Mobile App Games – Cash Apps That Pay Real Money
Exploring mobile real money apps offering cash prizes and rewards for easy and straightforward mobile play
Nowadays, if you come across a game you can’t play on mobile, it’ll raise a few eyebrows. Of course, there are some games which need high-end PC setups to run effectively, but for the types of real money games we highlight and analyze, we’d all expect to enjoy them on smaller screens in a fully-optimized, perfectly responsive way.
That’s why real money mobile game apps exist. They deliver a worthwhile gaming experience that gives players the chance to enjoy games on their smartphones.
For our study here, we can start by recognizing the high-level types:
- Apps you’ll find at places like the Apple or Google Play Stores, or sometimes downloadable via the desktop site of a provider. We can typically bracket these as casual, skill-based gaming, or rewards apps.
- Apps provided by gambling or gaming operators, specifically to give players or bettors an engaging and straightforward, easy to use experience on mobile that’s representative of the quality the desktop experience delivers. Casino game apps are the best example, though you’ll also encounter other forms of gambling like bingo or poker.
For many years now, game developers have been creating countless variants of real-money games with a focus on ensuring they can be played optimally on a mobile phone, leading to a situation where app-based mobile gaming is now widespread.
Cash app games are everywhere, and the widespread interest in playing them to earn, win, or make money shows no signs of abating.
So, they’re a core part of real money gaming for us to explore. Our first step is to understand the types of operators, the games they offer, and their cash rewards systems. For that, a list of the best free-to-play mobile game apps will do the trick.
What are the best free game apps that pay real money?
- Blackout Bingo
- Lucky Block
- Swagbucks
- Axie Infinity
- Long Game
- Gamehag
- Wealth Words
- Givling
- Klondike Solitaire
- 8-Ball Pool
- 21 Blitz
- Lucky Day
- Spin Royale
- Gamee
- WSOP Real Money Poker
- Pulsz: Fun slots and casino – a high-quality social casino experience with over 300 social casino games, including slots, poker and roulette.
- Inboxdollars – free rewards app with a lengthy history in the online gaming industry.
- Mistplay – discover new games and get rewarded while playing.
- Lucktastic – a fun and free way to win real cash and prizes and earn rewards.
- Dominoes Gold – play the classic board game dominos for real-world prizes.
- Bananatic – play and test free online games. Write game reviews. Complete in-game quests to win virtual currency.
- Match to win – 100% free money-making app where you can play for cash and win real rewards.
- Royal Slots – play the thrilling Royal casino slot machines with a 20M slots welcome bonus for free.
- Solitaire Cash – a free app that lets you compete with other players at the same skill level for the opportunity to earn cash prizes.
- Solitaire Cube – compete in large cash tournaments and head-to-head competitions with valuable prizes.
- Big Time Cash – popular app where you can make real money playing video games.
Will these apps pay out instantly?
Gaming on some of these apps can be turned into cold, hard cash or gift cards instantly or after you’ve built up a solid positive account balance. Indeed, playing on cash prize apps is one of the most promising ways to win money online instantly. It’s not perfect, though. Given you’ll typically be building up cash in an account pretty slowly, it’ll take some time to build up enough to withdraw. When you do request a withdrawal, it won’t be instantly transferred in seconds or minutes, you’ll likely have to wait a few days for the transaction process to complete.Blackout Bingo
Blackout Bingo offers a straightforward collection of online bingo games where winners are rewarded with real cash prizes. This app is widely regarded as a top pick for many gaming fans.
Players will find the main plus point of this game to be its speed, with each bingo round lasting only two minutes. The gameplay is the same as any classic bingo game, with extra points awarded for marking off your number quickly or getting double bingo. Blackout is a bingo game that you can play and win points, and then redeem any Blackout Bingo points you’ve won for Paypal cash or to pay for merchandise like t-shirts.
Android users can download Blackout Bingo at the Play Store. The game is also downloadable from Apple for use on iOS devices. If you prefer an alternative, then the online gaming platform at Skillz also lists Blackout Bingo in its game library.
It’s worth mentioning an alternative bingo solution here that’s known as Bingo Cash and is a direct competitor to Blackout Bingo. Indeed, you play bingo games at Bingo Cash similarly to Blackout, with the app matching you with opponents of a similar skill level. Player reports suggest that it’s easier to build up some valuable winnings for free, but if it’s multi-player tournaments you’re looking for, then Blackout offers better options.
