Real Money Casinos | Complete Guide

Ziv Chen

Updated by Ziv Chen

Writer

Lee James Gwilliam

Fact Checked by Lee James Gwilliam

Senior Vice-President

Last Updated 4th Oct 2024, 10:09 AM

When done responsibly, online casino real money gambling can be quite exciting and entertaining. A simple online search will give you plenty of places where you can place real money bets. But are all these sites safe? Do they offer the right selection of casino games? And what about payment options? Can I use my credit card to fund my casino account, or do I need to use some other method? 

On this page, I attempt to answer these questions and more. You will find all the information you need about real money online casinos. In no time, you will be sitting (virtually of course!) at your favorite live casino table, or perhaps in front of an ultra-popular slot, placing a real money bet with confidence.

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What Games are on Real Money Casinos?

You can play a wide range of different types of games at real money casinos, including slots, progressive jackpots, table games, and live dealer games. Many software developers are committed to specifically providing games for real money casinos, so there are thousands of options.

What kind of casino games suit you? If you’re looking for exciting and fast games that come in plenty of themes, slot games are your best bet. Live dealer games give you an immersive experience, whereas virtual table games give you time to relax while you play. Jackpot slots are best if you want to play for the biggest prizes available.

Live Casino Games

If you're seeking an authentic casino atmosphere similar to a land-based casino, live casino games offer the perfect blend of real-time anticipation and convenience. Live streaming makes it possible for players to interact with professional human dealers while enjoying live casino classics like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and more. The interactive nature of Live Casino games enhances the social aspect and creates an immersive gaming experience.

Slots (Including Progressive Jackpots)

Online slots are a staple of the best slot sites, offering an extensive range of slot themes, captivating visuals, and immersive sound effects. Players can place bets and spin the reels for a chance to land wins. Progressive jackpots are slots that come with bigger prizes that continue to grow since each bet a player makes contributes to the growing prize pool.

Table Games

Table games are preferred by gamblers who prefer strategic thinking and skill-based gameplay. Real money casinos offer an abundance of popular table games, including blackjack, roulette, craps, and baccarat. For poker players, there are many poker variants that combine elements of traditional poker with the simplicity of a slot machine. Any video poker casino will have different variations like Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Joker Poker, enabling players to put their poker skills to the test against virtual opponents.

Pros & Cons of Real Money Online Casinos

Advantages
You can win real money prizes
Unlock casino bonuses and play with more funds
Most casinos offer Loyalty or VIP programs for regular players
Betting real money can be entertaining if done responsibly
Disadvantages
With real money bets you risk losing your money
If you claim bonuses you need to fulfill wagering requirements
Some sites have minimum withdrawal amounts in place

Real Money vs Free Play – What to Consider

There are many different ways to enjoy gambling games, and you can even play gambling games without risking your money. Most real money casino sites will allow you to play casino games for free, although you won’t be able to win real money prizes that way.

There are benefits to both ways of playing, and which one you pick is entirely down to personal preference. See below for some of the benefits of each way of playing.

Real Money Games

Free Casino Games

Winning real money - One of the best things about casino games is you can walk away with a significant profit.Practice betting strategies - While most casino games are based on luck, you can use demo games to test out playing strategies. These are particularly useful for table games like blackjack and poker.
Great bonuses - When you play for real money, you can claim bonuses that allow you to play casino games and win money for less financial investment.Try new games before risking bankroll - Playing free versions of games lets you test whether you like a game or not before you have to commit your money.
Entertainment and thrill - Real money casino games provide many bonuses and features to make them very exciting to play.Experience fun without spending a penny - Casino games are great fun even if you can’t win any money. Playing in demo mode or any free casino games lets you experience the thrill of spinning reels and placing bets without your own money.
Access to all games - While many online casinos provide a free play mode for games, you won’t find free play available for every game. However, you can play every game for real money.Unlimited entertainment - As you are playing for free, you can play casino games as much as you want, meaning you can get hours and hours of fun for free.
Competitions/tournaments - Many real money online casinos offer tournaments and competitions on games where you can claim cash prizes for winning the most money. 

Online vs Land Based Casinos – Key Differences

Before the internet became so popular, land-based casinos were where gambling evolved and thrived. The idea for the classic slot machine started in brick-and-mortar casinos, although the popularity of slots for real money online has reached new heights with online casinos.

The land-based casino industry is still booming to this day, and there are plenty of reasons to consider playing in person. See our expert comparison of the benefits of playing online at the best mobile casinos against land-based casino gambling.

Online

Land-Based

Convenience - You can play online real money casinos anywhere you have a connection, rather than visiting a specific location.Social element - You can step onto the casino floor and enjoy casino games with hundreds of other players.
Variety of games - Online casinos can instantly give you access to hundreds of games, offering more variety than land-based casinos.Other amenities - Land-based casinos offer more than just casino games, with bars, restaurants, and entertainment also available.
Better quality games - Games at online casinos come from some of the best software developers in the industry and provide better graphics and more features than land-based games.No glitching games - Slot machines at land-based casinos are regularly checked by engineers, so there are very few glitches.
Bonuses - Online casinos offer bonuses, which let you play games without spending a fortune, far more frequently than land-based casinos.Immersive table games - At a land-based real money casino, you play table games with professional dealers and sit alongside other players.
Availability - There are dozens of online casinos just a few clicks away, giving you access to a wide variety of casino experiences.Instant withdrawals - You can make instant withdrawals at casino cage cashiers to quickly get your hands on winnings.

