Free Online Gambling For Real Money

Check your favorite online casinos on a weekly basis. Some offer rewards for making a deposit on a certain day, or a free spins bonus for playing specific casino games during a stated time. Bet with real money and win real cash prizes that you can cash out quickly and easily from the Caesars Casino & Sports Cashier, via ACH, PayPal, Neteller, CaesarsCasino.com Prepaid Card, or Cash at the Caesars Atlantic City main cage.

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Finding the best US gambling sites should not be a stressful affair, right? One of the most appealing characteristics of any site for US online gambling is fast payouts, and we believe that should be the standard. No one wants to win and struggle to get paid the real money they’ve earned. That’s why we’ve created this list from extensive research of the top USA gambling sites.

RankDE Gambling SiteExclusive BonusProductsGet Started
#1Las Atlantis280% Up To$14,000
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#2Super Slots300% Up To$6,000
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Visit Site Super Slots
#3BetUS125% Up To$3,125
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  • Casino
Visit Site BetUS
#4MyBookie50% Up To$1,000
  • Sports
  • Casino
Visit Site MyBookie
#5BetNow100% Up To$1,000
  • Sports
  • Casino
Visit Site BetNow

In an age where choice should be a given and not a luxury, we ensure that the best real money gambling sites we recommend provide you with variety. Whether it comes to choosing your payment method, the type of sports you want to bet on, or the casino games you want to play, we believe you should have the final say on matters.

There’s lot’s more involved in ranking the best online gambling sites for US customers, and we explain all about our process on this page. We also touch on a few other topics that gamblers in the United States might be interested in. Read on to find out more.

If you came simply to know where to gamble online in the US safely, you can get started with any of our recommended sites right away.

Unfortunately, online gambling laws in the United States have made things a little difficult for betting and gaming enthusiasts. Online gambling is not fully licensed and regulated throughout the entire US, which means that some shady operators have taken advantage of American gamblers.

We care a lot about ensuring that our recommended online gambling sites are enough to keep customers happy. There are some excellent real money gambling sites that accept customers from the USA, and some that aren’t really up to scratch.

Then again, there are others that we wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole, given how unsafe they are. The bottom line is that we’re experienced in reviewing and ranking real money gambling sites on the web, so nothing gets past our highly-trained eyes.

We do all the hard work, so you don’t have to. Our up-to-date rankings of the best US gambling sites are proof of that. Of course, you might want to know the things we look for when setting these rankings. You might also have questions around the laws and if we only rank legal US gambling sites or list anything reputable.

How We Rank Online Gambling Sites for US Players

Everyone is entitled to want different things from the gambling site they play at. Despite this, we can all agree on a few things we expect from the best online gambling sites.

First things first, here are a few qualities we look for in any real money gambling site.

  • Fully licensed and regulated by a trusted body
  • Safe, secure, and steadfast in protecting customers’ sensitive information
  • Reputable and trustworthy

There’s no doubt that safety should come first when choosing a United States gambling site. We only recommend sites that have absolutely satisfied the above criteria. And not one of our recommended online gambling sites has ever failed to do so.

But there’s more to being a top gambling site than being safe to use. Some of our recommended options offer sportsbooks, casino games, and even poker rooms. These “all-in-one” sites tend to do well with many US customers, but some do prefer sites that cater to just sports betting or casino games.

Here are a few things we just love to see.

We believe you deserve a wide range of markets and the kind of betting odds that keep you coming back for more, regardless of the sports you love to bet on.

The most popular US gambling sites have an extensive sportsbook that delivers nonstop sports betting action to fans of the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and much more.

Our recommended online gambling sites in the United States know how to keep their customers happy, that’s for sure.

Many US-based gamblers want more than just the basics, however. Therefore, a site that offers odds on boxing, MMA, EPL soccer, entertainment, politics, and other markets are crucial to betting enthusiasts all over the country.

Many sports betting fans also like to play casino games. Our top-rated US gambling sites offer everything under one roof, making it even easier to bet on sports and play online casino games.

