Best Online Casino Real Money Reviews
- Check out our list of top online casinos based on expert reviews and find the best online casino for you. Top 10 gambling sites and more. All (3148) Recommended (66) Newly opened (76) Big brands (1).
- Our Favorite USA Online Casinos for Real Money. We only review legal USA online casinos players can sign up to and play at immediately. These casinos offer the full scope of online casino games that can be played for free or for real cash.
- Playing mobile Casino games in 2020 is very easy - as most of the top rated Casinos online that offer real money games have an app or a mobile-friendly platform built in HTML5.
- Our expert reviewers pick the USA online casinos after they play for real money. We recommend BoVegas Casino as our top casino that we have reviewed. Our reliable online casino reviews look at the following below, you will get a more in-depth look at all the criteria when you keep reading our online casino review guide.
Table Of Contents
Welcome to the most extensive list of the best online Casinos available in 2020!
To come up with the suggested top online Casino sites you see on this page, we reviewed 150+ online gambling platforms.
But finding your perfect online casino is more complicated than simply checking the license. Our experts conduct objective online casino reviews for each and every site, ensuring that players can choose a real money casino that suits their unique preferences in terms of games, support, banking, and more.
We analysed the software, the games, the bonuses, the customer support service, and the withdrawal processes of each of the online Casinos you can see below.
And we didn't stop there.
We also verified the legitimacy of the operations of each online Casino on this page with international regulatory bodies such as the United Kingdom Gambling Authority (UKGC), the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), and Curaçao e-Gaming.
That's how we are able to give you a complete guide with all you need to make the right choice when you decide to play games at a top-rated online Casino in 2020.
When you click on the name of a Casino on this list, you can decide to read the in-depth review prepared for you by our team of in-house Casino experts or visit the site and see everything for yourself.
All the suggested Casino sites on this page are 100% legal in your country. That's because we apply a special filter to this page in order to serve you only Casino sites where you are legally allowed to play.
Top-Rated Online Casinos in 2020
888casinoThe online gambling sites above are a quick summary for you to understand what are the best online Casinos in 2020. These are your top choice if you want to play the best games, on the best Casinos, and with the best bonuses.
Remember, here on PokerNews and on our sister site CasinoSmash.com we suggest only serious and safe Casino sites with proven fast payouts.
Below, you find a complete list of all the best online Casinos in 2020. When you are done playing at the three sites above, make sure you find the time to explore some of these ones too.
They all excel in different fields. Some are the best online Casinos for Blackjack players, others have exclusive real money Slots you won't find anywhere else - and others give you so many free bonuses that you will never need to deposit anything unless you really want to.
Either way, if you are curious to know more about our criteria to recommend an online Casino and what we look at to determine which one is the best online Casino, scroll past the list and find out the secret sauce behind PokerNews' international success story.
Online Casino Guide: 2020 Update
With so many alternatives to choose from, picking the right online Casino (if not the best online Casino altogether) can feel overwhelming.
And if doesn't, you are probably not taking this choice as seriously as you should.
That's why you find this guide to online Casinos here on PokerNews. We are here to make it easier for you to understand who are the good guys and to avoid the bad guys (like Posh Casino).
In our free games section, we also give you the opportunity to try as many games you want for free and without the risk of a loss. And that doesn't happen only on our site. Most Casino sites on this page let you play free demo versions of lots of their exciting gambling games.
You always have a chance to enjoy the finest side of gambling for free with no need to invest real money - unless you want to and you can afford it.
Online Casino Games
One of the main reasons to prefer online Casinos over land-based ones is the number of games you can play online.
All the online Casinos on this page let you play classics like Blackjack, Roulette, and Baccarat - and that's great.
However, let's face it...
...every game - even the most exciting ones - can become boring after a little while.
That's where all online Casinos become different from one another and where their game offer becomes a game-changer if you pardon the pun.
In 2020, you can play at online Casinos with more than 4,000 Slot machine games or pick operators with more variants of Blackjack and Caribbean Poker that you ever thought were possible.
And that's not mentioning the latest trend in gambling: live dealer Casinos. There are so many possibilities to play Casino games with live dealers and other players right now, that some gambling sites became truly amazing at that.
That's why the analysis of all the online Casino we review starts from the games.
We want you to be able to find the best online Casino to play exactly what you need.
All the reviews of our top online Casinos carry all sort of details about the games they offer and you can be sure that only the best ones are able to pass through this first stage of our rigorous screening
As a Blackjack player, you want to play at an online Casino with lots of tables and where you never need to wait before a seat becomes available.
When you are on a budget, you need to be able to get a lot of games with an affordable minimum bet because real money online Casinos games should not cost you a fortune.
