Legit Real Money Poker Sites
What better way is there in 2021 to get away from the scorching desert heat in Arizona than by playing a game of Texas Hold’em Internet poker or live real money poker? Thankfully, players from Arizona have a multitude of legal live poker betting options, primarily through its range of tribal casinos. On the down side, the state’s gambling laws essentially prohibit Internet gambling websites. That, and Arizona is one of only five states that dissuade players in AZ from gambling real cash on fantasy sports.
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Yes, Arizona’s lawful gambling stance appears to be at odds with itself, evident by former Arizona Senator Jon Kyl’s decision to back a Federal Internet gambling bill a mere six years after supporting the UIGEA. So, whether or not Arizona throws its sand covered hat into the real money Internet poker and gambling arena in 2021 or at a later stage remains a big question mark – a mystery that may not be deciphered anytime soon and leaves residents of The Grand Canyon state staring into an abyss of legit Texas Hold’em uncertainty.
We’ve found real money US poker sites that accept Arizona gamblers. Creating an account couldn’t be easier, and it’s free.
Arizona Lawmaker Looks To Legalize Fantasy Sports Wagering
Quick Jump
- 4 The Facts
Apparently, other members of legislature share Driggs’ sentiments, as SB 1468 received no opposition from the Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Energy and Military. The bill is slated to be brought before the Senate floor shortly and it could pave the way for legal poker.
Arizona’s residents, along with inhabitants of Arkansas,Louisiana, Iowa and Tennessee, are currently prohibited from participating in real-money fantasy sports betting on websites such as DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo Sports.
The UIGEA of 2006 [2] introduced a clause exempting fantasy sports real cash gambling, in so long as providers adhered to certain guidelines. Yet, states with a clause relating to games of chance technically violate the parameters of the Act.
Should SB 1468 pass, fantasy sports would be deemed a game of skill and hopefully that could clear the way for real money poker Internet betting.
Can Players From Arizona Play Online Poker?
Yes. While not all US-facing 2015 real cash poker websites accept players from the Grand Canyon state, AZ’s poker gambling brethren shouldn’t experience any trouble signing up via one of our top, most recommended,international Internet poker websites for 2021 on our homepage.
Not since the pre-Black Friday days that doomed lawful real money poker websites has creating an account, making a deposit and finding an Internet poker game been so easy. So why drive through the desert heat, when the best poker betting action is only a mouse click away?
Is Online Poker Legal In Arizona?
Arizona’s general legal gambling statues are moderate in nature as they stand now in 2021. Well, mostly.
The state takes a firm stance against online poker websites, one it would have to amend should legislators ever consider legalizing Internet gambling within the state. For now, it appears that all forms of unregulated real money Internet betting are against the law, although it is unclear how widely enforced AZ State’s anti-real cash gambling provisions actually are in 2021.
As always, it’s best to talk to a lawyer or other professional versed in lawful Internet poker gambling law before making a presumption regarding the legality of online poker. For now, let’s take a look at AZ’s real money betting law’s finer points, kicking things off with how the state of Arizona defines the act of gambling:
“Gambling means one act of risking or giving something of value for the opportunity to obtain a benefit from a game or contest of chance or skill or a future contingent event…” Section 13-3301.
Notice the usage of the term skill. Arizona makes no allowances for skill games, rendering the argument as to whether winning real cash during betting on poker play requires more skill or luck irrelevant.
A player who knowingly obtains any benefit from gambling is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor. Illicit online gambling and land-based betting operators face more severe charges. Anyone who conducts, organizes, manages, directs, supervises or finances real cash poker gambling or betting of any other kind in Arizona is guilty of a class 5 felony.
The law makes exceptions for regulated, legal gambling, amusement gambling and most notably social gambling, such as playing real money poker with friends. Social gambling is defined as:
Gambling that is not conducted as a business and that involves players who compete on equal terms with each other in a gamble. This includes real money poker games like Texas Hold’em. If no player receives, or becomes entitled to receive, any benefit, directly or indirectly, other than the player’s winnings from the gambling, then the act constitutes social gambling, in so long as the player in AZ is at least 21 years of age and no player enjoys an advantage over any other player in the gamble under the conditions of rules of the game or contest.
Section 13-3301(7).
In other words, Arizonans are free to hold home poker games, in so long as a house fee or rake isn’t being charged on the real cash poker gambling.
In regards to Internet gambling and poker betting websites specifically, the law states that Indian tribes and state committees are banned from opening or conducting Internet betting operations. That being said, the law does not explicitly prohibit real cash poker players in AZ from playing at poker websites online in 2021, although the definition of gambling could easily be interpreted to imply that lawful Internet poker can’t exist.
