Carnival Citi

Carnival Citi launched relatively recently in 2023, but that hasn’t stopped them from calling their platform the “top social casino in [the] USA” on Trustpilot. They have a 4.7 out of 5 star rating on this third-party review site, and that’s in no small part due to their frequent giveaways on socials.

I had to see if 2,144+ verified reviews could be wrong, so I created a new account and tested it out for myself. I opted into their welcome offer, claimed daily bonuses, played games with Coins and Sweeps Chips, made purchases, redeemed cash prizes, and contacted customer support.

I’m here to settle the score with an independent account of my experience with the casino. I’m showing you how I signed up, diving deep to simplify the purchase and redemption processes, and revealing the latest Carnival Citi promo codes here. Let’s get into it.

Carnival Citi Casino Overview

Carnival Citi Promotions, Deals and Bonuses – 3.5/5

Carnival Citi’s welcome offer seems generous, but given that 1,000 Sweeps Chips is redeemable for $1 USD, it doesn’t amount to nearly as much as you’d think at first glance. To their credit, I was given 1,000 SC daily after logging in. They also have daily, weekly and monthly SC prize draws.

Lastly, they host frequent giveaways on Facebook and Instagram using one-time promo codes. While you can win up to 100,000 SC during the monthly prize draws, they don’t have any game specific tournaments or special events on deck. They don’t currently have a VIP program either.

Carnival Citi Welcome Offer

Carnival Citi is giving out 10 million Coins and 5,000 free Sweeps Chips when you create a new account and verify your email address. All I had to do was register a new account and follow the guided instructions to claim my welcome bonus.

Carnival Citi Bonus Code

This casino will often post Carnival Citi promo codes on their Facebook and Instagram pages. I didn’t have to use a Carnival Citi bonus code to claim their welcome offer or daily login bonuses.

Daily Login Bonus

Every day, I claimed 1,000 free Sweeps Chips. I just had to click “Claim” when prompted right after logging into my casino account. Carnival Citi is one of the relatively few social casinos consistently giving out free SC with a daily bonus, even if it doesn’t amount to much given the exorbitant prize exchange rate.

First Purchase Bonus

You can get a 50% discount with your first purchase. Carnival Citi will give you 20 million Coins and 20,000 free Sweeps Chips for $9.99. Usually it’s priced at $19.99. I was able to opt into this promo by clicking “Buy Coins,” selecting the corresponding package, and buying it with my card.

Daily, Weekly and Monthly SC Prize Draws

Carnival Citi hosts “Lucky Prize Draws” on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

The catch is that you have to wager at least 10,000 Sweeps Chips before you’re eligible to win. Once you hit this mark, you’re given three “e-tickets” for their daily, weekly, and monthly draws.

Their daily prize draws take place every day at midnight EST. A 10,000 SC prize is credited to your account at random, and they’ll send the final results to your email if you’re a winner. Their weekly prize draws up the ante with 25,000 SC, and they take place every Sunday at midnight.

Carnival Citi User Experience – 3.5/5

Carnival Citi’s website benefits from a simplistic user interface, and I was able to register a new account in three minutes as I followed their step-by-step instructions. Their KYC process was a simple confirmation of my driver’s license and proof of address, so I was good to go in 24 hours.</>p

I had to verify my email address before claiming their 10 million Coins + 5,000 free SC welcome bonus. Once logged in, I found myself on the website’s homepage with a view of all their games:

At the top of the page, I noticed three headers separating slots, video poker tables, and arcade games. They also have a hidden page with virtual table games, but you won’t see it unless you spend $24.99 on Coin packages. Video poker, 3-reel slots, and arcade games are VIP-only too.

I saw a row of their newest releases above a row of their most popular titles. Underneath, I saw a panel of subcategories that shines the spotlight on some of the specialty games they produce.

The last section of their homepage shows all their games, but there’s no option to sort by theme or software provider. I was only able to use the search bar up top as I looked for specific titles.