Lucky Block
Lucky Block is a new giveaway crypto game promising to make over $2 million in cash up for grabs to players. The money sits in a prize pool with a weekly giveaway to one winner until there’s nothing left in the pool. Joining to play is completely free and money sits in your account as Lucky Block crypto tokens which can fluctuate in exchange value.
Connect your crypto wallet to the game platform, and you’ll receive an automatic free entry into the subsequent weekly draw. You can buy more entries to increase your prospects of winning.
Swagbucks
At Swagbucks, gamers will not only be earning extra cash by playing games but by watching adverts, completing surveys, and more. This activity makes them a type of paid real money game. The enormous games library includes bingo, card games, dice games, slots, puzzles, and adventure quests.
You can level up as you navigate the game titles on the platform and watch the prize payouts increase in size as you improve your performance.
Prizes can be redeemed as cash or in the form of gift cards with gift cards in particular subject to just a single dollar minimum cashout.
The best way to get involved is to visit the Swagbucks online website.
Axie Infinity
Axie Infinity is another game that’s seen an astronomical rise in interest in tandem with the growth of cryptocurrencies. It’s well known for providing some players worldwide with a way to supplement their household income by making real cash while playing. Playing can present some risks since you effectively need to spend money to have a chance of winning. It’s not gambling, as such, but falls more into the area of skill-gaming, and the best way to consider it is as a form of investment with gaming thrown in.
Axie Infinity works on the Ethereum blockchain, meaning you’ll need ETH coins to play and earn cash in ETH, which you could later exchange for fiat cash. You could classify Axie as one of the new breeds of Play-to-Earn games, and it essentially merges standard gameplay with the world of finance to ultimately give players a positive return for solid in-game performance.
Long Game
LongGame offers an interesting way to save while enjoying gaming. It’s one of the free ways to play. This cash rewards type app promises to “reward you for every day saving with chances to play games and win real cash prizes through your bank account.” It’s a way to save money and earn it at the same time, with key features including Custom Saving Jars. Read more about the Long Game rewards at Google Play.
Go here to play free Long Game.
Gamehag
Gamehag is a rewards platform where gamers can earn prizes and gift cards for playing various high-ranked video games. You can play on a desktop PC or your Android or IOS smartphone.
It’s a great way to play free online games and get financial returns. The essential item to know is the Soul Gems. These are the currency you’ll be accumulating that, ultimately, you’ll cash in for the payouts. Gamehag explains the concept of Soul Gems in depth on their shop webpage.
Wealth Words
One of the better-known game apps and having a global reach, Wealth Words attracts a significant number of good reviews at online review sites like Trustpilot.
Get the app or go to the website and sign up with Wealth Words, and you’ll be making real money playing games including crossword and other puzzles, poetry and story games. You’ll find an extensive library of over 500 options.
Givling App
Givling is a bit of an anomaly in our list because it’s centred on one specific group – students. If you’re a student, it might give you the chance to pay off your student loan.
On the Givling app, you’ll be participating in a free or paid general knowledge trivia contest that could have up to 300,000 players and a trivia contest that could have up to 300,000 players that also has a crowdfunding element. Anyone playing can win a weekly cash prize by correctly answering a series of true or false questions. The three top players win a share of the jackpot.
Players can play free twice daily, with each game lasting a few minutes. You can see that there’s a pretty low chance of landing a share of the jackpot. Still, app users who participate in the free game at least ten times every 30 days are included in random draws with up to $10k awarded to winners in crowdfunding for repaying a student loan.
Givling covers pretty much everything you need to know about how the platform and prize structure works on their FAQ page.
Klondike Solitaire
Solitaire is highly regarded as a mentally stimulating game and is most often played free and without chances to win cash. But there are real money versions of solitaire, too. This card game classic comes in several different forms that you can play on Android or an iOS device. Aside from blackjack and some other widely played casino card games, solitaire perhaps comes in more variants than you would expect, with the Klondike software varieties performing exceptionally well.
This choice of cash prize solitaire makes it hard to pick out any one in particular. If you fancy a game with the chance of winning a cash prize from your effort, check out this page at Joywallet, or you can also play real money solitaire at Skillz.com.
8-Ball Pool
If playing pool against friends at the pool hall is out of reach right now, there’s a way you can still play without leaving home. 8-Ball Pool is the app that delivers the solution, allowing you to play against other players and friends in 1-on-1 challenge matches or multiplayer tournaments.
Win the games, and you’ll be levelling up and winning Pool Coins for your successes. The games have many extra features, such as customising cues and table cloths. 8-Ball Pool is free and accessible on iPhone, iPad, iTouch, & Android devices.
