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Guide to Gambling with Real Money – Plus the Best Real Money Online Casino Onlines for 2019

It’s no surprise that a lot of people like to gamble with real money. Playing poker, visiting casinos to enjoy the games there, or betting on sports are all fun and could bring you some rewards, too. Naturally, though, there are also a lot of risks involved in real money gambling.

If you want to dive into this experience, it’s a good idea to be prepared for what to expect. And that’s the exact goal of this page. We’ll show you the various aspects of real money gambling you need to know, including the benefits, the problems, and the choices that come along.

We’ll make sure you have a great overall experience, avoid trouble, and dramatically improve your chances of making some money in the long run.

Our main focus is on real money gambling online. If you don’t want to waste time and just want to start betting or playing online, here’s a list of our recommended real money gambling sites. These are all reputable and trustworthy sites that an excellent all-round best experience.

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The rise of the internet, and technology in general, has changed so many industries. The gambling industry is no exception. Nowadays, you can deposit cash and play poker, blackjack, roulette, slots, and all kinds of other games online or simply bet on your favorite sports.

You need to think carefully about which sites you use for your betting and gaming, though. That’s why we’ve provided this list of the top real money gambling sites. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of options to choose from, and picking the best among them can be confusing, to say the least.

As if spotting the quality sites was not hard enough, you also need to ensure that you avoid the ones that are terrible. These not only offer a bad experience, but in a worst-case scenario, they may rip you off.

The bottom line is that it can take a lot of time and effort to select a reliable online gambling operator that meets the highest standards and provides a first-class betting and/or gaming experience. We’ve saved you that time and effort by highlighting that ones that truly deserve your attention.

Each and every real money gambling site that we recommend here, and anywhere on play-casino-games-now.com, has been thoroughly vetted.

You can rest assured that the quality of our recommendations is high, and each one is totally legit. We’ll share more details on our methods of evaluation later on, so you can understand exactly how we can state this so definitively.

Note that the sites listed above are the “best of the best” when it comes to real money gambling sites on the internet. It’s also important to understand that there are different types of real money gambling sites online. If you have specific requirements from a site, you may want to dig a little deeper into things.

We’ve got you covered on that front, too. We have a whole section dedicated to breaking down the best gambling sites into various categories. We recommend the top sites based on precise factors such as the type(s) of gambling available, the countries they accept customers from, the payment options that can be used, mobile compatibility, and much more.

There are dozens upon dozens of categories included in this section, so you’ll almost certainly find what you’re looking for. Whether you want the best online casinos for big jackpots, the best sportsbooks for betting football, the best poker sites for US players, or the best gambling sites for pretty much anything, visit the following section and check out our categorized recommendations.

If you’re not quite ready to start gambling for real money yet, keep on reading. We’ve got a whole lot more to offer than “just” recommending the best places for online gambling and betting.

This page covers the basic concepts of betting real money on sports, casino games, poker, or anything else, for that matter. You will learn how to pick the best gambling product for your needs, how to place wagers, the risks and benefits of the process, and more relevant information.

The best place to start, naturally, is to explain what real money gambling is.

What Is Real Money Gambling?

Put simply, real money gambling involves placing a wager on an uncertain outcome with the chance of winning or losing money depending on what outcome transpires.

There are a few elements that must be present for gambling to occur. For a start, there has to be an event with multiple potential outcomes. It could be a coin toss, a hand of poker, a football match, or anything else.

Next in line are the participants in the gambling act. There must be at least two or more of them, and they essentially bet on the different outcomes of the event. For example, when you place a wager at a bookmaker, you as a bettor are one of the sides, and the bookmaker is the other.

Of course, another element is the money involved in the wager you place. This is known as the stake, and it’s agreed upon by the two or more parties to the wager at the outset. It could be $1, $1000, $1 million, or any amount at all.

Finally, there are the odds or the price that determines your potential win. There are different odds formats, but essentially, the principle is the same. They show you how much your return will be if you win.

Once all the requirements for real money gambling are met, there’s only one thing left. When the event that you bet on is over, the winner collects, and that’s it.

This is a HUGELY simplified explanation of real money gambling, but it covers the main points.

