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Playing mobile games has become a great way to relax and, in some cases, to make money. While you likely won't be able to replace your job with playing games, you can still earn some extra cash while you also have fun.
I tested out some of the best cash games for the iPhone. Everyone has their personal preferences, of course, but my favorites on this list are Solitaire Cash, Pool Payday, and Bubble Cash. They are easy to learn, help you earn money without a lot of pressure, and have withdrawal rules that aren't as painful as some other platforms.
However, it’s important to understand how the rules of each platform can significantly impact your earnings, especially when you’re withdrawing funds.
- Bingo Cash: Best for low-stakes games
- Solitaire Cash: Best for solitaire players
- 21 Blitz: Best for those who like a fast-paced game
- Pool Payday: Best for people who want a challenge
- Bubble Cash: Best for low-pressure playing
- Dominoes Gold: Best for players who want to increase their skills
- FAQs
- Bottom line
- Methodology
Bingo Cash: Best for low-stakes games
| Apple’s App Store rating | 4.7 out of 5 |
| Minimum entry fee (for cash tournaments) | $1 |
| Minimum cash deposit | $5 |
| Minimum withdrawal amount | $5 |
| Withdrawal processing fee | $1 |
| Payout options | Refund to your original payment method and then PayPal or Venmo for additional balances |
| Prohibited states | Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, South Carolina |
Bingo Cash by Papaya Gaming, Ltd. is a fun, colorful bingo game that moves quickly but is still easy to learn.
Playing bingo on my phone isn’t my favorite thing because you need to turn up the volume to hear the numbers called while keeping your eyes on your card. But I did like playing Bingo Cash because it's quick to learn and a good entry into playing cash games.
To start playing, scan a QR code on the website to download Bingo Cash or download the app from Apple’s App Store. You can then use tutorials to learn about the game’s score booster and develop a rhythm.
Playing standard games will earn you bonus cash and gems. You can use bonus cash to enter cash tournaments if you have enough to cover the entry fee, but you can’t withdraw bonus cash.
If you’re over 18 and live in a state that permits cash games, you can deposit money to help you enter higher-stakes games. Depositing money isn’t required, but it does allow you to enter bigger games faster.
The app accepts deposits via PayPal, Apple Pay, or credit/debit card. It also offers extra gems and bonus cash as incentives for depositing higher amounts.
Entry fees for Bingo Cash tournaments start at $1 with a prize pool of $5. The biggest entry fee is $5 to have a shot at a prize of $30. Since these are low stakes compared to some other games, Bingo Cash is an excellent way to learn how to play in tournaments effectively.
Since downloading the app, I’ve played in four tournaments and won $2.00 in bonus cash and about 360 gems.
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Bingo Cash splits the prize pool among the top four winners, so even though I came in third place in a tournament, I won 20 gems from the 110 prize pool. First place earned 50, second place got 30, and fourth place received 10.
While this is nice for people who come in second or third, remember that even if you come in first place, you won’t receive the full prize pool. So, it will take longer to earn money.
When you have at least $5 in earnings, you can request a withdrawal, which comes with a $1 processing fee. Like many legit apps that pay money, Bingo Cash can take up to 14 days to process a refund to your original deposit method (i.e., your credit card). If you have an additional balance, it will send it to you via PayPal or Venmo.
- Bingo Cash is easy to learn and use.
- Multiple boosters help you increase your score and bonus winnings.
- It is fun to play and interact with.
- Bingo Cash has low-stakes games where you won’t earn much.
- You must play for a long time or deposit cash to enter bigger games.
- Winners split the prize pools among the top four players.
Download Bingo Cash | Check out our full Bingo Cash review
Solitaire Cash: Best for solitaire players
| Apple’s App Store rating | 4.6 out of 5 |
| Minimum entry fee (for cash tournaments) | $1 |
| Minimum cash deposit | $5 |
| Minimum withdrawal amount | $5 |
| Withdrawal processing fee | $1 |
| Payout options | Refund to your original payment method and PayPal |
| Prohibited states | Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, South Carolina, and Washington |
Solitaire Cash, also from Papaya Gaming, Ltd., is one of my favorites. It’s easy to start playing and has many of the same rules and fees as Bingo Cash.
You can play for gems and bonus cash or enter cash games faster by making a deposit. Like in Bingo Cash, the entry fees range from $1 to $5, with prizes ranging from $5 to $30.
These low entry ranges make the games more accessible to all players, but the prize pools are smaller than you might find with other games – especially since you have to split the pool among the top four winners.