Real Money Casino Bonuses – What to Expect

When you sign up to play at real money casinos, many sites will offer generous bonuses to welcome you. You’ll also get exciting offers to keep you entertained as an existing player. We’ve listed some of the most popular real money casino bonuses below.

  • Welcome bonus: A welcome bonus is a promotion only available for new customers. You can get free spins, deposit matches, and no deposit bonuses as rewards in welcome bonuses. You may need to follow terms and conditions once you sign up to get your rewards, such as entering casino promotion codes and meeting a minimum deposit.
  • Free spins: With a free spins offer, an online casino will give you free spins on a particular slot game. You may need to meet a minimum deposit or bet requirement to unlock your free spins.
  • Deposit match: When you claim a deposit match bonus, an online casino will equal a percentage of your deposit with bonus funds. For example, a 100% deposit match of up to $150. If you add $100, you’ll get $100, giving you $200 for betting. Most deposit matches have wagering requirements, which tell you how many times you need to use your bonus funds before you can withdraw.
  • No deposit bonus: If you want to boost your bankroll without spending a penny, no deposit bonuses are perfect for you. You don’t need to fund your account to claim these offers – simply registering with a real money online casino or opting into the offer is enough to claim a small number of free spins or bonus funds.
  • Reload bonus: Reload bonuses are incredibly similar to deposit match offers but are only available for existing players. A real money online casino will equal a percentage of your qualifying deposit with bonus funds.

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Deposits and Withdrawals at Real Money Casinos

Options for funding your account and for withdrawing money are essential to play at real money casinos. Most casinos will let you make deposits and withdrawals for free. These sites welcome trusted payment methods to oversee your secure transitions. You’ll find a wide range of options at our recommended online casinos. These range from well-established methods like Visa and Mastercard debit or credit cards to modern e-wallets like PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, and Interac. Many casinos also accept prepaid options and even cryptocurrencies.

Best Payment Providers for Online Casinos

Safety and security come first when it comes to deposits and withdrawals at online casinos. Some are better than others, and everyone has their personal preference. We recommend using one of these methods for total peace of mind.

PayPal
NETELLER
Skrill
VISA
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Quick Tip

If you intend to claim the welcome bonus at a new casino, check if the payment option you're using permits you to do this. Some options are sometimes excluded from bonuses.

Providers Of Real Money Casino Games

You might not think of the people who created the game when you're playing a casino game with real money bets. But this tiny detail is significant. You want to find games created by game providers that have a strong reputation. The reason is of course a logical one. You're putting your own money at stake. So you want to ensure that the game you're playing is fair, and that you have a chance of a favorable outcome.

 

Best Casino Game Developers

Playing real money casino games online means trusting the gambling site, and also the game developer. Look for names that have a solid reputation when it comes to online casino games. Then it's time to play and enjoy yourself. Here’s the cream of the crop when it comes to game developers.

 
See all software

 

Rating and Reviewing Real Money Online Casinos

Reviewing real money casinos is our bread and butter - It's what my colleagues and I do for a living, which is why we take this task very seriously. In fact, when we pick the best real money casinos, there are a lot of tiny details and factors we consider thoughtfully during our reviews. We apply high standards to every area of our review process, so we only recommend the very best platforms. Here's some of the most important points we pay special attention to:

  • Game Variety: There are thousands of online casino games out there, and you want to sign up with an online casino that gives you access to as many as possible. Our review team looks for the sites that offer the best game selection supplied by top-quality developers.
  • Payment Methods: You’ll need to deposit to play at real money casinos, and our review team looks out for sites that welcome a variety of payment methods. We also appreciate operators that work with trusted payment providers.
  • Payout Speeds: While payment security is crucial, you also want to get your hands on your withdrawals as quickly as possible. We look for real money casinos which process transactions rapidly, with some offering instant cashouts.
  • Casino Bonuses: Casino bonuses let you try out real money casinos without spending a fortune, so we look out for casinos that provide generous bonuses for new players. We also rate sites that offer regular existing player promotions highly.
  • Mobile Capability: Many players enjoy gambling on the go, and mobile platforms give you an easy way to do this. Our team looks for companies that offer a mobile casino app or HTML5-optimized browser site which lets you access most of the same games as on a desktop, including the best mobile online slots.
  • Usability: You want a fast and easy-to-use platform to get the best out of your real money casino experience. Our team tests every real money casino on this page, recommending sites that let you access most features simply.
  • Security: You trust your personal and financial information with real money online casinos, so you want a platform you can trust. Our experts look for licensing from respected regulatory bodies alongside strict security measures like SSL encryption.
  • Customer Support: If you run into any issues while using an online casino, you want fast and straightforward customer support. We highly rate online casinos offering 24/7 customer support across various contact methods like live chat, email, and phone.

Meet The Author

25 Years
Experience
Ziv Chen
Ziv Chen
Writer Writer

Ziv Chen has been working in the online gambling industry for over two decades in senior marketing and business development roles. Ziv writes about a wide range of topics including slot and table games, casino and sportsbook reviews, American sports news, betting odds and game predictions. Leading a life full of conflict, Ziv constantly struggles between his two greatest loves: American football and US soccer.

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