Real money gambling simplified

The Most Popular Forms of Real Money Gambling

As you probably know, there are many different forms of gambling. Examples include making a bet with your friends, playing in a casino, and betting on sports with a bookmaker. As long as a real money wager is being placed on an uncertain outcome, it’s gambling.

People have been gambling on all kinds of things throughout the ages, including some downright weird events like cockfights and beetle racing. However, certain forms of real money gambling are way more popular than the rest and attract the most bettors and players today.

Sports betting (including betting on horse racing), casino games, and poker are by far the most beloved forms of real money gambling in the 21st century. There are lots of other popular forms, too, but these three lead the way by quite a distance.

Millions of people place bets on their favorite sports teams, go to the casino to hit the roulette or the blackjack tables, or enjoy poker games like Texas Hold’em or Omaha.

The most popular forms of real money gambling

These three forms of real money gambling share certain things in common, but they are each unique in their own ways, too. There are also different reasons for why they’re so popular.

Let’s take a look at each one in a little more detail.

Real Money Casino Games

Ultimately, the casino is purely for fun. If you’ve ever been to a land-based casino venue and gambled for real money, you probably already know just how thrilling it can be.

The chances of winning money in the long run, however, are slim. Casinos always come out ahead overall, as they have a built-in advantage to their games known as the house edge.

This doesn’t mean you CAN’T win, though. Anything can happen in the short term, and with a bit of good fortune, you can walk away with some healthy profit. And either way, the sheer entertainment you can get playing casino games has its own value. That entertainment, combined with the chance of winning money, is what draws most people to casino games.

Casino gambling has been popular for a VERY long time, but it’s more popular than ever now. This is because you can now experience all the fun and excitement from the comfort of your own home. No longer do you have to get dressed and travel to a land-based venue. Everything is available on the internet via real money online casinos.

Check out the following page for more on playing real money casino games, plus a list of the best real money online casinos.

Real Money Poker

The situation is different when it comes to poker. Most variations of poker are skill games, unlike the games of chance you find in casinos. And you’re not playing against the casino or the house, but against other people.

As a result, you have the chance to make money in the long run if you have (or learn) the right skills. Unless it’s a home game, you do have to pay a fee to the casino or poker room you play at, which is known as the “rake.” It’s definitely possible to beat the rake, though, and make an overall profit.

Your options for playing poker for real money depend to some extent on where you live and whether you know any other poker players. You can play with friends and family around the kitchen, and that’s a lot of fun. And you may have casinos or poker rooms nearby that you can frequent.

Thanks to the growth of online poker, however, your real money options are through the roof. There are all kinds of different options for playing poker online, as you’ll discover in the following guide. This includes a list of the best real money poker sites to play at.

Real Money Sports Betting

Just like casino gambling, sports betting can be a great deal of fun. Many people place wagers just to add some extra excitement to watching their favorite sports. That’s the main motivation for the majority of those who bet on sports, but there’s more than that, too.

As with poker, sports betting offers the opportunity to turn a profit. It’s not easy, but it can be done. That’s why some sports bettors take things very seriously, and spend a lot of time and effort on identifying value in the betting markets and selecting carefully thought out wagers. They try to build betting systems and strategies that can return profits over the long term.

The bookmakers do have a significant advantage over bettors, as they set the odds and lines and build a profit margin into those. That’s partly why only a small percentage of sports bettors are genuinely successful. However, it’s technically possible for ANYONE to win at sports betting with the right approach. It just takes a lot of hard work and commitment.

If you’d like to learn more about real money sports betting, what’s involved, and how to be successful, make sure you check out the following guide.

Other Forms of Real Money Gambling

While sports betting, casino games, and poker most certainly are the top gambling products out there, there are others that people like and enjoy.

Other types of real money gambling

Let’s take a look at these forms of gambling in some more detail.

Real Money Bingo

Bingo is popular both in brick-and-mortar venues and online. The main reason is that a lot of people find fun in bingo. But if you are looking for a real money gambling game that is beatable, this is not your choice.

