Best Games to Win Real Money USA. Huge jackpots and potential payouts attract many players to play online casino games for real money. When choosing an online casino game to play however, check the Return to Player (RTP) percentages before depositing any cash. If it offers poor odds or requires a hefty minimum bet per round that greatly reduces your gameplay, find a real money casino. Real money casinos in NJ. New Jersey online casinos started it all, launching the first legal and regulated US casino games in November 2013. If you’re looking for games to play for real money, online casinos are a great place to start if you are in an area which is regulated. Here at CasinoGuide, we have categorized, reviewed, and listed legally operating real money online casinos available to players around the world. Play at Win Real Money Casinos Online. If you are looking for the best real money online casinos for US players, you’ve come to the right place. Our list of the top-rated casinos covers everything you need to know when evaluating a gambling site. Below are our top five favorite online casinos for real money that accept US players.

Legal online casinos offer a real-money gambling experience combined with the convenience of mobile gaming. Many of the games seen on the floor of a land-based casino can be found at legal online casinos in the US.

New Jerseystands as the undisputed US leader in online casino gaming. Players in the Garden State enjoy access to some of the world’s best mobile casinos. The platforms include Golden Nugget Casino, DraftKings Casino, Caesars Online Casino, and many others.

Delaware, West Virginia,Pennsylvania andMichiganjoin New Jersey as states offering legal mobile casinos. Michigan is the latest state to launch online casinos, doing so on Jan. 22, 2021. Learn more in our Michigan Online Gambling Guide.

List Of States With Legal Online Casinos

Not in one of the above states? You can play at Sweepstakes Online Casinos for real cash prizes.

You can also view our complete online casino guides toNew Jersey Online Casinos andPennsylvania Online Casinosfor more information.

The Best Online Casino Sites In The US

DraftKings Casino

DraftKings’ continued expansion into the US legal gambling industry includes the DraftKings Casino platform. DraftKings Casino debuted in New Jersey in December 2018, marking the company’s first foray into online casino gaming.

True to the brand, DraftKings Casino offers unique sports-themed versions of blackjack and roulette among its selection of games.

New players at DraftKings Casino can unlock a 100% deposit match bonus up to $1,500 plus $10 in free credit. The bonus requires a 10x playthrough.

DraftKings Casino operates in New Jersey as a licensed partner of Resorts Digital Gaming. A Pennsylvania platform launched in May 2020, partnered with Hollywood Casino. They launched in West Virginia with Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. In Michigan, DraftKings Casino operates as a license partner of Bay Mills Casino and Resort.

Check out our complete DraftKings Casino Review for more details and the latest promo offers.

FanDuel Casino

Mirroring the efforts of DraftKings, FanDuel’s US legal gambling offerings include an online casino platform. FanDuel Casino first launched in Pennsylvania in January 2020.

FanDuel Casino operates in Pennsylvania in partnership with Valley Forge Casino Resort. Immediately upon its debut, FanDuel Casino established itself as one of Pennsylvania’s most popular online casinos. FanDuel also launched in Michigan in January 2021.

Table games at FanDuel Casino include blackjack and multiple versions of roulette. These games represent some of the platform’s most popular game choices.

New players are eligible for a $200 risk-free day upon registration.

FanDuel Casino also operates in New Jersey but does so under the name of Betfair Casino. They will be launching in West Virginia sometime soon.

BetMGM Casino

Formerly known as playMGM, the new and improved BetMGM platform debuted as a project from Roar Digital. Roar Digital operates as a joint company between MGM Resorts and GVC Holdings.

BetMGM online casino debuted in New Jersey in September 2019. The platform operates under the license of Borgata Hotel Casino, an MGM-owned retail property in Atlantic City.

Since then, BetMGM launched in Pennsylvania as well as West Virginia and Michigan.

BetMGM Casino has one of the best reputations when it comes to its selection and variety of online slots and table games. In NJ, BetMGM, along with other casino skins under the Borgata license, hosts the biggest progressive slot jackpot among US online casinos. Known as “The Big One,” the jackpot links to a network of slots with jackpots that can reach over the $3 million mark.

