Best Online Casinos Paying Real Money
Check the updated list of reputable online casino sites that we strongly recommend. We deeply test these gambling sites, which are also tested and evaluated by random players from whom we collect data. You can check the reviews in details.
The Best Online Casinos for Real Money (With Reviews and Bonuses)
Historic Notes
Online casinos were first introduced to the gambling public in or around 1995. In the beginning, these casinos were merely an offshoot from online sports books. That all changed in late 1995 when the first relevant online casino (Internet Casinos Inc.) was introduced by Microgaming. In 1996, Microgaming saw a great opportunity to dominate the industry and sold all of its casinos interests in order to focus on developing a top-flight gaming software platform.
Regulatory Advances
For the first 2-3 years, online casinos ran with minimal regulatory oversight. The first jurisdiction to offer any kind of licensing was Costa Rica. Unfortunately, it was only a business license and didn't offer players much in the way of rules and regulations for their protection. By the beginning of the 21st century, a group of smaller republics and countries saw an opportunity to step in and regulate the industry. Jurisdictions such as Curacao, Malta and Gibraltar assigned government agencies to developed standards of operation.
As it turned out, online gaming operators that were looking for legitimacy, were more than willing to comply with gaming rules if it meant offering players peace of mind. Today, there are dozens of regulatory agencies that license online casinos. Players should look for names like the UK Gambling Commission, Isle of Man, Alderney and Kahnawake as well as the aforementioned Curacao, Gibraltar and Malta to see qualified operatators, along to check its local laws for gambling regulation.
Software Providers
As mentioned above, Microgaming was the first company to focus on developing a software platform that worked well over the Internet. The company's initial software product was simple and offered approximately 50 different games. By the early 2000s on, several other gaming software companies added divisions that focused on gambling games. As the competition increased, developers were challenged to develop more and better games. Today, there are as many as fifty different companies developing platforms and games. Major industry players include Betsoft, Playtech, RealTime Gaming, TopGame and Rival Gaming.
"Safe and Fair" Online Casinos
In order to assure players they are enjoying "safe and fair" games, software platform developers have created random number generators (RNG) to produce random results when spinning a reel, throwing dice or drawing cards. Most regulatory agencies now require that each online casino's RNG be tested and certified by an independent body in order to protect players from manipulation and cheating. Today, the three primary testing companies used by a majority of the developers and casinos are iTech Labs, eCOGRA and GLI, doing business as TST. Players should look for a RNG certification prior to joining an online casino site.
Technology Behind Online Casinos
During the early years, players were required to download a number of files in order to play casino games over the Internet. The downloads were voluminous and took a long time to complete. Unfortunately, there were no other alternatives. Further complicating the process was the fact that earlier versions only worked with PC, leaving MAC and Linux users out in the cold. As technology improved into the late 2000s, companies like Microgaming and Playtech began developing a separate platform that worked directly from a player's web-browser (flash mode).
This gave players access to online casino games regardless of what type of personal computer they were using. In recent years, further advancements have brought Internet gambling right to the players through their mobile devices (3D, Virtual Reality). Owners of smartphones and tablets can now play casino games while on the go. Since mobile apps are still in its infancy, games tend to be limited, but more games are being added every day.
The Casino Games
It goes without saying that online gaming casinos are only as good as the games they offer. Modern technology has allowed game developers to innovate beyond imagination. Today, players have access to hundreds of games, depending on which casinos they employ. While most software developers offer rather generic table games (blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, craps, Sic Bo, Red Dog), video poker and scratch cards, the trend that drive the industry, are slot machines and 3D video slots.
Advancements in gaming technology and competition have inspired game developers to push the envelop and come up with amazing graphics and video/audio features. They also innovate fun and exciting bonus games, which offer players more chances to win big money. For players who enjoy being in a live casino, game developers are now conceiving gaming simulations where a live dealer initiates the gaming action in an interactive forum.
Where to look for a legitimate gambling site?
There are literally hundreds if not thousands of casinos to choose from, just Google them. It's up to the player to confirm that a site is properly licensed and certified before joining. Aside from that, players are typically "recruited" by casinos with some amazing bonus promotions. Hundreds of dollars are offered for doing nothing more than signing up and making deposits. Of course, the player is required to fulfill certain requirements in order to actually get money, but it's fun trying. This page provides a list of whitelisted casinos that are worth trying out.
General FAQ
Where can i play online casinos for real money?
There are literally hundreds if not thousands of casinos online from which to choose. It's up to the player to confirm that a site is properly licensed and certified before joining. Aside from that, players are typically 'recruited' by casinos with some amazing bonus promotions. The player is required to fulfill certain requirements in order to actually get money.
How do online casinos for real money work?
During the early years, players were required to download a series of files in order to play internet casinos. With the advent of technology, today, players can interact with online casinos directly from browser or via mobile phone, and deposit / withdraw with various currencies and cryptocurrencies guided by secure transactions, thanks to credit cards or digital wallets. Furthermore, modern online casinos can take advantage of new technologies such as 3D, augmented and virtual reality.
Is it safe to play online casinos for real money?
In order to assure players that they are using 'safe and fair' casino games, software platform developers have created random number generators (RNG) to produce random results when spinning a reel, throwing dice or drawing cards. Today, there are testing companies used by a majority of the developers and casinos, who are in charge of checking and testing the validity of random number generators used by casinos. Therefore, it would be a good rule for players, to look for a RNG certification prior to joining a real money casino online.
What kind of games are available at online casinos?
While most software developers offer fairly generic table games (such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, craps, sic bo, red dog, video poker, live dealer tables and scratch cards), the trend driving the industry today is mainly for slot machines (3/5 / multi-reel slots, bonus slots, progressive jackpots) and 3D video slots.