There are no accounts of Texas Hold’em real money players in Arizona being charged for playing and betting on poker websites online. To read the AZ state’s full code [3], please refer to the “References” section. Tip: search for the term gambling
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The Facts
The History Of Gambling In Arizona
19121912
Arizona became a state and one of their first laws was to ban all forms of gambling where the house makes a profit, which is an incredible law in comparison to the present day. This law did not apply to any form of social gambling (e.g. home games).
19801980
Legislature approves a State lottery, proving to be one of the most popular gambling forms for people throughout the state of Arizona.
19871987
Indian gaming was introduced to the state after pushing through the “Cabazon Court Case”
19901990
A number of tribes in Arizona installed slots on their land, which caused a backlash with the governor of the state and ultimately led to legal challenges. The tribes were under the impression that regulation of other gambling formats implied that permission for slots to be installed was granted. These legal complications would last for 10 years.
19931993
After years of tension, ‘compacts’ were signed by the tribes and agreements were met with the state.
19941994
Following these agreements, sixteen tribes had signed compacts. This ultimately led to more casinos in operation, approximately 10 by the end of 1994. These compacts last for 10 years and then terms would have to be re-negotiated.
20002000
The Governor starts negotiation for the renewal of the tribal-state compacts.
20032003
Compacts were renewed and 5 more tribes were added. This brought the total to approximately 21 and potential for more casinos to be built.
20122012
The Tribal-State Gaming compacts were about to be renewed for an additional 10 years for the tribes that signed them.
20132013
Two new casinos were opened in 2013 after construction had finally been completed. In May, the Navajo Nation opened its first Arizona Casino which was called Twin Arrows. Also, in July the grand opening of the Vee Quiva Casino was launched.
Arizona was the last of the lower 48 states to be accepted into the Union. Given the general anti-gambling sentiment of the early 1900s, Arizona was required to take a firm stance against real cash poker rooms and casinos in order for government to accept its application for statehood. Arizona’s officials obliged, and Arizona became a state in 1912.
Before that time, betting on what can’t strictly be called legit poker games and other gambling games was prevalent throughout AZ. And just like prohibition did little to quell the spread of alcohol, even when it was deemed not to be legal poker gambling remained a staple of Arizona’s underground scene for years to come.
In 1950, voters chose not to legalize casinos or real money poker. However, that decade horse and dog races as well as some forms of charitable betting were approved.
By the 1980s, charitable gambling houses were making use of slot machines but still not offering legit real cash poker to Arizona residents.
In fact, the manufacturers were also selling said slot machines to organizations located through Nevada. Social gambling received an exemption from the law in the late 80s. Bars and other public institutions quickly took advantage of the state’s leniency, eventually leading law enforcement agencies to crackdown on what people thought were lawful poker games.
In 1991, a statewide lottery was implemented in Arizona, followed by the launch of an influx of tribal casinos and real cash poker betting rooms. However, because the proper compacts were not in place, AZ State’s tribes were forced to fight a long and drawn out battle with Arizona’s state officials before receiving sovereignty over the casino industry. The first compacts were signed in 1992, and many more were forged in the years that followed. Voters chose to renew existing tribal compacts in 2002, and to date nearly all of the state’s 22 tribes enjoy the freedom to operate casinos and legal poker games.
Regulated Gambling Options In Arizona
There is no shortage of regulated gambling and betting options in Arizona in 2021. Charitable gambling is permissible in all forms, poker included. Pari-mutuel wagering and various forms of the lottery are also legal; the latter including popular multi-jurisdiction formats such as Mega Millions and Powerball.
The state’s Indian tribes operate 22 casinos, the largest of which are operated by the Gila River Indian Community [4]. Most tribal casinos operate full-scale poker rooms that let Arizona residents enjoy legit real money poker at their convenience.
The Future Of Regulated Online Gambling In Arizona
There’s a multitude of opposing factors at play when it comes to regulating Internet poker gambling in Arizona this year or in the future. The state’s politicians are generally conservative by nature, and have yet to seriously broach the issue of legal real cash poker betting websites. Compounding matters further, Arizona’s many tribes seem content to stay away from online Internet poker, fearing that its presence will have a negative impact on their brick and mortar poker gambling casino revenues. And let’s not forget that former Senator Jon Kyl was a major proponent of the UIGEA and that currently, Arizona does not permit fantasy sports wagering.
Oh, and Arizona is one of the only states to feature anti-iGaming clauses against lawful real money Internet poker and casino gambling in its statues.
