18 Best Games That Pay Real Money (November 2024)

Are you looking for a new game to make real money? If so, you’re in the right place.

If you have quick hands, a sharp mind, and are familiar with the rules and strategies of some popular games online – you can turn that expertise into real money in competitive tournaments and head-to-head matches.

Mobile games are a fun activity in your free time. Unlike early phone games, such as Angry Birds and Flappy Bird, which were for entertainment only, today, it’s easy to find games that pay real money.

Many rely on competition, so being quick and strategic can pay off. From arcade games to trivia, you can have fun and make a little money in your spare time.

Many games are free to download, while some may require in-app purchases. These games are all legit being run by large corporations with millions in revenue and funding.

We list them all below this table, but these are our favorites (and why):

Name	Why We Like Them	Start Playing	Learn more
🏆 Swagbucks	Oldest reward play system with a ton of options	Go to Swagbucks	Learn more
Blackout Bingo	Free, two minutes per round, very easy to play	Go to Blackout Bingo	Learn more
Bubble Cash	Skill-based Bubble popper game	Go to Bubble Cash	Learn more
Freecash	A variety of games, apps & surveys	Go to Freecash	Learn more
Solitaire Cash	Many varieties of solitaire	Go to Solitaire Cash	Learn more
Solitaire Cube	Short solitaire games (solo and tourney)	Go to Solitaire Cube	Learn more
Bingo Cash	Wide variety of bingo games	Go to Bingo Cash	Learn more
Rewarded Play	Play many different games to earn reward points	Go to Rewarded Play	Learn more
Pool Payday	Play pool on your phone to win prizes	Go to Pool Payday	Learn more
Cash’em All	100% free, earn based on time played	Go to Cash’em All	Learn more

1. Swagbucks – 🏆

Works With: Android and iOS devices

Prize Options: PayPal and gift card rewards

Swagbucks can be one of the best platforms to discover new moneymaking games and other rewarding activities. You can earn between $1 and $45 per game by reaching certain levels. Each game offer lists the accomplishments you must achieve and the completion deadline. Most games require you to complete the milestones within 14 days.

You will find games for many niches, including Adventure, Bingo, Casino, Card games, Dice, and Puzzles.

The offers update regularly as new games launch. You’ll find other options to make money as you complete a mission.

Several other activities can earn rewards points: online surveys, shopping online, scanning paper receipts, signing up for product offers, and watching videos.

Another reason to consider Swagbucks is for the low payout thresholds. Amazon gift card redemptions start at $1. You will need $5 to request PayPal cash or gift cards to other brands.

Why We Like Swagbucks

• Many game genres
• Multiple ways to make money besides playing games
• Some games don’t require in-app purchases
• Amazon gift card payments as small as $1
• PayPal Cash rewards start at $5

You only need to be 13 years old to join Swagbucks.

Here’s our full Swagbucks review to learn more

Go to Swagbucks

2. Blackout Bingo

Works With: Android and iOS

Prize Options: Cash and merchandise

Blackout Bingo is available for Android and iOS mobile devices and users can win cash prizes. It’s one of our favorite games that pay real money because each round takes just two minutes and is free. Players compete against other users who see the same balls and game cards. You will need to be the first player to get “BINGO” to win prizes.

There are several ways to earn points for this game:

• Daub the correct box when a number is called
• Bingo and Double Bingos
• Speed completion bonuses

It’s also possible to earn boosts that can help you claim squares without waiting for the caller to call the corresponding number.

You can redeem your points for PayPal cash prizes and merchandise like t-shirts and phone cases.

Please Note! Cash tournaments are available in most of the world. Cash tournaments are not enabled in the following states: AR, CT, DE, IN, LA, ME, SD. If you don’t live in a prize-enabled region, you can still play for free.

Why We Like Blackout Bingo

• Free to play
• Massive community on Facebook (41k members!)
• Play against people with similar skill levels
• 4.5 stars on 86.6K reviews on Apple Store, 4.5 stars on 9.4K reviews on Google Play Store

Go to Blackout Bingo

6. Solitaire Cube

Works With: Android and iOS

Prize Options: Cash and merch

Solitaire Cube is a fast-paced solitaire game where each hand only takes a few minutes. You can compete against individuals or in multiplayer tournaments.

Tournament entries start at $1, but higher payouts require a larger buy-in. You can win cash prizes or redeem your winnings for merchandise.

Practice rounds are free and a great way to learn the rules. You can also play for fun when you don’t want to spend money.

Please Note! Cash tournaments are available in most of the world. Cash tournaments are not enabled in the following states: AR, CT, DE, IN, LA, ME, SD. If you don’t live in a prize-enabled region, you can still play for free.

Why We Like Solitaire Cube

• Quick tournaments
• Cash or merchandise rewards
• Practice rounds are free
• 4.6 stars on 88K reviews on Apple Store, 4.5 stars on 7K reviews on Google Play Store

Go to Solitaire Cube

7. Bingo Cash

Works With: Android and iOS

Prize Options: Cash (PayPal & Apple Pay)

If you enjoy Bingo and think you can beat the masses, you’ll enjoy Bingo Cash from Papaya Gaming. It’s free to download and play with a variety of options. If there’s a version of Bingo you like, this app will have it.