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As you climb higher in Solitaire Cash, you’ll unlock new features and opportunities. Clubs (level 8) and Cards (level 15) connect you with other players and ways to make extra cash.
Solitaire Cash is especially easy to play if you’re already familiar with the rules of traditional Klondike Solitaire. As you make four piles of the same suit in increasing order, you’ll also build decks of cards in alternating colors. When you assemble all four suits in order, you win.
However, earning bonus cash is more difficult than in Bingo Cash. There are no boosters or hints to help you in Solitaire Cash, so you can win only by entering and being one of the top players in tournaments.
It can take a long time to build up enough bonus cash without depositing funds, especially if you don’t play frequently and don’t place first in higher-prize tournaments.
Like Bingo Cash, Solitaire Cash requires a minimum withdrawal balance of $5 and can take up to 14 days to process. You’ll pay a $1 processing fee. The app first refunds money to your original payment method. It will send the remaining balance to your PayPal account if you win more than you deposited.
- Solitaire Cash is an easy way to play Klondike Solitaire.
- Reaching higher game levels unlocks other ways to earn.
- It refunds winnings using your original deposit method and PayPal.
- Withdrawals take up to 14 business days.
- You must split the prize pool, limiting how much you earn from one tournament.
- There are fewer opportunities to earn bonus cash than in other games.
Download Solitaire Cash | Check out our full Solitaire Cash review.
21 Blitz: Best for those who like a fast-paced game
| Apple’s App Store rating | 4.6 out of 5 |
| Minimum entry fee (for cash tournaments) | $0.60 |
| Minimum cash deposit | $5 |
| Minimum withdrawal amount | No minimum listed |
| Withdrawal processing fee | $1.50 charge for all withdrawals under $10 |
| Payout options | A refund to your original payment method and additional balances sent by paper check (U.S.) or PayPal (international) |
| Prohibited states | Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Tennessee |
21 Blitz is a solitaire game created by Tether Studios and offered through the Skillz platform. While Klondike Solitaire has you build piles of matching suits, in 21 Blitz, you create groups of cards that add up to 21. You have three minutes to make as many groups of 21 as possible.
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Like the other games, you can earn Z coins and some bonus cash for free. You can also earn tickets and exchange them for additional bonus cash or prizes. You can deposit money to cover higher entry fees via credit card, Apple Pay, or PayPal.
21 Blitz offers more entry fees and prize pool options than other game platforms. The lowest entry fee is $0.60 for a prize of $1, and the highest has a $120 entry fee for a $200 prize. The minimum deposit amount is $5.
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Skillz doesn’t make you split the prize pool with other players, so you could net $80 if you win the highest-stake game. However, there is a lot of competition for these bigger prizes, and you’ll need to devote time (and probably deposit some cash) to start entering and winning the bigger games.
I liked playing 21 Blitz because it moves quickly, and the game will match you with competitors of corresponding skills. It also looks much more like a casino and doesn’t have the same cartoonish design as the other games.
Skillz doesn’t list a minimum withdrawal balance but charges a fee of $1.50 for withdrawals under $10. Like many of these apps, it first refunds the payment method you used to make a deposit. If you have additional funds, you’ll get a paper check if you live in the U.S. or a PayPal payment if you live outside the U.S.
Withdrawals may take up to six weeks to process. You can’t make additional deposits until the withdrawal is complete.
- The Skillz platform looks more like a casino, which may appeal to some users.
- 21 Blitz is fast paced and may help you earn more.
- The platform does not split prize pools among winners, helping you earn more if you win.
- You may wait up to six weeks for your withdrawals.
- Navigating the platform can be confusing.
- 21 Blitz has a relatively high withdrawal fee compared to other apps.
Download 21 Blitz | Check out our full 21 Blitz review.
Pool Payday: Best for people who want a challenge
| Apple’s App Store rating | 4.6 out of 5 |
| Minimum entry fee (for cash tournaments) | $0.60 |
| Minimum cash deposit | $10 |
| Minimum withdrawal amount | No minimum listed |
| Withdrawal processing fee | $1.50 charge for all withdrawals under $10 |
| Payout options | A refund to your original payment method and paper check (U.S.) or PayPal (international) for additional balances |
| Prohibited states | Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee |
I enjoyed the challenge of learning to play Pool Payday (offered on the Skillz platform), but it took several rounds for me to learn to coordinate the cue and make effective shots.
Pool Payday is like a regular pool game that has a table, cue, and rack of balls. You can rotate and aim the cue stick to line up your shot. You use the “power meter” to adjust the shot strength.