As an online Slots player - well - you probably care about quantity and RTPs. That's why we give you all the details you need about how many Slots you can expect from each online Casino and we always point out the RTP of the real money games we review.
That's also why we bring to our pages only online Casino sites that run games operated via reliable RNGs and with a high return to you, the player.
Online Slots
All the top rated online gambling sites feature hundreds of classic Slots and video Slots in their lobbies - with their Slot game offering growing all the time.
With Slots being the most important part of most Casino softwares in 2020, we believe the number and the quality of Slot games available is one of the most important parts of a real money Casino.
Whether you play from the United Kingdom or not, all the top Casino sites on this list let you play top-of-the-line video Slots and mobile Slots for real cash.
As a matter of fact, here at PokerNews we care so much about the game selection that we created a number of curated lists of the best Slots for you to play nothing but the best games.
Need any examples? Check out these pages:
Progressive Jackpots
Progressive jackpots are one of the most exciting sides of online gambling and all the online Casinos on this page - including all the mobile Casinos - feature multiple jackpot games.
The head-spinning prizes available through these games change all the time, but all the top-rated Casinos give you access to several seven-figure progressive jackpots.
However - don't take progressive jackpots lightly.
While these are the most attractive games when you play at Casinos for real money, you need to keep in mind that progressive jackpots are expensive and can eat your bankroll very quickly.
To understand how to approach progressive jackpots and to find out what are the best games to combine fun and big wins, have a look at this article on jackpot Slots or head straight to our page about Mega Moolah, the record-breaking video Slot machine by Playtech.
And remember - always gamble responsibly!
Video Poker
Even in 2020, an 'old classic' like video Poker is still one of the most played gambling games in the world and one we treat with special attention when we review every real money Casino.
Each and every one of our recommended Casino sites feature a large number of video Poker games.
From classics like Deuces Wild and Jacks or Better to more creative variants like Joker Poker and Alien Poker - the ones on this page are the real money Casino sites where you can play the very best video Poker games out there.
Table Game Offering
Needless to say, we care also about Casino classics and we analyse the table game offering of each Casino online you find on our list.
The table game world is where all started and it would be hard to imagine online gambling without some top quality games of Blackjack, Baccarat, Roulette, Pad Gow, and Sic Bo.
Some Casino software let you play amazing AI-powered version of different table games while others give you live Casinos that recreate a true Las Vegas experience like these amazing live Blackjack sites.
Either way, you can be sure that all the real money Casinos on this page feature an outstanding selection of table games.
Scratch Card Options
A lot of players love to play online scratch card games for some quick fun.
While scratch cards can't compete with the latest Sots online, some of the highest rated Casinos give you access to scratch card video games that are truly impressive.
If scratch cards are the only online games you care about, you should also look at this article titled 'Win Money Instantly with 30+ Free Scratch Cards' (the page is not available in the UK)where we collected all the best real money games you can play in 2020.
User-Friendly Online Casinos
Another advantage of playing at online Casino sites is user-friendliness. When you pick an online Casino, you should be able to get started in no time.
Once the registration is complete and your account is set, you need to be only one-click-away from your favourite games.
And once your first real money deposit is done, you need to be able to receive your deposit bonus or your match as promised.
Do you know what happens to those online Casinos that promise huge bonus but then show up absurd terms and conditions only after you gave them your hard-earned cash?
Easy-peasy: they don't make it to this list.
The Casino Bonuses
Almost every single online Casino you see here on PokerNews offers welcome bonuses to their new customers.
These can take the form of a deposit bonus that increases your first deposit by meeting with a certain match percentage up to a certain amount or of free spins / free money added to your account.
While extra spins to play Slots online are a very straightforward form of online Casino bonus, let's have a look at how a match bonus works.
You sign up for an account at an online Casino that promises you a 100% bonus up to $500 on your deposited funds and you make a deposit of $50 right away.
Thanks to this match bonus, you get $50 extra to play online Casino games on the site.
In addition, many online casinos are quick to follow up on the welcome bonus with other promotions.
These promotions can include one-time bonuses in the style of the welcome bonus, free game deals, or participation in grand prize winning tournaments.
To keep you in the loop, we have a special page dedicated to the latest Casino bonuses and bonus codes where we publish all the new bonus offers (and their respective bonus code) as they come up on the gambling sites!
Always Consider the Terms and Conditions
Each bonus comes with a set of rules attached to it, the terms and conditions.
These rules include all the behaviours that can invalidate the bonus (and of any winnings coming from it) as well as all the steps you need to meet before you are allowed to withdraw money from your account.
Here on PokerNews we take this aspect very seriously and that's why we list the full terms and conditions of all the bonuses we publish. Everything is always just one-click away.