Finally, I got to the website’s footer and found links to their most important documents lined up in a column. I visited their Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions, and Responsible Gaming sections. I saw links to their Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube above all their accepted payment options.

I also clicked “Contact Us.” I was directed to a page containing their phone number, email, and a link to their Live Chat team. I appreciate the organization in this department because it was easy for me to get in touch with someone who could help. They also list the company’s headquarters.

Overall, their website felt easy to navigate on my desktop. I searched the App Store and Google Play for a downloadable version of Carnival Citi, but I had to visit their website on my iPhone 13.

Aside from the two unsightly registration and login tabs at the bottom of the page, their website is designed much like a mobile app. I enjoyed similar functionality on both fronts, but I’d like to see them accept Apple Pay and Google Pay on all mobile devices like Scratchful Casino does.

Their homepage looks identical no matter which device you’re using to play games, and I didn’t experience any lag while testing their slots and jackpots on mobile. I was able to buy coins and redeem prizes using the menu at the top-left corner of my screen.

The two unsightly registration and login tabs at the boIf we’re strictly viewing Carnival Citi’s user interface through a beginner-friendly lens, they check all the boxes for casual players. I never felt confused while trying to find my way around the site.

Carnival Citi First Impressions

At first glance, Carnival Citi appears to be a well-rounded casino with plenty of games for every player’s preferences. I was shocked when I realized that I’d have to pay $24.99 before I played their small collection of virtual table games, video poker, three-reel slots, and/or arcade games.

This left a bad taste in my mouth from the very beginning, but I remained impartial while testing Carnival Citi’s user interface. On both desktop and mobile, I was able to load games quickly and access important settings with a tap. It was easy to buy Coins and redeem my SC using Trustly.

While I didn’t like that I waited 48 hours for an email response, their live chat and phone support teams made up for this shortcoming with helpful and nearly immediate feedback. Their site isn’t particularly compelling, but a purple-and-white background keeps with their jester theme nicely.

They don’t have any live dealer games, but I’d be happy to recommend this casino to seasoned players if they didn’t lock tens of titles behind a paywall. This is unacceptable for a social casino.

Where is Carnival Citi Legal?

Carnival Citi is legal to use in 37 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. They don’t currently accept new signups from New York, Michigan, North Carolina, Nebraska, Missouri, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Utah, Rhode Island, Washington, Florida or Georgia.

Interestingly enough, they claim that players in these states can sign up and play games with Coins so long as they don’t partake in Promotions or participate in Sweeps Contests for cash prizes. This is incorrect because they restrict account registration altogether in these locations.

How to Sign Up With Carnival Citi?

I was able to register with Carnival Citi in just three minutes. I’m showing you how I completed their sign-up process and verification to claim a bonus and start playing games. They appeal to beginners with simple instructions and guided steps, so you shouldn’t have any trouble here.

1. Create A New Account: I clicked “New User” at the top-right corner of my screen to begin.

On the next screen, I entered my email address and created a secure password for my account. On the next screen, I was prompted to enter my date of birth and name for identity verification purposes. After I clicked the continue button, I was asked to enter my address and mobile phone number.

2. Verify Your Phone Number: From here, I clicked “Resend Code” and entered the code sent to me via SMS text message. I was also prompted to accept Carnival Citi’s Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy by ticking the checkbox.

There’s a secondary checkbox you can tick if you wish to opt into promotional alerts via SMS. If you don’t want to receive texts from the casino, leave the box unchecked (this is what I chose to do). Finally, I clicked “Sign Up” and I was redirected to Carnival Citi’s homepage.

3. Verify Your Email Address: Before I claimed the welcome bonus, I was prompted to confirm my email address. I looked for a new verification message from Carnival Citi and clicked the link inside. If you don’t see it appear within a few minutes, resend the message or check your spam.

4. (Optional) Add A Bank Card: When I checked my newly updated casino balance, I noticed that I had 10 million Coins and 5,000 SC. As such, there’s no requirement to spend money here if you don’t want to. However, I decided to add my bank card, and I’m showing you how to do it.

