Online casinos offer the same games and win potential that players can find at brick-and-mortar casinos. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, video poker, and every other game are available instantly via real money online casino apps and websites. You can also claim sign-up bonuses, earn rewards points while playing, and enjoy daily promotions to play more for less. Several states allow real money online casinos, including Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Meanwhile, most other states feature social and sweepstakes casinos where you can play for free with a chance to redeem winnings for cash prizes. Here’s everything you need to know about real money online casinos.
Your state doesn’t have locally-regulated real money online casinos like DraftKings and FanDuel yet, but you can play at sweepstakes casinos to redeem cash prizes playing slots, blackjack, and more. Use the online casino promo codes below to start playing for free.
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Gambling is for entertainment purposes only. Stay safe and ensure success when you gamble responsibly. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER for confidential support. Visit SAMHSA’s National Helpline website for resources that include treatment center locator, anonymous chat, and more.
New to gambling online? Here’s our guide on how to sign up at an online casino.
Best Real Money Online Casinos
Online casino availability differs by state. Some states allow real money online casinos, while others do not. Meanwhile, social and sweepstakes casinos are generally available in most states, and in many cases those sites enable you to redeem winnings for real money, but there are exceptions there as well.
No matter where you play, we only recommend brands that we have thoroughly vetted to provide a safe and reliable gaming experience. Below are are top recommendations for both the best real money online casinos and our favorite social and sweeps sites.
Caesars Palace Online Casino
Caesars Palace Online Casino is an option that truly has it all. Of course, it is perhaps best known for its excellent Caesars Rewards program, which spans across its online casinos, online sportsbooks, and in-person retail casino and sportsbook locations. Caesars Rewards is one of the most comprehensive rewards programs available, allowing players to earn and spend Reward Credits® in too many ways to count. Outside of the rewards program, Caesars Palace Online Casino offers a large game catalog that includes all the games you’d expect, as well as exciting promotions such as month-long leaderboard vacation giveaways.
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| 🧐 Learn more | 1. Caesars Palace Online Casino review 2. Caesars Online Casino promo code |
BetMGM Casino
BetMGM Casino offers a massive real-money game catalog of over 3,000 options in NJ and over 2,500 in Michigan, and perhaps the shining stars of this catalog are its progressive jackpot games. Progressive jackpot options include MGM Grand Millions (a frequent record-setter), Wheel of Fortune Triple Gold Gold Spin, and many more. Many of these progressive jackpot slots are part of the exclusive BetMGM “The Big One” jackpot network and can stretch up to $4 million and beyond. Other popular jackpot networks are also included here, such as IGT’s Mega Jackpots and the always-desirable Divine Fortune. In addition, the BetMGM platform is extremely intuitive, allowing you to get into your real money play without hassle.
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| 🧐 Learn more | 1. BetMGM Casino review 2. BetMGM Casino promo code |
BetRivers Casino
BetRivers Casino has consistently pushed its name towards the top of the pack thanks to its excellent community feel (bingo, community chat, interactive tournaments, etc.) and a plethora of alluring daily promotions. Not only are frequent and consistent daily promotions offered here such as happy hour boosts, tournaments, and more, but most bonus playthroughs are 1x, so converting your daily promotion earnings to withdrawable cash is never too difficult. And, while the aforementioned tournaments may be one of the most common promotions here, you’ll find plenty of bonus variety to enjoy.
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FanDuel Casino
While FanDuel Casino offers a robust casino platform on its own, it’s also the best choice for players who enjoy real-money sports betting, thanks to its focus on integration. From the mobile app to the website, FanDuel has ensured that its casino and sportsbook platforms are intertwined perfectly. Players seem to agree, as the FanDuel app is one of the highest-rated in the industry at a whopping 4.8/5 stars at the time of writing. Switching back and forth is easy, and players will be able to find everything they need all in one place. Plus, FanDuel has brought its experience from the gambling world of sports betting to the online casino world to consistently improve its already stellar offering.
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DraftKings Casino
DraftKings Casino has a truly impressive game catalog that’s loaded with exclusive DraftKings games that can’t be found elsewhere. This includes unique exclusive games such as Rocket, Dollar UP!, Digits, and more. It also includes exclusive slots and table games, many of which come with branding from DraftKings’ extensive partnership portfolio. These games include NHL Slapshot, Andrew Dice Clay Craps, NBA Slam Dunk Roulette, and so much more. At last count, DraftKings was quickly approaching 100 exclusive games and partner exclusive games.
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WOW Vegas
WOW Vegas is an excellent sweepstakes casino option for players who enjoy spinning slots. Only slots are currently available, but there’s plenty of selection and variety, including classic steppers, modern video slots, Megaways, Hold and Spin, and more. Players are sure to find features, bonuses, mechanics, and themes that interest them, with over 800 slots at last count.