To know more about each welcome bonus, click on the Terms and Conditions link (often found as tcs apply) and read everything you need to know about the bonus you might be about to activate.
Practice Casino Games Online
Most of the online Casinos you find on this page provide free demos of their Casino video games. Some don't even need you to sign up for an account to access them.
The free version of the games gives you the unique opportunity to test many of them before you decide to use your own real money and activate the bonus.
Free games are great also to try different gambling strategies and to learn how to increase your odds to win at gambling.
You can't win any real money in these demo versions but, in return, you get to practice for free and to learn each game a lot better before your money is on the line.
If you want to know why this aspect is so important, have a look at this article on how to practice Blackjack online.
Always Keep an Eye on Your Bets
Every game you find at any of 2020 best online Casinos let you adjust your bet to make sure you play only what you can afford.
Lower bets usually mean lower profits but - hey! Same as you don't buy a Maserati if you can't afford it, you don't want to behave like a millionaire if that puts your finances at risk.
Compliance, Licensing, and Gambling Authorities
Here's where things get a little more complicated in 2020, because a lot of online Casino guides play dirty and try to sell you illegal, rogue Casinos.
In 2020, any online Casino that wishes to offer real money gambling games needs to hold a license issued by an international and regulated governing body.
This doesn't happen because the gambling industry loves bureaucracy (no one does!) but because you need to be protected from rogue online Casinos.
The two main gambling authorities in the world are the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) and the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).
These two gambling governing bodies inspect every aspect of the platforms they license to make sure everything is always conducted in a manner that is fair and in line with the law.
How to Know if a Casino is Licensed by the UKGC or the MGA?
Each licensed Casino site is obliged to display detailed information about its license - starting from their homepage.
If you want to know what kind of licenses an online Casino holds, you can either check our review here on PokerNews or navigate to the bottom of their site.
Alternatively, you can use the links below and check the official registries of the UKGC and the MGA:
Assistance, Live Chat, and Customer Support
Customer support is one of the most important factors in our Casino analysis.
For an online Casino to make the cut and be included in the list of the best gaming sites of the year, their customer support needs to be quick, helpful, and effective.
Now that most sites feature contact options like live chat and dedicated toll-free phone lines, we focus on the quality of the answers rather than on how easy it is to reach out to an operator.
From specific questions about the KYC process imposed by the UKGC to all UK-licensed online Casinos to more generic ones about games and strategy, we put each and every support service to test.
And when we are not satisfied by the answers we receive, we do two things:
- We remove the site from the list of suggested online Casinos
- We reach out to the operator to let them know about the support issues they have
This way, we give every online Casino a second chance. If they decide to up their game and fix the problems we discovered - we restart our review process.
Otherwise, we write their name on the second online Casino list we run at PokerNews: one of the sites where we do not want you to play.
Payment Methods
The key to playing online for real money is not only to choose an online Casino that lets you do that and that offers you great games - but to pick one that accepts the payment methods you use.
Whether you are going to use your credit card, Western Union or you look for PayPal Casinos to transfer money from your e-wallet to your Casino account, knowing about payment methods is key.
Bank options are important not only for the deposited funds to become available (quickly) for your games but also to make sure you can have a fast payout whenever you win something!
During our review process, we test as many payment options as possible and give high ratings to the Casinos with the fastest payouts.
The possibility to withdraw money quickly from a Casino software is not always the first aspect that people consider when they choose a Casino online, but we know that you are going to love the opportunity to do so after your first sizeable win.
That's why all our favourite Casino sites offer a large number of payment methods and the fastest payouts in the industry.
If you want to be sure about what exact bank options each real money Casino offer, you have two choices:
- You can visit a Casino site and ask their support service...
- ...or you can read the part dedicated to the payment options on each individual Casinos reviews here on PokerNews!
Online Casinos F.A.Q.
Playing mobile Casino games in 2020 is very easy - as most of the top rated Casinos online that offer real money games have an app or a mobile-friendly platform built in HTML5.
While you can browse through the list of our recommended online Casinos to find the best mobile Casinos, you can also check out two interesting articles.
These will let you in on the very best mobile games you can play in 2020:
It all depends on your location and on what's available to you. US players can enjoy real money online Casinos only from New Jersey (but Pennsylvania Casinos are coming!) while UK players are limited to UKGC-operators.
The best Casino online changes based on your location, on gambling regulations, and on the games you want to play.
To know what's the best online Casino for real money where you are allowed to play, scroll back to the top of this page and check out the number one on our list!
All the Casinos on this list have verified fast payouts and a wide options of payment methods for your to get your money quickly and without problems.
We believe payments are one of the most important part of real money gambling online. That's why we focus so much on banking options, quick payouts, and transparent and verified processes.