The house edge in bingo is enormous. Even if you take full advantage of promotions to reduce it, you are way behind in the long run. Bingo should be treated like a pleasure you are paying for and not an opportunity to make money. Sure, you may well win from time to time. You’re very unlikely to come out ahead overall, though.

Real Money Fantasy Sports

Bingo may not be a great option if your goal is to turn a profit, but that’s not the case with fantasy sports. This is another form of real money gambling where you can be a long-term winner.

The origin of fantasy sports wasn’t really about placing real money wagers. Some people did bet on it, but it was mostly about playing with friends, family, and colleagues and showing your skills in a certain sport.

For those who have no idea what fantasy sports games are about, the concept is simple. You create a roster of real players and earn points based on their performance in real games. People used to do that for season-long competition, but we’ve seen the emergence of real money daily fantasy sports in recent years.

This means you can build a team for only one round of games and enter real money tournaments. It’s much more dynamic, and it opens the door for an experience that combines sports betting and traditional gaming.

The cool thing is that you can utilize your knowledge of the competition and the teams involved to gain an advantage. It’s not exactly easy, but real money daily fantasy is one of the forms of gambling that can bring you profits over time.

If you are interested in finding out more about it, check this page out.

Real Money Esports Betting

This type of gambling combines betting and the gaming industry. Esports refers to competitive video gaming, and it’s something that’s exploded over the last few years.

Similarly to traditional sports, the competitive scene of games like CS:GO, Hearthstone, League of Legends, and plenty more attract a bunch of spectators and offer huge prize pools for the contestants.

The next natural step of the industry’s development was to add the gambling angle. When millions are watching on a regular basis, some of them will want to have fun by betting on it. As a result, plenty of sportsbooks nowadays offer the opportunity to bet on esports.

Once again, you can be profitable if you take this seriously and put some effort into the research and analysis needed to identify the best betting opportunities.

A good place to start would be our page dedicated to real money esports betting. It will help you learn the fundamentals and provide a lot of useful tips on how to build a successful strategy. Check it through the link below.

Real Money Skill Game Gambling

Finally, there’s another group of games that generates betting. Some people play skill games like backgammon and chess for money.

This form of gambling doesn’t really attract casual gamblers because the advantage of the prepared players is much bigger, especially in chess. There’s simply not enough luck involved for bad players to win occasionally, so you have to get better or bust.

This reflects on the popularity of the games in terms of playing them for real money stakes, and it doesn’t really compare with that of the other forms real money gambling discussed here.

Still, there ARE plenty of opportunities for playing skill games for real money if that’s something you want to do. See the following guide for more information.

The Most Popular Games and Sports for Real Money Gambling

Now that we’ve talked extensively about the most popular forms of real money gambling, it’s time to dig a bit deeper and look at the specific games and sports that attract the most attention.

Let’s start with casino games.

Most Popular Casino Games

The casino game that is probably the most popular of all is slots. The house edge is a bit high in most of them, but the fun factor is incomparable. There are a ton of different options in terms of both graphics and gameplay.

You can enjoy historical settings, mythology, animals, popular TV series…anything you could think of, really. On top of that, there are progressive jackpots, free spins, bonus games, and all kinds of special features that make slots extremely enjoyable.

Another classic casino game that is widely popular is blackjack, but for entirely different reasons.

The house edge in blackjack is extremely low, and this is one of the few casino games that actually require strategy. Your decisions make a huge difference when it comes to the house edge, which is the reason why many people love playing real money blackjack.

The same can be said about video poker. Each machine has an optimal play, and some of them even pay fair money.

That’s right – some variations of video poker don’t include an advantage for the casino if you play them perfectly. That’s a good reason to give them a shot.

Next in line are classic casino games with a low house edge like roulette and baccarat.

These games both attract high rollers, as well as lower-stakes players, as the adrenaline rush is high. There is not much strategy involved compared to video poker and blackjack, but there are ways to play smart for sure.

The list wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t include at least one dice game, and craps is more than worthy of a mention here.

A lot of people love the tension while the dice are in the air. Walk into virtually any casino in the world, and you’ll instantly notice that the craps table is among the loudest out there because the thrill is second to none.