The best part is that you’re matched with people of similar skill, and the top three finishers are considered winners. You don’t have to be at the top of the heap; being in the top three is good enough.

You can earn real money when you enter cash tournaments if you are not a resident of Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, South Carolina, or Washington.

Why We Like Bingo Cash

• Free to play with cash prizes
• The top 3 are the winners
• With 82.6K ratings, it has a 4.7 out of 5 on the Apple App Store.

Go to Bingo Cash

8. Rewarded Play

Works With: Android only

Prize Options: Gift card rewards

Rewarded Play is an Android app where you play games (like Solitaire, Wheel of Fortune, Yahtzee, Mahjong, etc.) and earn reward points that can be converted into gift cards at places like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, etc. If you enjoy playing games, they can introduce you to the most popular ones available, and the more you play them, the more points you earn.

This isn’t like other games where you have to deposit cash and compete against other people to earn money in tournaments. It’s completely free, and many people earn their first gift card within 48 hours.

Rewarded Play has been downloaded over 10 million times and has 4.3 stars on 171K reviews on the Google Play store.

Why We Like Rewarded Play

• Many different types of games
• You don’t have to pay to play – games are free
• You earn points based on how long you play
• You can convert points to gift cards

Go to Rewarded Play

10. Cash’em All

Works With: Android

Prize Options: Paypal, gift cards

Cash’em All is an app that pays you to play their free games – there are no ads, no deposits, no in-app purchases – you earn rewards based on how long you play games on their list. You don’t have to win tournaments or put in any of your money, and the reviews are positive. How much you earn will depend on the game, how often you play, and how long you’ve had to play it.

Why We Like Cash’em All

• You earn rewards based on time played, not a competitive
• No ads, no in-app purchases, no deposits – 100% free
• 4.3 stars on 1.26 million reviews on Google Play

Go to Cash’em All

11. Mistplay

Works With: Android devices only

Prize Options: Retail gift cards and Visa prepaid cards

Mistplay is exclusively for Android users and only offers game apps to redeem for reward units and gift cards. There are many game options to choose from, and you can make in-app purchases to reach advanced levels sooner.

The platform lets you redeem units for awards as small as 50 cents for Amazon gift cards. Other redemptions start at $5 for prepaid virtual Visa gift cards. Some gift cards may require a minimum $10 balance. The higher reward levels tend to have a higher per-unit value. You can also redeem for PayPal gift cards.

You will earn units as you install and complete the in-game milestone. In addition to earning units when reaching higher levels inside games, you will earn units with the Mistplay loyalty program. Having a higher loyalty status can help you earn bonus units.

Why We Like Mistplay

• Multiple game options
• Can earn loyalty bonuses
• Gift card rewards start at $0.50

Go to Mistplay

Disclosure: The merchants do not endorse and are not affiliated with the Mistplay loyalty program. Brands and trademarks displayed belong to their respective holders.

12. Cash Giraffe

Works With: Android

Prize Options: Cash, PayPal, and gift cards

Cash Giraffe is a fun way to earn money or gift cards while you play a variety of games. There are all types of games – arcade, adventure, casual, and strategic. There are no in-app purchases, no deposits, and no advertisements.

You’re given points simply for playing the games, and everything is tracked by time. You don’t have to gamble or compete against other people; it’s just for playing.

Why We Like MyPoints

• No purchase necessary
• You are given points based on time played
• Many cash-out options

Go to Cash Giraffe

13. InboxDollars

Works With: Android, iOS, and computers

Prize Options: Cash, PayPal, and gift cards

InboxDollars offers multiple ways to earn cash rewards, including games.

There are a few free games you can play, like Mahjong, Solitaire, and Outspell. However, the best opportunities are GSN games that require purchases. You get 18% cashback on your GSN credit purchases.

Here are some of the better ways to make money with this platform:

• Surveys
• Online shopping
• Redeeming coupons
• Reading sponsored emails
• Videos

Completing specific tasks lets you earn instant win scratch games to win cash prizes. The Scratch & Win cards have a maximum prize of $100 if you’re an active member.

The redemption minimum is $25, and the payment options are direct deposit, paper check, PayPal, and gift cards.

New members get a $5 signup bonus by joining InboxDollars.

Why We Like InboxDollars

• Earn rewards for GSN games
• Different tasks can earn money
• Cash and gift card rewards

Here’s our full InboxDollars review to learn more.

Go to InboxDollars

14. MyPoints

Works With: Android, iOS, Windows PC, and Apple/Mac

Prize Options: Cash and gift cards

MyPoints only offers games that require purchases to play. The platform partners with WorldWinner for cash tournaments.

Instead of entering these daily tournaments directly through WorldWinner, MyPoints lets you get 4 points per $1 of game entries. First-time players can also make a one-time deposit.