The answer to this question depends on your location. If you are in New Jersey, you can choose between a number of high-quality real money online Casino sites.
Otherwise, you can visit our section dedicated to the online Casinos that accept US players in 2020.
If you're looking for casinos that would surely accept players from New Jersey, you want to consult the page about casinos that accept players from the USA and offer great sign-up bonuses!
Every month, we publish an updated list of all the new Casinos in the markets to help you discover the underdogs that wish to become kings.
If you fancy some new games, have a look at this pages where everything is about new online Casinos.
There are so many real money casinos on the web that it can be difficult to know which one to choose. That’s why websites like this exist.
Luckily, our team of experts has decades of experience in the industry and is trained to spot rogue casinos as well as world-class ones.
We’ll explain to you how we pick the best online casinos for real money to recommend, how the various games work and your chances of winning them, whether or not you can gamble for real money for free, and we’ll answer some frequently asked questions about real money gambling.
The casinos listed below all have:
- Top-Quality Graphics and a Large Variety of Games Available
- Excellent Ratings for Safety and Security
- Proven Real Money Payouts
Rank | DE Gambling Site | Sign Up Bonus | Get Started |
---|---|---|---|
#1 | Betway Casino | 100% up to €250 | |
#2 | Europa Casino | 200% up to €500 | |
#3 | Jackpot City Casino | 100% up to €400 | |
#4 | Spinia | 100% up to €250 | |
#5 | Spin Casino | 100% up to €400 |
Best Real Money Casinos by Location
If you’re unsure if the above accept players from your country, don’t worry; we still have lots of top-rated online casinos for real money which we can recommend to you. There are also some we definitely won’t recommend, and we want you to be aware of those, too.
It’s crucially important to pick a real money casino which accepts players from your country for a few reasons.
First, it’s possible that your government has some sort of minimum standards a casino needs to meet. That’s definitely the case if you’re from the UK or some other European countries.
Second, you don’t want to face unnecessary restrictions such as not being able to claim bonuses, not being able to play some games, or not being able to sign up at the given casino you have spent time researching.
Finally, this will help you stay on the right side of the law. Some countries prohibit players from their countries from signing up at anything other than state-sanctioned online casinos. While these laws are difficult to enforce, they do exist in some countries.
Take a look at some of the regions listed below. If you’re from there, click on the relevant button to see a list of online casinos for real money which accepts you.
Beating the House Edge
Every online casino game has a house edge. This is the casino’s built-in advantage and means that it’s mathematically guaranteed to make money over a long enough timeline.
In the long run, you honestly can’t beat it. It’s pure mathematics. Ever heard the saying “the house always wins”? Well, it does!
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t win in the short term. If everybody lost at online casinos constantly, it wouldn’t be long before people stopped playing at them. The fact is, some people do win real money at casinos.
While the majority of winners will simply double or triple their money and walk away after having had a great time, there are some crazy stories of life-changing wins that enter the realm of the almost unbelievable. If they weren’t documented, they might seem like fiction.
A Spin from Heaven
One such example is the story of the biggest online slots jackpot ever won. A British soldier playing Mega Moolah slot won £13,200,000, which shattered all existing records and hasn’t been topped since. Best of all, he won it with a £0.25 spin.
That’s just one headline story. There are many more, and it’s no coincidence that video slots are involved in many of them. If Lady Luck is going to visit you and then change your financial destiny, there’s a good chance that this type of huge win will come while playing slots.
These colossal wins aside, we’ve all heard stories of people winning enough to buy a house while playing poker, paying off debts after a great night at the blackjack tables, or going on a roll while playing roulette and buying something they’ve always dreamed of afterwards.
Even when these insane wins happen, the casino still makes money because of house edge. The majority of players won’t win, and you can be sure that over the long run the casino makes a percentage no matter what.
Not All Games Have the Same Edge
It’s important to recognize that house edge is not a fixed number across all games. Different games have different math involved in them, and understanding this can be the key to winning more often.
For ExampleIt’s widely accepted that some variants of video poker have the lowest house edge, whereas keno and lottery games have the largest house edge, meaning the worst odds for you as a player.
We’ll talk a little later about the odds of various games and their pros and cons. For now, just be aware that not all games are mathematically equal. There are some you have a much higher chance of winning than others, and there are some in which you have a greater degree of control over the outcome as compared to games of pure chance.
Safety and Legality
It’s essential to know how to stay safe while gambling online. There are a few potential pitfalls which you may not be aware of if you’re not an experienced online gambler.
Luckily, you have us to show you the ropes. Here are some of the things you have to be aware of to gamble safely online.