We should make it clear that plenty of other casino games are also widely loved. However, the ones we’ve mentioned here are easily the most popular of all.

Popular casino games for real money gambling

Most Popular Sports for Betting

There are millions of people from all over the globe that love to place a wager. Some only bet every now and then; others bet far more regularly. And there are undoubtedly certain sports that consistently attract the most attention.

The most popular sport in the world is soccer, so it’s only natural that it is also the one that attracts the highest number of bets. While the game is not among the most beloved in the USA, it has fans all over the globe.

Competitions like the English Premier League, the UEFA Champions League, and the World Cup attract millions of viewers and insane betting action.

The popularity of the NFL has spread outside of the US in recent years, which is one of the reasons football is also among the sports that see a ton of casual bettors on a regular basis. The same can be said about basketball and tennis, as they also attract interest from various countries around the world.

Finally, there’s horse racing. People have been placing real money wagers on this one for ages, and you can find almost daily events in the USA, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, and a bunch of other countries. There’s always an opportunity to make some money, which is one of the main reasons why horse racing has a place on this list.

The most popular sports for betting on

Most Popular Poker Games

There are dozens upon dozens of different poker variants. The most popular of all, by quite a distance, is Texas Hold’em.

No other poker game comes close in terms of popularity. Texas Hold’em is simple when it comes to the rules, so it’s relatively easy to learn and start playing. It’s extremely complicated in terms of strategy, though, so you can spend a lifetime trying to master it and still have more to learn.

Other poker variants that enjoy widespread popularity include five card draw, seven card stud, and Omaha. In recent years, it’s Omaha that’s probably gotten closest to Texas Hold’em. The game is a bit more complicated but offers way more action. This is the main reason why Omaha has become the second most popular game of poker.

Can You Really Profit from Real Money Gambling?

The short answer to this is yes.

There are no perfect blueprints for making money at gambling, but regular profits are definitely achievable. That’s only true with certain forms of gambling, of course, as the odds are too firmly stacked against you with some. However, even with those, you can improve your overall chances of winning money (or losing less) in multiple ways.

We have a team of experienced professionals that have prepared guides that can help you in that regard. If you intend to gamble with real money, we strongly recommend you check them out.

If you’re wondering how and why we believe you can improve your chances, it’s probably time to explain an important concept relating to gambling.

No matter what form of real money gambling you pick, you are essentially risking cash for the chance of winning cash. The risk versus reward ratio when gambling is fundamental to your overall chances of coming out ahead.

Naturally, the bigger your chances of winning a specific wager are, the smaller the potential profits would be. And vice versa. If you bet on a big favorite in a football game, for example, your return would be much smaller compared to a wager on the underdog.

There is a correlation between the probability of a certain event happening and the odds you get. If you can find opportunities to wager where the probability is favorable to you in relation to the odds, you have a real chance of turning a profit.

For example, betting $1 on a coin flip to win $2.10 would always be a good decision and would return a profit in the long run. Betting $1 to win $1.90 would ultimately cost you money.

This principle is simple, but it applies in one way or another to ALL forms of real money gambling.

Sometimes, the odds are against you, and you are on the losing side from a mathematical point of view. A good example of that is the casino games where the advantage of the house makes them a losing proposition by default, although the edge is different for the different products.

However, in poker and sports betting, you can create situations where you win due to your skills and abilities. Essentially, YOU can have the edge with these forms of gambling, and there are plenty of people who are making money from them.

Of course, you never know what will happen because of the luck factor. Sometimes you will win big, even if you have a negative expectation. Sometimes you will lose, even if you are placing a good bet. This is essentially what creates the level of excitement that drives so many people to real money gambling.

Should You Gamble with Real Money?

By this point, you know the basics of real money gambling, as well as the most popular forms you can indulge in. It’s time to go a bit deeper and explore the advantages and disadvantages, so you can make a decision as to whether gambling with real money is something you want to be involved in.

Advantages of Real Money Gambling

Let’s start with the positives that come from gambling with real money.

The first and most important one is that it’s a fun experience. Whether you add a bit of spice to the football match you are watching or simply enjoy playing poker or any casino game, it’s enjoyable and entertaining.