21 Blitz
We covered a solitaire game a couple of minutes ago, and now we have a blackjack game. But not just any old blackjack game; this one has elements of solitaire included in the gameplay. 21 Blitz is wildly popular and can be found on many sites and apps online.
This card game is a fast-paced combination of Blackjack and Solitaire, where you’re pitched against competing players for a chance to win cash. Like many games, you can play for free and improve your skills to a point when you’re ready to fund a playing account and challenge an opponent with a stake on the line. The game itself is simple. You have to make 21s or stacks of 5 cards to score points. Bonuses are awarded for doing well in the rounds.
You can get the full rundown on exactly how the game works by downloading the 21 Blitz app from the Apple Store, or Android users can visit the Play Store.
The app is also available on the Skillz mobile gaming platform.
Lucky Day
Now, we come to one of the leading sweepstake apps – Lucky Day. This app follows a familiar format where players play free games that include daily scratch-offs and raffles, with any winnings building up as virtual coins or tokens in your account to eventually be cashed out via a Paypal transfer of a gift card.
Given this app has had something like 10 million installs, you won’t be surprised to find there have already been plenty of winners. Indeed, the internet is awash with Luck Day reviews which seem to confirm it’s legit, and you can end up with extra cash. Some players won’t like the constant stream of ads, but the makers need to earn their money somehow!
It’s worth noting that it’s not just gaming on offer; there are additional ways to build up your token bank by completing surveys, accepting special offers, watching videos, and inviting friends that become subsequent members.
Visit the Lucky Day professional-looking website for complete details or download the Luck Day app from the Apple Store.
Spin Royale : Play the slots app to win real money
Spin Royale is one of the leading sweepstakes rewards apps that offers Android and iOS players the chance to win cash with slots spins for free in competitions every single day. There’s nothing to pay to complete the download of the Spin Royale app from the Google Play store or the Apple store. Just press the spin button, match three of the displayed symbols, and take your opportunity to win cash or tokens.
This popular cash app is owned and operated by Viker Ltd, a UK-based games development company. Viker has built Spin Royale so you can cash out using various banking options, including PayPal, Visa, gift cards, and in-game currencies. The app makes money by displaying video ads to players.
You won’t be earning lots of money, and some of the ads can be misleading, but it’s a simple enough way of maybe earning a small amount in dollars without very much effort.
Gamee
Gamee is another highly-rated app offering ways to play games based on luck, compete in tournaments, or even just log in consistently over a period of days to collect tickets and win one of Gamee’s real money prizes. The Gamee site states there is up to $10,000 available in instant prizes to win every week and all you have to do is spin the Fortune Wheel, play the Lucky Games, or take part in the Daily Gamee Lotto.
Get the Gamee app here at Google Play or download from the Apple Store.
WSOP Real Money Poker
Online poker players are spoilt for choice in their gaming and there are many poker sites like Pokerstars or 888Poker that offer cash games and tournaments. One of the most prestigious, though, is the WSOP poker site where players can also download apps and play. WSOP stands for World Series of Poker and is responsible for some major global tournaments.
You can read much more about the WSOP organisation here and download the app for Android or iPhone on this page.
Real money gambling apps
These apps fall into the bracket of sites or operators that have a desktop presence but have created a mobile app to ensure their customers get a good mobile experience. And, of course, so those bettors can play, bet, or gamble easily from a mobile device.
The use of apps for this is becoming less since many sites now are built so that the software automatically recognizes when a user is using a mobile phone for access and resizes or optimizes.
However, some operators do still make an app available, sometimes because it will give a better overall experience and sometimes because they may get it into an app store and gain some extra visibility.
The most prevalent form of app-based gambling is focused on casino games.
Apps featuring blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and craps replicate real casino experiences. Leading options include apps from MGM, Caesars, and 888Casino.
These games generally offer better odds than slots, with house edges as low as 0.5% for optimal blackjack play. However, most players face higher losses due to strategic errors.
Video slots perform well on smaller screens. In particular, slot-focused apps like Slotomania, Jackpot City, and Big Fish Casino simulate traditional slot machines with features such as:
- Progressive jackpots that grow across players.
- Themed games with licensed intellectual property.
- Varying volatility levels for different risk preferences.
- Bonus games and free spins to boost engagement.
These games have a negative expected value, with return-to-player (RTP) rates typically between 85% and 97%.
Which brings us to live dealer casino gaming. Apps like DraftKings Casino, FanDuel Casino, and Evolution Gaming platforms offer live-streamed casino games with real dealers. Players place bets on the mobile interface while interacting with human dealers in real time. Personally, I believe the games you can play in live casinos online on websites or real money gambling apps give the best combination of fun, entertainment, and prospects of winning.
