Can you actually win real money on online casinos?
You can bet your bottom dollar that these casino sites allow players to win real money. Trust me, I have won quite a pretty penny online myself. No, this is not a joke or a scam. No, there is no fine print to parse through here. It truly is as easy as it sounds. All you have to do is become an official member of your online casino of choice and, in a matter of minutes, you can be rolling in the dough (or tapping your bank account dry, depending on whether Lady Luck chooses to grace you with her presence).
It may sound too good to be true, but I assure you … lots of people are winning boatloads of real money online thanks to online casinos. In fact, there are a few different types of real money that players can win when gambling online. The type that you choose will probably be determined by where you live. Some countries, after all, are much more strictly anti-gambling than others.
This is why cryptocurrency has been such a blessing to the world of online casino gaming. Due to its encrypted nature, players all around the world are now able to play casino games for real money with virtually zero risk involved. Thanks to the wealth of online casinos that allow players to gamble with bitcoin (and the like), the world of online gambling sites is open to just about anyone interested in betting and scoring real money. Hey, the government can’t do much to stop you from gambling at casinos when those casinos are online and you are playing with an anonymous, untraceable currency that is unregulated and decentralized by nature, right?
Of course, if you live in one of the many countries that are more progressive and accomodating to online casinos, you don’t necessarily have to choose a site that accepts bitcoin (although you always can). In this case, you can feel free to play and win real money online in the form of your national currency. However, just to say one more thing in favor of crypto-friendly online casinos: withdrawal fees tend to be much lower with bitcoin (often to the tune of 0), and payout speeds are exponentially faster (I’m talking minutes vs. days). If you want to make the most of the real money you deposited into an online casino, bitcoin might be the way to go.
But, hey, maybe you would rather just not be bothered with having to figure out how to set up a crypto wallet or exchange your bitcoin into “real money” later. Then maybe the slower payout and withdrawal fees might seem worth it to you. Regardless, no matter what kind of real money you prefer to win — crypto or traditional — the best online casinos on the web will make it possible, will put you in control of how you win and use your real money online.
What’s more, the best real money casino sites don’t just let you win money, they often give you money to play with as well! That’s right … the top online gambling sites will have tons of bonus deals for you to take advantage of. When finding your real money casino of choice, you would be wise to find one that has plenty of casino bonuses and promos.
What sort of bonus prizes can you expect to find from a top online real money casino? Well, bonus prizes can take many forms, some of which are much more lucrative for you than others. In general, though, enjoy bonus gifts like free spins, deposit matches, bonus plays, guarantees, and more.
It is not just the welcome bonus options, though, that you should keep an eye out for when evaluating the bonus potential of an online casino. The top online casino choices, in my opinion, should have ongoing bonus offerings. Random free spins, for instance, after you have played casino games a certain number of times are a fun way to give customers a bonus. A free jackpot can make for an excellent bonus.
Why is the bonus so crucial? Well, playing casino games is only fun if you win every now and then, right? And a bonus selection means that players are more likely to win more often. Therefore, your real money casino of choice should reward you with a solid bonus every once in a while — you should get a very generous bonus just for signing up, but that is not all. Expect some sort of bonus opportunity at least once a week as well.
Maybe the casino online that you find is best for you turns the idea of the bonus into a more concrete, complex system of rewards. Anyone who has ever spent a good deal of time playing casino games in the real world knows that just about every casino out there offers some sort of bonus loyalty program. Maybe they refer to it as a VIP program. In essence, though, it is a tiered bonus rewards system based on how often customers play casino games. The more you play, the more bonus prizes you have available to you.
Every casino does this a little bit differently, of course. Some may give you bonus points every time that you play games (these bonus points can then be spent on prizes) Others may award you with bonus free spins or bonus cash prizes every so often. I will spare you every iteration of the bonus program. At the end of the day, though, the best online casino is also going to be the casino that provides the most bonus opportunities.
If a casino has a solid list of bonus offerings, my reviews will let you know. If it is lacking in the bonus department, likewise, I’ll be sure to inform you. Maybe you don’t care as much about the bonus situation of a given casino, though. Maybe you are more concerned with strategic victory on the card table than you are bonus points or the ability to play very specific casino games. Or perhaps your biggest concern is having the ability to conveniently play casino games no matter where you happen to be…
Are any of these online casinos mobile friendly?
Online casinos bring all of the charms of Vegas to the comfort of your home. Better yet, the best online casinos bring all of the charms of Vegas to you, no matter where you are. Enjoy the thrills, the risk, and the rush of winning real money, whether you are lying in bed at 2:00 in the morning, on the train headed home from work, or bored half to death waiting for your number to be called at the DMV.
This is why, in my opinion, if we are talking about the best of the best online casinos — the cream of the crop, top 5 list-worthy online casinos — a mobile casino app is nothing short of a necessity. Again, we’re talking about the truly top tier online casinos. There are plenty of great online casinos out there that do not have a mobile app, feel as if they do not need one because they have an exceptionally optimized mobile site design. Still, though, as far as I’m concerned, more often than not, these mobile browser-based sites are just not immersive enough.