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McLuck
McLuck is yet another solid option in the sweepstakes casino world, offering a large game catalog paired with frequent and generous promotions. In addition, it offers solid daily login bonuses and social live casino games on top of its slots selection. One unique feature that will please jackpot hunters here is the MCJACKPOT, which offers the ability to win a jackpot at any time on most games on the site.
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| 🧐 Learn more | McLuck Review |
High 5 Casino
High 5 Casino is a beautifully designed sweepstakes casino brought to players by the High 5 game studio. Because of that partnership, it offers players plenty of High 5 Games exclusives that can’t be found at other sweepstakes casinos, making it an appealing option for players who enjoy those games. Aside from a large slot catalog, it also offers live dealer blackjack for those who enjoy taking a seat at the virtual tables.
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RealPrize
RealPrize is another solid choice among social and sweepstakes sites with over 150 different games including a selection of both instant games and live dealer games that include baccarat and roulette. Top slots include Cleopatra Secrets, Money Train, and Thunder Rage, and there are a few progressive jackpot slots in the mix as well.
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Pulsz
Pulsz is a well-known name in the crowded sweepstakes casino landscape, and for good reason. It offers a sizable game catalog with nearly 1,000 games at last count, promotions (including daily bonuses), and a VIP program, which is a nice addition that can’t be found at every sweepstakes casino. Pulsz also offers 24/7 online chat support and speedy prize redemptions.
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What is Real Money Gambling?
Real money gambling is the act of playing online casino games, sports betting, or playing poker with your own real money. This money is specifically deposited by you for the purpose of gambling and allows you the opportunity to win and withdraw real money, as opposed to simply playing for fun or demo funds. Keep in mind that real money gambling comes with innate risk and, while it can be a fun and entertaining activity, it should always be taken seriously.
Expert Tips to Know About Real Money Online Casinos
Playing casino games for real money is meant to be a form of entertainment, but it’s not something to take lightly. You’re risking your hard-earned money, and there’s a (small but still existent) chance of winning a life-changing jackpot. Luckily, you’re not alone in this. The team at Bonus has you covered, and we’ll cover everything in more depth, but here are some tried-and-true quick tips from our experts.
- Play at Trusted Casinos: Whether it’s a licensed and regulated real-money casino or a reputable sweepstakes or social casino, stick to platforms you can trust. All the sites we recommend have been thoroughly vetted for safety, fairness, and reliability, so you can focus on playing without worry.
- Make the Most of Bonuses: Online casino signup bonuses can add tremendous value, especially those with low wagering requirements. Many casinos impose wagering requirements on bonuses, specifying a certain amount of money that must be bet before winnings can be withdrawn. Some casinos also offer free spins. Read the fine print to get the best out of every deal.
- Set a Budget (and Stick to It!): Before you start, decide how much you’re comfortable spending. Think of it as paying for a night of entertainment.
- Understand the Games You Play: Games like blackjack offer strategic options, while slots and jackpots are all about luck. Know the odds to make informed decisions. Our casino game guides are a great place to start if you’re unsure where to learn more.
- Aim for Smaller Jackpots: Sure, the million-dollar prizes are tempting, but smaller jackpots often mean less competition and a better shot at winning!
- Take Advantage of Responsible Gambling Tools: Use features like deposit limits and session reminders to control your play.
- Try a Few Casinos: You’re not tied down to one casino. Sign up for multiple sites to explore different games, bonuses, and perks.
By remembering these tips and exploring the details we cover further down, you’ll be better equipped to enjoy your time at online casinos responsibly and confidently.
Real Money Casinos vs. Sweepstakes Casinos
The online casino experience varies depending on your location, and we provide options based on what’s available in your state. If you’re in a state where real-money online casinos are regulated (like MI, NJ, PA or WV), you’ll see options like BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel, where you can play slots, table games, and live dealer games with real cash wagers. These platforms are well-established and operate with state-specific regulatory oversight to ensure a secure and trusted gaming experience.
We display sweepstakes and social casinos instead for players in states where real-money online casinos like FanDuel and DraftKings aren’t available because no local regulation exists. Sweepstakes casinos offer a similar gaming experience, but players use virtual currencies instead of directly wagering real money. Gold Coins allow for free play, while Sweeps Coins can be used for a chance to win redeemable cash prizes or gift cards.
| Real Money Games | Sweepstakes Casino Games |
|---|---|
| 🟡 Real money deposit required | 🟡 Can be played for free |
| ✅ Large variety of games | ✅ Decent variety of games |
| ✅ Wins are paid in real money | ❌ Wins are paid in premium currency (can be redeemed for cash prizes) |
| ✅ Generally more familiar options | ❌ May not include some popular or land-based games |
In states that offer real money online casinos, players must be at least 21 years old to participate. Meanwhile, in most cases you must be at least 18 years old to play at social and sweeps sites, although some sites have a minimum age of 21. You also must be located in an available state. Note that Florida and New York limit sweepstakes winnings to $10,000.