I clicked “Buy Coins” at the top of my screen and decided to spring for the first purchase bonus. I was able to get 20 million Coins and 20,000 Sweeps Chips for $9.99, which is a 50% discount from the usual price of $19.99. I clicked the package and “Bank Cards” on the payment screen.

On the next page, I entered my card number and three-digit code (CVV) on the back. I typed in my full name, billing address, and the card’s expiration date. I clicked “Purchase” and I got my coins immediately. During testing, I was able to use my coins as soon as I refreshed the page.

Carnival Citi Games – 2.5/5

Carnival Citi works with a team of lesser-known software companies to host the majority of their slots and jackpots, but they produce their tables and arcade titles in-house. At first glance, I was excited for a well-rounded gaming experience. Unfortunately, 29 games are off-limits for players.

I soon discovered that I’d have to spend $24.99 on Coins packages and become a “VIP Player” if I wanted to play table games, video poker, three-reel slots, and arcade games on the website. I reluctantly shelled out the money for curiosity’s sake, but this all left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Carnival Citi Slot Games

You can play 196 traditional slots and 6 progressive jackpots at Carnival Citi without dipping into your pocket. 13 three-reel slots are reserved for VIP Players. Their progressive jackpots are in a “Featured” row on their homepage, and top prizes climb up to 12,879,573 SC on Legend Link.

There’s no real search functionality beyond the search bar, which I’d like to see changed. I was able to play their “Hot” slots, see their newest releases, and explore their entire collection on the website’s homepage. I found a diverse range of themes, but there’s no way to sort among them.

I had a blast playing Medusa, and I quickly pivoted to their Vegas-style slots after the thumbnail for Zhang Gu caught my eye. I haven’t seen any of the slots in their library before, so it felt nice to try new games. Wild Cleopatra Deluxe and Marie Antoinette’s Riches appeal to history buffs.

If you’re looking for something a bit less intimidating than El Patron or Gladiators, pivot to Foxy Fox or visit Bonzo the Clown for some laughs at his expense. Testing their library was ultimately frustrating because I’d be giving them a much higher ranking if they didn’t paywall some games.

Table Games

Carnival Citi’s table games are inaccessible unless you spend $24.99 on Coins purchases. They have a hidden section of their website that only unlocks once you’ve spent the money. I found virtual blackjack, baccarat, and roulette that doesn’t have any kind of software provider tag on it.

We can only assume that these games have been produced exclusively by the casino, but it still isn’t okay to bait players into spending money. Their seven video poker games are also off-limits unless you’re a “VIP Player,” but they’re listed on the website.

They have a basic line-up of Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker, Deuces Wild, Double Double Poker Bonus, Aces & Faces, and Sevens & Joker Wild. Their graphics are okay, but I didn’t feel super engaged while testing these titles. Solitaire and four games of keno are similarly VIP-exclusive

Live Dealer

Carnival Citi doesn’t have any live dealer games at the moment. I’d suggest McLuck’s live studio for anyone who wants to experience the hustle and bustle of the casino from home.

Arcade Games

Carnival Citi has seven arcade games on deck, but they’re restricted for players who’ve spent at least $24.99 on Coin packages. I’ve never seen these games anywhere else. I came across two fishing games, Mermaid Hunter, Poseidon’s Secret, and three anime-themed options.

I dodged hellfire on Romance of the Three Kingdoms, fought back a monster as I played Force of Dragon, and crossed paths with a woman who walks on the wild side as I tested Alter World. Even though I had fun with these light-hearted titles, I wouldn’t pay $24.99 to play them again.

Carnival Citi Banking Options – 3.5/5

You don’t have any obligation to spend your hard-earned money at Carnival Citi, but you can get more Coins if you’re running low. I explored the purchase and redemption processes at Carnival Citi. I’m explaining how they excel and where I believe they need to make improvements.