On top of that, there is a real chance of making some money. It’s not easy, and most people fail at it, but if you are serious about it and work hard enough, gambling with real cash can become a profitable hobby.

Even if you don’t exactly make it, breaking even or slowly losing relatively small amounts of cash while getting the entertainment value that comes with gambling is a solid outcome.

Another advantage is the fact that there is so much variety. The term “gambling” covers a wide range of activities, as you’ve already discovered on this page. This helps to keep things exciting and interesting. The fact that these activities are all easily accessible online is a benefit, too.

Finally, gambling can be an exciting social experience. Whether you enjoy a night of poker with friends, meeting new people at the blackjack tables, or finding some online buddies to discuss sports betting and look for strategies with, it opens the door to having fun with other people.

Disadvantages of Real Money Gambling

Naturally, there are some risks and negative sides of gambling with real money.

The most obvious one would be that you could lose your money, as most people do. Depending on the types of gambling you pick and how you approach them, this could happen extremely slowly, extremely quickly, or anywhere in between.

In a worst-case scenario, real money gambling can lead to an addiction. Proportionately speaking, not many people reach that stage. But it’s a risk nonetheless. Gambling CAN get out of control. Some people lose amounts of money they can’t afford, and that can lead to all kinds of negative consequences.

The risks of gambling addiction are not as great as some would have you to believe, but they most certainly should not be dismissed.

Another potential downside of real money gambling is that you simply may not enjoy it. That’s true of pretty much anything, of course, but it’s worth mentioning here anyway. Gambling simply might not be something you like in any form.

The pros and cons of real money gambling

Should You Gamble with Real Money?

The only one who can answer this question is you. And you have to be honest with yourself. For a start, the most important thing would be to ask yourself for the reasons why you would want to gamble with real money.

Are you looking for some fun at a small financial cost, or are you trying to find a way to earn extra income? Of course, there’s no reason why you can’t gamble for the fun of it AND try to make some money. Once you have an answer here, you can go on to consider the other aspects of gambling with real money.

  • Can you control yourself, and can you handle the inevitable losses?
  • Do you think that a bad losing streak might push you to obsessively try and make up for that?
  • Is there a possibility that you’ll lose too much money before you know it?
  • Is there the danger of gambling affecting your life in general?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you really shouldn’t gamble. As much as we love gambling, we need to make it very clear that the positives are not even close to being worth the risk of getting addicted. If you don’t have the discipline and self-control to enjoy it as a simple hobby, just steer clear.

Discipline and self-control are even more important if you want to be profitable. You also need to have the necessary time and determination to be successful. It takes a lot of effort to be a consistent winner at gambling, and you’ll need to be seriously dedicated.

Another important thing to think about is how much money you can afford to lose. If your finances are tight, gambling is not really the best hobby to take up. You should wait until you have some spare cash that you can afford to lose before getting involved.

Regardless of how much money you do have, it’s absolutely VITAL that you set a budget aside for your gambling. If/when you use up that budget, it’s time to stop. This is how you ensure that your gambling never gets out of control.

We recommended setting a monthly budget, as that allows for a few highs and lows over a period of time. You can set whatever type of budget you want, though. Just make sure that you stick to it.

The final thing to consider is whether you want to gamble “in person” or online. If it’s the former, you need to take the relevant logistics into account, such as any time and costs required for traveling to an appropriate venue, for example.

Getting Started with Real Money Gambling

Once again, we advise you to think about things very carefully before you decide if you should be gambling with real money or not. We make no apology for repeating ourselves here – it’s an important point to make.

If you decide that you DO want to start gambling for real money, here are a few steps to consider when getting started.

Decide If You’re Gambling for Fun or for Money

This is one of the most important questions when it comes to online gambling with real money, and most people don’t even realize that. Don’t be like them – think about this question carefully.

There’s nothing wrong with playing mostly for fun, and that doesn’t mean you won’t hit a winner every now and then. In fact, such an approach is liberating and can actually help you to control your spending. You know that you’re in for the entertainment, which makes it easier to swallow losses.