Whether you have a penchant for slots, a romance with roulette, or a love of blackjack, you can find all the games you love neatly categorized and readily available to play. Oh, and let’s not forget other games like video slots, baccarat, and craps.

When it comes to live casino games and all of the above, our top online gambling sites only use modern, state-of-the-art software when producing titles you love. It shouldn’t be any other way!

Numerous Banking Methods and Fast Payouts

Nothing is more frustrating than signing up at a site with a poor range of deposit methods. Luckily for you, our recommended real money gambling sites do more to provide options to their customers.

You will find several deposit methods available for you to use, such as debit cards, credit cards, Bitcoin, money transfer and more. What’s better than this is that the top online gambling sites also process US customers’ payments fast and efficiently.

What’s not to love about getting paid quickly?

When ranking our leading US gambling sites, we spend a lot of time analyzing the bonuses, promotions, and other offers that they provide to customers.

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It’s always good to have your bankroll boosted by some free cash or land yourself a nice casino bonus. But without fair wagering requirements, some offers fail to do it for us.

We like to see the online gambling sites we recommend offer excellent promotions that players can actually turn into real cash.

Our top recommended websites have a wide range of bonuses and promotions that both new and existing gamblers can get their hands on.

At some point, you will need assistance when betting or playing through any site. Whether you have questions regarding your bets or need more information on how to cash out, it’s always helpful to have a strong customer support function to fall back on.

Our highest-ranked USA gambling sites ensure that you have the support you need when gambling through their site. A solid customer support option can often be reflective of how much a company cares about their players.

Whether it’s through a hotline, a live chat function, or via email, you’ll have the chance to reach an agent who really knows what they’re talking about. In the event of a technical error or payment processing query, that assistance can often be priceless.

The Advantages of Online Gambling from America

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One of the greatest things to happen in the history of gambling was the internet. Sure, the early days of online betting and gaming may have been a little rough around the edges, but things have improved so much since then.

We can now access some of the best US gambling sites from the comfort of our own homes and enjoy the opportunity to place bets or play some incredible casino games in a matter of seconds. Without this luxury, we would have to rely on other ways to gamble.

It gets you thinking, doesn’t it? There are many advantages to online gambling that you won’t find anywhere else, that’s for sure. Read a few examples below.

It’s the convenience of being able to bet from anywhere that really makes gambling on the internet special.

If you have a smartphone or device with an internet connection, you could be placing parlays on the NFL or putting chips down on the roulette table from your living room or on the beach.

Variety

You can access tons of sports markets and casino games with a couple of swipes of your index finger. You will find all kinds of markets, including foreign sports, entertainment, and even politics. Then, when you have your bets placed, you can move to another part of the site and start spinning those slot reels.

Try traveling to a casino or sportsbook and doing the same.

The greatest part of gambling online is finding the right site for you. We all enjoy different parts of the online betting or playing experience, but the site that does it for a friend may not necessarily appeal to you.

The best US gambling sites often allow you to customize certain parts of the site to make it really feel like home.

With so many options out there, it can be a pain to find the one that fits like a glove. But, by following our recommended betting sites, we can get you there quicker.

Check out the following guide for a more detailed look at the various aspects of gambling online for real money in the US.

2020 Guide to Online Gambling for Real Money in the USA

Gambling online for real money is a popular pastime. It’s exciting, enjoyable, and can even be profitable. There are risks involved, too, which means real money gambling should be approached with caution. That’s why I’ve put together this...

Read More

As we mentioned earlier, gambling online in the United States can be a bit confusing in terms of the legal issues. This is because of how US gambling laws are governed (local, state, and federal gaming regulations apply) and just how outdated a number of these gaming regulations are.

With more and more states changing how they treat online gambling from a legal standpoint, it’s important to understand how these changes could affect you. Depending on where you live in the United States, you’ll either find things straightforward or difficult to understand.

But there’s no need to worry! Below, you will find a link to our US gambling laws and regulation page that will explain everything you need to know. It’s always good to make sure you’re using a legal US gambling site, so make sure to do a little research based on your state.

