You can earn real money (although not very much money) by playing these 12 online games. Read to learn about how to start a side hustle playing minigames.

May 6, 2024

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Written by:

Jessica Norris

Jessica is a writer for SideHustles.com. Her side hustles include freelance academic writing and editing, which she’s done for…

Jessica Norris

Jessica is a writer for SideHustles.com. Her side hustles include freelance academic writing and editing, which she’s done for…

Earn

$1–$5/day Remote-Friendly

Yes College Required

No

MyPoints is a site that will reward you for playing all kinds of games, from word games to Angry Birds. You can also earn rewards in other ways, such as by watching ads, taking surveys, or shopping through the platform.

What can you earn?

The points you earn with MyPoints can be redeemed for gift cards, including Visa and PayPal gift cards.

Unfortunately, the MyPoints website doesn’t specify the number of points you can earn by playing games, so it’s hard to say what you can expect to earn. Generally, with sites like this, the most you can earn is a few dollars per hour (and sometimes even less).

Is it free?

Yes, it’s free to use the MyPoints site. In fact, you can get a $5 bonus for signing up. Note that you should never pay to join these kinds of rewards programs.

Anything else you should know?

With rewards sites, you usually have to exceed a certain threshold before you can redeem any points for cash or gift cards. The minimum payout on MyPoints is $3.

Where to sign up

Sign Up with MyPoints

What users say

Pros

• Can make money without gambling

Cons

• Not very lucrative

• Playing some games costs money

• Inferior to its competitors

• Can make money without gambling

• Not very lucrative

• Playing some games costs money

• Inferior to its competitors

2. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is one of the biggest names in the games-for-money space. It’s a rewards website where you can get paid to play minigames, which include trivia games, arcade games, puzzles, and card games.

Swagbucks also partners with other sites that feature games. In addition to playing them, you can get rewarded for completing other tasks on the site (e.g., watching ads, writing product reviews, etc).

What can you earn?

Swagbucks claims that you can sometimes earn $100+ by installing and playing one of their partners’ games, but they don’t specify their “typical” rates, which are probably a lot lower than that.

According to their website, most of their users can earn $1–$5 per day by completing various tasks. Gaming probably usually leads to similar payouts.

Is it free?

Yes, it’s free to use Swagbucks. In fact, they often give you a small (and variable) bonus when you sign up.

Anything else you should know?

There’s a threshold for Swagbucks points redemption, but it’s very low, as they let you cash out with as little as $1 in earnings (for a $1 Amazon gift card). You can also earn Bitcoin by redeeming your earnings for a “Cryptovoucher” gift card.

Where to sign up

Sign Up with Swagbucks

What users say

Pros

• Games are reasonably fun
• Takes less time to earn money than competitors

Cons

• Earnings are still fairly low

• Games are reasonably fun

• Takes less time to earn money than competitors

• Earnings are still fairly low

3. InboxDollars

InboxDollars is an “online rewards club,” and it gives you yet another way to earn cash by playing games.

The games on InboxDollars include “Poker”, “Casino”, and “Wheel of Fortune.” The site also lets you also earn credit for other activities (e.g., taking surveys, watching ads, and reading marketing emails from various brands).

What can you earn?

After you play InboxDollars games or complete other tasks to earn rewards, you can redeem them as PayPal cash or gift cards. Unfortunately, InboxDollars doesn’t specify exactly how much you’ll earn for playing its games, which probably signifies the rates are fairly low.

Is it free?

Yes, it’s free to sign up to InboxDollars. In fact, you get a $5 welcome bonus when you do.

Anything else you should know?

There are thresholds for rewards redemption—in particular, a $15 minimum the first time you cash out. This means you’ll have to accumulate $15 before you can get your hands on any of the money you’ve earned.

Where to sign up

Sign Up with InboxDollars

What users say

Pros

• Fun games

Cons

• Not very lucrative

• Fun games

• Not very lucrative

4. Mistplay

Mistplay is a gaming app that you can use to earn money (in the form of PayPal gift cards) for playing all kinds of games. It’s only available for Android devices.

What can you earn?

You can earn cash by collecting points on Mistplay and redeeming them for PayPal gift cards. You can also get other types of gift cards (e.g., for Amazon and Google Play).

Is it free?

Yes, you can use Mistplay for free. You’ll sometimes get the option to pay for extra features, but you don’t need to do this.

Anything else you should know?

Online reports suggest the minimum payout you can claim is just $0.50 (in the form of an Amazon gift card).

Where to download Mistplay

Google Play

What users say

Pros

• Opportunities to win prizes
• Good variety of games
• Easy to use

Cons

• Too many ads

• Bad customer service

• Opportunities to win prizes

• Good variety of games

• Easy to use

• Too many ads

• Bad customer service

Although many of the apps in this list are available for Android, most aren’t available on the Google Play store (although you can find them in the Samsung Galaxy store or by directly downloading them from the company’s site). This is because in the past, Google didn’t allow gambling apps in their store, although in 2021, they relaxed this restriction in several countries, including the US. 1

Blackout Bingo (formerly known as Blackout Blitz) is, as the name suggests, a bingo-type game. It has an app you can download on Samsung Galaxy devices and iOS (Apple) devices. It’s made by a company called Skillz, who also created several of the other games on this list.

