The Best Real Money Online Casinos

Real Money Casinos Explained

You might think the difference between playing at a casino for real money and playing at a social casino like Slotomania or Zynga is that cash only changes hands at real money online casino sites, but that doesn’t paint the whole picture. After all, social casinos offer plenty of options to spend real money, including on in-app purchases of virtual casino chips on mobile devices. 

The real difference between real money casinos and social casinos is that a real money casino gives you the chance to win money back. This guide tells you what to expect when you play at a real money casino online. We cover what makes a top casino, how to deposit, bonuses and promos, and more. 

How We Review Real Money Casino Sites

When we review real money casino sites, we always do so with players like you in mind. Here’s a selection of the features we check out before recommending new casinos.

UK Licensing

To protect your personal and financial information, you should only play at trustworthy real money casinos. That’s why licence status is one of the first things we look at when reviewing online casinos. A licence from the UK Gambling Commission means that a site adheres to strict rules regarding fair play on its games and practices. Failing to meet these standards can result in licence revocation and severe financial penalties.

Sign Up Offers

Bonuses and promotions can enhance your online gambling experience and give your bankroll a boost. We want to see real money casinos reward new customers with a generous welcome bonus featuring free spins or a matched deposit bonus, but ideally both. On top of that, we look at how player-friendly the terms and conditions are, such as wagering requirements.

Range of Casino Games

Whether you have a particular passion for playing online bingo, enjoy progressive jackpot slots or are a firm fan of video poker, variety counts in the long-term. We tend to recommend sites that offer a wide selection of games, including everything from Slingo to live dealer casino action.

Mobile Experience

Many online gamblers prefer to play on their mobile phone, so we take a close look at the mobile offering for each real money casino we review. A mobile-optimised website is a must, but it’s even better if a casino also offers a native mobile app with extras like two-factor authentication and push notifications. 

Payment Methods

Reputable casinos offer a selection of secure payment options. When we review a real money casino, we always drop in on the banking page to ensure trusted payment methods are available. We like to see debit cards, online bank transfers, prepaid cards, and e-wallets included in the available options, and it’s a bonus if options like Trustly and Boku are included too.

Support

Attentive service is a hallmark of reputable online casinos. We think players should be able to contact customer support staff quickly and easily whenever the need arises. 24/7 live chat may not always be an option, but we do want to see this service available during busy hours, along with email and telephone support.

Real Money Bonuses and Promotions

Bonuses and promos are part and parcel of a real money casino experience. They give your bankroll some oomph and enable you to effectively try new casino games for free. Here’s a rundown of some of the most common casino bonus offers up for grabs.

Matched Deposit Bonuses

A classic welcome offer at real money casinos, matched deposit bonuses match the value of your first deposit with bonus funds. To take the example of a ‘100% up to £250’ welcome offer, the casino will fully match your deposit up to a maximum of £250. In practice, the percentage match can be more or less than 100%. Deposit match bonuses usually come with wagering requirements, which require you to play through the value of your bonus funds, and sometimes your deposit, a set number of times before withdrawing any bonus-associated winnings.

Reload Bonuses

While a matched deposit bonus is a great way to boost your initial bankroll, many casinos keep the good times rolling with reload bonuses on subsequent deposits. You’ll see a great deal of variety in this respect. Some casinos offer a reload bonus on your second and third deposits. Others use them as an incentive if you haven’t deposited for a while. A reload bonus might work like a matched deposit bonus, usually with a lower percentage match, or it may take the shape of free spins.  

Free Spins

Free spins packages tend to be a winner with slots fans, and there are usually plenty of them around. You’ll often get some free spins on Vegas-style slot games like Starburst or Book of Dead when you first sign up for a new online casino, either as a standalone bonus or to complement a matched deposit bonus offer. They also pop up as a promo for existing customers, sometimes as reload bonuses and sometimes as an incentive to spin the reels of an exciting new online slot game. Bear in mind that wagering requirements frequently apply to any free spins winnings.

No Deposit Bonuses

Occasionally, online casinos give new players the chance to win some free cash without asking for an initial deposit. No deposit bonuses might be free spins for online slots, or they might be bonus credits to spend on table games like blackjack or roulette. A no deposit bonus will usually be on the small side and will often come with wagering requirements that prevent you from cashing out until you’ve played through your bonus amount the required number of times.