Is online gambling legal in the US?

Yes, online gambling is legal in the US. Some states have gone as far to regulated and provide licenses for legal online gambling sites to operate and accept residents from their states. Not all sites are legal though, so make sure to understand the laws in your particular state.

If you gamble through a safe and trustworthy site, online gambling is 100% safe.

However, if you choose a site at random without understanding who they are and how they work, you could be putting yourself at risk.

Are bonuses and promotions worth it?

Many bonuses and promotions are offered to customers in order to attract them to sign up for a site. Unfortunately, not all of them prove to be easy to convert into real cash.

Some US online gambling sites have unreasonable wagering requirements that prevent players from making anything from these bonuses.

The best US gambling sites still have wagering requirements on their promotions. Wagering requirements are effectively what prevents sites from being cleaned out.

Let’s say you get a $20 bonus that comes with wagering requirements of 20x. In order for you to win money from the bonus, you would have to turn it over 20x, to the value of $400. Anything after this is yours.

What is an “all in one” gambling site?

This term describes betting sites that offer a sportsbook, casino, poker room, or other services. For the most part, it’s one that allows you to place sports bets and play games such as roulette, blackjack, etc.

We spend thousands of hours every year scrutinizing each and every online gambling site we rank, just to make sure they’re safe, secure, and of the highest caliber. Rankings can vary state by state depending on various factors like the legal situation of a particular state.

With years of experience under our belts, and a lot of inside knowledge in the gambling community, we’ve formulated a method of distinguishing safe real money sites from those to avoid. And we have a stellar reputation for doing just that.

Free Online Gambling For Real Money

More Recommended US Gambling Sites

We understand that you might have other wants and needs from a leading US gambling site. So, here are a number of other top-rated US gambling sites that should help you get started.

Each state in America is free to determine how it operates and regulates online gambling within it’s borders. Because of this, the situation regarding online betting and gaming varies from one state to the next. To help you keep track of the current situation where you live, we’ve compiled guides to online gambling in each individual state. Where appropriate, these guides also include recommendations for the best gambling sites within the relevant state.

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.

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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
RankDE Gambling SiteSign Up BonusGet Started
#1Betway Casino100% up to €250
#2Europa Casino200% up to €500
#3Jackpot City Casino100% up to €400
#4Spinia100% up to €250
#5Spin Casino100% up to €400

Best Real Money Casinos by Location

If you’re unsure if the above accept players from your country, don’t worry; we still have lots of top-rated online casinos for real money which we can recommend to you. There are also some we definitely won’t recommend, and we want you to be aware of those, too.

It’s crucially important to pick a real money casino which accepts players from your country for a few reasons.

First, it’s possible that your government has some sort of minimum standards a casino needs to meet. That’s definitely the case if you’re from the UK or some other European countries.

Second, you don’t want to face unnecessary restrictions such as not being able to claim bonuses, not being able to play some games, or not being able to sign up at the given casino you have spent time researching.

Finally, this will help you stay on the right side of the law. Some countries prohibit players from their countries from signing up at anything other than state-sanctioned online casinos. While these laws are difficult to enforce, they do exist in some countries.

Take a look at some of the regions listed below. If you’re from there, click on the relevant button to see a list of online casinos for real money which accepts you.


Beating the House Edge

Every online casino game has a house edge. This is the casino’s built-in advantage and means that it’s mathematically guaranteed to make money over a long enough timeline.

So, how likely are you to beat the house edge?

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 Example

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.

There are ways to spot rogue real money online casinos, and our experts have been trained to do so

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.

Do be aware that if you attempt to gamble illegally online, you are asking for trouble

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

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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 Keno
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.

Let us put it this way – you wouldn’t go around looking for free ATMs, so why go around looking for free real money casinos?

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.

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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.

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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.

The top real money poker sites online, with a detailed guide of gambling at poker.
The top real money sites online, with a detailed guide to gambling for real money.
The top real money betting sites online, with a detailed betting guide.
The top real money bingo sites online, with a detailed guide to gambling at bingo.

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.