Real Online Casino Gaming
Real Money Online Casinos USA Online casino games have come a long way in recent years. You’ll find a growing list of states that are licensing online casinos, and sweepstakes casino games, covering many other areas. The selection and quality of slots, table games and live dealer casinos have exploded with hundreds of entertaining options. Live gambling links the best aspects of online gambling with real gambling. This new mode of gaming has become very popular. Gunsbet has a lot to offer players, and the choice of games is impressive. The most popular games are Casino Live Poker, Live Blackjack, and Live Roulette. It uses a reliable and friendly software platform for the players.
These days there is little need to take risks when it comes to enjoying real money online casinos. Legal options are available to enjoy slots, table games and live dealer casino games in the US and around the world.
This guide to real money online casinos shows you how to stay safe while choosing a casino, depositing plus receiving payments and staying within the law of your country.
Best Online Casinos with Real Casino Games
Here is what you will find below:
- How to Find a Safe Online Casino: Rules of thumb to avoid problems
- What makes a Great Casino? What to look for before you deposit
- State Regulated Casinos: Where to play in NJ, NV, PA, WV, DW
- Sweepstakes Casinos: How sweepstakes casinos work in the US
- Deposit and Withdraw: How to keep your information safe and secure
Finding a Safe Gambling Site
There are a lot of trusted casino brands which have been looking after players brilliantly for years. For brand new players, the problem is that these look the same as new casinos with unknown ownership and no track record at all.
Fortunately, there are some easy rules of thumb for finding a safe, trusted real money casino.
First, choose a regulated and licensed casino. Some casinos are regulated at the State level (currently New Jersey and Delaware), while many countries also have licensing bodies. For international casinos, look for a reputable licensing jurisdiction such as Gibraltar, Malta, Alderney or the Isle of Man.
Licensing bodies ensure compliance – and give you an avenue to resolve any dispute with a casino. While some jurisdictions are more thorough than others in their oversight, the lack of a license should always mean you stay away!
Second, you should make sure your casino has been audited for game fairness. Casino games are controlled using RNG (random number generator) software. This controls the spin of slots and deal of cards. Reputable 3rd party auditors test this software, to ensure that you are getting a fair deal.
Look for certification from eCogra, Technical Systems Testing or iGaming Labs (there are others too) before you play.
Finally, make sure your casino does not have any past payment issues (or are owned by anyone with payment issues in the past). It takes time to build up a trusted track record of fast casino withdrawals. Safe and trusted brands protect their reputations!
What Makes a Great Real Money Online Casino?
Once you have narrowed your search to reputable, regulated gambling sites – the next question becomes; which one is best?
Here are some of the ways you can tell a great online casino from a merely good one:
- Slot Selection: Some casinos have slots from one or two software houses, while others curate the best games from the biggest and best sources. If you are a slots fan, having the choice of the best online games and best versions of classic live slots, jackpot games and TV / Movie themed titles is an important factor.
- Table Games / Live Dealer Options: All casinos will offer you a few blackjack and roulette variations (along with other table games). The best real money casinos go a lot further. Find a casino that offers you live-dealer games, mobile friendly table games and plenty of unique and innovative game variants.
- Bonuses and Promotions: Every casino offers a welcome bonus. What makes the best ones stand out is the fairness of their bonus terms (lower play-through requirements), number of player promotions, extras like free spins and generous loyalty schemes. Make sure you compare these before you sign up.
- Payment Options: Great casinos have a wide range of payment options for both deposits and withdrawals. Look for a casino with a track record of fast cash outs. More on these below.
There are other factors, mobile friendly software, great customer service and the ability to look after high-rollers / VIPs can also be important.
Real Money Casinos USA: State Regulated
In 2012, Delaware became the first State to license online casinos (they opened the next year). This was followed in by New Jersey. Nevada license online poker rooms, though not online casinos. Several more states, including Pennsylvaniaand Massachusetts are at various stages of their own legislation.
These online ventures are partnerships between brick and mortar casinos, and some of the biggest software houses from around the world.
For players there are many advantages. These include not only protection (you have a State body to resolve any disputes), but better payment options including credit cards, PayPal and more. At State regulated casinos like Golden Nugget, BetFair and Virgin, you can enjoy slots and know that you’re playing at a safe and fair online casino in the US.
Sweepstakes Casinos for US Players
Outside of the regulated states, there are social casinos which offer slots. These include Luckyland Slots and Chumba. They are social games, played for gold chips via apps and in your browser.
Sweepstakes gaming laws are different. You can buy ‘Sweepscash’ for real money, and then exchange this for prizes (cash) at any time. You will find a wide selection of slots games at these sites, including many unique titles not found at other casinos.
You can buy Sweepscash with your credit card. Payment back to your bank is made via an Electronic Funds Transfer (local bank transfer). These casinos are available in most States which do not have regulated casinos, with the exception of Washington State.
While strictly speaking within the law, these casinos operate in a grey area which relies on how Sweepstakes gaming is interpreted.
Regulated Casinos in Other Parts of the World
Outside of the US, casinos are licensed by two types of jurisdiction. There are many licensing bodies which give global gaming licenses. The oversight and controls vary a lot between them. Examples of licensing bodies considered reputable include Malta, Isle of Man, Gibraltar and Alderney.
The other form of casino licensing is at the country level. Bodies like the UK Gambling Commission (and equivalents in France, Italy and elsewhere) are among the best for player protection.