Online bingo works well on mobile, as do lotteries.
For a couple of important forms of gaming like poker and video game tournaments, while apps may be available, these games can be negatively impacted by any internet connectivity issues. They don’t fully lend themselves to perfect play on a mobile, particularly in the case of video game contests where even a small lag might have an impact on an outcome.
How do rewards apps compare with gambling apps?
The main difference between gambling apps and rewards apps is that gambling apps involve risking money on uncertain outcomes, while rewards apps give users benefits for completing specific actions without financial risk. Some gray area exists with apps that incorporate “loot boxes” or chance-based rewards in games, which have come under scrutiny for potentially introducing gambling-like mechanics to audiences not typically exposed to gambling. We can see a breakdown of differences between individual aspects in this table:Aspect | Mobile Rewards Apps | Mobile Gambling Apps |
---|---|---|
Primary purpose | Brand engagement, customer loyalty, and marketing | Entertainment through games of chance with real-money stakes |
Mechanics | Users earn points/rewards for real-world activities like shopping, watching ads, completing surveys, or meeting fitness goals | Users wager money on games where outcomes are determined by chance |
Money flow | Companies pay users rewards for engagement with their brand | Users deposit money with the possibility of losing it or winning more |
Risk element | Minimal to none – users typically don’t lose money | Significant – users can lose their deposited funds |
Examples | Shopkick, Fetch Rewards, achievement-based fitness apps, brand loyalty programs | Online casino apps, sports betting platforms, poker apps |
Regulation | Subject to marketing and data privacy regulations, but not gambling laws | Heavily regulated by gambling authorities, age-restricted, often geographically limited |
Psychology | Based on positive reinforcement for actions beneficial to the sponsoring brand | Leverages variable reward schedules that can potentially lead to problematic behavior |
How do you get a payout?
Processes for getting payouts from gambling apps and rewards or casual gaming apps will differ:
Payouts from rewards apps
Rewards apps track your activities – shopping, watching ads, or completing surveys – earning you points, tokens, or credits. These accumulate in your account, but most apps require reaching a minimum threshold (e.g., 1,000 points or $5) before cashing out.
- Access the redemption section via the wallet icon, rewards tab, or account page.
- Choose a payout method: gift cards, PayPal, bank transfer, cryptocurrency, or merchandise.
- Provide necessary details, such as an email for digital rewards or banking info for direct deposits.
- Submit the request, with processing times ranging from instant to several weeks due to fraud prevention reviews.
Verification & Restrictions:
- Some apps require identity verification for large or first-time payouts.
- Gift cards may have expiration dates or geographic restrictions.
- Reading the fine print prevents unexpected limitations.
Any player can collect their winnings by requesting payouts to easily accessible payment processing solutions like Paypal, Gcash, and Paytm.
Payouts from gambling apps
Payouts from mobile gambling apps follow a regulated process due to financial and legal requirements.
- Winning & Account Balance: Winnings from poker, casino games, slots, or sports bets are added to your account, separate from deposits.
- Selecting a Payout Method: Navigate to the withdrawal section and choose from bank transfers, e-wallets (PayPal, Skrill), credit/debit card refunds, cryptocurrency, or mailed checks. Options vary by location and licensing.
- Verification & Limits: Apps typically enforce withdrawal minimums (usually $10–$50) and may cap maximum withdrawals per transaction or period.
Identity Verification (KYC):
- First-time withdrawals require submission of government ID, proof of address, and payment method verification.
- This regulatory process prevents fraud and money laundering but can delay payouts by several days.
Typical processing times:
- E-wallets: 24–48 hours
- Bank transfers: 3–5 business days
- Card refunds: 3–7 business days
- Physical checks: Several weeks
- Many apps impose a 24–72 hour “pending period” before processing withdrawals.
Taxation & fees
- In some jurisdictions, gambling winnings are taxable, and large payouts may be reported to tax authorities.
- Some apps withhold taxes or charge withdrawal fees, depending on the operator’s policies.
- It’s best to check the operator’s terms and conditions for any other processing fees.
Are there any drawbacks with mobile apps?
The drawbacks of playing on mobile include:
Some players just don’t get the same quality of experience, more noticeably from those games which haven’t been natively designed to work on mobile. This is not such an issue with those titles developed and optimised from the bottom up for mobile, but even some of those may suffer from some loss of overall quality than if they were played out on bigger screens.
