Top Real Money Casinos

Real money vs free play games: what’s the difference?

Almost every online casino game gives players the chance to test the waters with free play casino games. This means you can still enjoy the fun of online casino, without the pressure of real money on the table. But there are some differences between free and real money games that are worth taking note of.

While you’ll be able to play virtually all of your favourite slots titles for free— even branded video slots— you might not get to access all features and bonus rounds. Of course, you wouldn’t win real money with free games anyway, but if you’re playing casino games for fun, you wouldn’t necessarily get to enjoy the full extent of each game’s features.

Live dealer games are pretty much out of the question when it comes to free play casinos. These immersive casino games are almost always exclusive to players gambling real money due to the increased costs of these games in comparison to computerised random number generated (RNG) casino games. You might be able to watch a game of live dealer roulette or blackjack, but but your chips need to be real cash for you to take a seat.

Staking limits – choosing the right level

When playing with real money, it’s always important to play within your means. This means understanding which tables are right for you. A crucial part of enjoying yourself playing at online casinos for real money is to find the right staking limits for your bankroll.

bankroll. You can play video slots 10p a spin, but there are also certain Playtech slots that will go up to £1,000 a turn. The same applies to table games. You have games you can play for pennies or high-roller tables with maximum bet limits in the thousands of pounds range. It helps to keep it real, if you only enter the site with £10, the chances are you aren’t going to walk away with £1,000,000 -of course, it isn’t impossible, but it is unlikely.

Low stakes games

Low stakes games are the best place to start, no matter the size of your eventual budget. Low stakes games offer a good dose of excitement and enjoyment with less pressure than big money games. With penny slots offering you a slice of the slots action for just 1p per line, you can win real money without putting big money on the line. These slots might not have the same array of bonus features, wild symbols or progressive jackpots as games with higher stakes, but they certainly give you a taste of the action.

Over in the table and card games section, Playtech casinos offer penny roulette which is the lowest stake you’ll find for this game. Netent Professional Series has a range of card games such as blackjack, baccarat and punto banco that can be played in low, standard or high limit variants. Not all casinos offer all these options, so check out the library before signing up to see that there are games available to suit your budget.

High stakes games

At the other end of the spectrum, you have games for high rollers. Those players that like to spend tens of pounds for each spin on a slot machine or play roulette at £100 (or more) a bet. These games are identical to the low stakes games, with the only difference being there are higher maximum bet limits, and you have the chance to win more money. For instance, slots normally payout a multiple of your line bet (or total bet), so if the jackpot is 1000x the line bet and you are playing for £0.01, your return is £10. Of course, if your line bet is £10, the jackpot is £10,000. It goes without saying that you should only play with high stakes if you can truly afford to lose the money you wager. Gamble only what you can afford to lose, and that makes winning much more pleasurable.

Look for the licence

If you’ve visited TopRatedCasinos.co.uk before, you’ll have noticed a common theme – we only recommend casinos that hold a valid UKGC licence. No matter if you’re playing with penny stakes or at high roller tables, it’s vital that you’re playing at an online casino that holds a valid licence. We only recommend casinos that hold a UKGC licence for one simple reason: to protect you from shady operators. These casinos are held to high standards when it comes to ensuring the safety and well-being of players and are subject to regular testing to make certain that games are fair and random.

Licenced casino sites must only offer safe and legal payment methods, and clearly state the measure they take to protect your funds, should the brand experience any financial difficulty. This means you can rest assured that your personal financial information is treated securely, and you understand exactly what you’re signing up to.

Casino bonuses for real money casino games

There are a plethora of casino bonuses up for grabs that can enhance your real money gaming experience. These are the bonuses you can expect to see at the best real money casino sites.

No deposit bonuses

A no deposit bonus is the perfect stepping-stone between free casino games into the world of real money. As the name suggests, you don’t need to make any financial commitment before claiming one of these offers. The most common no deposit bonus is free spins, but a few sites also have no deposit free money offers available. As a player, you get to taste the thrill of having real money on the line, while the casino benefits, knowing that a percentage of players will make a cash deposit to continue playing when the bonus runs out. Most no deposit bonuses come with wagering requirements, which does significantly reduce your chances of profiting from the bonus, but they’re a great way to enjoy the fun of casino nonetheless.

Matched deposit bonuses

These come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from welcome bonuses to reload offers. The concept is simple, you make a deposit and the casino matches it up to a certain value. You can then use these bonus funds to play real money games. However, these bonuses do tend to come with a couple of terms, like wagering requirements and maximum win caps. Still, there are some good matched deposit bonuses on the market, but it pays to shop around to find the best ones.

Wager-free bonuses

More casinos these days are turning to wager-free bonuses in an attempt to secure your business, especially when it comes to new online casinos. What the wager-free part means is that any winnings you get from the bonus is instantly put in your real money balance- no jumping through hoops to get there. However, most wager-free bonuses are tied in with a deposit. For example, deposit £10 and get 10 free spins with no wagering requirements. The free spins are usually only worth the minimum line bet amount, so snagging a fortune is perhaps out of the question, but any wins are real money so you can’t knock that.

Play real money games on your mobile

The world has gone mobile and so has real money casino gaming. All casinos either offer a mobile-friendly website or a native app to cater for mobile players. Many of the games that are now developed have a mobile-first approach, so the number of titles available to play on the go is ever increasing. If you want to play progressive jackpot slots, video poker, blackjack or high stakes live roulette, your mobile now has it all.