Top Real Money Casinos Compared

All You Need to Know About Playing Real Money Games

A real money casino does exactly what its name suggests: it gives players the chance to gamble real money on online casino games and potentially win real money returns.

Many of the top real money casinos offer a vast selection of casino games, ranging from online slots to the likes of roulette and sic bo. There are also some specialist slot sites where you’ll find the gaming library dominated by the spinning reels, with hundreds or even thousands of online slots titles ready to discover.

It goes without saying that you should only play casino games for real money if you can afford to lose what you gamble. Want to learn more about playing at real money online casinos? Compare.bet has everything you need to know.

How Real Money Games Compare to Free Casino Games

It doesn’t take a genius to understand the main difference between free casino games and their real money variations: the latter involve playing with a real money bankroll. However, there are some other factors that set the two apart:

Real Money Prizes

Playing real money casino games gives you the chance to win real cash prizes when hitting the online slots and other games. Of course, you’ll still need luck on your side for the odds to land in your favour and the game to pay out.

Access All Features

Free casino games give you a pretty good idea of what the game is all about, but you won’t always get access to the game’s full features and bonus rounds. Playing real money games gives you the chance to enjoy the whole package.

Play Live Dealer Games

Live casino games are exclusive to real money players, due to the higher running cost of these games. You might be able to watch demo videos of live blackjack and roulette, but you’ll need real money chips to take a seat at the table.

The Pros and Cons of Real Money Online Casino Gaming

Here’s a snappy summary of the good and bad points of playing online with real money.

Which Real Money Games can I play?

Real money online casinos certainly aren’t short of attractions, with a whole galaxy of games to explore. Here are the categories you can look forward to diving into.

Slots

Online slots are a huge draw at real money casinos, and with good reason. For one thing, there are just so many of them, across every conceivable theme. From retro, fruit machine-style games to the latest video slots that can whisk you from the Wild West to deep space, you can find it all. You can also gun for epic real money prizes at progressive jackpot slots.

Roulette

Arguably the most iconic of all casino games, roulette is a major feature of online casinos. The best sites let you play classic versions like American, European and French roulette. Beyond that, you’re also likely to find more inventive online variants that don’t exist in land-based casinos. These can come with multipliers and other perks that may seriously boost real money returns if the ball lands in your favour.

Blackjack

Who will get closer to 21 without busting – you or the dealer? That’s the question at the heart of blackjack, one of the most popular card games to be found at online casinos. By applying basic blackjack strategy, you can take advantage of some of the lowest house edges in the casino, which adds to the appeal of this time-honoured game. As with roulette, you’ll usually find a fair few variants, some featuring innovative side bets and gameplay quirks.

Craps

If you think you need to have a cheering, back-slapping crowd around you to enjoy craps, think again. Thanks to the ingenuity of software developers, the dice game synonymous with wild nights in Vegas has been brought online with immersive graphics and random number generator software. 

Baccarat

Baccarat has an enduring glamour, thanks to its association with James Bond and jet-setting high rollers. It is, however, a very simple game of chance, where you simply have to bet on which of two hands you think will win. These two hands will be based on the cards automatically dealt according to fixed rules. As it’s all down to luck, you can almost think of it as like playing a slot game, but with playing cards. You’ll usually find at least one or two baccarat games at top real money online casinos.

Live Casino

You don’t have to miss out on the real casino atmosphere when playing online. These days, the top sites will have a range of live dealer games where professional staff deal cards and spin roulette wheels in stylish studios. Some games are even beamed from actual brick-and-mortar casinos. You can also go leftfield and try to win real money by trying your luck with glitzy gameshow-style experiences.

How to Make a Deposit at Real Money Casinos

You’ll need to make a deposit if you want to play real money casino games. The good news is that the best casino sites offer a range of deposit methods, so it’s pretty easy to get started. From traditional debit and credit card deposits, to e-wallets like PayPal and Neteller, and pay by phone bill options, there’s a deposit option for everyone.

Top Real Money Online Casino Sites

Novibet

Novibet’s biggest selling point is arguably its mammoth games library. There are almost 3,500 slot games alone, plus a wealth of table games and live dealer attractions. What’s more, you can get your Novibet experience off to a flying start with a 100% up to £150 matched deposit offer. The welcome bonus package also includes 15 free spins on the ever-popular Book of Dead slot.

All British Casino

Images of red telephone boxes, Tower Bridge and the London Eye greet you when you arrive at All British Casino, and that’s certainly a lot of fun. Even more enjoyable is the selection of games, which includes progressive jackpot slots like Atlantean Treasures Mega Moolah, and live casino gameshows like Mega Wheel. All British Casino also has a great array of Slingo games to discover. As well as offering a 100% up to £100 welcome bonus, the site promises 10% cashback if your balance ever dips below £10.