The pockets on the table are worth points; every time you pocket a ball, you score points. The point values rotate around the table, and the number on the ball increases the point value (i.e., the 8 ball is worth more than the 2 ball). Trick shots, such as using a rail or ball to pocket a ball, earn more.
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Arrows show the ball’s likely path, helping you line up your shot. If you don’t sink a ball, you’ll lose a turn. The game ends after you’ve used three turns, you’ve sunk all the balls, or the clock has reached three minutes.
Unlike other games on Skillz, Pool Payday allows you to unlock additional rewards and in-game features, like fancy tables or cues. The game also provides hints and alternate shots to assist you.
Pool Payday uses Z coins as in-app currency and awards tickets for referring friends or as a welcome bonus. You can use Z coins to enter games and exchange tickets for prizes like bonus cash, gift cards, or merchandise. If you deposit money, you can enter higher-stakes games.
The minimum deposit for Pool Payday is $10. Entry fees start at $0.60 for a prize of $1, and the largest entry fee is $25 for a $40 prize pool. You don’t have to split the pool if you come in first, but it can be challenging to earn the top prize, and it may take a lot of time and money.
When you’re ready to withdraw funds, Skillz will charge a $1.50 fee if the amount is less than $10. Winnings go to your original payment method first, and the app pays additional balances via paper check if you live in the U.S. or PayPal if you live outside the US. Winnings can take up to six weeks to appear.
- Pool Payday has a broader range of prize pools than some other games.
- You don’t have to split the prize if you win.
- Pool Payday offers hints and directions to help you play effectively.
- Pool Payday is challenging and requires a lot of practice.
- The platform can be confusing, with multiple poorly explained currencies.
- It can take four to six weeks to receive your winnings.
Download Pool Payday | Check out our full Pool Payday review
Bubble Cash: Best for low-pressure playing
| Apple’s App Store rating | 4.6 out of 5 |
| Minimum entry fee (for cash tournaments) | $1 |
| Minimum cash deposit | $3 |
| Minimum withdrawal amount | $5 |
| Withdrawal processing fee | $1 |
| Payout options | Refund to your original payment method or PayPal |
| Prohibited states | Arizona, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland South Carolina |
Bubble Cash is much easier to play than Pool Payday. Papaya Games developed this app, which follows the same format and rules as two of its other games — Bingo Cash and Solitaire Cash.
To play Bubble Cash, aim your bubble shooter at groups of other bubbles. If you make groups of three or more of the same color, the bubbles pop, and you earn points. If you clear the board before the time is up, you win.
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You can scan a QR code on the Bubble Cash website or download the app to your iPhone from the Apple App Store. Learning the game is fast, and after a couple of tutorial rounds where you earn gems, you’ll be ready to start entering tournaments.
If you want to join cash games faster, depositing money via PayPal, Apple Pay, or debit/credit card will help you cover the entry fees.
There are only a few cash games available in Bubble Cash. An entry fee of $1 enters you into a $5.10 prize pool. Spending a combination of $1 and 600 gems has a prize pool of $10. Finally, the largest game requires an entry fee of $3, and the prize is $13.
You can also earn extra gems and bonus cash every time you reach a higher level, and that’s where I earned the most. At the end of my testing period, I played 14 games, including tutorials, and earned 330 gems and $0.80 in bonus cash.
Since you have to split the prize pool with other players, Bubble Cash will not earn you much money quickly. However, playing it is meditative and repetitive, and if you get into a rhythm, you could play several games in a row.
When you’re ready to withdraw, you must have earned at least $5 in winnings (you can’t withdraw bonus cash). It can take up to 14 days to receive your money, and you’ll pay a $1 processing fee for all withdrawals, no matter your balance. Bubble Cash will refund money to your original deposit method and send any additional balances via PayPal.
- Bubble Cash is very simple to play.
- It was easier to earn gems and bonus cash than some other apps.
- It doesn’t require special skills or previous game knowledge.
- It can take 14 days to receive your winnings.
- No player will earn the entire prize pool – if you win, you must split with other winners.
- You’ll need to deposit cash to enter higher-fee games.
