You can make actual money playing games despite what your parents may have told you when you were growing up. And no, we’re not talking about professional eSports or anything nearly that demanding or exclusive. Instead, we’re talking about mobile apps and games that can pay actual money to anyone just for signing up and playing.
These games will not make you rich overnight or replace your full-time income. Still, a reliable side hustle with steady cash paydays for some casual gaming is a selling proposition.
Do These Games Really Pay Cash?
The payment model for video games is a constantly moving target. Initially, the cost for entry to a gaming experience was a coin inserted in an arcade machine. Later, prices changed as they began to cover home consoles and collections of games players could own.
Then, in roughly the past 15 years, we saw a steady rise in more creative monetization models. Today, more games are going free-to-play, earning their income through ads, DLC (downloadable content), microtransactions, battle passes, subscriptions, and more.
Some game developers and publishers have gone one step further and are now willing to pay you instead of the reverse.
As is standard online, there are always scams out there to watch out for, especially when someone offers what appears to be free money. However, this is a growing space with many legitimate offerings.
Numerous developers now offer actual cash payouts to incentivize players to play or test their mobile games.
Another thing to note is that downloading these games through leading marketplaces like the Apple App Store or Google Play Store adds a modicum of security. These app stores filter their offerings to exclude scams and illicit activities. Of course, this is not a guarantee everything from your preferred app store is safe, but it offers a degree of confidence in your downloads.
What Do I Need to Get Started?
There are very few prerequisites to making money online playing these games, and most people already have everything they need. Before you can start downloading these games and bringing in some extra cash, there are only two things you need:
- A device to play games
- Apps to receive payment
There’s a strong chance you meet both of these requirements already. You are nearly ready to go if you have a phone or tablet and at least one payment app.
One thing that may broaden your opportunities is to install more than one payment app. For example, many games that let you earn extra money will pay through Cash App. Others use PayPal, Apple Pay, or gift card options. Having multiple options ready to receive payment will give you more choices on what to play later.
And while many of these games don’t pay directly to Cash App, you can transfer bank or PayPal payouts to your Cash App or opt for prepaid Visa cards as a form of payment and deposit them into your Cash app.
Get Started With Cash App
One more thing to note, depending on how much money you make through these games, it may be helpful later to keep track of that income. If you earn above a certain threshold in the US, it may be considered taxable income. If that is the case, it will streamline matters if you have kept track of the payments. You don’t need much here — a simple document with payout dates, sources, and amounts should suffice.
Games That Pay Instantly to Cash App
1. Solitaire Cash
Make money with this classic Klondike-inspired Solitaire game by competing in skill-based matches – the three highest-scoring players win! Each player gets the same deck of cards to ensure a fair matchup, and no ads make for a distraction-free game. This fast-paced card game will keep you coming back for more.
Note: Cash tournaments are not available in the following states: AZ, IN, IA, LA, ME, MT, SC, and WA.
Get Paid With Solitaire Cash
2. Mistplay
Mistplay is another sizable platform offering numerous options to play to earn. If you’re unsure what you want to play, this platform could be a great place to start, offering games across many genres and styles. Each game yields points you can later exchange for actual cash through all the usual means.
Get Paid With Mistplay
3. Bubble Cash
Everyone loves a bubble popper game, and everyone wants cash. So what better option is there than Bubble Cash, a fresh take on the classic skill-based game with the potential to win actual money?
Pop the bubbles quickly and precisely in weekly tournaments to earn a top slot and accompanying payout.
Note: Restricted in US states: AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MT, SC, SD.
Get Paid With Bubble Cash
4. Bingo Cash
Download the free Bingo Cash app – available for iOS and Samsung devices – and enjoy an ad-free playing experience from the comfort of your couch.
Play free and paid games with players of similar skill so you can be sure you’re playing a fair match. Participate in multiplayer tournaments and take on special challenges to earn actual cash!
Note: Cash tournaments are not available in the following states: AZ, IA, LA, SC, and WA.
Get Paid With Bingo Cash
5. Swagbucks
You may recognize Swagbucks as a service that pays users to take surveys, watch videos, engage with certain products online, and more. In addition to paid surveys, the site offers a selection of games that pay actual money.
Different games on the app will offer different payout types and amounts. Still, you can typically expect to earn the app’s eponymous Swagbucks. You will then have the opportunity to exchange this currency for actual money through Cash App, PayPal, or several other options.
Get Paid With Swagbucks
6. Solitaire Cube
Competitive Solitaire may sound like a paradox, but Solitaire Cube is here to dispel that illusion. In this game, you can engage in fast-paced, head-to-head Solitaire action against actual players and compete for good money.
Note: Cash tournaments are available in most of the world. Cash tournaments are not enabled in the following states: AR, CT, DE, IL, IN, LA, ME, and SD. If you don’t live in a prize-enabled region, you can still play for free.