It’s rare to find social casinos that accept PayPal and Venmo, so I have to give out credit where it’s due. Carnival Citi has a versatile range of purchase methods available. Still, I’d really like to see them put some of that energy into expanding the SC prize redemption options.

They don’t issue gift cards for prize winners, instead funneling all SC exchanges through Trustly online banking. If they accepted PayPal or Venmo for redemptions, I’d be telling a different story.

Moving on, their least expensive Coins package will set you back $2.99. If you’re not opposed to spending more, you can take advantage of the first purchase offer and enjoy a 50% discount. I spent $9.99 to receive 20M Coins and 20k free SC.

However, players must spend at least $24.99 on Coins packages to unlock various games at Carnival Citi. They’ve paywalled their table games, three-reel slots, video poker variants, and arcade titles. If you don’t mind parting with this much, you’ll get 10M Coins and 25,000 free SC.

It’s rather disappointing that games at a social casino are locked behind a paywall, and this is a personal dealbreaker for the reviewers at SSC. Regardless, I proceeded with my first purchase by clicking “Buy Coins.” I got their $9.99 package to take advantage of my first purchase bonus.

I entered my card number, full name, billing address, CVV code, and the card’s expiration date when prompted. I clicked “Purchase” to finalize my transaction and I was able to play my coins instantly. It took me almost a full week to win the 100,000 SC required for a prize redemption.

After completing their KYC process, I went back to the casino site and navigated to the cashier. I clicked “Redeem” and entered the number of Sweeps Chips I wanted to exchange for a prize. Finally, I chose my bank and logged into my account via Trustly to confirm the $100 transaction.

I received a message saying that my redemption had been processed, and I noticed $100 more in my checking account 24 hours after submitting the original request. Depending on your bank, it can take up to three days before you receive a cash prize redemption through Trustly.

Carnival Citi Purchase Methods Compared

I compared the purchase and redemption methods available at Carnival Citi, Scratchful Casino, McLuck, Rolling Riches Casino, and Chumba in this table.

How to Get Coins at Carnival Citi

Carnival Citi doesn’t require players to spend money before playing casino games, and I want to discuss some of the free ways to get coins here. I got 10 million Coins and 5,000 Sweeps Chips right after signing up, and I claimed 1,000 SC each day over the week I spent testing the casino.

From time to time, Carnival Citi will post flash promo codes on Instagram and Facebook. Most recently, they posted a code that gets you 5 million free Coins. Unfortunately, these codes tend to expire before most people find out they exist. Or at least, that’s what happened to me.

I tried to find the page where they explain alternative methods of promotional entry, and I reached out to support in hopes of finding it.

They claim to accept written SC requests on the “How It Works” webpage.

I was directed to use this link to discover more about submitting written SC requests. I saw that I would receive 2,000 SC for every envelope they accepted (so long as I added a unique Sweeps Chips Request Code to each letter). You can find the Promo Rules link buried within their T&C’s.

Now that I’ve gone over the various free ways to claim Coins and Sweeps Chips at Carnival Citi, I want to cover my experience with purchasing Coins on the site. I found it simple to buy Coins with my VISA card. I clicked on “Buy Coins” and selected their $9.99 first purchase bonus pack.

While I was on the payment screen, I saw that I could make purchases with VISA, MasterCard, AMEX, Discover, PayPal, Trustly, and Venmo.

After I added my card number, security code, name, billing address, and expiration date, I got a notification saying that my purchase had gone through successfully. I was able to use 20 million Coins and 20,000 SC right after buying them, so I have no problems with their banking process.

My only gripe is that I’d like to see Carnival Citi add a referral bonus of some sort.

How to Redeem Sweeps Coins for Cash Prizes at Carnival Citi

I had to win a whopping 100,000 Sweeps Chips (SC) at Carnival Citi before I became eligible to redeem a cash prize. 1,000 Sweeps Chips has the same value as $1.00 USD for prizes, so their redemption minimum is $100. They deliver all prizes exclusively through Trustly online banking.