Sign-up bonuses at BetMGM include a 100% deposit match bonus up to $1,000.

BetRivers Casino

BetRivers might not have the same brand recognition as other online casinos, but they are quickly expanding across the US. The BetRivers Sportsbook app is live in seven states already. They are often one of the first apps to launch in states legalizing sports betting.

BetRivers Casino launched in Michigan in January 2021. BetRivers is live in Pennsylvania in partnership with SugarHouse Casino. BetRivers Casino operates in New Jersey under the SugarHouse brand.

Unibet Casino

The Unibet brand established itself as a powerhouse in the international online gambling industry before moving into the US market. Unibet Casino launched in New Jersey in June 2019, as a license partner of Hard Rock Atlantic City.

Unibet launched a second online casino for Pennsylvania players in November 2019. Unibet Casino operates under the license of Mohegan Sun Pocono for the Pennsylvania platform.

The game selection at Unibet Casino includes progressiveslots, videopoker, and table games. Games like Micro Stakes Blackjack offer action for even the most conservative of bankrolls.

New players at Unibet Casino can unlock a 100% deposit match bonus up to $500, as well as a $10 sign-up bonus.

Caesars Online Casino

Caesars Atlantic City stands as one of the most iconic properties on the East Coast. Caesars Online Casino offers an online gaming experience that lives up to the Caesars name.

Caesars Online Casino launched in New Jersey in 2013, operating under the Caesars Interactive license. The online platform offers one of the most robust slot selections available at any legal US online casino.

New players at Caesars Casino can take advantage of a $25 free sign-up bonus, as well as a 100% deposit match bonus up to $300.

A Pennsylvania version of Caesars Online Casino launched in April 2020, under the Harrah’s Philadelphia interactive gaming license. In Pennsylvania, Ceasars offers a 100% deposit match bonus up to $500.

PokerStars Casino

Poker players know the PokerStars brand as the world’s biggest online poker site.

PokerStars’ US operations include hybrid online casino and poker sites in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. PokerStars Casino operates as a license partner of Mount Airy Casino Resort in Pennsylvania, and Resorts Digital in New Jersey. In January 2021, Stars Casino by PokerStars also launched in Michigan.

The PokerStars Casino side of these platforms offers table games, video poker, and popular progressive jackpot slots like Divine Fortune.

Bonus offers for new players at PokerStars Casino include a $30 free play bonus on deposits of $20 or more.

Golden Nugget Casino

Golden Nugget’s online casino platform stands as the gold standard in the US mobile casino market. Golden Nugget Atlantic City launched the site in New Jersey in 2013.

The Golden Nugget mobile platform has stood as one of the most popular online casinos in the US for most of its existence.

Golden Nugget online casino offers an unparalleled game menu. The platform presents New Jersey players with more slots, video poker, and overall game options of any US legal online casino.

Sign-up offers at Golden Nugget online casino include a 100% deposit match bonus up to $1,000, and a $20 no-deposit bonus.

Golden Nugget online casino debuted a Michigan platform in January 2021. The brand will eventually expand into Pennsylvania and West Virginia as well.

Tropicana Online Casino

One of the first online casinos to launch in New Jersey, Tropicana Online Casino debuted in the Garden State in November 2013. The platform is licensed to its parent property, Tropicana Atlantic City.

Games available at Tropicana Online Casino include many of the same selections enjoyed by players at Tropicana Atlantic City.

Tropicana Online Casino offers a unique “community jackpot” promotion. Anyone playing on the site at the time the jackpot hits could be eligible for a share of the prize.

Bonus offers at Tropicana Online Casino include a $25 sign-up bonus and a $100 rebate on losses for new players.

What Kind Of Bonuses Are Generally Available At Legal Online Casinos?

Risk-Free Day And Loss Rebate Bonuses

Several legal online casinos offer new players the chance at a rebate on losses for a short period after sign-up.

FanDuel Casino, for instance, presents new players with a $200 risk-free day offer. After making an initial deposit, players unlock a rebate on up to $200 in losses incurred during the first 24 hours playing on the site.

