Best Online Casinos for Real Money Games – Ranked for Trust, Security, and Fast Payouts

This page is about helping you find the best online casino games for you as a player. But the idea of what makes a casino game the “best” is different based on what you’re looking for. So here we have four sections designed to help you find the perfect online casino games site.

• Online Casinos with the Most Games
• Online Casinos with the Highest Paying Games (High RTP)
• Best Online Casino Games to Play to Make Money

Here’s the best part: All online casinos that we recommend offer free-to-play versions of their real casino games, so you can sign up and test them out before making a deposit.

The type of real money casino games that you choose to play has a big impact on your wins and losses. The following guide shows which forms of casino games offer the best and worst potential return to player (RTP).

Real Money Slots – RTP Score 6/10

Most brick and mortar casinos offer a massive number of real money slots, which shouldn’t be all that surprising given the immense popularity of such games. The same holds true for online casino sites – in fact, real money online slots account for a major part of their revenue. What’s more, the differences in terms of gameplay aren’t all that pronounced, since the mechanical fruit machines of the past have been replaced with modern video slots in most land-based gambling establishments.

In both cases, you don’t have to learn the complex rules and strategies necessary to play more skill-oriented games like poker or blackjack. All you have to do is place your wager, press the spin button and see whether the symbols appearing on the reels align in a pattern that results in a payout.

While this might not sound very impressive, most slot enthusiasts are attracted by the fact that the main prizes have the potential to get ridiculously high, often counted in the millions of dollars. Obviously, such occurrences are extremely rare, but it’s important to remember that most real money online slot games will give you a lot of smaller payouts, which provide plenty of incentives to keep playing – especially when the production values of the game in question are high.

Real Money Blackjack— RTP score 10/10

Blackjack originated in France and is one of the most popular casino games in the world. The main objective is to get as close to 21 without going over while still beating the dealer’s hand. This is done by counting up the value of the cards in your hand. There is a 6-deck shoe in our Blackjack game. All cards numbered 2 through 10 are at face value. All face cards are valued at 10 while an ace is valued at either 1 or 11 at the player’s discretion. Hands containing an ace valued at 11 are considered to be “soft” hands (i.e. A, 6 is a soft 17), while hands containing an ace valued at 1 are considered “hard” hands (i.e. A, 6, Q is a hard 17). A Black Jack hand is an ace and card valued at 10 (10, J, Q, K). A two-card Blackjack always beats three or more cards, which equal 21.

Before receiving any cards the player must place a wager. Once the wager is made the player is dealt 2 cards face up. The dealer is also dealt two cards; one face up and the other face down. The dealer’s “hole” card remains face down until the players have completed their hands. At this point, the dealer turns over his hole card. If his hand totals a hard 17 through 21 he must stand. If his hand is 16 or under, the dealer must continue to take cards until either his hand is over 16 or “bust” (which means over 21). The dealer must hit on a soft 16.

TIP: If you have a twelve, hit it against a dealer’s two or three. Keep hitting until you have seventeen, against a ten. Hit a soft eighteen against a ten. Never split four, five, or tens. Stand on twelve and higher only if the dealer has a six. Never take insurance.

Real Money Baccarat – RTP Score 8/10

The object of Baccarat is to hold 2 or 3 cards, which count 9, or as nearly 9 as possible. The values of the cards are: face cards and tens are 0; aces are 1; any other card is worth its face value. Unit of 10 points is disregarded so that 9+7 count as 6, not 16.

The dealer will deal out cards to both the player and dealer. Depending on the value of the initial 2-card hands, a third card may be dealt to either one of the hands. Ultimately the winning hand will be the one closest to 9.

You have the choice of betting on either the player’s hand or the dealer’s hand. To place a bet you have to either click on the word “player” or on the word “dealer” and your bet will be placed on the table automatically.

TIP: Baccarat is pretty much a game of chance, and all you really have to do is decide which hand you think will win, and bet accordingly. However, knowing the basic rules will certainly help you follow what is going on, making the game a lot more enjoyable.

