Carnival Citi Review April 2026

What Is Carnival Citi and How Does It Work?

Carnival Citi is a sweepstakes casino that launched in 2023. It's operated by Citi Media Tech LLC out of Miami, Florida. I play on this site, and the first thing you notice is the massive welcome bonus they throw at you.

Like other sweepstakes sites, it uses a dual-currency system. You get Gold Coins (GC) for fun play and Sweeps Chips (SC) that you can redeem for real cash prizes. You can buy packages to get both, or you can get SC for free through the "No Purchase Necessary" mail-in option, daily login bonuses, and promo codes.

To redeem, you need to wager your SC at least 1x. Once you do that, you can cash out if you have at least 100,000 SC, which equals $100. They process redemptions through Venmo and Trustly, taking 1-5 business days from my experience.

Compared to big names like Chumba or Pulsz, Carnival Citi is a newer player. It tries to compete by offering a bigger upfront bonus, but it falls short on game variety. Pulsz has over 700 slots, while Carnival Citi has about 200. That's a big difference if you're someone who grinds for hours.

The site is mobile-optimized but doesn't have a dedicated app.

You just use your browser. I've played on my phone, and it works fine, but it's not as slick as the Pulsz or WOW Vegas apps.

Overall, it's a casino that leans hard on its welcome offer to get you in the door. Whether you stay depends on how much you care about having a deep game library.

Carnival Citi Bonus & Promotions

Carnival Citi gives new players 10,000,000 Gold Coins and 5,000 Sweeps Chips just for signing up. That's one of the biggest welcome bonuses I've seen in the sweepstakes space. For comparison, Chumba gives 2,000,000 GC + 2 SC, and Pulsz gives 5,000,000 GC + 32.3 SC. So on pure volume, Carnival Citi wins.

Welcome Bonus

The 10M GC + 5,000 SC bonus is credited instantly after you verify your email. There's no deposit required. The 1x playthrough on the SC is standard and very low, you just need to bet the amount once before you can cash out any winnings. This is much better than the 40x playthrough on their purchase bonuses.

First Purchase Bonus

They run "XTRA PURCHASE BONUS" events. If you buy a package during one, you get a match on your purchase. The matches are 100%, 120%, or 150%, and they apply to purchases between $24.99 and $249.99.

The catch is the 40x playthrough requirement on the bonus SC. That means if you get a 100% match giving you, say, an extra 1,750 SC on a purchase, you'd need to wager 70,000 SC (1,750 x 40) before you can withdraw any winnings from that bonus. That's steep. Most sweepstakes casinos have a 1x playthrough on purchased SC, so this is a definite negative.

I found one report of a first purchase offer: 3 million Gold Coins and 17,500 Sweeps Chips for $4.99. That works out to about $0.000285 per SC, which is a fantastic rate if it's still available. I'd check the site directly for current packages.

Daily Bonus & Lucky Draws

You get free Gold Coins and Sweeps Chips every day just for logging in. The amounts vary. They also have "Lucky Draws" with daily, weekly, and monthly prizes. I haven't hit anything big on these, but it's a nice extra touch you don't see everywhere.

Promo Codes

They have active promo codes. The ones I saw were "2ZFB7" and "N28MN," each giving 5 million GC and 2,000 SC. These had validity dates in late 2025 and early 2026, so they might be seasonal. Always check the promotions page or their social media for the latest codes.

There's also the standard "No Purchase Necessary" method. You can send a request via mail to get free Sweeps Chips. It's a standard sweepstakes promotional model thing, but it works.

Carnival Citi VIP & Loyalty Program

The research brief shows it as missing, and from playing there, I haven't seen any tier system, rakeback, or host offers.

This is a major gap compared to its competitors. Chumba has its Sweeps Club with tiered rewards. Pulsz has a detailed VIP program with cashback. WOW Vegas has a loyalty scheme. Carnival Citi has nothing that I can see.

For a player like me who wagers a lot, a loyalty program is a big deal. It's how you get value back over the long run. The absence of one means Carnival Citi is best for grabbing the welcome bonus and maybe playing occasionally, but not for grinding daily. If you're planning to play seriously and want rewards for your action, you're better off at Pulsz or Chumba.

Carnival Citi Games & Offerings

Carnival Citi has about 200+ games. That's the number I keep seeing, and from browsing, it feels accurate. It's not a huge library. For context, Pulsz has 700+, WOW Vegas has 400+, and even Chumba has a more curated but growing selection. So, game variety is not this casino's strong suit.

The games are split into categories: Slots, Table Games, Video Poker, Arcade, Keno, Solitaire, and Bingo. Slots are the main attraction.

Software Providers & Game Categories

The games come from a few providers: GMW, Habanero, and KA Gaming. It's a short list. You won't find the massive roster of providers that sites like Stake.us have. The selection includes some popular titles.

Featured slots I've played include Octopus Deluxe, Triple Jewels, Chocolate Moose, Orca Deluxe, and RavinHot Fireball. They're decent games with okay RTP, but you won't find the latest big-name releases here.

They do have progressive jackpots. I saw "The Big Time Jackpot," "Bubble Cash," and "El Dorado Legend Link." The pots can get decent, but again, the game pool is limited.

I assume there are a few basic variants.

There are no live dealer games. If you want that experience, you need to go elsewhere.