How We Determine the Best Real Money Online Casino
Choosing the best real-money online casino goes beyond flashy ads and enticing signup bonuses. Our comprehensive evaluation process ensures that every platform we recommend meets the highest standards across critical areas. From analyzing bonuses and rewards programs to assessing game quality, payout rates, and user experience, we leave no stone unturned. We also prioritize factors like trustworthiness, payment options, and responsible gambling measures to ensure players have a safe and enjoyable experience. This holistic approach allows us to confidently recommend casinos that truly stand out in delivering value, fairness, and entertainment to players.
Bonuses, Jackpots, and Other Rewards
Signup Bonus
While the signup bonus marks just the beginning of your journey with a real-money online casino, it’s always important to get started on the right foot. Our casino experts dive deep into the terms and conditions, past the initial monetary amounts, to find the best value and most potentially rewarding signup and welcome bonuses on offer, such as bonuses with no wagering requirements. We also break down which no deposit bonuses are really worth your while.
Promos After Signup
Many real-money online casinos may lure players in with a generous signup bonus, only to leave them hanging once they’re an existing player. We make sure to take a look at promos after signup as well to make sure that the offers keep coming, that they are varied, and that they are attainable and enjoyable.
Jackpots
It’s not mandatory to feature jackpots, but most of the best real-money online casinos do. This is where the opportunity for a life-changing win comes into play, with casinos like BetMGM frequently offering $2.4 million+ progressive jackpot slots. Without jackpots on offer, there’s still a chance to win big, but perhaps not as big as when jackpots are on offer.
Rewards Program
Rewards programs are another non-mandatory piece of real money online casinos, but we take them into consideration because they add another dimension to real money play that can’t be found otherwise. Earning points and redeeming rewards for your regular real-money play is certainly welcomed, and casinos that feature solid rewards programs many rank higher than those that don’t.
Game Quality, Selection, and Legitimacy
One of the most important parts of the online casino experience is, of course, the games that you can play. It’s important to dig deep into not only the selection and amount of games available but also the quality and legitimacy of those available games. Below, we’ll cover a bit more about what you should expect and what you should consider when looking at online casino games.
Types of Real Money Casino Games
Real money online casino games include all the same options you would find walking into a retail casino, plus online-only options you can only play from your phone or computer. These games include twists on table games like Lightning Blackjack, and online casinos even offer live dealers, which are real-life dealers live-streamed from physical tables directly to your device.
Slots themselves consist of a few different types, from modern video slots to simple mechanical steppers. Within those categories, you’ll find even more variety in mechanics, themes, and more. This is perhaps what makes onli slots so appealing to real money players, in addition to their huge win potential through jackpots and multipliers. Overall, the reasoning for playing real money slots comes down to variety, win potential, and the endless list of features throughout.
Blackjack is one of the most popular real money games for good reason, namely, it has player-friendly odds. In fact, depending on the variation, blackjack has some of the best odds of any casino game. And speaking of variation, a lot of variety can be had within the blackjack category in terms of rules, side bets, and more. All of these points come together to make blackjack an appealing choice for real money players.
Real money roulette and live dealer roulette are popular for many reasons. At its core, it’s one of the few games where players can essentially choose their own volatility. Placing outside bets, such as red or black, results in smaller wins but a much higher chance of landing those wins. On the other hand, placing inside bets, such as individual numbers, can result in massive wins depending on how much is wagered.
Check out the top roulette casino bonuses.
Real money baccarat, while generally not one of the most popular choices at online casinos, is a fun real money option because of its simple rules and accessible nature, especially in the table game sector. All you have to do is choose whether you want to bet on the player, the banker, or a tie. Beyond that, your odds are pretty solid here.
Live dealer games are popular with land-based casino players and those looking for a more engaging, community feel in their online real money play. This is because live dealer games consist of real, in-person dealers and tables, live-streamed directly to your screen. While many of the live dealer blackjack and live dealer baccarat options are the same as other table games here, live dealer stands out because of its realism.
Mounted into seemingly every bartop in Las Vegas, video poker invites players to create winning poker hands from a deck. The better the hand, the bigger the payout. For example, in Jacks or Better video poker, getting a pair of jacks or better wins your money back, while a Royal Flush wins as much as 4,000x the wager. Here’s how to play video poker.