For example, a player signing up for an account at FanDuel Casino can deposit $200, and wager the $200 at the casino. If the player’s account is at $0 after a 24-hour period, FanDeul Casino will award a rebate of up to $200.

The rebate only applies to net losses on the first deposit. If a player deposits $200 and has a $150 balance after 24 hours, the rebate is $50. If the player’s balance is higher than $200 after the 24-hour period, no rebate applies.

Deposit Match Bonuses

At many online casinos, a player’s first deposit makes them eligible for bonus money matching a certain percentage of the deposit. These deposit match percentages can equal anywhere from 20% to 100% of the first deposit.

BetMGM offers a 100% deposit match bonus, up to $1,000. Using this offer, new players can make an initial deposit and earn 100% of the deposit in bonus money, up to $1,000.

Most deposit match bonuses require a certain amount of playthrough, or money wagered, to unlock the bonus. Playthrough requirements generally range from 20x to 30x the initial deposit amount.

No-Deposit Bonuses

Some online casino platforms award free betting credits just for registering for a new account.

Golden Nugget Casino is one platform offering such a bonus. New players start with $10 in free bets just for signing up with the site.

Types Of Games Available At Online Casinos In The US

Slots And Video Poker

Much like their land-based counterparts, virtually all online casinos present a game selection menu dominated byslots.

Many of the same slots enjoyed on the floor of retail casinos can be found at legal online casinos. These include five-reel multiway win slots and classic three-reel slots.

New Jersey online casinoslike Golden Nugget Casino, Mohegan Sun Online Casino, and SugarHouse Casino offer hundreds of different slot variants. The library of slots at legal online casinos expands regularly.

Many different versions of video poker can be played at legal online casinos as well.

Progressive Jackpot Slots

Progressive jackpot slots offer some of the biggest potential payouts found at legal online casinos. These grand prizes can sometimes reach into seven-figure totals.

The Big One

The Big One network of slots offers the biggest progressive jackpot found at legal online casinos in the US. This series of slots, found at Borgata, BetMGM, and PartyCasino in New Jersey, all link to a progressive jackpot that sometimes goes over $3 million.

Divine Fortune

Divine Fortune finds a home at many legal online casinos in the US and offers a grand jackpot that can reach above six figures.

Resorts Casino, Mohegan Sun, Caesars Casino Online, and many other platforms host the Divine Fortune progressive slot.

Table Games

Players looking for table games can find plenty of action at legal online casino sites. Blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, and Three Card Poker represent just some of the table games available on mobile casino platforms.

Live Dealer Games

Live dealer games offer the best of mobile gaming, combined with the live casino experience. These games allow online players to interact with a real-life dealer though live stream.

Human dealers oversee live dealer games from a physical table at a secure studio location. Live dealer versions of blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and other casino games can be found at many mobile casinos.

Sweepstakes Casino Sites

Players in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and Michigan enjoy access to state-regulated online casinos.

In other US states, sweepstakes casino platforms present the best opportunity for players to enjoy the online casino experience. Sweepstakes sites like Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Funzpoints legally operate in virtually every US state except Washington.

See our comprehensiveGuide To Sweepstakes Casinos In The US.

How Sweepstakes Casinos Work

Platforms like Chumba Casino operate legally as sweepstakes sites. Sweepstakes games at Chumba Casino offer prizes in the form of “Sweeps Coins,” which can be redeemed for cash prizes.

This business model allows the games at Chumba Casino to legally operate as mini-sweepstakes games. Direct real-money deposits aren’t permitted at sweepstakes casino sites. But players can acquire and purchase Sweeps Coins in various other ways.

Chumba Casino operates play money games, using “Gold Coins” as currency, in addition to the Sweeps Coins Games.

Gold Coins packages are available for purchase and with some Gold Coins packages Chumba Casino awards an amount of Sweeps Coins as a gift. The Sweeps Coins can then be used in the sweepstakes casino games, and later redeemed for cash prizes.

Sweeps Coins can also be obtained for free, through mail-in and social media offers.

