Are free casino apps real money?

Are free casino apps real money? It depends what's free

"Free casino app" can describe two very different products. One is a licensed real-money casino app, which costs nothing to install because the app stores require that, but which you fund with your own money. The other is a social casino or free-games app, where you play with coins that have no cash value.

So the honest answer is: the download being free tells you nothing about whether the app is real money. What tells you is whether you deposit money and can withdraw it. Apps such as Coral, Ladbrokes and PlayOJO are free to install and real money; a coin-based slots game is free to install and not.

Five kinds of "free" in casino apps, and which involve real money

The word turns up in several places, each meaning something different. This table sorts them by whether money goes in and whether money can come out.

Only the first and last rows are real-money gambling in the full sense. Our answers on demo mode and social casino apps cover the no-money rows in more detail.

Real money casino apps: free to download, funded by you

Apple's App Review Guidelines (opens in a new tab) say real-money gaming apps must be licensed where they're used, geo-restricted and free on the App Store. Google Play has the same free-to-download rule. That's why you'll never see a price on Coral Casino: Slots & Games or PlayOJO Real Money Casino.

Once installed, the app asks you to register and pass age and identity checks. Then you deposit through the cashier, stake from your balance and can withdraw what's left. Coral and Ladbrokes say they don't charge withdrawal fees, and PlayOJO says it processes most payments within a few hours. Our list of real money casino apps compares the licensed options.

Are free spins in casino apps real money?

Spins from a welcome offer are played on real-money slots, and what they win can become real money, but only after you've met the offer's conditions. Advertising guidance from the ASA says an offer shouldn't be described as free if you must risk your own money to qualify, which is why the condition belongs next to the word.

No-wagering offers pay spin winnings straight into your cash balance, which is the simplest kind. Where a bonus has wagering, UK rules have capped it at 10 times the bonus since 19 January 2026. As a worked example, a £10 bonus at the 10x maximum means £100 of bets before it converts, and the house edge applies to every one of them. The ASA guidance on free bets and bonuses (opens in a new tab) sets out the advertising side, and our page on no wagering on a casino app explains the cash-out difference.

How to tell if a free casino app is real money

You can usually work it out from the store listing and the first sign-up screen.

1. Check the store listing's age rating: real-money apps are 18+ on the App Store and PEGI 18 on Google Play (social casino apps can be 18+ too, so keep going).
2. Read the description for words such as "real money", "deposit" or "withdraw", or for "virtual coins" and "no cash prizes".
3. Look at the publisher and find it on the Gambling Commission's public register; UK real-money operators must be listed there.
4. Open the app and see whether sign-up asks for your full name, address and date of birth for identity checks.
5. Look for a cashier with deposit and withdrawal options; if top-ups go through an App Store or Google Play purchase, it isn't a real-money casino.

For the three apps featured here, the operators are LC International Limited (Coral and Ladbrokes) and Skill On Net Limited (PlayOJO), both on the register; see the Skill On Net Limited register entry (opens in a new tab) for an example of what a listing shows. Our guide to age verification in casino apps explains the identity step.

Real-money casino app listings at a glance

Here's how three licensed real-money apps present themselves on the UK App Store. The free download is the same for all three; the money is what you bring.

PlayOJO even puts "Real Money" in its UK store name. You can see it on the PlayOJO App Store listing (opens in a new tab). For the download itself, see are casino apps free to download.

Free games with real prizes inside real-money apps

Some licensed apps include no-stake games that can award prizes. The Coral listing mentions free-to-play games with real-money prizes; Ladbrokes lists Instant Spins, a daily prize wheel and game show and live roulette contests.

These are promotions, not a way to earn. You need a verified account to use them, prizes are set by the operator's terms, and many prize types are spins or bonuses with their own conditions. Our page on casino apps with free daily games compares them.

Myths about free and real-money casino apps

• "Free apps pay out less." Apps don't have a lower RTP by default. Check the game's help screen for the version you're playing.
• "Practising for free helps you win." Demo play shows how a game works, but no practice or system beats the house edge on real-money slots.
• "Social casino wins can be cashed in." Social casino coins can't be exchanged for money.
• "Free spins mean no risk." Qualifying for them means depositing and staking your own money first.

Gambling is entertainment that costs money, and losses are likely over time. Our glossary of casino app terms explains RTP, house edge and wagering if any of these are new to you.

UK protections only apply to real-money apps

Choosing a licensed real-money app brings rules with it. Operators must verify your age before you play, even in demo mode; prompt you to set a financial limit before your first deposit; show your net spend and time in real time; and take part in GAMSTOP. Online slots are capped at £5 a spin for players aged 25 and over and £2 for those aged 18 to 24.

Those gambling rules don't cover social casino apps. If you want to limit any casino-style app, device tools such as Screen Time and Digital Wellbeing work whatever the app is. Our safer gambling section has practical steps.

Real money casino apps with a welcome offer

The three apps below are free to download and real money to play. Their welcome offers all need a deposit and a stake first, so the spins are a slot-only extra on your own spending, not something for nothing. 18+ only; terms apply.

Coral: bet £10 on slots, get 100 spins worth 10p each (£10 of spins) on selected games. New players only, 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027; deposit with an eligible method (Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don't qualify) and bet £10 or more on slots. Accept the spins within 48 hours and use them within 7 days; spin winnings have no wagering.

Ladbrokes: play £10 on slots, get up to 500 spins, credited as 50 a day for the first 10 days at 10p each (up to £50 of spins) on selected games. New customers must deposit and spend £10 or more on slots, claim each day's spins before 23:59 and use them within 7 days. No wagering; prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits don't qualify.

PlayOJO: 80 spins on Big Bass Bonanza, 10p each (£8 of spins), for new UK customers excluding Northern Ireland who make a first deposit of £10 or more. No wagering, so winnings are paid in cash. Can't be combined with other offers; available only through the designated offer link.

Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited, so you may not be able to open new accounts at both.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.