Without an app, too, you run the risk of your casino games not being quite as amenable to the touch screen as they could be. In other words, I have seen way more glitchy online casino games on browser-based online casino sites than I have on those that have dedicated apps to enhance the user experience.
Then there is the problem of game selection. A common problem that far too many of the online casinos suffer from is the fact that, for one reason or another, they have not figured out how to offer all of their casino games on their mobile platform. In the weakest scenarios, an online casino might only offer a, say, 7 or 8 of their full roster of casino games. The way I see it, this is unacceptable. The best online casinos will create a fully streamlined online gambling experience from the desktop to the tablet to the phone and back again.
But it is not enough for an online casino merely to offer a mobile casino platform that mirrors the full desktop experience as closely as possible. The best online casino apps must also offer an intuitive, user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing mobile design. Obviously, game functionality is the number one concern, but a close second is how the app (or mobile site) looks and feels. I don’t know about you, but I need to make sure that the online casino I put my deposit money into makes playing casino games online as easy, natural, and fun as the real thing.
I want to be able to get lost in the casino games. I want the instant gratification and excitement that comes with a quick win on a slot machine. I want video poker games that are enthralling and smooth thanks to excellent graphics. Ideally, I want to be able to play against a live dealer from my phone as well. This last one is rare, but I believe it is the future. The top online casinos understand the importance of mobile gaming and, thus, provide the best possible online casino on every platform and OS available.
What kinds of games can I play on Online casinos?
Playing casino games online has never been easier. The breadth of online casino games available can be staggering … At least when it comes to the best online casinos. Some of these online casinos far surpass what would be available at even the most grandiose physical casinos in the world. With just about every casino game you have ever heard of at your disposal (as well as a few casino games that you haven’t), I have a feeling you’d be hardpressed to grow bored on any of the best online casino sites that are featured here.
Although the actual list of games is bound to vary (sometimes quite dramatically) from one online casino to the next, there are a few staples that you can expect from just about every online casino on the web. If a site doesn’t have these basic games, it will not make the cut.
Online slots
This is probably the simplest and most fundamental component of the online casino — well, of the casino, in general. Every single one of the best online casinos listed here will have online slots. The question then becomes, how many does it have, and how good are they? As I mentioned earlier, some of the best online casinos have thousands of slots. Others have hundreds. Some (which do not make the list) may only have a few. Decide what it is that you require from your online casino, and then select your site of choice accordingly.
Video poker, keno, blackjack, etc.
Video games are every bit as important as slot machines. No, I’m not talking about Call of Duty. Just like in areal casino, we are not always in the mood to play card and table games against a live dealer. Sometimes we want to play with lowered stakes, against a computer. The best online casinos accommodate this desire with plenty of video poker games, blackjack, keno, roulette, and more. Here, in addition to truly fair and randomized computer dealers, video poker players hope to enjoy smooth gameplay, great graphics, and (once again) a wide variety of options.
Live dealer games
Perhaps video poker just doesn’t cut it for you. Maybe you crave the thrill and the unparalleled strategy that comes with playing poker against a live dealer. If so, you are in luck, almost all of the best online casinos listed here come with live poker platforms. Some also let you face off against real dealers on the blackjack and roulette tables as well.
When it comes to these games, the top online casinos should provide flawless, crystal-clear streaming and an intuitive interface for playing your game of choice. When it comes to real-money gambling, you cannot risk a laggy live stream. You have to be able to focus, to be on top of every card drawn instantaneously. The best online casinos make this possible.
Scratchers, jackpots, bingo, and more
Although they don’t really do much for me, personally, these games all seem to be very popular amongst online casino players. If you are a fan of a game of pure chance, the best online casinos will let you scratch that itch. Some have daily, weekly, or monthly jackpots that you can enter. Some have a plethora of scratch-off cards you can play. Bingo, too, can be a fun way to kill some time. These tend to come with the lowest stakes and the highest payoffs. The top online casinos will make sure you have the chance to strike it rich, one way or another.
Okay, this all sounds great and everything … but are any of these online casinos even legit?
Absolutely, they are legit. I do get your concern, though. Far too many people have been burned by scam casinos online. In fact, this is precisely why I created this list of the best online casinos, to begin with. In my own quest to find the best online casino, I began to realize that it was much more difficult than it should have been — that there was no easy, user-friendly, reputable source that I could turn to and quickly find out whether certain casinos were legit or not.
This is why I started BettingDude.com. To help you navigate the sometimes daunting task of finding a reliable resource for playing online casino games that let you win real money. I don’t have the patience for scam casinos. My hope is that BettingDude will expose these casinos for what they are. If you are unsure about an online casino (or casinos), all you have to do is consult my list. If you don’t see a site here, there is a good chance that it is not to be trusted.
I only review of the best of the best online casinos. And I try to offer up the most honest and objective reviews that I can, even if a certain online casino is already reputable or often cited as one of the top online casinos. There are still concerns, no doubt, that you may have. Therefore, it is my job to give you a glimpse into every nook and cranny of all the online casinos that are even worth mentioning.