Before I was permitted to exchange Sweeps Chips for a prize, I had to complete Carnival Citi’s verification process. I took a photo of the front and back of my driver’s license, submitted proof of address in the form of a bank statement and got KYC verified by an agent just 24 hours later.

Once I’d been verified, I went back to Carnival Citi’s homepage and clicked “Redeem” from the cashier section. I was asked to clarify how many SC I wanted to redeem for a prize. I chose my bank from the next screen and signed into my Chase account. I then clicked “Submit Request.”

Almost exactly 24 hours later, I received a $100 payment to my checking account via Trustly. I’d like to see them issue gift card prizes and significantly lower their redemption minimums. I didn’t have any trouble navigating their KYC process or the steps needed to exchange SC for prizes.

Remember that you can only redeem Sweeps Chips that you’ve earned during gameplay. Any Sweeps Chips you get from purchasing Coins or claiming their daily bonus must be used once.

Carnival Citi Compared to Other Casinos

I created a table that compares Carnival Citi’s best features to Rolling Riches and Scratchful.

Here’s a brief overview what you can expect from all three casinos:

Security and Fairness

Carnival Citi is owned and operated by Citi Media Tech, LLC. They’re headquartered in the U.S. Their mailing address is listed as 6171 N.W. 72nd Ave, Miami, Florida, 33166. This company is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, but I like casinos with a reachable U.S. address.

Given the little information I could find about Citi Media Tech, LLC, I decided to do some digging on Trustpilot. I found that Carnival Citi has a 4.7 out of 5 star rating based on 2,144+ reviews. I followed them on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube – they have engagement on all platforms.

From the research I conducted, Carnival Citi appears to be an entirely legitimate social casino.

Carnival Citi Customer Support – 4/5

I scrolled to the bottom of the page and clicked “Contact Us” to see Carnival Citi’s listed support options. Carnival Citi is one of the few sweeps casinos to deliver phone support in any capacity.

I called +1 (786) 772 1915 and heard a voice on the other line instantly. I spoke with one of their agents, and he told me that their phone support hotline was open 24/7. However, he mentioned that hold times vary depending on the day. I happened to get lucky that he picked up so quickly.

Next, I opened their Live Chat feature and clicked “Chat Now” before filling out my name and my email address. Finally, I clicked on “Start the Chat” and got connected with Cassie immediately. I wanted to learn more about their VIP-only titles, and I received a helpful reply in thirty seconds.

Lastly, I sent an email to support@carnivalciti.com and noticed a return message 48 hours later. This is inconsistent with the reply speed I expected based on my experiences with their live chat and phone support teams, but it’s not a huge deal given their other available contact methods.

In lieu of a proper FAQ page, I found a webpage called “How It Works.” They offer rudimentary explanations about the difference between Coins and Sweeps Chips, tell you how to use bonus codes, and list information about free entry methods to get Sweeps Chips.

What Carnival Citi Could Improve

Carnival Citi doesn’t exactly announce this on their sign-up page, but they restrict all their video poker games, table games, 3-reel slots, and arcade games to players who buy at least $24.99 worth of Coins.

This is something I haven’t seen before, and I hope never to see it with any other site I review.

Social casinos are able to operate in places where real money gambling is prohibited because they’re supposed to offer free games. Carnival Citi goes against this principle, and while it isn’t illegal, it’s certainly a shady thing to do. I was excited to review Carnival Citi before I saw this.

If they’re going to restrict their games to a paying crowd, they should at least add a live dealer section. They don’t have any blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, or card games beyond video poker. From where I’m standing, Carnival Citi shoots their brand in the foot with these blunders.

Carnival Citi Rating Process

I created a new account with Carnival Citi, played twenty games, bought Coins, and redeemed my Sweeps Chips for prizes once I’d collected enough of them. I also used their website on my computer and smartphone to provide my unfiltered opinion of their interface for mobile players.

All our information is sourced through personal experience, and based on this, we rate casinos using five important benchmarks. We look for above-average game variety, versatile purchase methods, fast-responding support, generous bonuses and a beginner-friendly user experience.