Yet, there are also firm indicators that Arizona could be entering the legit betting websites mix sooner rather than later. Let’s not forget that two of its closest neighbors are California and Nevada; states that have either already legalized online poker websites or are close to doing so. And then there’s the fact that Mr. Kyl worked with Sen. Harry Reid on a Federal Internet poker bill [5]. That particular iteration of the lawful real cash Internet poker bill failed, but since working with Kyl, Reid’s battle has continued to gain momentum and it started off 2015 in a strong position. Thus, it seems unlikely that Arizona would opt out of a Federal act involving legal poker websites, should one be passed in 2021 or later years.
Fun Fact
2012 WSOP Main Event 3rd place finisher Jake Balsiger hails from Tempe, Arizona [6]. At the time of his real cash poker score, the fearsome 21-year-old was still attending Arizona State University. Pocketing nearly $3.8 for his astonishing run, Jake would recently prove that his high poker betting finish was no fluke by placing third in the 2014 Aussie Millions AUD$10,600 No-Limit Texas Hold’em event. His finish down under was good for over $582k in real money poker winnings.
The Bottom Line
Arizona’s future, at least with regards to regulated online poker websites and Internet Texas Hold’em games, is marked by uncertainty. In order to host gambling operations, state officials would first have to amend the state’s current Internet gambling laws. It’s exceedingly unlikely that this will happen in AZ before an interstate compact relating to legit real cash poker websites with Nevada and California is in place.
If we had to categorize Arizona’s chance of entering the Internet poker betting market, we’d placed them somewhere between unlikely and wait and see.
There are certainly states far less likely to make legal Internet poker for real money happen in 2021. But while Arizona’s population of 6.55 million could support a thriving Internet poker gambling industry, it just doesn’t feel like Arizona will be compelled to do anything about it before others take the lead on lawful real cash poker websites.
References
[1] ↑Lawmaker: Make playing fantasy sports legal under state law
[2] ↑Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006
[3] ↑Arizona State Legislature
[4] ↑Gila River Gaming Enterprises
[5] ↑Reid, Kyl join forces on Internet gambling, pen letter to AG
[6] Jacob Balsiger
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There are so many real money casinos on the web that it can be difficult to know which one to choose. That’s why websites like this exist.
Luckily, our team of experts has decades of experience in the industry and is trained to spot rogue casinos as well as world-class ones.
We’ll explain to you how we pick the best online casinos for real money to recommend, how the various games work and your chances of winning them, whether or not you can gamble for real money for free, and we’ll answer some frequently asked questions about real money gambling.
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| #4 | Spinia | 100% up to €250 | |
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Best Real Money Casinos by Location
If you’re unsure if the above accept players from your country, don’t worry; we still have lots of top-rated online casinos for real money which we can recommend to you. There are also some we definitely won’t recommend, and we want you to be aware of those, too.
It’s crucially important to pick a real money casino which accepts players from your country for a few reasons.
First, it’s possible that your government has some sort of minimum standards a casino needs to meet. That’s definitely the case if you’re from the UK or some other European countries.
Second, you don’t want to face unnecessary restrictions such as not being able to claim bonuses, not being able to play some games, or not being able to sign up at the given casino you have spent time researching.
Finally, this will help you stay on the right side of the law. Some countries prohibit players from their countries from signing up at anything other than state-sanctioned online casinos. While these laws are difficult to enforce, they do exist in some countries.
Take a look at some of the regions listed below. If you’re from there, click on the relevant button to see a list of online casinos for real money which accepts you.
Beating the House Edge
Every online casino game has a house edge. This is the casino’s built-in advantage and means that it’s mathematically guaranteed to make money over a long enough timeline.
In the long run, you honestly can’t beat it. It’s pure mathematics. Ever heard the saying “the house always wins”? Well, it does!
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t win in the short term. If everybody lost at online casinos constantly, it wouldn’t be long before people stopped playing at them. The fact is, some people do win real money at casinos.
While the majority of winners will simply double or triple their money and walk away after having had a great time, there are some crazy stories of life-changing wins that enter the realm of the almost unbelievable. If they weren’t documented, they might seem like fiction.
A Spin from Heaven
One such example is the story of the biggest online slots jackpot ever won. A British soldier playing Mega Moolah slot won £13,200,000, which shattered all existing records and hasn’t been topped since. Best of all, he won it with a £0.25 spin.
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 ExampleIt’s widely accepted that some variants of video poker have the lowest house edge, whereas keno and lottery games have the largest house edge, meaning the worst odds for you as a player.