Download Bubble Cash | Check out our full Bubble Cash review
Dominoes Gold: Best for players who want to increase their skills
| Apple’s App Store rating | 4.7 out of 5 |
| Minimum entry fee (for cash tournaments) | $0.60 |
| Minimum cash deposit | $10 |
| Minimum withdrawal amount | No minimum listed |
| Withdrawal processing fee | $1.50 charge for all withdrawals under $10 |
| Payout options | Refund using your original payment method and additional balances sent via a paper check (U.S.) or PayPal (international) |
| Prohibited states | Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, New Jersey, and South Carolina |
I have a confession: I had never played a game of dominoes – real or online – before Dominoes Gold. So, playing this game by Grey Square Games on the Skillz platform was an interesting challenge.
I played as many tutorial games as possible and then graduated to using Z coins — the in-app currency. As I learned to match the correct tiles, I started to get the hang of it and even won a game.
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The minimum deposit amount is $10, going up to $75. If you deposit higher amounts, you’ll earn bonus cash, which you can use to enter more tournaments.
Dominoes Gold has the smallest prize pool options on the Skillz platform that I’ve seen. There are only three choices:
- A practice game with an entry fee of two Z coins and a prize of three Z coins
- An entry fee of $0.60 for an award of $1
- An entry fee of $3 for an award of $8
You can enter live one-on-one games that have entry fees ranging from $1.80 to $60 and prize pools ranging from $3 to $100. However, you may have to wait for a competitor to appear.
You don’t have to split the prize pool, but the small prize options mean it will take a long time to earn significant amounts.
When you’re ready to withdraw funds, you’ll pay a fee of $1.50 if the amount is less than $10. You’ll get paid via a refund to the payment method you used to make a deposit. If there is a balance left, you’ll get a paper check if you live in the U.S. or a PayPal payment if you live elsewhere.
Remember that Skillz can take up to six weeks to process your withdrawal. You can’t make additional deposits until the withdrawal is complete either.
- The helpful tutorials got me started even as a first-time dominoes player.
- You don’t have to split the prize pool among the top three winners.
- There are multiple ways to earn on the Skillz platform, including Z coins, tickets, bonus cash, and tournaments.
- It may take up to six weeks to receive your winnings.
- Dominoes Gold is challenging to learn and play.
- The minimum deposit requirement of $10 is higher than some other apps.
Download Dominoes Gold | Check out our full Dominoes Gold review
FAQs
What should I look for in cash games for my iPhone?
Look for iPhone cash games with high rankings and good customer reviews. Be cautious if multiple reviews say that a game doesn’t pay out or makes it difficult to access your winnings. You can also check the game’s fee structure and withdrawal rules to better understand the process before you invest time in playing it.
Do any iPhone games pay instant cash?
Most games require you to verify your identity before you receive your winnings. The time and requirements of the verification process vary from platform to platform but can take up to a few weeks. Check your chosen cash game’s terms of service and the platform’s withdrawal rules to learn the requirements.
How can I tell if an iPhone game is a scam?
Be sure to take reasonable precautions before playing online games, including paying attention to spelling or grammar mistakes within the app or game description and any icons that seem too large or too small. Since many popular apps have millions of downloads, finding limited reviews posted on the game’s platform may be a red flag of a scam.
Always read Apple’s App Store reviews to see what others have said. Be suspicious if you’re reading that the iPhone cash game doesn’t pay out, uses unfair practices, or makes winning impossible.
What kinds of fees do iPhone cash games usually have?
The fees charged for cash games depend on the platform you’re using. Some apps charge a flat fee when you make a withdrawal, but others charge a percentage of the withdrawal instead. Cash games can also charge inactivity or dormant account fees, so read the app’s FAQs or terms of service to verify the fee structure.
Are iPhone cash games legal everywhere?
Some states limit or outlaw casino games or other games that pay cash. Many games that pay money will ask you to verify your location by entering your full address or zip code to confirm your eligibility to enter a cash game. Even if you aren’t eligible, you can often still use the app to play for fun, collecting points and non-cash trophies.
Bottom line
Playing games on your iPhone can be fun and one of the easiest and best side hustles. I recommend Solitaire Cash, Bubble Cash, and Pool Payday to earn the most while having fun. Just remember that you’ll probably need to make an upfront investment by depositing cash to cover entry fees and there aren’t guarantees you’ll win or make back your initial deposit.
Before downloading any apps, read the reviews and research the developer to ensure you’re going to play a legit cash game that actually pays out. You might also want to try out multiple iPhone cash games to determine which you enjoy the most and get a better idea of your potential winnings.
Methodology
Our picks for the best cash games for iPhones are current or past FinanceBuzz partners. We didn’t review all the available cash games on the App Store. To determine which games might suit specific users, we looked at factors such as payout potential, fees, ease of use, game features, and App Store ratings.