You have my word … the only sites that I ever list here are real sites that let you win real money online. Furthermore, these sites are all reputable. Because it is not just the quality of the online casino or the quantity of the games that matter, the best online casinos also value their customers and treat them well. That means that, as far as I’m concerned, the only casinos that are worth discussing are those that have a reputation for providing excellent customer support, in addition to the best online games and great user experience.
You never know when a problem could arise. And when it comes to online gambling with real money, you never want to be in a position where you have to wait, are left in the dark, or cannot do anything to resolve a potential issue. That is why, if I may add another criterion to the list, the best online casinos have customer support representatives available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If I seem to be encountering a technical issue with withdrawing my funds and it happens to be a Sunday evening, that should not matter. The best online casinos will have customer support there for me no matter what. I cannot stress this enough. Real money calls for a real commitment to customer service. It’s not all about casino games and bonus money. No, the best online casino, first and foremost, values their customers above all else.
What is the best online casino for US players?
If you live in the United States (like I do), there is a good chance that you have become frustrated at one point or another while trying to find top online casinos that accept US players. There simply are not many casinos out there on the web that are eager to take our money. Seems strange, right? Why would any online casino with any sense intentionally and willfully ignore such an enormous market of people who are ready to play with plenty of real money?
Well, it turns out that this has less to do with the ambition of casino sites and much more to do with the restrictions of the US government. As I’m sure you already know, being a fellow American, our government hates gambling. And the only thing it hates more than gambling is online gambling. Therefore, in 2006, the US passed federal legislation that made it illegal for online casino sites to offer their services on US soil. This was the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Although many online casinos might technically be well within their international rights to accept US players, most choose not to, fearing the potential consequences.
That being said, there are a few brave online casinos that allow US gamblers to put real money up (in the form of the good ol’ American dollar) on casino games. More often than not, though, there is a caveat … players must be located in one of the 2 only casino gambling-friendly zones of the US: Nevada or New Jersey. If you happen to live in New Jersey or Nevada, well, consider yourself lucky (I honestly never thought I would type that sentence as long as I lived) — you can play at casinos online all over the web. A majority of the best online casinos, even those aimed at Europe and Asia, will be at your disposal.
However, if you happen to live in one of the 48 other states in the US, gambling with real money at an online casino will not be such an easy task. Although, it is really more a matter of how you define “real money.” As I mentioned earlier, there are plenty of online casinos that accept US players from all 50 states, so long as they play with bitcoin. And bitcoin is, after all, every bit as much a form of real money as the US dollar.
The only issue is that it takes a little bit more tech-savvy and a couple of extra steps in order to convert that real bitcoin money into nationally recognized American cash. But it isn’t impossible! And some of the best casinos on the web accept US players who wager crypto. So, something to think about.
As far as answering your question of ‘what is the best online casino for US players?’ Honestly, that is not up to me to decide. The best casinos for you are going to be the ones that best cater to your needs. It all boils down to what it is that you are looking for. You are going to have to look around, read a few of the reviews, see what each of these casinos has to offer, then decide which is the best online casino for you based on facts and figures!
Generally speaking, though, the best casinos are those that let you win real money playing a wide variety of casino games on the best-designed platform possible. There are, of course, a few other concerns when it comes to selecting the best casinos. These include 24/7 customer support; as well as tons of casino bonuses, free spins, and promo deals. If you want to find the best casinos on the internet, no matter where you are playing from, these are the criteria to look for.
I have made it easy for you, though, my fellow Americans. As you browse through my list of the best casino sites, just look for the American flag next to the name of the casino in order to instantly know whether a certain casino is, in fact, US-friendly or not. Time is real, money is real. My job is to ensure that you waste neither.
Okay, okay, I’m convinced! How do I start playing casino games online for real money today?
Can you sign up, make your first deposit, and start winning real money by the end of the day? Absolutely, you can! The best casinos on the web have swift registration processes. Since we are dealing with real money, there may be a small amount of waiting involved (particularly if your bank tends to be slow in processing money exchanges), and some sites may require your identity to be verified. But, generally speaking, I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t be winning real money within a couple of hours at the most.
Again, though, this varies from site to site. If you want to make sure that you can take home some real money today, the best casinos will make it possible, thanks to their streamlined registration processes. Honestly, getting started on a casino online can take anywhere between a few minutes, a few hours, and a few days. It really just depends on which casinos you are looking to join and what they require.
This is why I make it a point to point it out when I come across a real money casino that has a particularly frustrating registration process. Obviously, we all want to start scoring some real money today, not next week. So, as you browse my list of sites and read my reviews of the best casino sites on the web, make sure you look out for any registration warnings that may come up. Usually, I will put them in the Pros/Cons section for quick access.
I truly hope that you find this list of the best online casinos to be helpful, enlightening, and an invaluable resource as you look for the best casino for you. There are so many gambling sites to choose from, and each of which offers a slightly different variety of casino games. Thanks to my reviews, though, finding the best online casino for you has never been easier.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s go win some money, people!