Competitive gaming can be affected because performance on smaller screens may be limited differently. One example might be seen in video game tournaments where those participants using a controller on a console or connected to a PC/laptop would most likely have an inherent advantage over a small screen user.
We should also mention here the standard warnings on any form of gambling or betting money on the outcome of games – there’s a risk that you could lose money and, perhaps worse, become addicted…and lose even more! With mobile gaming, this risk might be even more acute, given the ease with which you can access games. The advice is to be very cautious, recognise the danger this could be to you personally, and read the responsible gambling page here for more info on potential safeguards.
Are there any device considerations for a good gaming experience?
If you’re going to use a smartphone or a tablet for any sort of gaming you may have to consider its overall capability.
There are three main ways in which the specifications of an individual mobile device can affect your enjoyment of a game.
1. Processor power can have an impact on the speed and smooth downloading of software and graphics.
2. Dimensions of the screen and the resolution it operates at can affect how clearly the gameplay is displayed.
3. Battery life can be important, with a resultant impact on how long you’re able to play any game in between charges.
To ensure each of these are covered – especially if you’re going to be playing competitively – you’ll need to have checked out some of the technology review sites.
Are there any risks involved in playing mobile real money games?
Potential players must be aware of any risks when playing real money games on mobile devices. There are a few security measures that gamers should take before starting their first game session:
- Ensure data privacy settings are enabled on your device.
- Check out user reviews before downloading an app.
- Read the Terms & Conditions before depositing funds. Companies behind these apps take advantage of terms like “free game” without mentioning other fees, which allow users to deposit small amounts without being fooled by large cash prizes.
- Only deposit what you can afford.
- Set limits on time spent playing.
- Beware of scams or spam emails promising big wins or free bonuses.
What’s the future for real money gaming on apps?
The future for mobile gaming – certainly of the real money type – appears to rest mainly on an increase in the type of games that are available, although some improvements may come from the widening use of HTML5. This is markup code that’s used in the design of games and is gradually displacing Flash.
It offers greater all round game performance, and clearly that can improve mobile performance too.
Regarding the types of games, one interesting near future development might come in the form of competitive console-type video games. These are traditionally better played using a console or on PC with a controller or joystick, but there is growing focus on making them playable on mobiles too.
Technology Advances
It’s no secret in the industry that the take up of mobile phones on a global basis has slowed down after a number of years of year on year growth in penetration, although still there is plenty of potential in some regions of the world.
This slowdown though is likely to spark the manufacturers into looking for ways to keep their market share up…..and one way they can do that is in device innovation. We should see developments in improving battery life, flexible displays, and perhaps most importantly in delivering Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality capabilities. Each of these may have an impact on mobile real money gaming.
Resources
If you’re looking to get into real money gaming on mobile apps there are a few resources which can give some useful supporting info:
Videos
Youtube is of course the place to go for visual information. You’ll find a series of videos on real money mobile gaming, some of which are more focussed on ‘making money’ rather than trying to win it, but still useful.
Social
There’s plenty of up to date information posted regularly on the popular social networks. Twitter is always worth keeping an eye on, though most Tweets seem to be on general board gaming subjects rather than winning cash by playing. Facebook is obviously going to be at the top of any list too, while Tumblr posts on real money mobile games are another potential useful resource.
Info Websites
There are not too many great websites purely focused on showing exactly what’s available in the field of mobile gaming. In fact the only one I’ve found which does offer a ton of info is RealMoneygamblingApps.com. There’s a lot of attention given to the site on casino gaming and mobile betting, but given these are two of the biggest areas of online gambling that’s to be expected. Still there is some useful supporting info and plenty of focus on where to play.
Forums
This forum at IPhoneBettingApps looks to have a reasonable number of posts, and if you want some forum views on the gaming platform at Skillz this thread at BlackHatworld (and SEO/marketers forum) has some interesting comments.
Summary
Playing games on mobile phones is one aspect of the entertainment industry you can expect to see growing for many years to come. Even now there is still a wide untapped audience of potential mobile gamers.
In fact it’s this mobile aspect that has actually been responsible for the success of some games, with Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store making it easy for developers to put something clever together and get it released.
It’s a fair bet that you’ll be looking to play mobile real money games at some point, and the apps that make it possible will continue to grow in number.
At high level, there’s a choice of gambling apps or rewards apps that may have casual gaming elements.
Gambling apps involve a risk of losing money on wagers, rewards apps have no wagering requirements and you might end up with enough rewards points to earn some gift cards to make a purchase or maybe a small amount of dough in a Paypal account.