Best Online Baccarat Odds

Baccarat features three bets, including the banker hand, player hand, and tie. Here are the house edges for each wager:

• Banker hand (banker beating player) = 1.06% house edge
• Player hand (player beating banker) = 1.24%
• Tie bet (banker and player hand tying) = 14.36% (with 9:1 payouts)

Baccarat is one of the few online casino games that features consistent odds across the industry. Therefore, you can’t improve your chances of winning by choosing one provider over another.

Real Money Craps – RTP Score 9/10

To many people, Craps is their favorite casino game. It is fast, exciting and wild. It appears to be complicated at first but in actuality is it very simple. On the first roll (the come out role), the shooter is trying to establish a point with one of the following numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 the wager is paid off at even money. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or12 then the wager is lost. If the shooter rolls a point number, then it progresses to the next stage where the shooter has to roll the same number again before it hits 7.
To place a chip on the table, move the mouse pointer to that part of the table where you want to put the chip and press the left mouse button. This will put a chip on the table at your chosen position.

TIP: The best way to play craps is to stick to the “pass/don’t pass” and “come/don’t come” bets. You should definitely make odd bets on both types of wagers. Placing bets on 6 or 8 gives you relatively favorable odds. Most other bets tend to give the house a big advantage, so you should stay away from them.

Best Online Craps Odds

The two most-common online craps bets include pass line and don’t pass line, which feature 1.41% and 1.36% house edges, respectively.

These odds aren’t special by themselves. However, you can further your chances of winning by backing pass line or don’t pass line with odds.

An odds bet doesn’t have a house edge because it pays at your true odds of winning. This wager can be placed behind pass line or don’t pass line once a point number has been established.

Odds are expressed as a multiple of your original pass line or don’t pass line wager. The house edge decreases on your combined wager (pass line/don’t pass line + odds) when you place a higher odds bet.

The largest odds wager available online is 3x, while most providers offer either 1x or 2x. Here’s how much the house advantage decreases based on the size of your odds bet:

• Pass line with 1x odds = 0.848% house edge
• Don’t pass line with 1x odds = 0.682%
• Pass line with 2x odds = 0.606% house edge
• Don’t pass line with 2x odds = 0.455%
• Pass line with 3x odds = 0.471% house edge
• Don’t pass line with 3x odds = 0.341%

Real Money Roulette – RTP Score 7/10

Roulette consists of a wheel with 38 numbers, these include the numbers 1-36, 0, and 00. After all the bets have been established the wheel is spun and a ball is placed on the outer edge of the wheel. The ball will then drop into one of the numbered pockets once the wheel slows down. The numbers on the wheel alternate pairs of odd numbers with pairs of even numbers and alternate between black and red. The two zeros are green in color and are placed at opposite ends of the wheel. The object of the game is to determine which number or color the ball with ultimately land on.

The table layout is arranged so that the 36 numbers are arranged in 3 columns of 12 numbers each. The numbers are in sequence and can be either red or black, depending on the number. There are two types of roulette bets: inside bets and outside bets. The 6 inside bets: straight bet, split bet, street bet, corner bet, five number bet, and a line bet. There are three basic outside bets: even-money, column, and dozen bets. You can place as many different types of bets at any time. There are no limits to the number of wagers placed on each spin.

There is a winning number display at the top right of your screen to help you find the last winning numbers. The common perception is that if a number has not been shown as winning in a long time, it could be time to put a stake on that number!

TIP: Don’t spread your bets all over the layout. 0 and 00 slots will wipe out all outside bets, so be careful. Only play on the single zero wheels.

Best Online Roulette Odds

Online roulette features three main variations, including American, European, and French roulette. Here are the house edges for each:

• American roulette = 5.26%
• European roulette = 2.70%
• French roulette = 1.35%

American roulette features 38 numbers, including a zero and double zero. Both of these numbers favor the house.

European roulette features 37 numbers, including a single zero. The European wheel has a distinct advantage over the American wheel due to only having one house-friendly pocket.

French roulette is played on the European wheel. However, this game also features the La Partage rule, which pays half back when your even-money bet loses due to the ball landing on zero.