We also test each platform for up to a week to make sure we don’t miss anything of importance.

• Game Variety: We like casinos that dabble in a variety of popular game categories. We look for platforms that deliver hundreds of immersive slots, jackpots, tables, specialties, and live options. Our experts play a minimum of twenty games to see the overall scope of what a casino has to offer. We prioritize casinos that work with big-name companies.

• User Experience: Growing up, we didn’t trust everything we rfead on the Internet. Now, we take this principle and apply it to our work. Our team goes the extra mile to sign up, play games, claim bonuses, contact support, buy GC, and exchange prizes on desktop and mobile devices. We rate casinos more favorably if they have a downloadable app.

• Bonuses and Promotions: After we’ve registered with any given casino, we go through the “Promotions” section and opt into every bonus we can. This includes welcome offers, daily login bonuses, tournaments, and special events. We prioritize casinos that promise loyalty rewards, and we follow sites on social media to check for free GC/SC giveaways.

• Banking Options: There’s never a requirement to purchase Coins at Carnival Citi, but you can top up your balance if desired. We spend our own money on GC packs and rate casinos more favorably if they have low minimums. We also account for the variety of purchase and redemption methods being offered. Lastly, we prioritize sites that make it easy to purchase GC and redeem prizes with beginner-friendly instructions.

• Customer Support: Being able to speak with a competent, knowledgeable, and friendly customer support agent is priceless when you’re dealing with a frustrating issue. We look for casinos that offer 24/7 assistance. We get connected with agents via live chat, email, phone, and every method we can find. Finally, we judge the quality and speed of replies.

Why You Should Trust Us

At SSC, our experts sign up as real players to give you the inside scoop. In addition to researching each casino’s regulatory information, we believe a platform’s dedication to safe gameplay shows their true colors. If a casino doesn’t check our boxes, we don’t endorse them.

We act as independent reviewers, and the proof is in the pudding. Other third-party review sites publish incorrect information more often than you might imagine, and that’s why we never settle for someone else’s work. We register, enjoy games, and opt into bonuses for ourselves instead.

Our team also makes GC purchases, redeems prizes, and completes verification procedures at each site we review. This gives us the necessary insight to explain how everything works from a beginner-friendly perspective.

Even though we’re happy to shine the spotlight on social casinos that go above and beyond in a certain area, we don’t sugarcoat our criticisms or fudge the truth.

We prioritize players’ well-being with links to support organizations on our Responsible Social Gameplay page, and we discuss the inner workings of sweeps casinos in our Learning Hub.

Responsible Gameplay

I scrolled to the bottom of Carnival Citi’s homepage and clicked “Responsible Gaming” from the website’s footer. I was directed to a screen explaining their policies and approach to responsible gaming. They encourage players to take breaks and stick to their limits, which I find admirable.

They also tell players about their responsible gaming tools straightaway. I saw that I could set a daily Coins purchase limit by emailing support@carnivalciti.com. As I kept reading, I noticed that I could request an indefinite self-exclusion or close my account by emailing their support team.

I wish they’d give players specific time limits (such as 6 months, a year, and five years) like I’ve seen at Chumba and McLuck. It also only takes 7 days to reverse indefinite self-exclusions through a written request, which is too easy to regain access to your casino account and defeats the purpose, in my opinion.

To their credit, they provide a thorough self-assessment with twenty pointed questions that can help you see where you stand. Unfortunately, they provide incorrect contact information for the sole gaming support resource (Gaming Addicts Anonymous) they encourage players to contact.

Gaming Addicts Anonymous (GAA) was formerly called Computer Gaming Addicts Anonymous (CGAA). They’ve since updated their email. If you want to speak with somebody, send an email to helpline@gaais.org. It’s sad to see Carnival Citi fall victim to posting inaccurate, out of date contact data.

Aside from this shortcoming, their responsible gaming tools are squarely in “decent” territory.