Risk Associated with Sharing Financial Details
Sharing your credit card, debit card, or bank details with any online merchant carries some degree of risk. If that merchant is untrustworthy, you could find yourself in a world of trouble quickly.
You can immediately find out if a casino site is trustworthy by reading our reviews.
Take the time to look around, and you’ll see that we certainly don’t recommend every site we review, and we aren’t afraid to call out scam casino sites when we discover them.
Financial predators are everywhere online, and sadly the casino industry attracts its fair share of them. Stick with expert-recommended real money online casinos to avoid falling into their clutches.
Predatory Terms and Conditions
There are real money online casinos which aren’t direct scams in that there are real games to play and you can win actual money.
Warning:However, they can make it extremely difficult for you to get your money out when the time comes to do so, even if it’s technically possible. The idea is to make you give up and go away without collecting.
Usually, a site will state in its terms and conditions that withdrawals can be held for no reason, that the casino can drag its feet before paying, or that they can simply void winnings on a whim without justification.
Believe us; we’ve seen it all in our years of reviewing real money online casinos. This type of casino site preys on the fact that nobody takes the time to read endless pages of legal jargon before registering.
Once again, having experience in dealing with casinos online can solve this problem.
Our experts know exactly where to look in the terms and conditions, and our casino reviews show you all of the deposit and withdrawal methods and any good or bad sides to the terms and conditions of the sites we review. If a site is going to try to screw you, we’ll let you know.
Fixed or Pirated Games and Software
As you gain experience in playing at real money online casinos, you get to know more about the software companies that provide the games. In time, you’ll know instantly by looking at the range of games whether or not you can trust an online casino.
This can help you avoid the fixed games which are run by some rogue software companies in order to fleece you.
Note:However, it takes a little bit of more time to get to know how to spot pirated versions of legitimate games.
By assessing a real money casino’s licenses and looking at some other factors, our experts can instantly tell if the games on a casino site are pirated. By playing the games and assessing them against the published return-to-player figures, we can quickly figure out if they’re fixed.
You probably don’t have the time to figure this all out for yourself, and by the time you realize the games are fixed, it will likely be too late.
Once again, that’s where we come in. It’s our job to figure this out, so you don’t have to.
The Legal Situation in Your Country
While online casino gambling is a global phenomenon, each country is still sovereign and has its laws and regulations. This can confuse the matter of whether or not it’s illegal to gamble online in some places.
You can check out our gambling laws page for the latest and most up-to-date information on the legality of gambling in your country.
You won’t only have to contend with the authorities if you get caught, but scam artists know you have no legal recourse when they hustle you out of your hard-earned cash.
After all, if gambling is illegal in your country, you can’t exactly go to the police and report that you lost money to a scam artist while gambling on the internet.
Keeping things legal is one of the keys to gambling safely online.
Online Casino Bonus Offers
There are a few different types of real money casino bonuses available to new and existing players. We have an entire page dedicated to explaining the differences between these bonuses. Check it out by clicking the button below:
There are pros and cons to taking casino bonuses. Let’s start off by looking at the reasons you might want to take them before turning our attention to why they might not be suitable for you as an individual player.
Whether casino bonuses are right for you depends on what your goals are.
The Positives
You Can Test the Waters Without Risk
It’s nice to be able to play the games available in an online casino and to be able to check it out in general without having to make a financial commitment.
While some bonuses do require you to deposit to activate them, there are many which don’t. These are known as no-deposit bonuses and are the ideal way to test an online casino without risking your own money.
Once you’re sure you can trust the casino site and have decided you would like to play the games, then you can start playing for real money.
Some Bonuses Can Increase Your Chances of Winning
In the casino bonuses and promotions page we linked to above, we explain the concept of wagering or rollover requirements. Bonuses which have these attached make it difficult (without serious luck) for you to withdraw the bonus amount and are designed to allow you to simply test the casino.
However, there are plenty of casino bonuses with no wagering requirements available online these days. If you take these, you’ll more than likely be required to make a deposit, but they increase your chances of winning by giving you free spins or free games with no strings attached.
They may only slightly increase your chances of winning, but hey, any increase in the chance of winning is always welcome.
The Negatives
You Can Become a Marketing Target
If the casino figures out that you are a bonus hunter or that you like a particular kind of bonus, they might decide to pitch you regularly.
This can be a good thing if you like taking these offers, but if you sign up at multiple casinos, take the bonus, and don’t play, you can expect your email inbox, and sometimes your cell phone, to be bombarded with offers. The more accounts you create, the more intense this will become.
Some unscrupulous casinos will sell your information on to other operators who will pitch you, too. This can become a serious annoyance, and so if you’re going to take bonuses with no intention of becoming a real money player, we suggest setting up an email address specifically for that purpose.