Bingo Tickets

Some real money casinos feature online bingo rooms. These sites will often give away free bingo tickets to their customers, either as a standalone bonus or as part of a more generous bonus package. Any cash winnings from free bingo tickets are usually subject to a playthrough requirement, though it’s often low. Players who win money using the Mecca Bingo Welcome Wheel, for example, must wager winnings five times before cashing out is available.

Payment Methods at Real Money Casinos

At the best online casinos, real money payment options are safe, secure and plentiful. Some casinos accept more payment methods than others, but these are the most common options.

PayPal

A popular payment option, PayPal is safe, secure, and private. Only PayPal will see your financial details and never the casino, which makes it a great option for players who’d prefer to keep their bank and card details to themselves. Another major perk with PayPal is that payouts from casinos tend to be very rapid compared to debit card and bank transfer options, sometimes completing within hours. On some occasions, PayPal deposits won’t qualify for welcome bonuses, so be sure to check the details of any promo. 

Trustly

Launched in the UK in 2017, Trustly allows you to make instant online deposits to casinos without entering any card details. All you need to do is click the Trustly option in the cashier section and log into your bank to approve the transaction. Deposits are instant, and this online banking service usually doubles as a withdrawal option too. Payouts through Trustly tend to be faster than through debit cards and bank transfers.

Paysafecard

Paysafecard enables you to effectively fund your casino account using cash. You can purchase a Paysafecard voucher from participating shops and use the 16-digit code to deposit the funds into your online casino account. Paysafecard is a popular fee-free option for customers who lack traditional banking facilities, but it has some drawbacks. Withdrawals to Paysafecard are generally not possible, and using this prepaid option for first deposits may disqualify you from some welcome offers.

Debit Cards

Unlike credit cards, which are not available as a payment option for UK gamblers, debit cards are widely accepted at online casinos and almost always qualify for bonuses. Deposits are instant, and there are no fees involved. However, some players may feel reluctant to input their sensitive account details whenever they join a new casino site. Another potential snag is that withdrawals with debit cards generally take up to five days to complete.

Real Money Games

For players hoping to win real money, online casino sites offer many options. Here are some of the real money casino games available at online casinos:

Real Money Blackjack

Real money blackjack games are readily available at online casinos and come in many different styles. You’ll find classic blackjack, of course, but also exciting variations such as Zappit Blackjack and Blackjack Xchange. 

Real Money Roulette

Like blackjack, online casinos tend to offer a broad selection of real money roulette games. You can play all the classic genres, including European, French, and American roulette, and cutting-edge variations like 3D Roulette and Astro Roulette.

Real Money Poker

Real money poker games are sometimes in shorter supply than games like blackjack and roulette, but most online casinos will include a few options in their game library. Popular variations include Texas Hold’em and Caribbean Stud Poker. 

Real Money Slots

Online slots often make up the bulk of an online casino’s game selection, and it’s certainly not unusual for a site to feature thousands of different online slot machines. Expect to find classic slots like IGT’s Cleopatra, along with video slots like Gonzo’s Quest from NetEnt.

Real Money Live Casino Games

Not all real money casino games rely on random number generators (RNG) to decide the outcome of the game. Most top casinos also offer live dealer games where the action is streamed live from bespoke studios. These include classic table games and live casino game shows like Evolution’s Dream Catcher.

Social Casinos vs Real Money Casinos

If you want to play casino games online but are worried about risking real money, you might enjoy playing at a social casino like Big Fish Casino. These sites allow you to play your favourite casino games online without spending a penny. Any purchases you do choose to make would be for optional extras, like more virtual currency or in-game cosmetics. 

Social casinos allow customers to play games and tournaments with friends, and, like real money casinos, they are often available as a mobile casino app for Android and iOS. If you remain unsure about playing casino games for money, playing at a social casino can help you hone your skills and figure out gameplay techniques risk-free. 

Get Started with a Real Money Casino Site

Ready to play at a real money casino online? Using our review criteria, we’ve selected the top online casinos for UK players and listed them here at Gambling Deals. You can use this list to compare casino bonuses and features, and read our expert reviews to help you decide where to play next. Once you’ve settled on your ideal site, simply click through to sign up and claim your bonus.

References: 

https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/statistics-and-research/publication/taking-a-more-in-depth-look-at-online-gambling 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/excise-notice-455a-remote-gaming-duty/excise-notice-455a-remote-gaming-duty 
https://www.businessinsider.com/sweden-trustly-transaction-2016-plans-uk-launch-fintech-2017-3?r=US&IR=T