We’ll talk a little later about the odds of various games and their pros and cons. For now, just be aware that not all games are mathematically equal. There are some you have a much higher chance of winning than others, and there are some in which you have a greater degree of control over the outcome as compared to games of pure chance.
Safety and Legality
It’s essential to know how to stay safe while gambling online. There are a few potential pitfalls which you may not be aware of if you’re not an experienced online gambler.
Luckily, you have us to show you the ropes. Here are some of the things you have to be aware of to gamble safely online.
Risk Associated with Sharing Financial Details
Sharing your credit card, debit card, or bank details with any online merchant carries some degree of risk. If that merchant is untrustworthy, you could find yourself in a world of trouble quickly.
You can immediately find out if a casino site is trustworthy by reading our reviews.
Take the time to look around, and you’ll see that we certainly don’t recommend every site we review, and we aren’t afraid to call out scam casino sites when we discover them.
Financial predators are everywhere online, and sadly the casino industry attracts its fair share of them. Stick with expert-recommended real money online casinos to avoid falling into their clutches.
Predatory Terms and Conditions
There are real money online casinos which aren’t direct scams in that there are real games to play and you can win actual money.
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.
You won’t only have to contend with the authorities if you get caught, but scam artists know you have no legal recourse when they hustle you out of your hard-earned cash.
After all, if gambling is illegal in your country, you can’t exactly go to the police and report that you lost money to a scam artist while gambling on the internet.
Keeping things legal is one of the keys to gambling safely online.
Online Casino Bonus Offers
There are a few different types of real money casino bonuses available to new and existing players. We have an entire page dedicated to explaining the differences between these bonuses. Check it out by clicking the button below:
There are pros and cons to taking casino bonuses. Let’s start off by looking at the reasons you might want to take them before turning our attention to why they might not be suitable for you as an individual player.
Whether casino bonuses are right for you depends on what your goals are.
The Positives
You Can Test the Waters Without Risk
It’s nice to be able to play the games available in an online casino and to be able to check it out in general without having to make a financial commitment.
While some bonuses do require you to deposit to activate them, there are many which don’t. These are known as no-deposit bonuses and are the ideal way to test an online casino without risking your own money.
Once you’re sure you can trust the casino site and have decided you would like to play the games, then you can start playing for real money.
Some Bonuses Can Increase Your Chances of Winning
In the casino bonuses and promotions page we linked to above, we explain the concept of wagering or rollover requirements. Bonuses which have these attached make it difficult (without serious luck) for you to withdraw the bonus amount and are designed to allow you to simply test the casino.
However, there are plenty of casino bonuses with no wagering requirements available online these days. If you take these, you’ll more than likely be required to make a deposit, but they increase your chances of winning by giving you free spins or free games with no strings attached.
They may only slightly increase your chances of winning, but hey, any increase in the chance of winning is always welcome.
The Negatives
You Can Become a Marketing Target
If the casino figures out that you are a bonus hunter or that you like a particular kind of bonus, they might decide to pitch you regularly.
This can be a good thing if you like taking these offers, but if you sign up at multiple casinos, take the bonus, and don’t play, you can expect your email inbox, and sometimes your cell phone, to be bombarded with offers. The more accounts you create, the more intense this will become.
Some unscrupulous casinos will sell your information on to other operators who will pitch you, too. This can become a serious annoyance, and so if you’re going to take bonuses with no intention of becoming a real money player, we suggest setting up an email address specifically for that purpose.
Most Bonuses Have Terms Which Favor the House
If a real money casino bonus has rollover or wagering terms, there’s a very little chance you’ll ever be able to withdraw it or anything you win while playing with it.
You have to remember that bonuses are a promotional and marketing tool. The casino doesn’t want to let you play with house money and walk away with the multimillion-dollar jackpot. They also don’t want you to take the free casino chips and walk away without playing. That wouldn’t be very good business, would it?
Rollover requirements are explained in greater detail on the casino bonuses page linked to above. Basically, they mean you have to bet the bonus cash a number of times before you can withdraw it. For example, if a bonus has 20x wagering requirements, then you need to bet the total amount 20 times before you can withdraw it or anything you win while using it.
Real Money Casino Apps
Mobile casinos have become a huge deal in the past several years. Real money casino apps and mobile casino sites can now boast that they serve the majority of players. This trend will undoubtedly continue for years to come, at least until something comes along to replace mobile devices (chips in the head, perhaps?).
We’ve written an entire page to help you decide which casino app is right for you. Check it by clicking the button below.
Online Casino Games for Real Money
New players are often bamboozled by the vast range of casino games on offer and how to play and win them.
We’ve created game-specific pages on each popular real money casino game to show you how to play, how to give yourself the best chance of winning, and what the rules of each game are.