You should definitely choose game providers that offer French roulette due to the 1.35% house edge.

Best Online Video Poker Odds

The video poker world features many different games. Examples include Aces & Eights, All American, Bonus Poker, Double Bonus, Double Double Bonus, Deuces Wild, and Jacks or Better.

Each video poker variation offers a number of pay tables that change the RTP. Here’s an example using Jacks or Better (JoB):

• 9/6 JoB pays nine coins for a full house and six for a flush.
• 9/6/ JoB offers 99.54% RTP.
• 9/5 JoB pays nine coins for a full house and five for a flush.
• 9/5 JoB offers 98.45% RTP.
• 8/6 Jacks or Better pays eight coins for a full house and six for a flush.
• 8/6 JoB offers 98/39% RTP.

9/6 JoB is the “full pay” version of Jacks or Better because it features the best pay table for this game. You should always look for online casinos that offer full pay versions of your favorite video poker games.

Finding game developers with the highest-paying variations is another key to winning more money. Here are examples of the top-paying online variants that we’ve come across:

• Microgaming’s All Aces = 99.92% RTP
• Realtime Gaming’s 8/5 Aces & Eights = 99.78%
• Realtime Gaming’s 7/5 Aces & Eights = 99.63%
• Realtime Gaming’s 35/8 All American = 99.60%
• 9/6 Jacks or Better (most video poker providers offer this) = 99.54%

Video poker is much like blackjack in that you should use strategy charts and trainers to help you achieve the highest payback. Strategy charts prioritize what cards you should keep during the draw round.

Video poker trainers are programs that point out your strategic mistakes. You should always use the appropriate trainer for whatever variation you wish to play online. For example, you should use an 8/5 Aces & Eights trainer if this is the game that you’re going to play.

Alternative Games

Real Money Sic Bo

Sic Bo is a game somewhat like roulette in that there are many places on the table to place bets. 3 dice are used to determine the outcome of the betting. Once you have finished placing your bets click on the roll button.

Real Money Red Dog

Red Dog is a game played with a 52-card deck and uses only 3 cards at a time. The object of the game is to bet on what the third card is going to be. The dealer will deal out 2 cards, one on the left and one on the right. In order for the player to win, the third card’s rank must come between the other two cards’ rank. So if the two cards were a 5 and a Jack, a winning hand would consist of a card between a 6 and a 10. The closer the two cards are in rank the higher the payout. Before the player sees the third card, he has the option of doubling his bet by clicking on the raise button. A push happens when the first two cards dealt are either consecutive or are a pair. If the third card dealt makes three of a kind then the player is paid out at 11 to 1.

Real Money Pai Gow Poker

Pai Gow Poker is a game that has its roots in the ancient Chinese game, Pai Gow. However, it combined with American Poker and has evolved into the modern game of Pai Gow Poker. The interesting thing about Pai Gow Poker is that you can play the game for a long time without losing substantial amounts of money, that is if you keep your wits about you.
Pai Gow is played with a 53-card deck consisting of a standard 52-card deck with 1 wild card. The object of the game is to split your hand into a five-card hand and a two-card hand with both hands beating the dealer’s two hands to win. The wild card is not a true wild card and has specific rules. The card only acts as an Ace or the fifth card in either a flush or a straight. It cannot be used to make a pair of 10’s or Queens

After you receive your seven cards you must split them into two hands, a five-card hand and a two-card hand. The five-card hand must always rank higher than the two-card hand. To do this move the mouse pointer over the cards you want to make your two-card hand. Click on the two cards one at a time and they will split out of the deck. Notice that once you have chosen an eligible two-card hand (not better than your five-card hand) the split button becomes available. If you are happy with your choice click on this split button and you will have your two playing hands. If you are not satisfied with your choices click on the card or cards that you want to change and they will go back into your seven-card hand. Now choose the new cards you wish to play with. You may do this until you press the split button at which point your hands are locked-in. The dealer will then split his hand and the game will play itself out. Each five-card hand is ranked according to the standard poker hand hierarchy. Remember that because of the wild card, you have the potential to have five Aces, which beats a royal flush. Your two-card hand can either be a pair or no pair; therefore, your highest possible two-card hand would be a pair of Aces. The wildcard can function in several ways. It can act as an Ace in any hand or the fifth card in a straight, a flush, a straight flush, or a royal flush.