Most Bonuses Have Terms Which Favor the House
If a real money casino bonus has rollover or wagering terms, there’s a very little chance you’ll ever be able to withdraw it or anything you win while playing with it.
You have to remember that bonuses are a promotional and marketing tool. The casino doesn’t want to let you play with house money and walk away with the multimillion-dollar jackpot. They also don’t want you to take the free casino chips and walk away without playing. That wouldn’t be very good business, would it?
Rollover requirements are explained in greater detail on the casino bonuses page linked to above. Basically, they mean you have to bet the bonus cash a number of times before you can withdraw it. For example, if a bonus has 20x wagering requirements, then you need to bet the total amount 20 times before you can withdraw it or anything you win while using it.
Real Money Casino Apps
Mobile casinos have become a huge deal in the past several years. Real money casino apps and mobile casino sites can now boast that they serve the majority of players. This trend will undoubtedly continue for years to come, at least until something comes along to replace mobile devices (chips in the head, perhaps?).
We’ve written an entire page to help you decide which casino app is right for you. Check it by clicking the button below.
Online Casino Games for Real Money
New players are often bamboozled by the vast range of casino games on offer and how to play and win them.
We’ve created game-specific pages on each popular real money casino game to show you how to play, how to give yourself the best chance of winning, and what the rules of each game are.
Take the time to familiarize yourself with the games listed below. Click any of the buttons, and you’ll be transported to a wealth of information on that specific game.
We also cover a bit about each game in the “which casino game is right for you?” section below.
Real Money Online Pokies
Real Money Baccarat
Real Money Slots
Real Money Roulette
Real Money Blackjack
Real Money Craps
Real Money Video Poker
Real Money Sic Bo
Playing Free Casino Games to Win Real Money
Is it possible to win real money playing free casino games? The short answer is no.
A casino is a business, and usually, it’s a very profitable one. You can’t expect a casino to let you play real money games and assume all of that risk without getting anything in return.
It’s true that some bonuses will allow you to play real money casino games for free. However, these bonuses will have terms and conditions which favor the casino and make it almost impossible for you to withdraw all that money. See the page about bonuses for further details.
We’re telling you straight that if anyone tells you that you can win real money without any risk, they’re lying to you. They might be scam artists waiting to empty your wallet, or they may have merely misunderstood a bonus offer they read about online. There is no such thing as a free lunch. That’s an old saying for a reason, primarily because it’s always correct!
With that said, it is possible to play free casino games to win things like virtual points and virtual money. These can be enjoyed at social casinos, and sometimes the points can be traded in for prizes. Just don’t expect to cash out real money jackpots, or you’ll be disappointed.
Which Casino Game Is Right for You?
There are lots of great online casino games to choose from. They may be digital variants, but they’re not that different from what you would find at a real Vegas casino, or a casino anywhere else, for that matter.
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular casino games you might be interested in playing. We’ll look at your chances of winning them, how fun they are, and some other things you might want to be aware of.
Hopefully, by the end of this section, you’ll have a better idea of which game you would like to play.
Please note that the “house edge” figures listed below can vary depending on how you play the game, the game variant, and the casino itself.
Baccarat
This is a fun card game with a simple objective – bet on either the player or the banker to get closest to nine, or bet on a tie between the player and banker. If you place a bet on the banker hand to get closest to nine and the banker does so, you win your bet for that hand.
It’s fast-paced, fun, and you just bet on the outcome, rather than actively participating.
- If you bet on the player, the house edge is 1.24%
- If you bet on the banker, the baccarat house edge is 1.06%
- If you bet on a tie, the house edge is 14.36%
Don’t bet on a tie! Also remember that if you bet on banker and win, the house can take a 5% commission.
Blackjack
This might be the most popular card game in the world. It’s a game with some degree of skill involved, and there are professional blackjack players out there. Entire movies and books have been made about this game.
The objective of blackjack is to get a hand totaling 21, or as close to it as possible without exceeding it. You play against the dealer, and whoever has 21 (or the highest hand not exceeding 21 in cases where neither has 21) after all the cards have been dealt wins.
Going by Vegas rules, the house edge is a tiny 0.28%. This will change if you play another variant of blackjack such as Atlantic City rules or Suit ‘Em Up.
The tiny house edge is what makes it possible for some people to make a living playing blackjack.
Keno
This is a fun lotto game, but it’s known for having the worst odds in the house. The objective is to pick between one and ten numbers from a pool of 80, and then wait for the draw.
The house edge in keno can be between 25% and 29%, depending on the variant and the casino itself. This game is okay for switching off and having a little fun, but it’s highly unlikely you’re going to win money playing keno, at least in the long run.