What can you win?

In Blackout Bingo, you can win cash prizes or virtual credits (which aren’t worth real money). If you win cash, you’ll be paid by check if you live in the US and via PayPal everywhere else.

There may also be other prizes (the Skillz site mentions a Porsche, although prizes like this are almost certainly vanishingly rare).

Is it free to play?

Some games are free. There are also tournaments with cash prizes, but these require a deposit or “entry fee.”

Some websites say you can enter with credits accumulated from playing free games. Alternatively, you can pay a cash deposit, but you’ll lose your money if you lose the game—which, as we’ve mentioned, basically constitutes gambling.

If you win money playing Blackout Bingo and they refund your deposit, you’ll either get a credit card refund or PayPal credit, depending on how you originally paid (if you paid).

Are there any states where you can’t play for money?

You can’t legally play many of the gambling and tournament-based apps in this list for money in some states (although you’ll generally still be allowed to play them for free). For instance, you can’t play Blackout Bingo for cash in:

• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Louisiana
• South Dakota

Where to download Blackout Bingo

App StoreGalaxy Store

What users say

Pros

• Fun
• Promo codes available

Cons

• App doesn’t always work properly

• Not good for people who don’t have PayPal

• Long wait to get prize money

• Fun

• Promo codes available

• App doesn’t always work properly

• Not good for people who don’t have PayPal

• Long wait to get prize money

6. Pool Payday

Pool Payday is a virtual pool game that’s also made by Skillz. It’s also available for Samsung Galaxy and iOS devices.

You can either play in real time, where you and a real-life opponent take turns taking shots, or you can both take turns to run the table and try to rack up the highest score possible.

What can you win?

You can win cash prizes, which, according to the App Store page, you can redeem via PayPal, Apple Pay, and more.

Is it free to play?

Pool Payday has both free and cash matches. You can pay to play if you don’t mind gambling real money. However, some websites claim that you can earn credit from playing free games, then use this credit to enter cash tournaments with cash prizes (as with Blackout Bingo), so it’s theoretically possible to earn real money without spending anything.

When it comes to refunding your deposit, Pool Payday works the same way as all Skillz games: deposits are returned to your credit card or PayPal account.

Are there any states where you can’t play for money?

Pool Payday cash tournaments are prohibited in:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Montana
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee

Where to download Pool Payday

App StoreGoogle Play

What users say

Pros

• Entertaining
• Good training for pool players
• Also suitable for people who don’t play pool

Cons

• Some of the rules are illogical

• The app takes too much of your money

• Entertaining

• Good training for pool players

• Also suitable for people who don’t play pool

• Some of the rules are illogical

• The app takes too much of your money

7. Dominoes Gold

Dominoes Gold is based on the classic board game. It’s from the same company that made Blackout Bingo and Pool Payday, which means you can download it for Samsung Galaxy and Apple devices.

What can you win?

You can win real cash with Dominoes Gold. If you do, you’ll be paid by check if you live in the US (and PayPal otherwise).

Is it free?

As with Blackout Bingo and Pool Payday, you’ll normally have to pay a deposit to enter cash games on Dominoes Gold; however, you may be able to get around this by using credits you won from free games.

If you win money playing Dominoes Gold and they refund your deposit, you’ll either get a credit card refund or PayPal credit, depending on how you originally paid.

Are there any states where you can’t play for money?

You can’t play Dominoes Gold for cash if you live in:

• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Louisiana
• New Jersey
• South Dakota

Where to download Dominoes Gold

App StoreGoogle Play

What users say

Pros

• Addictive
• Accessible even for people who don’t like board games
• Big prizes available

Cons

• App sometimes malfunctions, causing you to lose your entry fee

• Annoying ads

• Addictive

• Accessible even for people who don’t like board games

• Big prizes available

• App sometimes malfunctions, causing you to lose your entry fee

• Annoying ads

8. Bingo Clash

Bingo Clash is a mobile bingo app that you can download for iOS or Android. It’s also available for Samsung devices via the Galaxy Store.

What can you win?

Bingo Clash lets you play cash games to win real money prizes. You can withdraw your winnings through PayPal, Apple Pay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Venmo.

Is it free?

In the app store, the description of Bingo Clash says that you can play free games and win real cash. There may also be options to pay for entry to cash games.

Are there any states where you can’t play for money?

You can’t play Bingo Clash for real money if you live in:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Louisiana
• Montana
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Vermont

However, you may be able to play free games in some of these states.

Where to download Bingo Clash

App Store

There’s a download link for Android devices on Bingo Clash’s homepage, although the app isn’t actually available on Google Play. You can also play on the app’s website.

What users say

Pros

• Games are quick
• Easy to play
• App rarely crashes
• Good for your brain
• Opportunities to win money

Cons

• You may be charged a fee if you don’t use the app for a long time

• Games are quick

• Easy to play

• App rarely crashes

• Good for your brain

• Opportunities to win money

• You may be charged a fee if you don’t use the app for a long time

9. Solitaire Cash

Solitaire Cash is an app that lets you play the popular card game for cash prizes. It’s made by Papaya Gaming, and it’s available for Android and iOS.