Real Money Let It Ride Poker

The object of Let It Ride is to get a pair of 10’s or higher. There is an ante to start the game ranging from $5-$100. You are dealt 5 cards, 3 will be face up and 2 will be face down. With the 3 that are face up, you will have the option of doubling your wager. You can select “BET” or “PASS”. If you select “BET,” you will double the wager and if you select “PASS,” you won’t. The dealer will then flip one of the cards. You, again, will have the option to “BET” or “PASS,” either, just keeping your ante, doubling, or tripling your wager.

The Progressive (a five-card hand that is a flush or better)

The second game that is going on inside the regular one is the progressive game. This game is an optional side game added the regular table game. This game is implemented and resolved every hand. The player makes the decision to play the progressive at the beginning of each hand. Then the benefits for getting a progressive hand are only valid if the player paid for the progressive at the beginning of that hand. The payout rates for progressive hands are fixed for the most part; when the player gets a straight flush the progressive payout is 10% of the pot. If the player gets a royal flush, the payout is 100% of the pot.

Real Money Casino War

Casino War is similar to the children’s card game of War. One card will be dealt to the player face up and then one card will be dealt to the dealer. Whoever has the higher card wins. This will continue unless there is a tie between the dealer and the player. At this point, the player will be prompted to surrender or continue. If the player chooses to surrender, he loses his bet and a new hand is dealt. If the player decides to battle he doubles his bet and cards are dealt out one by one to the player and then to the dealer. If the dealer wins, the house gets the player’s entire wager, while if the player wins he only receives his initial wager. If there is a second tie within the battle, then the player will get paid out at 7 to 1.

Real Money Caribbean Stud Poker

Real money Caribbean Stud Poker is played with one deck. The player has two ways of making money from this stud game. The first is similar to other table games. The player places an ante on the space provided on the table. The dealer will deal a hand of five cards to the player and a hand of five cards to himself. The final card dealt to the dealer is dealt face up so that the player can see the value of the card. At this point, the player can see all five of their cards and one of the dealers. Now the player can make the decision to fold or bet. If the player chooses to fold, the hand and ante are surrendered to the dealer and a new hand begins. If the player chooses to bet and therefore compares their hand to the dealer’s hand, the player has to place the bet on the table. The bet has to be twice the value of the ante, no more, no less.

The dealer will then show the player his cards. The dealer qualifies for play if his hand is ranked with an Ace, King or higher. If the dealer doesn’t have a qualifying hand and the player has bet, then the dealer pushes the player’s bet and ante back plus the amount of the ante, as winnings. If the dealer has a qualifying hand and the player beats the dealer, the player wins an equal value to his ante and the bet is paid out at odds to the value of the player’s hand.

The Progressive (a five-card hand that is a flush or better)

The second game that is going on inside the regular one is the progressive game. This game is an optional side game added the regular table game. This game is implemented and resolved every hand. The player makes the decision to play the progressive at the beginning of each hand. Then the benefits for getting a progressive hand are only valid if the player paid for the progressive at the beginning of that hand. The payout rates for progressive hands are fixed for the most part; when the player gets a straight flush, the progressive payout is 10% of the pot. If the player gets a royal flush, the payout is 100% of the pot.

Scratch cards— RTP score 1/10

Online scratch cards are virtual variations of the scratch cards sold in convenience stores. You select spaces on the card to scratch off the virtual opaque, much like you would with a physical card.

Common RTP for online scratch cards ranges from 90% to 96%. The lower range of this payback is among the worst in all of internet gambling.

Best Online Casino Games to Win More Money 

Casinos offer a variety of games and the casino’s edge or advantage is different for each game. The higher the casino advantage, the less your chance of winning.

The casino advantage has 2 components. The first and easiest to understand is when you lose. When you lose a bet, it is lost, period.

