Just over a decade ago I was in your shoes. I wanted to gamble online for real money but didn’t know where to start. I wanted to play real money casino games, bet on sports, and play real poker online, but I was concerned about the legitimacy of online gambling sites I saw advertised.
My initial research and experiences in the online gaming industry eventually led to me working in it. Now with the help of other online gambling experts, I spend hours testing real money gambling sites, reading player reviews, and complaints in order to find the best of the best.
We’ve done our research to find the internet’s top real money online gambling sites. There’s no perfect online casino, but we do believe we can help find the perfect one for you.
In this guide to gambling real money online you’ll find:
- Tips for finding safe gambling sites
- The in and outs of deposits and withdrawals
- All you need to know about bonuses and promotions
Whether you prefer poker, horse racing, sports betting, slot machines, casino tables games, lotteries, or other types of gambling, real money online casinos are everywhere in 2024.
Our casino experts have tested more than a hundred online casino sites and apps to find the best real money online gambling sites
in the world.
Our recommended real money gambling sites offer:
- Licensed, certified, and regulated real money casino games, sports betting, and poker
- Safe and secure payment processing
- Convenient deposit and withdrawal methods
- Fast payout speeds
- Good customer support
Step-By-Step Online Gambling Guide
These days, there are plenty of casino gambling apps and websites that offer free games and sweepstakes prizes, but where can you gamble online and win real money?
Sure, it’s nice to kill time with hundreds of free casino games with zero commitment, but nothing compares to the adrenaline rush of gambling and playing casino games for real money. Fortunately for gambling enthusiasts, online casinos for real money aren’t hard to find in 2020.
It doesn’t matter if you only have a couple of dollars or are new to online gambling for real money. Hundreds of online casino games are available for you to play and win real cash.
Here’s how to get started:
- Research & choose one of the real money casinos that our team has certified and approved
- Sign up for a free account (use your real information because the casino will want to verify your identity and payment method to prevent fraud)
- Test the casino site by playing games for free. Poker rooms also allow you to play against other real players for free.
- Read the terms and conditions of any new player promotions BEFORE you accept one. Sometimes certain games and bets are excluded, which could lead to winnings being voided. Other times the wagering requirements are so high that it’s not worth it.
- Use a credit card or other banking options to fund your account
- Cash-out your winnings
Sounds simple enough right? If you’re ready to get started check out our top sites for your country/region now. If you want to learn more about each step, continue reading below.
Look for these features of the Best Online Casinos:
2. Sign-Up for a Free Account at One or More Casinos
Just like any website, the signup process at online casinos is straightforward. It might be tempting to use fake information because you’re worried about identity theft, but you’ll want to be sure to use your real information. The last thing you want is to win a bunch of money and not be able to cash out because the casino can’t verify your information.
It’s important to maintain copies of a photo id (driver’s license or passport), a recent utility bill showing current address, and any credit or debit card used to fund the casino account. The best option is to scan the documents and have them on the computer as a .jpg file.
Almost all casinos will ask for these documents at some point. Sending them upfront by email will save a lot of hassle later on. This is usually a one-time-only procedure that the casinos make players follow prior to cashing out winnings. It’s best for players to get it out of the way up front, so they won’t be held up if they hit a big win. Once they’ve verified someone as a legitimate player, there should be no problems withdrawing.
3. Play the Casino’s Games for Free
One of the best parts about online gambling is the ability to sign up for a free account and try out the casino for free before you deposit real money. So you can play real online casino games for free. We also encourage you to test out the mobile casino games before depositing. Most mobile casinos are compatible with popular devices (Apple iPhone/iPad and Android), but it’s always a good idea to test before playing mobile casino games for money.
The same goes for online casinos with real money poker. There are free cash games and tournaments, which are a great way to get used to the software and decide whether you want to play for real money.
With online casinos with a sportsbook, there’s no real way to test the software in advance. But you can review the odds and available bets. Plus a lot of real money sports betting sites offer free bets for new customers that will give you an opportunity to win real money for free (more on that later).
4. Understand How Casino Bonuses & Promotions Work
When you’re at a live casino, new player promotions are simple. You sign up for a player’s card and get some free slot play and a buffet on the house. Easy enough.
Well, the bonuses at online gambling sites are different. Online casino bonus offers are usually bigger, but that’s not necessarily a good thing.
Here, we’ll break down how these promotional offers work.