Get Paid With Solitaire Cube
7. InboxDollars
Like Swagbucks, InboxDollars is another of the most popular online survey sites offering games that pay actual money. The app offers many ways to make extra money online, and its wide selection of games gives you plenty of options to find your favorite.
Get Paid With InboxDollars
8. Blackout Bingo
In keeping with the theme, Blackout Bingo is a game you can play solo for free or compete against your opponents to win cash prizes. Spend as much time as you like playing on your own to practice and hone your edge, then take those skills into online matchups and tournaments to compete for actual winnings.
Note: Cash tournaments are available in most of the world. Cash tournaments are not enabled in the following states: AR, CT, DE, IL, IN, LA, ME, and SD. If you don’t live in a prize-enabled region, you can still play for free.
Get Paid With Blackout Bingo
9. Pool Payday
If you want a way to make money playing pool without the risk of getting hustled at your restringido billiards vestíbulo, Pool Payday is a great option for you. Players compete for actual cash in head-to-head and tournament-style competitions in this game.
If you feel confident in your digital pool skills, you can match up against players online to earn cash in turn-based or real-time competitions. The app allows players to cash out their winnings through PayPal at any time.
Note: Cash tournaments are available in most of the world. Cash tournaments are not enabled in the following states: AR, CT, DE, IL, IN, LA, ME, and SD. If you don’t live in a prize-enabled region, you can still play for free.
Get Paid With Pool Payday
10. Dominoes Gold
Dominoes Gold is another app that allows you to test your luck and skill against other players for cash prizes. A small cash buy-in could turn into a lucrative payday if you’re feeling up to the challenge of heated real-stakes dominoes action!
Note: Cash tournaments are available in most of the world. Cash tournaments are not enabled in the following states: AR, CT, DE, IL, IN, LA, ME, and SD. If you don’t live in a prize-enabled region, you can still play for free.
Get Paid With Dominoes Gold
11. Jackpocket
Love playing the lottery but don’t want to stand in line to do so? Now you can play the lottery from anywhere. Get lottery tickets delivered right to your phone with Jackpocket.
The Jackpocket lottery app is an easy, secure way to order lotto tickets for Powerball, Mega Millions, Pick 3, and more from state-licensed retailers. Jackpocket players have won over $30 million in lottery prizes to date!
Note: Only available in NY, NJ, TX, OH, CO, MN, OR, AR, NM, NH, and Washington, D.C.
Get Paid With Jackpocket
12. Big Buck Hunter: Marksman
The world’s favorite arcade-style bar room hunting game has a mobile edition, and it could be a fantastic way to make money.
In addition to free solo play in the abierto style, Big Buck Hunter: Marksman players can win money through competitive play and tournaments. The boldest and bravest hunters can pit their skills against the competition and see who emerges victorious. The game has multiple payout options, including PayPal and gift cards.
Get Paid With Big Buck Hunter
13. Long Game
Long Game is a real-money mobile game with a unique twist: it offers the opportunity to earn interest through a actual bank account.
The app includes dozens of game options that pay coins. These coins can convert to actual money in a checking or savings account that you link to the game. For an extra twist and more earnings potential, the more money you keep in savings, the higher interest you can earn on future payouts.
Get Paid With Long Game
14. Brain Battle
You can monetize your quick-thinking and math skills by playing Brain Battle. In what could be this generation’s Math Blaster, you can quickly answer questions for the chance to win cash prizes.
Each correct answer in the game earns you tickets. Players can then redeem these tickets for chances to win cash and other rewards.
Get Paid With Brain Battle
15. Block Blitz
For Tetris fanatics, Block Blitz is a game that brings cash prizes into the classic line-clearing skill puzzle. Combine your fast reflexes and spatial reasoning with a mix of in-game power-ups to clear blocks and earn cash and rewards in this refreshed classic.
Note: Restricted in US states AR, CT, DE, LA, and SD. Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, South Dakota.
Get Paid With Block Blitz
Are You Ready to Start Making Money Playing Games?
If you want to get rich making money from home, games like these may not be your fastest route. However, they are terrific options for casual, easy side income.
Similar to other flexible side hustles like taking surveys and freelance gigs, these apps offer extra income that fits easily into your life.
These games are an unbeatable option if you want to get paid for something legit that you love doing and causes minimal stress. With plenty to choose from in terms of style, genre, gameplay, and type of payout, there is something here for everyone to make a few bucks.
This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.
Sam is the founder of the personal finance and self-improvement blog Smarter and Harder. His mission is to start exciting new conversations that empower people to improve their work, lives, and money, and hopefully have a fantastic time doing it. In all things, he strives to lead with positivity, understanding, and more than a bit of enthusiasm.