Sweepstakes casinos operate legally in 49 US states and Washington DC. Only Washington state outlaws sweepstakes casinos.

How Can I Gamble Online In The US?

iOS Mobile Devices

Nearly all legal US online casinos can be downloaded as mobile apps for iOS devices. These apps optimize the playing experience for the iOS device. They also offer the convenience of playing from anywhere within the borders of a legal online casino state.

Owners of an iOS device can find mobile casino apps at the App Store. Players located in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and other states with legal online casinos can find all of these free apps available in those states.

Android Devices

Most legal online casinos are available as Android apps as well. Like their iOS counterparts, Android apps are free to download and present a gaming experience optimized for mobile devices.

Android apps can only be downloaded directly from an online casino website, as the Google Play store doesn’t allow for the download of real-money casino apps.

Desktop

The simplest way to access and play at a legal online casino is directly through a desktop browser. Playing on a desktop device doesn’t offer quite the same mobility as iOS or Android apps. But it allows players to enjoy full access to online casinos with no download required

Registering For An Account At A Legal Online Casino

On mobile devices and desktop browsers, new players can sign up at an online casino through a quick process.

At DraftKings Casino, for example, new players can click on the “Sign Up” button to start the registration process. A menu then appears where players can choose a username and provide a valid email address.

The next step requires documentation of first and last name, date of birth, residential address, and last four digits of a social security number.

After submitting this information, DraftKings Casino sends a mobile verification link through text message or email. Once that link is verified, players must download geolocation software that allows DraftKings Casino to verify that the player is within the borders of a state in which it legally operates.

With personal details and geolocation verified, new players can then navigate to the cashier, deposit funds, and begin playing.

What Deposit And Cashout Options Are Available At Legal Online Casinos?

ACH/eCheck

Virtually all legal online gambling sites accept ACH/eCheck as a method for both deposits and withdrawals.

When used for deposits, this method drafts an electronic check (eCheck) from a player’s bank account, and pushes the check through an Automatic Clearing House (ACH). This clearing process happens instantaneously. If approved, the funds immediately become available for play at the online casino.

ACH/eCheck deposits are occasionally stopped by the issuing bank. They go through successfully around 80 percent of the time.

Debit/Credit Cards

Like ACH/eCheck, most online casinos accept debit and credit cards as a deposit method. This method can’t be used for withdrawals, however.

Debit and credit card deposits come with one of the highest rejection rates among all deposit options, but when successful immediately make funds available for play. Credit card deposits can sometimes carry cash advance fees from the issuing bank.

PayPal

Many mobile casino platforms accept PayPal as a method for both deposits and withdrawals. The deposit process takes a few extra steps compared to other methods. But PayPal deposits offer a nearly 100% acceptance rate.

Players with a valid US PayPal account can use this method at numerous legal online gambling sites.

Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards are issued directly by an online casino, and function as a gift card that allows funds to be loaded on a player’s balance.

With this method, players can load a prepaid card with funds using ACH/eCheck, debit card, PayPal, and various other ways.

Casino Cage Deposit

Deposits and withdrawals can also be made directly at the casino cage of a retail property that operates an online casino.

At Golden Nugget Casino, for example, deposits and withdrawals for the online casino could be made by visiting the land-based Golden Nugget Atlantic City property.

The History Of Online Casinos In The US

US laws allow states to offer legal online casino gambling on an individual basis. Delaware became the first state to legalize online casinos in 2012, followed by New Jersey in 2013.

Online casinos debuted in both states in November 2013. Since then, New Jersey’s online casino industry developed into a robust market, with more than 20 different platforms available.

Pennsylvania became the next state to legalize online casinos, doing so in October 2017. Mobile casino platforms started to launch in the state in July 2019. West Virginia followed suit, legalizing online casinos in 2019.

The first online casino launched in West Virginia in the summer of 2020. Michigan became the latest state to debut online casinos in January 2021.

Legal online casinos operate under the license of retail casinos. Gaming regulation agencies like thePennsylvania Gaming Control Board(PGCB) and theNew Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement(DGE) oversee online casinos in their respective states. In West Virginia, the West Virginia Lottery Commission regulates all iGaming.