Roulette
This is one of the most fun casino games, period. The objective is to predict where a ball will land on a spinning wheel when it stops.
You can pick a color or a number between 1 and 36 (or the zero) if you want to make basic roulette bets. It’s also possible to select clusters of numbers, rows, or entire columns as you gain confidence and learn to understand the game.
- If you’re playing American Roulette (Double Zero), the house edge is 5.26%
- If you’re playing European Roulette (Single Zero), the house edge is 2.7%
You have a decent chance of winning roulette, but you are guaranteed to have a lot of fun whether you win or lose.
Video Poker
This is a machine-based game based on 5-hand poker. There are many different variants with different pay tables and slightly different rules, but the aim is always to make as valuable a hand as possible according to poker hand ranks. No matter the variant, a Royal Flush will always pay the most.
Covering some popular versions of video poker, you can expect the house edge to be:
- 0.46% when playing Jacks or Better with an optimal strategy.
- 0.71% when playing Deuces Wild with a perfect strategy. In this case, you as the player have the advantage.
- 0.64% when playing Joker Poker with perfect strategy. Once again, you have the advantage here.
If you are patient and want to make money playing casino games, video poker is your best bet. You’ll need to develop skill, though, and learn video poker strategy first.
Don’t expect to have the advantage when you’re new to video poker and don’t know what you’re doing. Even in these cases, though, the house edge is significantly lower than in most other casino games.
Video Slots
These are probably the most-played casino games online. There are tens of thousands of video slots ranging from simple 3-reel games with no features to 5-reel new slots with bonus rounds, free spins, and progressive jackpots.
They’re fun, highly entertaining, and if you’re lucky, you can win a fortune playing slots.
The house edge depends on the game in question. It can range from 2% to 15% – that’s no small difference! Knowing this, it pays to do your research on which slots have the best RTP.
A Quick Summary Before Moving On
Which casino game is best for you ultimately depends on your goals as an individual player.
If you want to real money playing casino games, then pick the games with the best odds and lowest house edge.
If you just want to have a little fun and relax, then any of the above games will do.
Choosing the Right Real Money Casino
If you already know what games you want to play, then it’s time to look at picking an online casino. If you’re new to playing casino games, there’s a lot more to this than you might initially think. As you’ll see, most of the top real money casinos have some things in common.
Consider the following factors before registering at any casino site.
1 – Reviews
Are there reliable, trustworthy casino reviews on the site? If so, what do the experts say?
It pays to pay attention to these reviews. If a casino expert says a site sucks, there’s a great chance you’ll want to avoid it.
If you were looking for a new car, you would probably talk to someone who knows a thing or two about cars before making a decision, or at least read a few reviews on various models, wouldn’t you? The same should go for choosing an online casino. There’s more to it than you might think, and reading a review can be a great way to get all the information in one place.
Be suspicious of reviews which are overly positive, though. Sometimes there’s an agenda at play. If a review site gives a real money online casino a glowing review, check out some of the other reviews, too.
If they’re all overly positive, that could be a warning sign. If the reviewers throw some terrible casinos under the bus, you’re probably dealing with an honest casino review site.
2 – Legality
Is this casino operating legally with a valid gaming license?
If so, what jurisdiction is the license from? Believe us when we tell you that not all casino licenses are equal. UK, Malta, Alderney, Gibraltar, Curacao, and Puerto Rico licenses are all respected and are good indicators that a real money casino can be trusted. Others, we don’t have that much faith in.
Also, make sure the casino isn’t accepting players from your country even if it’s illegal to do so. If they’re willing to break the law, what makes you think they’re going to be honest with you?
3 – Safety
A valid license is one way to make sure you’re dealing with the safest real money casinos.
There’s more to it than that, though. We advise checking that the website is operating on a secure, encrypted connection. You can do so by looking at the web address. If you see HTTPS:// in front of the domain, you’re dealing with a secure casino. If it’s just HTTP:// (no “S”), then the connection might not be protected.
Also look for published game payouts verified by third parties. This is a hugely positive sign, and it means that it’s highly likely this is a safe casino site. If the games are verified by eCOGRA, you’re in safe hands.
4 – Preferences
It would be a shame to go through the registration process only to find out the casino doesn’t offer the types of games you want to play or doesn’t offer very many of them.
Make sure the exact games you want to play are offered, make sure the casino accepts the types of bet you want to make regarding size, and check which betting services are provided. For example, some casinos also offer Texas Hold’em poker tournaments or sports betting as additional services, whereas others don’t.
We would also suggest taking some time to familiarize yourself with the site. If you like how it “feels,” that’s a great sign. A user-friendly website likely means the operator actually cares about its players and has invested time in figuring out what makes you happy. That’s likely to show across the casino as a whole.