Payout Rate
We briefly mentioned payout rate in the section above, but its importance dictates a separate section about it. Every game will offer a different payout rate, determined by both its RTP (return-to-player) percentage and its volatility. Briefly, RTP is a measure of what you can theoretically expect to get back on a certain game.
For example, if a game has 98% RTP, you can theoretically expect to get $98 for every $100 wagered. Of course, this number can vary greatly in reality due to the random nature of casino games. Volatility is simply a measure of the size and frequency of wins. High volatility games offer larger wins less frequently, and low volatility games offer smaller wins more frequently.
In general, table games have higher payout rates than slots, often sitting at around 98% or 99% RTP, while slots average around 96% RTP. However, payout rate varies based on the game itself, the rules of the game, and the variant of the game you’ve chosen to play. For example, table games with many side bets or special bonus features often feature a lower payout rate overall than their classic counterparts. That being said, however, they often offer the potential for larger wins overall if you do hit.
Additional Real Money Casino Games Reviewed by Experts
Above, we’ve mentioned the classics. However, there’s a lot more to be discovered at online casinos. Below, we’ve linked to reviews of some other types of games that you may find.
User Experience at an Online Casino
iOS Mobile Devices
Nearly all legal US online casinos can be downloaded as mobile apps for iOS devices. These real money casino 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.
The Google Play Store used to ban real-money casino apps. However, legal online casinos can now apply for inclusion in the Google Play Store. If it’s not available in Google Play, you can download the Android app directly from the online casino’s website.
Web Browser
The simplest way to access and play at a legal online casino is directly through a web browser. Playing on a desktop device, be it a laptop of desktop, doesn’t offer quite the same mobility as iOS or Android apps. But it allows players to enjoy full access to online casinos, no download required.
All online casino websites offer very reliable gaming as well. So if an app isn’t up to par, you’ll likely enjoy the platform a lot more via computer.
Customer Support at Real Money Online Casinos
Whether you need help with a problem, have a simple question, or anything in between, having readily accessible and versatile customer support is an important piece of the real money online casino puzzle. Luckily, most online casinos offer multiple customer support options, and you’ll often find that at least one of those options is available 24/7. We’ve listed some of the most common options below:
- Email (24/7 by nature, but responses may be delayed)
- Live Chat (often available 24/7 at many online casinos)
- Phone (not available everywhere, and usually not 24/7)
Beyond those customer support options that allow you to speak with an agent, every regulated online casino will have a full FAQ/helpdesk section with answers and explanations to the most common questions and issues.
Responsible Gambling
With real-money gambling and real-money online casinos, responsible gambling should always be at the top of the priority list. This includes taking advantage of tools offered on the online casino website, such as deposit, wager, and time limits, as well as general mindfulness. Never deposit more than you’re willing to lose, set budgets, limit your time, and only play for fun.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, there are many resources available. This includes Gamblers Anonymous and the National Council on Problem Gambling, which can be reached at any time via phone, text, or online chat. Never hesitate to reach out if you or someone you know needs help.
Legality & Trustworthiness
Our primary determination in choosing the best real-money online casinos is legality. This is the first point we look at—if an online casino isn’t operating legally, it won’t make our list, period. Beyond that, we also ensure that their reputation points towards being trustworthy and reliable, as we only want to recommend the best of the best to our players. Currently, legal real money online casinos operate in the following states:
Payment Types and Speed for Real Money Players
Most types of online casino payments will be familiar to you. These are the same payment types accepted by online retailers, ticket sellers, and all other sites that accept transactions.
Banking Options
| Payment Method | Deposit Minimum | Deposit Time | Withdrawal Method? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Casinos | $10 | Instant | No |
| Debit Card Casinos | $10 | Instant | Yes (at select casinos) |
| eCheck/ACH Casinos | $5-$10 | Instant | Yes |
| PayPal Casinos | $5-$10 | Instant | Yes |
| PayNearMe Casinos | $10 | ~15 Minutes | No |
| Play+ Casinos | $5-$10 | Instant | Yes |
| Venmo Casinos | $10 | Instant | Yes |
| Wire Transfer Casinos | $100 - $2,500 | 5 - 7 Business Days | Yes ($1,000+ minimum) |
Payout Speed
Payout speed is one of the most important considerations when determining the best real-money online casinos. Your money is your money, whether it’s deposited into a casino account or not, so you should be able to get it quickly whenever you’d like. Here, we look at payout speeds as well as the variety of withdrawal methods and overall timing for each. Check out the instant withdrawal casinos for sites known for getting players winnings faster than anywhere else.
How To Play at an Online Casino for Real Money
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