The second is when you win. But how can you lose when you win? Well, instead of receiving a fair payout for a winning bet, you are paid less. For example, a fair payout for a $1 wager on roulette is $37. However, the casino pays you only $35. It keeps the $2 like a tax. As a result, the $2 disappears in the coffers of the casino, without you even knowing or realizing it! The irony of this is that you are happy you have “won” even though you have just been short-changed by the casino.

What you need to know is how much is this hidden tax and what you can do to reduce it. Because the lower you reduce this tax or casino advantage, the greater your chances will be of winning more or at least minimizing your losses.

The following table summarizes the casino’s advantage for different casino games. A positive casino advantage means the casino has the edge. A negative casino advantage implies the player has the better of it. Most casino games have several different types of wagers, which is why you see a range of casino advantage for most games.

Blackjack (without basic strategy)	+5.0% to +10%
Blackjack (with basic strategy)	0% to +0.5%
Blackjack (with basic strategy and card counting)	-0.2% to -1.05% (Player advantage)
Craps	+0.2% to +17%
Pai Gow Poker	-0.2% to +2.5%
Baccarat	+0.1% to +14.1%
Roulette	+2.6% to +7.9%
Big Six Wheel	+11.1% to +22.2%
Video Poker	-0.1% to +5.0%
Red Dog	+3.5%
Sic Bo	+2.8% to +47.5%
Poker	Depends on skill level
Slots	+0.5% to +10% or more
Keno	+20% to +50%
Let It Ride	+3.5%
Caribbean Stud Poker	+5.2%

The best casino games – the ones with the lowest potential casino advantage – are the following games:

• Blackjack (with at least basic playing strategy)
• Craps (but only specific bets)
• Baccarat
• Video Poker (full pay machines with expert strategy)
• Pai Gow Poker
• Table Poker (but very dependent upon the skill level of fellow players)

These are the casino games, which offer you the highest potential of maximizing your winnings or minimizing your losses, and should be a part of every player’s game plan.

Signing Up

For many of us who didn’t grow up in the internet age, the concept of gambling for real money at online casinos can be a bit intimidating. After all, you tend to hear horror stories of identity theft and other security issues when it comes to other online transactions, like shopping or banking. Many people who have taken an interest in real money casino games explore the idea initially, before being stopped short by fears that their money won’t be safe.

Fortunately, the online casino industry is one of the more tightly regulated arenas of internet-based commerce. When the government intervened to regulate online poker a few years ago, the intense focus of lawmakers and other leaders spilled over to online casinos as well. After a long period of study by Congress, during which time online poker and sports betting were specifically scuttled, casino games like slots were not included in the sweeping new regulation.

This means the federal government has not ruled that playing online casino games for money to represent a violation of the law. And sure enough, millions of Americans currently enjoy real money slots and other casino games through internet-based casinos.

Thankfully for the pre-internet generation, signing up for an online casino doesn’t require any specialized technical knowledge. You simply search for online casinos to find the one you prefer –based on reputation, appearance, software provider, and any number of personal factors. Take your time during this search and be sure to read any independent reviews you can find for each venue. The most trusted online casinos in the world have been operating for over a decade, and they’ve worked diligently to build a strong reputation, so it’s worthwhile to do your research and make sure you join one of these respected venues.

From there, click through to the “registration” or “sign-up” page and enter a few essential items of personal information. Most online casinos will only need your name, date of birth, and a mailing address to get you on your way, but you may also need to provide one-time documentation of your identity. This safeguard is put in place to protect both players and casinos. Although it might be a hassle to scan and send a recent utility bill, this critical confirmation is crucial to the site’s ongoing fraud prevention efforts.

Funding Your Real Money Gambling Account

After you’ve registered for an account on the real money gambling site of your choosing, the next step is to fund your account with an initial deposit. Head to the “cashier” page and read about the various deposit methods made available by the casino. You should find common deposit methods like Visa debit/credit card or wire transfers from your bank account, along with more modern tools like virtual wallets. A virtual wallet is simply a middleman of sorts or a web service that allows you to move money from your bank account to an online vendor quickly and conveniently. The most popular casino deposit options today are PayPal and Skrill, and you’ll see these names listed under the deposit options for most reputable online casinos.