5 – Bonuses
First, you’ll need to figure out if the online casino offers real money bonuses at all. Most do, but some don’t.
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After that, you’ll need to look into exactly what types of bonuses are offered and their terms and conditions.
Don’t just look at the welcome offers, which are always emphasized to attract new players. Look at the ongoing weekly and monthly offers, too. These will give you an insight into what kind of casino you’re dealing with.
Also look at the terms and conditions of any bonus offers. Pay attention to minimum deposits and wagering/rollover requirements. If they’re excessive (40x or more), think twice about taking the offer.
If you like playing slots on weekends, it makes sense to find a casino which offers free spins on weekends, doesn’t it?
6 – Service
Everybody likes to feel like they matter, casino players included. It’s essential that a casino has top-notch customer service if you’re going to enjoy your experience playing there.
Check the number of customer service options available. Email and live chat are a necessity, but if a real money casino also offers telephone support, that’s an excellent sign.
Don’t be afraid to test the customer service if you wish. Ask a question or two. You’ll soon see how fast the responses are and how helpful (or unhelpful) the customer service agents are.
You know that old saying that goes “When someone shows you who they are, believe them”? That applies here. If an agent is slow to respond, avoids answering questions directly, or acts in an unhelpful manner, move on.
7 – Banking
You wouldn’t believe how many people register at online casinos for real money without considering the most important thing of all – withdrawing your money!
Most casinos will make it as easy as pie for you to deposit, but only the best real money online casinos make it as easy for you to withdraw.
Look for a roughly equal number of deposit and withdrawal methods, low (or no) fees, and fast withdrawals.
The last thing you want is to be sitting around waiting for weeks to get your money, or worse, never getting it at all!
Feeling Overwhelmed? Don’t Worry!
If all of this makes your head spin and you wonder how on earth you’re going to go about finding all of this information out, don’t worry; we have plenty of top casino reviews where you can find the information all in one place.
We don’t want you to think that all real money casino sites are scams out to get you. There are lots of world-class online casinos worth playing at. It’s just that you have to wade through a fair deal of not-so-great ones to find them.
Our job is to make that as easy as possible for you. If you see a casino on this site that you like the look of, there will be a full, in-depth review attached.
Other Real Money Sites to Consider
While playing at real money casinos is arguably the most fun way to gamble, there are other ways to have fun gambling and hopefully make a little money in the process.
Betting on sports, playing poker, playing bingo or lotto games, and even betting on financial markets are all possible thanks to the global connectivity the web facilitates.
Why not check out some of the other options? We have sections dedicated to each form of gambling. If you want to know more, click any of the buttons below.
Real Money Online Casinos FAQ
Q. Will I need casino bonus codes to claim the bonuses offered by online casinos?
A. In most cases, you won’t need a casino bonus code, but where one is required, the casino will make it abundantly clear before you register.
Sometimes casinos run temporary promotions which do require bonus codes. In these cases, the codes are often emailed directly to you or are listed in the terms and conditions of the offer. If in doubt, ask the customer service agents.
Q. Do real people win the slots jackpots, or are they fixed?
A. Real people most definitely win slots jackpots from time to time. Big slots software companies like NetEnt, Microgaming, and IGT are independently audited, and random number generators control the games. There is no possible way that these games could be fixed.
It’s unlikely that you’ll become a millionaire playing slots, but you never know! Many more people win hundreds or thousands, and you never hear about them. This is a far more likely outcome.
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Q. Is it illegal to gamble online as an American player?
A. This is somewhat of a grey area. The relevant regulations (UIGEA – 2006) make it illegal for financial institutions to facilitate real money gambling online, or for casinos to accept deposits from US-based players.
That does not make it illegal for you to gamble online. There are still many casinos which do accept deposits from US players.
Don’t worry; nobody wearing a S.W.A.T. vest with a machine gun is going to come through your door and shoot your dog before arresting you just because you played a little blackjack online.
Q. Are there any real money casinos which accept Bitcoin?
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A. There are indeed. In fact, the number of casinos accepting Bitcoin is growing by the day. You could say Bitcoin is trending in the online casino world. It’s becoming a hugely popular way to make deposits and withdrawals quickly and safely.
If you’re looking for a Bitcoin casino, we have reviews on several. Feel free to check out our real money Bitcoin gambling sites page.
Q. What’s the number-one sign that a casino is a scam site?
A. Having no valid gaming license is a big warning sign. Having had a permit in the past, but having had it stripped for some reason is even worse.
We don’t recommend casinos to you which don’t have valid and legal gaming licenses. Without them, it’s the Wild Wild West, and casino operators can do whatever they want without fear of repercussions.