Players located within state borders in each legal online casino jurisdiction can access mobile casinos in those states.

Michigan was the latest state to join the US mobile casino market. Michigan passed online gambling legislation in December 2019 and the first online casino apps launched on January 22, 2021.

Legal Online Gambling Sites Versus Illegal Online Gambling Sites

State-regulated online casinos are owned by land-based properties, using licensing agreements with technology partners.

These partnerships allow for trusted gaming brands like DraftKings, FanDuel, and Betfair to operate legal online casinos in collaboration with legal retail casinos. Golden Nugget Atlantic City, for instance, operates Golden Nugget Casino, Betfair/FanDuel Casino, SugarHouse Online Casino, and BetAmerica in New Jersey.

This legal union of retail and online casinos ensures that players can enjoy secure legal online gambling. Playing at a state-regulated online casino offers the same level of safety as playing at a legal retail casino.

Other retail casino operators behind online platforms include Caesars Entertainment, Parx Casino, Resorts Digital Gaming, and Borgata.

These brands stand as some of the biggest and most trusted names in the legal gambling industry. They each operate online casinos with a keen interest in player safety. Players at legal online casinos can count on prompt payouts, fair games, and security of personal information.

Why Avoid Illegal Gambling Sites

Government agencies like the PGCB and DGE assure that state casino industries operate with transparency, accountability, and security of player funds and personal information. Depositing money at a legal online casino site offers players the security of knowing those funds can be withdrawn safely at any time.

Offshore or illegal gambling sites do not operate with this same obligation to player safety. These platforms aren’t regulated by any US governing body.

Depositing money on these sites can be a risky proposition, as illegal gambling sites have no obligation to allow for the withdrawal of funds.

Legal Online Casinos FAQ

Yes. Federal law allows states to individually determine their stances on legal online gambling.

New Jersey, West Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania each allow for legal mobile casinos. Michigan will eventually join the list of US states with legal online casinos in 2021.

State regulatory agencies oversee all state-regulated, legal online casino platforms.

No. Only New Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan currently offer legal online casinos.

Apart fromsweepstakes siteslike Chumba Casino, any platforms offering online gambling outside of these five states operate illegally.

The legal minimum age for playing at an online casino is 21 in all states with legal mobile casinos. This age matches the minimum age for gambling at a retail casino in these states.

Yes. Nearly all legal online casinos are available as apps for iOS and Android mobile devices.

iOS users can find online casino apps in the App Store, while Android users can download the apps directly from an online casino’s website.

Players using mobile devices must be located within the borders of the state offering a legal gambling site when playing.

Deposit options at legal online casinos include ACH/eCheck, PayPal, debit cards, credit cards, prepaid cards, and casino cage deposit.

Other ways to deposit include PayNearMe, wire transfer, and eWallets like Neteller and Skrill.

Yes. Legal online casinos are owned by retail casino brands like Golden Nugget Atlantic City and Caesars Entertainment. Player funds at legal online casinos are just as safe as they are when playing at a legal retail casino.

Secure withdrawal methods at legal online casinos include ACH/eCheck, prepaid cards, PayPal, eWallets, casino cage withdrawal and check by mail.

Some of these methods, like eWallet withdrawals, can involve fees.

Yes. Legal mobile casinos use high-level encryption to ensure the security of customers’ personal and financial information.

Extra security measures, like two-step verification, can be added at player request.

Retail casino companies operate legal online casinos in collaboration with licensed technology partners.

Unibet Casino in New Jersey, for example, operates as a licensed partner of Hard Rock Atlantic City. New Jersey law permits retail casinos to operate multiple online platforms.

Yes. Many legal online casinos offer live dealer versions of blackjack, roulette, and other table games.

Live dealer games feature a human dealer overseeing the game at a physical table. The dealer and the table are located in a secure studio.

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

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.

Best Online Casinos For Real Money Free

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.

It’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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

Best Online Casinos For Real Money Pennsylvania

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.