The world of online gaming has evolved far beyond entertainment. Today many players seek games that offer real money rewards. In fact, online gaming is now considered a full-time job in its own right as there are people who earn a living from playing games professionally.
The options are numerous. Whether it is online casinos, skill-based challenges, blockchain technology, or competitive gaming platforms, there are several ways to make money. If you are looking to play for real money, there are countless online games available to suit your preferences.
Online Casino Games
It is truly amazing how online gaming became such a cash cow for people considering it was simply about having fun. The money was always just a plus to playing the games. However, like with all competitive activities around the world, the more people realized they could turn small investments into big winnings, the more the idea of turning it into a side hustle and even a career blossomed. From slot machines and poker to blackjack and roulette, you have multiple opportunities to make real money to support your living while enjoying a favourite pastime.
Online casino games work very similarly, if not the same, to traditional brick-and-mortar casinos. They offer you games that require skill, strategy and luck in order to win. You stake a bet, make skilful and strategic choices and moves and hope luck is on your side to win the bet. This is the typical gameplay.
However, these games also vary in style. For instance, slot machines, poker, roulette and blackjack are all online games but the strategies involved in their gameplay are very different. To find games that offer real money prizes, you need to be familiar with platforms that offer these options in the first place. You can also participate in tournaments.
Mega Moolah is a popular online slot machine game that you can play and earn good money. However, it is actually bigger than that. It is the most famous and the highest-paying slot game on the internet. It has a guaranteed minimum mega jackpot of $2 million which means that if you hit the winning combination, your life is changed forever. Because it has a random number generator, every player has an equal chance of hitting that jackpot. It also has a fixed payout rate making it a potential goldmine.
Texas Hold’em Poker is one of the most played poker variations in the world. It is also one of the most profitable because if you can play your cards right, you will walk away with everything at stake on the table. It requires you to understand the basics of poker, know the best hand combinations and know when and how to make informed decisions.
Live dealer blackjack is another major online casino game that pays big time. It is a real-time version of blackjack where you can interact with live dealers. It is such a complex game that requires mental strategic skill and acumen to defeat your opponents. The stakes are usually high and the wins are monumental.
Skill-Based Games
Mistplay is a skill-based Android game that rewards you for playing games on their platform. The game boasts over 2 million monthly active users globally, with more than 35 million lifetime installs on Android devices. Instead of spending money on in-game purchases, you can earn points which are called ‘units’ by trying out different games and reaching milestones. You can then redeem these points for cash, or gift cards to retailers such as Amazon, Google Play and many more.
HQ Trivia is another skill-based game where participants compete for real cash. It is a live trivia mobile Android game which is loved for its interactive format and live-hosted quizzes. As a player, you have to answer multiple-choice questions correctly within a window of time to win and progress to the next round.
Play-to-Earn Games
Axie Infinity is a play-to-earn (P2E) blockchain game where you collect, breed, battle, and trade digital creatures called Axies. You earn smooth love potion (SLP) tokens that you can exchange for cash. The game runs on the Ethereum blockchain and uses NFTs (non-fungible tokens) to represent the Axies, making them unique and valuable.
Decentraland is another play-to-earn blockchain game. It is a virtual world and metaverse built on the Ethereum blockchain, where you can buy, sell, and build on virtual land. It operates as a decentralized platform. This means that you will have full ownership over your digital assets, including virtual land, buildings, and in-game items, all represented as NFTs (non-fungible tokens).
Reward-Based Platforms
Luckstatic is a perfect example of a popular reward-based gaming platform. It is a free mobile app that allows you to win real money and prizes through the use of virtual scratch cards. This game, unlike poker and HQ trivia which requires you to have strategic skills and knowledge, is based solely on luck. You never know what you’ll get with each scratch ad there is simply no way of improving your odds. It functions like a digital lottery and offers you daily scratch-off tickets where you can win cash, gift cards and even sweepstakes entries.
InboxDollars is another reward-based program online game that pays you for completing certain online tasks. The game was founded in 2000 and it is available for you to play in both website and mobile app format. The beauty of this game is that, unlike most other reward apps that offer points as a reward, InboxDollars pays you directly in cash. This has made it one of the most popular choices for making an extra income online.
Swagbucks Live is a live trivia game that allows you to win real money and Swagbucks (SB) points by answering multiple-choice trivia questions. It may seem similar to HQ Trivia but it differs because it is a part of the Swagbucks rewards program, which offers various ways to earn points for cash and gift cards. And even if you don’t win the grand prize, you will still win Swagbucks for participating. Live earnings can only be redeemed through PayPal cash or gift cards for popular retailers such as Amazon, Starbucks and many more,
Competitive Gaming Platforms
As many online games as there are on the market, certain platforms host these games and bring them to a wider audience. Online game enthusiasts will often seek out sites where they can watch competitors play in real time and follow their activities. A lot of them will even invest in the outcomes of the competition in order to make an extra buck. This is what esports is about, with the industry worldwide is expected to be worth US$4.8 billion in 2025.
Twitch and YouTube Gaming are the top competitive gaming platforms in the world today. They are two of the biggest platforms where gamers can stream their gameplay, build an audience, and make money through various monetization methods. Professional gamers know that these two platforms offer the biggest visibility and access to audiences. They stream games and competitions live to fans and viewers.
Bets and wagers are often made on the outcome of these games and many people walk away with heavy financial wins. There are several other ways through which players who have built a strong audience and following on these platforms make money such as ads and sponsorships, donations and tips, subscription and memberships, affiliate marketing and merchandise sales. It is truly a gamer’s dream to have a major following on one or both of these platforms.
Final Thought
Online gaming is no longer just a pastime. It is a real source of income to many and you can take advantage of this too. Whether you have a preference for casino games, skill-based games, play-to-earn, reward-based or competitive sports, the options to play for real money are endless.
The important thing is for you to choose a legitimate, licenced, and reliable platform that implements the principle of responsible gambling, and that is guaranteed to pay at the specified time. Then you can enjoy the benefits of playing and making money at the same time.