What can you win?

You can win cash prizes by entering Solitaire Cash tournaments and cash out your money through PayPal.

Is it free?

As with many other similar games, you can pay a deposit to enter tournaments (using PayPal or Apple Pay). However, you can enter certain Solitaire Cash tournaments by using credits you’ve earned from playing games on the app. This roundabout method lets you win money without staking any cash.

Are there any states where you can’t play for money?

You can’t play Solitaire Cash for money if you live in:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• South Carolina
• Montana
• South Dakota

Where to download Solitaire Cash

Solitaire Cash isn’t available via Google Play or the App Store. To download it, scan the QR code on the Solitaire Cash homepage.

What users say

Pros

• Fun
• Addictive
• Possible to win money

Cons

• Freezes up and can cause you to lose any money you’ve paid

• Too many pop-ups

• Fun

• Addictive

• Possible to win money

• Freezes up and can cause you to lose any money you’ve paid

• Too many pop-ups

10. Bubble Cash

Bubble Cash is a bit like an old-style arcade game. Players have to shoot as many bubbles as they can before the timer runs out.

The game is also made by Papaya Gaming. You can download the Bubble Cash app for both Apple and Android devices.

What can you win?

You can win cash (paid out via PayPal) by playing in tournaments.

Is it free?

As usual, you can pay a deposit to enter tournaments (using PayPal or Apple Pay), but some websites claim that you can enter cash tournaments with credits that you’ve earned on the Bubble Cash app. This suggests that you can win money without staking any cash.

Are there any states where you can’t play for money?

You can’t play Bubble Cash for money if you live in:

• Arizona
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• South Carolina

Where to download Bubble Cash

App StoreGalaxy Store

You can download the app for non-Samsung Android devices by scanning the QR code on the Bubble Cash website.

What users say

Pros

• Fast-paced
• Possible to win money

Cons

• Annoying ads

• Frequent “error” messages

• Stingy prizes

• Fast-paced

• Possible to win money

• Annoying ads

• Frequent “error” messages

• Stingy prizes

11. Bingo Cash

Bingo Cash is another bingo-themed game (also from Skillz) that you can download as an app for iOS or Android devices.

What can you win?

If you play in cash tournaments, you can win money (which you can cash out via PayPal or Apple Pay).

Is it free?

According to the app’s download page, there are freeroll tournaments you can enter. These are events where you can pay the deposit or entry fee with credits (known as “gems,” which you can earn on the Bingo Cash app) and win money.

Are there any states where you can’t play for money?

You are not allowed to play for cash if you’re in:

• Arizona
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• South Carolina

What users say

Pros

• Fun
• Addictive

Cons

• Too many ads

• Hard to win much money

• App prone to technical problems

• Fun

• Addictive

• Too many ads

• Hard to win much money

• App prone to technical problems

12. 21 Blitz

21 Blitz is another card game (made by Tether Studios) that describes itself as “Blackjack meets Solitaire.” You can download it for iOS devices and Android devices.

What can you win?

You can win money by playing in 21 Blitz tournaments and cash out with PayPal.

Is it free?

Unfortunately, the answer to this is probably no.

The Tether Studios website says that there are 21 Blitz games you can play for free. They also mention “special tournaments that require a cash entry fee and include real world prizes” and say that “to play in these tournaments, you must first deposit cash into an account.” This suggests that you can’t win cash on 21 Blitz unless you pay.

Are there any states where you can’t play for money?

You can’t play 21 Blitz for money if you’re in:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Indiana
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Montana
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee

What users say

Pros

• Fun
• Addictive
• Keeps your mind sharp

Cons

• App prone to technical problems

• Ads for the game are misleading

• Fun

• Addictive

• Keeps your mind sharp

• App prone to technical problems

• Ads for the game are misleading

… your life situation

Gender & Relationships

• I’m a man
• I’m a woman
• I’m a stay-at-home mom
• I’m pregnant
• I’m a single mom
• We’re a couple

Age

• I’m a teen (all jobs)
• I’m a teen (online jobs only)
• I’m a college student
• I’m 50+
• I’m a senior (65+)

Personality

• I’m introverted
• I’m unique!

Other Considerations

• I’m disabled
• I’m a formerly incarcerated individual

… your skills and interests

• Doing Nothing (We totally understand.)
• Losing Weight
• Music
• Photography
• Reading
• Sleeping (Yep, we get it.)
• Traveling
• Typing
• Walking
• Writing

… your profession

• Accountants
• Actors
• Artists & Creatives
• Chefs
• Engineers
• Finance Professionals
• Graduate Students
• Lawyers
• Librarians
• Nurses
• Pastors
• Pharmacists
• Physicians
• Pilots
• Project Managers
• Real Estate Agents
• Scientists
• Social Workers
• Software Engineers
• Teachers

… your work requirements

Work Environment & Season

• From Home
• Remote (with no experience)
• Winter
• Summer

Pay Requirements

• Same day pay

City or State

• Hawaii

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