The bottom line on games: If you're a casual player who sticks to a handful of favorite slots, the 200-game library might be enough. If you get bored easily and want constant new releases, you'll feel the limitation quickly. Pulsz adds new games every week; Carnival Citi's updates seem slower.

How Fast Are Carnival Citi Payouts?

Redemptions/Withdrawals

The minimum amount you need to redeem is 100,000 Sweeps Chips, which equals $100. That's a high bar. Most sweepstakes casinos have a $100 minimum too (100 SC = $100), but some competitors are starting to offer lower thresholds. The high minimum isn't unique, but it's not player-friendly either.

There are also maximum limits: $10,000 per day and $25,000 per week. That's fine for most players, but high rollers might find it restrictive.

Here's a table of their banking methods based on what I've seen and the research:

You need to complete KYC before your first redemption. That means providing a government-issued ID and proof of address. It's standard procedure, but be ready for it.

Compared to competitors, the 1-5 day timeframe is average. Chumba can take 2-7 days for bank transfers.

Pulsz often does Skrill redemptions in 1-3 days. So Carnival Citi is in the middle of the pack, not the fastest, not the slowest.

Is Carnival Citi Legit? Safety & Trust

Yes, Carnival Citi is a legit sweepstakes casino operating under US promotional law. The operator is Citi Media Tech LLC, based at 6171 N.W. 72nd Ave, Miami, Florida 33166. Having a named US company is a good trust signal, it's not some anonymous offshore entity.

It doesn't have a traditional gambling license (like MGA or Curacao), but that's normal for sweepstakes casinos. They use a sweepstakes promotional model, which requires them to offer a free entry method (the mail-in option). They clearly state "No Purchase Necessary" on the site, which is compliance 101.

The site uses 256-bit SSL encryption to protect your data. I haven't seen any independent RNG audit certificates, which is a minor transparency knock. Bigger operators often publish these.

For responsible gambling, I didn't find specific tools like deposit limits or self-exclusion mentioned in the brief. That's another area where they lag behind established sites that offer more player protection features.

In terms of reputation, I saw one Reddit post calling it a scam, but that's a single anecdote. More they exited the California and Arizona markets in 2025 due to regulatory changes. That shows they're responsive to legal pressures, which is actually a sign of legitimacy, not a red flag.

Without that, it's hard to gauge broader player sentiment. Established casinos like Pulsz (4.5/5) and WOW Vegas (4.7/5) have strong Trustpilot profiles.

The bottom line: It's a legally operating business with a physical address. The lack of visible RNG audits and responsible gambling tools is a slight concern, but the overall structure seems solid for a sweepstakes site.

Carnival Citi Customer Support

Carnival Citi offers 24/7 live chat, email at support@carnivalciti.com, and a phone number: 1-786-772-1915. From my experience and reports, the live chat connects within 2-5 minutes. Email responses come in about 3 hours, which is pretty good.

When you have a simple question, a good FAQ can save you time. Not having one means you're more reliant on live agents.

They don't seem to have active community channels like a Discord or a strong Reddit presence. For comparison, Stake.us has a huge Discord community with 100,000+ members. Carnival Citi is more of a traditional support setup.

The support quality seems adequate from the limited interactions I've had. They were able to answer basic questions about bonuses and redemption. I haven't had a complex issue to test them on thoroughly.

For a newer casino, having 24/7 live chat is a positive. It's when you can't get help that you start to worry. So far, that hasn't been a problem here.

Carnival Citi Mobile Experience

Carnival Citi does not have dedicated iOS or Android apps. You access it through your mobile browser. The site is mobile-optimized, so it adjusts to your screen size.

I've played on my iPhone, and the experience is functional. Games load, the menus work, and you can make purchases. It doesn't have the polished feel of a native app, but it gets the job done. You have full feature parity with the desktop site.

If having a slick app is important to you, you'll prefer Pulsz or WOW Vegas, which both have well-rated apps. For Carnival Citi, think of it as a mobile website that works well enough for a few spins but isn't going to win any design awards.

Where Is Carnival Citi Available? Legal Status

Carnival Citi is available in most, but not all, US states. It's prohibited in 28 states and all Canadian provinces. You must be at least 18 years old to play.

Here is the full list of restricted US states from the authoritative database:

• Arizona
• California
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Washington
• West Virginia

This is a much longer restricted list than competitors like Chumba or Pulsz, which only block a handful of states. If you live in a major state like California, New York, or Michigan, you cannot play on Carnival Citi. The 2025 exit from California and Arizona shows they are actively adjusting to state laws.

Always check the official terms and conditions on their site for the most current list before you sign up.

How to Sign Up at Carnival Citi

Signing up at Carnival Citi is straightforward. Here's the step-by-step process I followed:

1. Go to the Carnival Citi website on your phone or computer.
2. Click the "Sign Up" button. You'll need to enter your email address and create a password.
3. Verify your email address by clicking the link they send you. This is important to activate your account and get the welcome bonus.
4. Once verified, log in. Your 10,000,000 Gold Coins and 5,000 Sweeps Chips should be in your account immediately.
5. Remember, you'll need to complete KYC (provide ID and proof of address) before you can make your first redemption.

The whole sign-up takes about two minutes if your email verification comes through quickly. There are no tricky steps or hidden fees at this stage.