Take the time to familiarize yourself with the games listed below. Click any of the buttons, and you’ll be transported to a wealth of information on that specific game.
We also cover a bit about each game in the “which casino game is right for you?” section below.
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.
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.
Legit Real Money Poker Sites
If you just want to have a little fun and relax, then any of the above games will do.
Choosing the Right Real Money Casino
If you already know what games you want to play, then it’s time to look at picking an online casino. If you’re new to playing casino games, there’s a lot more to this than you might initially think. As you’ll see, most of the top real money casinos have some things in common.
Consider the following factors before registering at any casino site.
1 – Reviews
Are there reliable, trustworthy casino reviews on the site? If so, what do the experts say?
It pays to pay attention to these reviews. If a casino expert says a site sucks, there’s a great chance you’ll want to avoid it.
If you were looking for a new car, you would probably talk to someone who knows a thing or two about cars before making a decision, or at least read a few reviews on various models, wouldn’t you? The same should go for choosing an online casino. There’s more to it than you might think, and reading a review can be a great way to get all the information in one place.
Be suspicious of reviews which are overly positive, though. Sometimes there’s an agenda at play. If a review site gives a real money online casino a glowing review, check out some of the other reviews, too.
If they’re all overly positive, that could be a warning sign. If the reviewers throw some terrible casinos under the bus, you’re probably dealing with an honest casino review site.
2 – Legality
Is this casino operating legally with a valid gaming license?
If so, what jurisdiction is the license from? Believe us when we tell you that not all casino licenses are equal. UK, Malta, Alderney, Gibraltar, Curacao, and Puerto Rico licenses are all respected and are good indicators that a real money casino can be trusted. Others, we don’t have that much faith in.
Also, make sure the casino isn’t accepting players from your country even if it’s illegal to do so. If they’re willing to break the law, what makes you think they’re going to be honest with you?
3 – Safety
A valid license is one way to make sure you’re dealing with the safest real money casinos.
There’s more to it than that, though. We advise checking that the website is operating on a secure, encrypted connection. You can do so by looking at the web address. If you see HTTPS:// in front of the domain, you’re dealing with a secure casino. If it’s just HTTP:// (no “S”), then the connection might not be protected.
Also look for published game payouts verified by third parties. This is a hugely positive sign, and it means that it’s highly likely this is a safe casino site. If the games are verified by eCOGRA, you’re in safe hands.
4 – Preferences
It would be a shame to go through the registration process only to find out the casino doesn’t offer the types of games you want to play or doesn’t offer very many of them.
Make sure the exact games you want to play are offered, make sure the casino accepts the types of bet you want to make regarding size, and check which betting services are provided. For example, some casinos also offer Texas Hold’em poker tournaments or sports betting as additional services, whereas others don’t.
We would also suggest taking some time to familiarize yourself with the site. If you like how it “feels,” that’s a great sign. A user-friendly website likely means the operator actually cares about its players and has invested time in figuring out what makes you happy. That’s likely to show across the casino as a whole.
5 – Bonuses
First, you’ll need to figure out if the online casino offers real money bonuses at all. Most do, but some don’t.
After that, you’ll need to look into exactly what types of bonuses are offered and their terms and conditions.
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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!
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Most casinos will make it as easy as pie for you to deposit, but only the best real money online casinos make it as easy for you to withdraw.
Look for a roughly equal number of deposit and withdrawal methods, low (or no) fees, and fast withdrawals.
The last thing you want is to be sitting around waiting for weeks to get your money, or worse, never getting it at all!
Feeling Overwhelmed? Don’t Worry!
If all of this makes your head spin and you wonder how on earth you’re going to go about finding all of this information out, don’t worry; we have plenty of top casino reviews where you can find the information all in one place.
We don’t want you to think that all real money casino sites are scams out to get you. There are lots of world-class online casinos worth playing at. It’s just that you have to wade through a fair deal of not-so-great ones to find them.
Our job is to make that as easy as possible for you. If you see a casino on this site that you like the look of, there will be a full, in-depth review attached.
Other Real Money Sites to Consider
While playing at real money casinos is arguably the most fun way to gamble, there are other ways to have fun gambling and hopefully make a little money in the process.
Betting on sports, playing poker, playing bingo or lotto games, and even betting on financial markets are all possible thanks to the global connectivity the web facilitates.
Why not check out some of the other options? We have sections dedicated to each form of gambling. If you want to know more, click any of the buttons below.
Real Money Online Casinos FAQ
Q. Will I need casino bonus codes to claim the bonuses offered by online casinos?
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.