Choosing a deposit method will likely be based on where you live, as local jurisdictions often impose their regulations on certain online transactions. So if your first crack at a deposit using your debit card is declined, don’t sweat it, and simply contact the customer service department for the online casino. They’ll be able to tell you which deposit method works best for your location, and once you’ve made that initial deposit, the process should never involve more than a few clicks of your mouse after that.

The amount you deposit depends on your finances, of course, but for the most part, a minimum of $20 must be met. The vast majority of online casino deposits come in between $20 and $100, and this bankroll is usually more than enough to get started – especially when playing slots. Just like in a brick and mortar casino, online casinos spread a large number of slot games with prices ranging from a single penny to several dollars per spin. So beginners can enjoy the penny slots while trying to build a bankroll, while high-rollers can enjoy the thrill of big bets leading to even more significant rewards.

Cashing Out

The process for withdrawing funds from your account after a win is just the same as a deposit, only in reverse. Many sites offer withdrawals directly to your bank account, so receiving your winnings is just like being paid a paycheck via direct deposit. You can also request that a paper check be mailed out to your home address, although this withdrawal method is usually the slowest. In other cases, withdrawals can be handled through your preferred virtual wallet.

In any case, be sure to read the rules and regulations concerning withdrawals at your online casino of choice. Every venue has different timeframes for withdrawn funds to hit your account, so it’s important to understand how long the process will take before requesting a cashout.

Many players complain that deposits are accepted immediately by online casinos, while withdrawals can often take days or weeks to be returned. This may be a legitimate complaint overall, but when you are fully aware of your online casino’s withdrawal timelines, the occasional wait can be made much more bearable.

How Does Online Casino Software Work?

Computer software is, in many ways, a modern miracle. Capable of reproducing practically any tangible experience right on your screen, modern software is used to seamlessly replicate intricate processes within the world of design, commerce, construction, and more. Because a slot machine is nothing more than a series of reels designed to spin randomly upon each pull of the lever, recreating the slot experience using advanced software is actually much easier than it sounds.

Today, companies like NetEnt, Realtime Gaming, Playtech, Microgaming, BetSoft, and IGT/WagerWorks specialize in designing state of the art casino game software. Powered by random number generators (RNGs) that ensure every spin or deal produces a randomized result, one completely independent from all other previous spins, this software takes the simple slot machine or table game to the next level.

To guarantee that an online casino’s RNG is accurate and 100% random, third-party monitoring firms are also contracted to run routine tests. Scanning through every program running each game on the site’s menu, these companies work tirelessly to verify that all gaming software in use provides a fair gaming experience.

Licensing and Certification

When you search for online casinos, you’ll notice a wide variety of gaming commissions, regulatory agencies, and other entities purporting to have authority over the site in question. For example, eCogra claims to be a casino watchdog advocacy group aimed at protecting players. You might see the eCogra logo near the bottom of many online casino homepages. While this designation can’t hurt, the company doesn’t anything tangible to keep players safe.

It’s best to recognize the online gaming industry’s often tenuous relationship with regulation, as the only one who can truly protect you when playing slots online is you. Because the law in the United States does not currently address online casinos, one way or the other, companies competing in this space must utilize gaming commissions put in place by other countries. That’s why you’ll see places like the Kahnawake Reservation in Canada, the United Kingdom’s Isle of Man, or Caribbean island nations like Costa Rica or Antigua listed as regulators for many prominent online casinos. While these locales have varying levels of professionalism when it comes to regulating online casinos, their presence alone is not enough to ensure the safety of a specific site ultimately.

The best play is to take your time and research different online casino venues because, in this industry, reputation is everything. Players will mark disreputable sites as shady, and a poor reputation can never be erased from the internet, so read up before making any deposits. Once you’ve found a site with years of history, a strong reputation, and thousands of satisfied customers, you can be reasonably sure that it’s a safe place to gamble online for real money.

Real Money Casino Gaming FAQs