love Chumba until yesterday when on the Western Gold slot machine I hit the Grand Jackpot on Gold Coins and it froze up and of course I screenshot it and I’ve been paying as well to play . So I’ve got a lot of Gold Coins built up and Chumba won’t honor the screenshot I sent them of what happened yesterday so I’m guessing Chumba doesn’t care about their customers playing . They only care about taking the money as in the greenback . It’s not like I haven’t been buying gold coins lord knows I’ve bought my share of them ….
I have a screen shot of hitting 125 free spins on mudosa and as I touch 125 to start my fee spins it switches to 31 free spins it happen before the video I was betting 5.00 a spin I picked 125 it switched on the first spin so I said if this happens when I bet 3.00 a spin I’ll have it on video surely it happens all on video.
They don’t send 1099 forms so paying taxes is a pain.
Customer service is at least 13 hrs for reply.
Its very fun and addicting. Ive spent a lot of time every day on this game. My only problem is ive been waiting on my redemption for longer than 10 days but customer support has been very cooperative so I have faith it is coming.
Did you receive your prize redemption?
Great review thanks!
Thanks, Taylor. Appreciate the feedback!