Spin & Win

Spin & Win really knows how to make new casino players feel at home. Not only is there a 100% up to £250 matched deposit up for grabs, but you also have the chance to claim up to 100 free spins on a prize wheel. As you might guess from the name, this is a site packed with slots, from classics like Cleopatra to the zany Rick and Morty Wubba Lubba Dub Dub. There’s a whole section devoted to Megaways slots, where reel modifiers can boost your chances of a return, and lots of table games to enjoy too.

Race Casino

If the bold, striking look of Race Casino’s website isn’t enough to get you interested, the games selection should manage it. Helpful tabs point you to oodles of slots, table games, jackpots and Slingo titles. The site is also no slouch when it comes to live dealer games such as Evolution’s groundbreaking Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt, which brings the hero of the famed Gonzo’s Quest slot game to life. You can boost your first deposit by 100%, up to a £100 maximum, and there’s a 10% rebate bonus baked in as well.

Casushi

With its day-glo Godzilla, comic book colours and irreverent tone, Casushi is one of our top picks for players who fancy an online casino that does things a little differently. But, while it certainly has a tongue-in-cheek feel, Casushi’s offerings should be taken seriously. There are heaps of slots to browse, along with progressive jackpot games like Immortal Romance Mega Moolah. Bonus-wise, new players can help themselves to the 100% up to £50 matched deposit and 50 free spins for Book of Dead, while regular play can earn you points you can use to buy more bonus spins.  

Play Real Money Casino Games on Your Mobile

There’s no need to be cooped up at home to enjoy playing real money casino games. More and more games are developed especially for mobile, so you can play your favourite titles on the go. You’ll have a couple of options if you do choose to play when you’re out and about: using the mobile casino website or downloading the mobile casino app.

Whichever option you choose gives you access to most if not all of the same games, bonus offers and payment methods, but there are just a couple of factors that we think gives a casino app the edge:

Best Real Money Casino for Mobile Players:

Claim a Bonus at Real Money Casinos

The beauty of playing real money casino games is that you can play with casino bonuses. Of course, you could claim a no deposit bonus, but depositing real money usually gives you access to deals that offer higher bonus sums. And, while no deposit free spins are a popular form of casino welcome bonus, these do limit your bonus gameplay to online slots. By contrast, when you claim a matched deposit bonus, you’ll be able to use your bonus funds on a wider selection of games.

What Is a Matched Deposit Bonus?

A matched deposit bonus sees online casinos reward new players with a percentage of their first deposit, up to a certain amount. This gives you additional casino credit to play with. The percentage match, and the match limit, varies between sites, but 100% and 200% deposit matches are some of the most common deals.

Reload and Rebate Bonuses

Bonuses aren’t just reserved for new customers at the best online casinos. As a returning member, you can often look forward to reload bonuses, so called because they’re given when you top up your account. These often take the form of additional matched deposit bonuses, though some real money online casino sites also provide batches of free spins. What’s more, you may be eligible for rebate bonuses, where you can claim back some of your losses. For example, an online casino may provide a 10% rebate of any losses you incur in a given timeframe.

Bonus Terms and Conditions

When claiming any bonus at an online casino, it’s vital to check what strings are attached. For example, bonuses usually come with strict deadlines – if you don’t use them in time, they’ll expire. There may be maximum limits on how much you’re able to win using your bonus funds or free spins, and certain titles or categories of games may be excluded. 

Then there’s the issue of wagering requirements, which can prove a major obstacle to transforming your bonus profits into a real money return. If there’s a wagering requirement in place, it’ll mean you have to bet your bonus amount, or the value of your free spins winnings, a certain number of times. So, if there’s a 10x wagering requirement and you claim a matched deposit bonus of £50, you’ll have to bet £500 before you can cash out the winnings.

Staying Safe at Real Money Casinos

Whether you’re looking for the best online slots or table games, it’s important to make sure you’re playing at a trusted online casino before you make a real money deposit. Here are a few factors which will set the best real money casinos apart:

Licence

A valid gambling licence is the first thing you should check for before you play at online casinos, be that with real money or free games. Licensing bodies such as the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) monitor gambling operators to ensure they’re playing by the rules when it comes to fairness and player protection. UK casino sites must also clearly state the level of protection they offer to player funds.

It goes without saying that Compare.bet only recommends UK licensed casino sites, but it’s easy to check for yourself. You’ll see the Gambling Commission logo and the licence number in the website footer, but you can also search UKGC licensee register for more details.

Encryption

Before you enter your personal details or make a real money deposit, it’s important to check that the website is safe. You should check for ‘https’ in the URL bar, as this shows that the site is secure. Look as well for the small padlock icon on the payment page. If you can’t see both of these, you shouldn’t play at that casino.

Reviews

Casino reviews will tell you a lot about a site’s deposit and withdrawal options and processing times, so are well worth checking out before you sign up. However, it’s also worth checking casino forums to gauge the general feel for a site, as you’ll find information about real players’ experiences, and you can also ask any questions you may have.

Ready to Play Real Money Casino Games?

Now that we’ve run you through the kinds of games and bonuses available, you might be curious to know where you can enjoy real money games in the UK. You can compare top sites and welcome bonus deals right here, then sign up whenever you’re ready!