It didn’t take long after the internet itself went live that real money games hit the scene. Ever since the beginning of online communication, people have found inventive ways to play games for real money. Technology has come a long ways over the past five-ish years, and now we have thousands of websites that make it possible.
The widespread availability of the internet has also helped expand the market for real money games. With more people connected to the internet and willing to put real money on the line, it is easier now than ever before to find people to play with (or against).
But anyways, that’s enough history. If you’re looking for specific real money games, click on any of the links below to learn about that game.
- Baccarat
- Blackjack
- Caribbean Holdem
- Caribbean Stud
- Casino War
- Craps
- Keno
- Pai Gow Poker
- Roulette
- Slots
- Three Card Poker
Types of Games
Real money games are typically grouped into two categories. In the first category, we have gambling games. Games like blackjack, craps, roulette and so on fall into this category. Basically, anything that you can find in Vegas is a gambling game.
In the other category, we have skill games. This includes games such as poker, chess, Scrabble and others that are decided primarily by skill. The inclusion of poker in the “skill” category may be debated by some people, but as a former professional poker player, I can tell you with 100% certainty that it is a game of skill.
Gambling Games vs. Skill Games
Real money gambling games are the focus of this entire website. Imagine walking into a major Las Vegas casino and pointing at any game in the building. The odds are you can play that same game at an online casino.
Out of the two categories (gambling and skill games), gambling games are my favorite. You’d think skill games are more fun because you have more control over your destiny, but there’s one BIG problem with skill games.
Your earnings are very limited in skill games.
With the exception of poker, it is very tough to win even a couple hundred dollars with skill games online. Games such as scrabble and chess just haven’t taken off very well. There aren’t very many people willing to play those games because it’s way too easy to get a computer to help.
The reason I like gambling games is because they are played against the casino itself. I know the odds may be against me over the long run, but I also know that I at least have a chance to win a massive jackpot.
My experiences with real money skill games such as chess have always been very “meh.” I know that if I sign up to play chess with someone, it’ll be a $2 game that’s going to take 2 hours. And that’s assuming that my opponent doesn’t have a copy of Chessmaster 2000 running on his laptop feeding him moves.
People like to bash online gambling games, but “skill” games are hardly any better. At least with casino games I know what the odds are and I know who I’m playing against.
Beware of Phony Skill Games
Some websites claim to offer real money “skill games” that involve single-player games that look like arcade games. These are just gambling games masked as skill games. If you’re looking for true skill games, stay away from any game that is played against the house.
The only way a skill game is truly a skill game is when it’s played against other humans. Everything else is a sham. There may be elements of skill in those games, but gaming websites are not charities. They are there to make money and they set the rules.
I’m not trying to bash skill games at all. If skill games are your thing, that’s fine. I just wanted to dispel some of the myth that gambling games are bad and skill games are good. It really depends on what you’re looking for. With that out of the way, the rest of this guide will stick to real money gambling games.
Best Gambling Games
This is a tough one to tackle because “best” is such a subjective word. But if I had to pick just a couple of games as the best, I would probably go with blackjack and slots. Each one of these games caters to a distinct audience.
I pick blackjack as one of the best real money games because it involves quite a bit of strategy and critical thinking. The rules of the game are fairly simple, but the strategy and math behind the game is complex.
Blackjack is one of the few real money gambling games in which the player can actually affect the outcome of the game. The decisions you make in blackjack help determine whether you win or lose. If you think about it, that’s a pretty unique trait for a gambling game. Most casino games run on autopilot after you place the first bet.
Blackjack caters to the strategy audience. These are the people who like to engage their minds, concentrate on the game and formulate strategies. This kind of gambling is fun, but it can also be somewhat tiring.
Slots is a more recreational, fast-paced form of gambling. There’s no strategy involved in online slots and for some people, that’s a bonus. You can just sit back, relax and spin the reels.
One of the other things that makes slot machines popular is the possibility of winning a massive jackpot. The wins you get in any single hand of blackjack are limited. Slots, on the other hand, always have that gigantic jackpot sitting in the background, just waiting for a lucky gambler.
Slots and blackjack are both popular games in their own right. They cater to different gambling preferences and they do it well. Blackjack appeals to the strategy player while slots appeal more to the pure, gambling type of person.