Things are a bit harder if you are looking to make a profit. This will require an entirely different path that requires a lot of dedication. You will have to invest a lot of time and build a working model. Also, it would mean that you should probably avoid games like bingo and most casino products out there.

With that said, there’s no real reason why you can’t take a combination of both approaches. You could set aside a separate budget for your “fun gambling” and a bankroll specifically for your “serious gambling.”

Decide on What Type of Gambling Is Best for You

Once you’ve decided whether you want to play for fun or profit, you need to decide what form of gambling is best for you and most likely to help you achieve your goals.

If you are a sports fan, probably sports betting is the way to go. If you like card games, poker variations like Texas Hold’em and Omaha could be a good option, too. These are good options for profit players and casual players alike.

The casino games and other alternatives like bingo could make sense, too, although these may not be the best choices for gamblers angling for long-term success. It’s all down to the individual, really. Decide what excites you the most and look at the costs and chances to win money in the long run. This way, you know what to expect.

A good tactic would be to exploit the option to play the same games for free. You can learn poker, check out some free slots, blackjack, etc., and see how it goes. You will get a good feel for what to expect from each game before you make your final decision.

It’s important to understand that once you move from free to real money gambling, there are some changes. For example, the skill level of your opponents in poker rises dramatically. It’s also possible that some casino games will have a different edge with virtual and real cash, so make sure you are not fooled by that.

Still, playing for free should give you a good feel for what to expect from each form of online gambling and help you decide which one is the best for you.

Of course, you can always switch games or even gamble in different ways, but we recommend you keep it simple and start with one game at first. It will help you become better and truly understand if that form of gambling is for you. Then, you could try other stuff and expand.

If you will be chasing profits from your real money gambling, you should be extra careful. Explore the house edge and the specifics of each game, look at the options, and decide which one would realistically give you the opportunity to make money.

If you have deep knowledge about a certain sport or league, as well as the desire to constantly follow what’s going on there, sports betting is not a bad option. If you are good with numbers and card games, poker is certainly something you should consider.

Decide on a Budget

Another important step would be to decide how much you want to put into real money gambling. A couple of rules apply here, but one of them is essential. You should never risk an amount of money you can’t afford to lose – ever!

We’re once more covering ground here that we’ve already covered a bit. However, again, we make no apology for it. We are very committed to encouraging responsible gambling, and if we need to get a bit repetitive to really ram a few points home, then so be it.

If you gamble with cash that you might need for groceries, bills, mortgages, returning loans, or anything of any importance, you are doing it wrong! You should view the money you put on the line the same way you look at the money spent on going to the movies or buying some video games, even if your goal is to make cash in the long run.

There is a huge probability that you’ll lose your money, so you should consider it lost once you start gambling with it. This doesn’t mean you will certainly lose your cash; it means you can afford to, which is the important thing.

Are You Going to Gamble in Live Venues or Online?

The next thing you need to decide is if you are going to gamble online or visit brick-and-mortar venues that offer real money gambling. We would recommend the former, as it has a ton of benefits we intend to touch on later on this page.

Briefly speaking, you will get better service, a higher chance to win, and the convenience of playing from your own home.

As with other decisions you need to make, though, it doesn’t need to be a case of one thing or the other. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying trips to land-based casinos and also playing at online casinos, for example.

Real money gambling checklist

Picking a Real Money Casino Online

You can pick between hundreds of real money gambling sites, so it is very important to be careful with your choices. After all, you will be investing your hard-earned cash at these sites.

There are a few factors to consider that are crucial when looking for the best real money gambling site for you.

  • Regulation and reputation
  • First of all, you need to make sure you are trusting a legit real money gambling site that won’t try to steal your cash. Unfortunately, some shady operators will try that. You should avoid them by checking the license and the reputation of the site you decide to join.


  • Quality of the gambling products
  • Obviously, you want a gambling product of the highest quality. Solid performance, easy-to-use interface, and exciting graphics are the factors that play a role here.


  • Promotions and bonuses
  • The competition for customers is fierce, so most online gambling sites will try to attract as many players as possible through bonuses and promotions. This adds a lot of extra value and basically gives you more funds to gamble with.