There are big differences in gambling oversight around the world. Here are 3 examples:
#1 UK Real Money Casinos
The UK Gambling commission requires verification of game fairness, provision of self-exclusion, dispute resolution processes and segregation of funds before awarding licenses. They also control advertising. This makes the UK one of the safest places to play real money casino games. Many of the biggest and best-known global gambling brands are located in the UK.
#2 Canada Real Money Casinos
This country has liberal gambling laws for individual players, with no restrictions on enjoying online casinos in Canada at all. What is not legal is to operate an online casino site from Canada. Many of the biggest and best global brands offer casino games to Canadians.
#3 Indian Real Money Casinos
Many big brand casinos have now started to welcome Indian players. The legal situation here is less clear than in many countries. While running a ‘gambling house’ is not legal, nothing in the statutes prevents individual players from playing at Indian gambling sites. Power over casinos has been given to individual states.
How to Deposit & Banking Works Online
Once you find a safe casino, with the right licenses for your location and a great selection of slots and games – the next step is depositing money. There are a lot of options available for this. Which you choose will partly depend on your location (which methods are offered where), and partly on how much you want to separate casino gaming from your everyday banking.
This list covers the main categories of casino payment options – with the individual brands in the description:
- Credit / Debit Cards: Depending on your location you will find Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover, Diner’s Club, Maestro and Visa Electron welcomed at online casinos. Using these is exactly the same as making any online purchase.
- Prepaid Credit Cards: You will find these available from convenience stores around the world. You simply load up your card with cash, then use it like any other credit card.
- Electronic Wallets: This category includes PayPal, Neteller and Skrill. These 3rd party systems provide a secure gateway between your bank and the casino. There are small charges for sending (Skrill) or receiving money with these.
- Cryptocurrency:Bitcoin, Ethereum, LiteCoin and other cryptocurrencies are popular outside of the United States. Where accepted this is a secure and cheap way of moving your money around.
- PayNearMe: You can deposit at some real-money New Jersey casinos via 7-11 stores, you take a barcode given to you by the casino cashier, and hand over the cash you wish to deposit.
- Bank Transfers: Old-fashioned bank wires are still a viable method of making a casino deposit. The fees make these best suited to larger transfers. Where banks do not allow direct transfers (Canada for example), 3rd party gateway systems such as Interac can be used.
Getting the Most from Online Gambling Sites
So far, this page has covered the legal aspects of real money online gambling, plus payments. Finding a reputable casino and funding your account is only the start. Once you are set up, you’ll need some tips on how to get the most entertainment for your money!
I have divided these tips into 4 categories: Finding the best games, getting the best odds, managing your bankroll and taking advantage of bonuses.
Online Casino Real Time Gaming
#1 – Finding the Best Games
Your first task is to find which games you enjoy best. For many players, the slot selection is top of the list. There are 1000’s of online slots available, many with amazing graphics and entertaining bonus games.
I recommend you try out a selection of games – and note which slot software (the companies that produce the games and license them to casinos) you enjoy the best. You’ll find slots with life-changing jackpots, TV and movie themed options and entertaining bonus games. You will often be able to try out these games in demo-mode. Once you find your favorites, you can play them for real money.
Table games can be enjoyed for real money in two ways. Traditionally, blackjack, roulette and other table games were played using casino software. There are some entertaining variants, including brand new games and traditional games with jackpot side bets. These days, live dealer casinos have become the go-to for real money table games. Here you will play games dealt live from a remote studio. These games add a new social level to online casino gaming.
There are plenty more real money gaming options. These include video poker, keno, bingo and novelty games like scratch-cards.
#2 – Getting the Best Odds
You can make your bankroll (and enjoyment) last a lot longer at online casinos by avoiding bets with a big edge in favor of the house. This number is expressed as a percentage – and shows the long-term ‘cost’ of playing each game.
Here is a selection of good and bad bets:
- Casino Games with Low House Edge: Baccarat, blackjack, craps (pass line / don’t pass), French roulette, video poker.
- Casino Game with a High House Edge: Caribbean stud, side-bets on blackjack games, ‘tie’ bet in baccarat, US roulette, many keno games.
You can find out more in our detailed article on the best casino payouts.
#3 – Managing Your Bankroll
If you bet too big for your gambling bankroll, then the natural volatility of real money casino games will cut short your enjoyment far too often. On the other hand, betting too small is not exciting at all for many players!
Bankroll management is all about finding the best betting level for your money. A happy medium gives you the potential to win big, without risking going bust too quickly.
For table games, your bets should be between 1/20th and 1/50th of your total bankroll. If you are a slots fan, I’d recommend betting 1/200th as a maximum. If you have a $100 bankroll, then an average spin of 50c should keep you in the game long enough to enjoy bonus rounds and have a shot at some bigger wins.
Of course, some players can reload their account easily, while others have limited funds. You can choose whether to be more flexible or conservative with your bankroll management based on your individual situation.
#4 – Take Advantage of Real Money Casino Bonuses
The casinos are competing for your business. You’ll find a lot of bonus offers available, many of them don’t even need a real money deposit.
Real Online Casino Slots
Taking advantage of these offers is a great way to keep the casino house edge to a minimum. I recommend you look beyond the headline (welcome) bonuses. Ongoing rewards like loyalty schemes and regular promotions will have a bigger effect on your bankroll over the long-term.
Bonuses take many forms. Free spins and a matched welcome bonus make for a good starting point. Make sure that you check the terms and conditions of any bonus you accept. Casinos have widely different ‘play-through’ criteria, and some may even exclude your favorite games from the bonus clearing requirements.
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.
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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%. /best-free-online-slot-apps.html. 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.
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.
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?
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.