You can practice these games for free; the entry fee starts at 25 cents. If you’re successful, your daily winnings can be more than playing games that require several days of play to meet the payout requirements.

You can play games from these franchises – Angry Birds, Bejeweled, Scrabble, Solitaire, Spades, Super Plinko, Trivial Pursuit, and Wheel of Fortune.

There are several other ways to earn reward points on MyPoints, and no purchase is necessary for several of them. Some options include taking online surveys, watching videos, and trying new apps.

If you’re willing to spend money, online shopping and in-store purchases and product trials are also available.

You only need $3 to redeem your rewards for gift cards to Amazon and $5 for many other restaurants and stores. PayPal cash redemptions start at $10.

Here’s our full MyPoints review to learn more.

Why We Like MyPoints

• Gift card prizes start at $3
• PayPal rewards start at $10
• Several ways to earn points
• Can win WorldWinner cash tournaments

Go to MyPoints

15. Dominoes Gold

Works With: Android and iOS

Prize Options: Cash and gift cards

Another timeless game, Fives (also known as Muggins, All Fives, Five Up, and Doer Di), lets you earn real money through Dominoes Gold. You can compete in daily tournaments to win cash prizes.

First, you can play free games against your opponent to improve your skills. However, you won’t play them head-on but against the computer with an identical board. The human with the most points wins.

Once you’re ready to win real money, you can compete in live tournaments versus other players. Winners can receive PayPal cash, gift cards, merchandise, and sweepstakes.

Please Note! Cash tournaments are available in most of the world. Cash tournaments are not enabled in the following states: AR, CT, DE, IN, LA, ME, SD. If you don’t live in a prize-enabled region, you can still play for free.

Why We Like Dominoes Gold

• Cash and gift card prizes
• One of the few apps to offer Dominoes
• Daily tournaments
• 4.7 stars on 26.1K reviews on Apple Store, 4.5 stars on 2.2K reviews on Google Play Store

Go to Dominoes Gold

16. Big Buck Hunter: Marksman

Works With: iOS and Android

Prize Options: Cash, PayPal, and gift cards

I remember playing Big Buck Hunter in local bars all the time during college, I had no idea (but am not at all surprised) it was ported to smartphones and offer you the ability to compete against other players to win cash prizes.

If you’ve never played it, the premise is simple: You’re a hunter, and you need to shoot bucks (male deer). You tap and hold to look down the scope of your rifle, drag to aim, and then release to fire the rifle. Hit the buck, and you get points. Hit female deer or does (they’re the ones without antlers), and you lose points.

It’s not a difficult game, but it’s not easy either. You can win cash prizes by competing in tournaments or playing against other players.

Why We Like Big Buck Hunter

• Can compete against other players
• Gives you a bit of a challenge

Go to Big Buck Hunter

17. Money Well

Works With: Android

Prize Options: Cash, PayPal, and gift cards

Money Well is another game platform that awards you tickets for playing the games on their app. When you play, you earn tickets you can use to get gift cards and discount vouchers from various brands. You can also earn cash payouts.

There are no in-app purchases, money to deposit, or advertising. You are awarded tickets just by playing, and the tickets are based on time alone. There’s no need to win; you don’t compete in tournaments, and you can always see how many tickets you earn.

Why We Like Money Well

• No in-app purchases or advertising
• Don’t need to win or compete to earn

Go to Money Well

18. Scrambly

Works With: Android

Prize Options: Cashback and gift cards

With Scrambly, you can earn cash rewards for completing various tasks, such as answering surveys for marketers, testing apps, and playing games. Scrambly’s purpose is to help brands get consumer feedback or test out new apps — and those brands are happy to pay you in exchange for your time.

Your rewards can come as cash back via Visa, Amazon, or PayPal, or you can redeem virtual gift cards with Google Play, Apple, Spotify, and Walmart.

Cashouts are instant, with just a $1 minimum to PayPal, and you can withdraw as much as you like.

Why We Like Scrambly

• Lots of reward redemption options to choose from
• Instant cashouts at just $1 to PayPal

Go to Scrambly

Money-Paying Games FAQs

Here are some frequent questions about playing games that pay real money.

Summary

As you can see, there are many ways to make money by playing games. Whether you prefer casino games, adventure, puzzle, or arcade games doesn’t matter. While some platforms have a pay-to-play policy, you can stack cash and gift cards for your efforts.

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About Josh Patoka

After graduating in $50k with student loans in May 2008 from Virginia Military Institute with a B.A. International Studies and Political Science with a minor in Spanish (he studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain for 3 months), Josh decided to sell his soul for seven years by working in the transportation industry to get out of debt ASAP and focus on doing something else with a better work-life balance.

He is a father of three and has been writing about (almost) everything personal finance since 2015. You can also find him at his own blog Money Buffalo where he shares his personal experience of becoming debt-free (twice) and taking a 50%+ pay cut when he changed careers.

Today, Josh relishes the flexibility of being self-employed and debt-free and encourages others to pursue their dreams. Josh enjoys spending his free time reading books and spending time with his wife and three children.

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank or financial institution. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.