  • Payments
  • You want to be able to move your money quickly and without taking any risks. Any respectable gambling operator out there should offer at least a couple of providers that can do that. E-wallets, credit cards, and wire transfers are good examples.


  • Extra features
  • This aspect depends on the particular service you are looking for, but a mobile version and some extra features that improve the experience are always a plus.


  • Reliable customer support service
  • Whatever you do, it is always possible to reach a point where you need some help from the support of the site. This is why there should be an easy way to contact an agent, and the staff should be competent and polite.

As you can see, the process of finding the best gambling site for you is not exactly simple.

The good news is that we can help a lot with that. We have a team of experts that evaluates real money gambling operators online, taking into consideration all of the above and more. This is what allows us to provide accurate and up-to-date lists of the best sites, like the one near the top of this page.

We also provide detailed reviews of all the real money gambling sites we recommend. These help you to find out everything you need to know about a site before signing up so that you can easily choose the right betting and gaming destinations for what you want to do.

The most important attributes at real money gambling sites

Advantages of Gambling for Real Money Online

New technologies have changed our lives in the past couple of decades, and the internet revolution is probably the biggest difference-maker. So many businesses and industries are now available online that it’s hard to remember what it was like before that.

The real money gambling sector is not an exception. Most players bet and play poker and casino games online nowadays. There are a ton of reasons why, so let’s take a look at them.

  • Convenience
  • Lower house edge
  • Variety of products
  • Low limits
  • Promotions and bonuses

Convenience

If you want to visit a brick-and-mortar betting shop, casino, or any other real money gambling venue, you have to reach it first. You have to go there physically, which takes time. That’s not the case when you play on the internet.

You can stay home or even use your laptop, mobile phone, or tablet to play from any place that’s comfortable for you. That saves so much time and allows you to avoid any effort required to simply get access to gambling products.

Lower House Edge

One of the best things about gambling online with real money is that you get a much lower house edge. The costs of supporting the platform are lower, and the competition is much higher.

As a result, bookmakers, casinos, and poker rooms can’t afford to charge their customers too much. If you compare the edge online to the one you will find in real-life gambling venues, the difference is staggering.

It’s much easier to become a winner on the internet. That doesn’t mean it is easy in general, but even if you lose, you will be losing much slower.

Variety of Products

Unless you live in a city like Vegas, you usually can’t pick between a ton of casinos, sportsbooks, bingo rooms, and other gambling establishments. That’s not the case online. There are hundreds of different sites that give you the chance to play all kinds of real money games.

You can use a couple at the same time, switch almost instantly if you are not happy, or even pick a platform that supports all kinds of gambling products. Some have poker, a sportsbook, a casino, and more that you can access with a single account.

Lower Limits

One of the big issues in brick-and-mortar gambling places is that the betting limits start rather high. A casino, for example, can’t afford to offer a blackjack table that gives you the chance to bet 10 cents or something like that.

This makes the entry barrier quite high in terms of a real money gambling bankroll. This is not the case online. If you want to, you can experience the thrill of playing with cold, hard cash with as little as a couple of bucks.

Promotions and Bonuses

We already touched on that topic, but the number of promotions available at online gambling sites is staggering. It doesn’t matter what the exact game is; you can usually take advantage of the following options.

  • Welcome promos
  • The most lucrative offers are usually available when you join the real money gambling operator. You can get free bets, first-deposit bonuses, free spins, and other great deals that will instantly boost your bankroll.


  • Ongoing promos
  • Once you are done with the promotions for new players, the sites want to keep you as a customer. As a result, they offer loyalty programs and other ongoing deals that help each player keep earning extra value.


  • Exclusive deals
  • Finally, there are occasions when you can get an exclusive deal. For example, an online casino launches a new slot and offers free spins, or there is a big sporting event that allows you to get boosted odds. Make sure to stay alert and take full advantage of these promotions.

Disadvantages of Gambling for Real Money Online

Of course, there are some negative sides of gambling with real money online, so we feel obliged to cover them, too.

  • Risk of fraud
  • Fast losses
  • Anti-social experience
  • Slow cash-outs

Risk of Fraud

 Unfortunately, some online gambling operators do not intend to pay you. They will take your deposit and simply run with the money. The good news is that you can avoid that rather easily. Stick to proven real money websites with a stellar reputation and a proper license.

Fast Losses

The sheer speed of the software you use to play real money games, as well as the lack of physical items like chips or cash, makes it easy to get distracted and lose more than you expect. Before you know it, you could be behind a lot of cash.

This is why you should always take a look at your overall balance and not let yourself get carried away too easily.

Anti-Social Experience

When you play online, there are no real dealers or other people, at least most of the time. If you enjoy the social contacts in gambling establishments in the real world, you will miss that. Some people believe this is an advantage, though, and we can see where this is coming from.

Slow Cash-Outs

This one could be a bit annoying. When you go to a brick-and-mortar casino, and you win, you can instantly put your profits in your pockets. This is not exactly the case online. Even with the fastest payment options out there, there will be a delay before the money reaches you.

On top of that, there could be some fees that eat a small portion of your winnings every now and then. To be fair, most gambling operators cover all costs, so that’s not that common. And most pay out in a very reasonable time frame. Still, this is definitely something to consider when deciding whether to gamble online or not.

Top Tips for Real Money Gambling

If you have taken the firm decision to gamble online, we have a couple of tips and tricks that could help you get started. They are designed to prevent you from making the mistakes most rookies do, as well as save you some time and money.

Pick a Plan and Stay Disciplined

Regardless of if you decide to gamble with real money with the goal of having fun, or you go for the profits, you should always stay disciplined. Define a clear path that includes picking the best form of gambling for you and the top sites you could use, then stick to it.

Taking a methodical approach like this is essential. It’s the only way to succeed if you have ambitions of making money. And if you’re just gambling for fun, it will help you stay within your budget and enjoy the experience without taking unnecessary risks.

Use More Than One Website

If you decide to gamble with real money online, you should probably consider using multiple websites, especially if you are going to bet on sports. Sure, the platforms are similar, but getting some extra value every now and then is well worth the effort of signing up at new sites.

Slightly higher odds, an additional promo, and other perks of using multiple sites make it totally worth it. There are so many options out there that you will certainly be able to find a couple of reliable real money gambling sites that suit you.

Be Prepared to Face Losses and Bad Streaks

Even the best poker players and gamblers out there lose on a regular basis, so you will be losing often, too. Some people can’t take it, which could have disastrous consequences. You should enter the world of real money gambling with the mindset that you are going to lose. You are going to lose frequently, and you can’t control that.

Such an approach is the only one that can prevent you from going on tilt and blowing your bankroll. It’s normal; you will be playing games of chance. Even if you have an edge, you will still lose sometimes.

In a way, gambling for real money is similar to boxing or other combat sports. No matter how good you are, you are going to take a hit every now and then. If you truly understand that, you will have a much easier time.

Take Full Advantage of Promotions

We’ve mentioned it more than once already, but you’ll have countless opportunities to find extra value from promotions. It’s almost criminal not to take full advantage of them, as they can boost your bankroll and give you a never-ending stream of additional benefits.

The welcome bonuses are the best, but some loyalty and VIP programs are quite juicy, too. Still, we recommend you check the terms and conditions of each offer, as some come with a lot of strings attached.

How to Handle Gambling Addiction

If you feel you are losing control and have even the slightest concerns that you might be addicted to gambling, you should instantly act upon the matter. This is a serious condition that might ruin your professional and personal life. Here are the actions you can take.

  • Admit the problem
  • Take a self-help test
  • Reach for external help

One of the first steps is to admit there is a problem and take a test that is designed to determine if you are addicted. The good news is that each online gambling operator has a responsible gambling policy.

Simply go to this section of the platform you are using – the link is part of the footer of the page most of the time. Once you’re there, you will have access to various tools that could help you.

For a start, there are links to tests about addictions. You can also set limits to your account or completely disable it. Finally, you will find information about different non-profit organizations that help people with gambling addictions.

If you feel you are losing it, make sure to take care of yourself before it gets too late. The following page is a very useful resource on this issue. Please take the time to read it.