Games like solitaire, bubble shooters and quizzes have been online for as long as the internet has been around. Until recently, you were not able to play them for realmoney.

Game Show Games for Money In a real-life casino, there are games based on game shows such as Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Family Feud, Catch-21 or The Price is Right. These are based almost purely on. The best casino online casino games to play to win real money are games with a high RTP like slots and Roulette. However, those games have poor odds. So, if you want a game with good odds and great payout potential play games with a skill element such as Blackjack. Which casino games are for free?

Well, this is where Skillz comes in. You can enter tournaments or head-to-head format games against other players, winning real cash (or enjoying the fun-money versions).

Skillz is set up as a platform that game developers can add to, which means new games are coming online all the time.

To prevent experts from winning all the games, Skillz automatically matches players at similar ability levels, which gives everyone a fair shot at winning every time they play.

On this page, we cover the Skillz platform in depth.

You’ll find out more about the games, how to deposit and cash out, plus how to access the games on a variety of devices.

What is a Skillz game?

The list of games will have a familiar feel, with many having names that are similar to popular app titles (though they avoid the copyrighted names).

Some are traditional table and blackjack games; others involve lining up gems or shooting bubbles.

The difference is that you can play these games in a tournament format. The platform matches you with others at similar skill levels.

You then play knockoutgames, which see the entrants narrowed down to a single winner. Depending on the number of entrants, you’ll get paid based on how far you progress.

The smallest tournaments are head-to-heads with bigger bracketed contests also available.

There are a lot of game options. You can play for real money or use “Z,” which is a virtual fun-money currency. You can also join leaderboard contests or set up private tournaments for your friends.

All Skillz games are designed to work on mobile phones. You can download an app for Android or iOS devices. The app will handle your account and payments, and will give you access to all the latest game titles.

Most popular Skillz games for Android / iPhone

Jewel Blitz21 BlitzFreecell Solitaire CubePro Pool
Cube CubeTexas Hold’em SolitaireBlackout Blitz Bingo

Is Skillz legal in the US?

These are skill games, and so they don’t fall under the rules covering online gambling in the US. The developers refer to themselves as an esportsplatform.

Skill-based games are under the jurisdiction of individual states. Skillz has been running since 2014.

You can enjoy these games legally in 38 states. Here are the places where real money Skillz games are not currently available:

  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Louisiana
  • Maryland
  • Montana
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee

In Indiana and Maine, you can play many of the games, although not any titles that include playing cards as part of the gameplay.

Can I play Skillz games and win real money?

These games are skill-based, which removes them from the definition of gambling.

You have two ways to enjoy the games:

  1. Skillz For Fun: Skillz uses a virtual currency that it calls “Z.” It is for entertainment only and doesn’t have a redeemable value. Winning a tournament for “Z” money gives you bragging rights only. Using “Z” is a great way to get familiar with the games before you make a deposit.
  2. Skillz For Real Money: You can deposit using credit cards or PayPal, and then enjoy the games for real money. Here, you can win real-cash prizes that you can withdraw. As you’ll see below, match codes can give you a boost on your deposit to enjoy specified games.

Skillz games match codes

Match codes let you enter specific games for free. Developers and promoters use these to generate interest in their games.

Instead of applying to your entire deposit (like a matched bonus), match codes are passwords that give you access to a freeroll tournament.

You can find these through the Skillz games social media accounts or third-party websites.

Many fans of these games will be actively looking out for the match codes, which will often make the tournaments busier.

Match codes are game-specific. You’ll need to download a new game via the platform, then use a code (usually a word or combination of two words), during a specified time.

If you win a tournament after entering with a match code, you will receive the winnings in real money.

Our reviews of individual Skillz games include match codes; here is the current list:

  • 21 Blitz
  • Bubble Shooter Tournaments
  • Cube Cube
  • Jewel Blitz Block Puzzle
  • Strike! esports Bowling
  • Solitaire Cube

How to play for free?

There isn’t a requirement to deposit money to enjoy Skillz games.

You can play all of them for free using “Z,” a play-money currency. You’ll get free “Z” via the platform, and can top this off regularly by keeping an eye on social media.

You then use “Z” to enter freetournaments, winning more and climbing either public or private leaderboards. Currently, it doesn’t have a redeemable value, and you can’t swap it for anything of value in the Skillz ecosystem.

Skillz games for mobile

Skillz games work on your mobile phone via apps.

There isn’t a desktop version, though you can check the website for instructions and guides. Most of the games are available for both Android and iPhone / iPad devices. A smaller number of games have skipped the Android platform and are available on iOS only.

When you first join, you are assigned a random username. You can update it at any time (along with your picture and contact information) via the “Account” icon.

How to download Skillz Games on Android

To access Skillz’s Android games, you first need to go to Games.Skillz.com in the browser of your phone or tablet. This page will give you a list of the available titles. Each will have an Android icon next to it, which you click to start the download process.

You can download these games from Skillz, and not the Google Play Store. Most devices will give a warning message, saying you are downloading from an unknownsource. You can click “OK” here to complete the download process.

How to download Skillz Games on iPhone / iPad

iPhone and iPad users can access Games.Skillz.com to see the list of available titles. This page puts the popular games, like Solitaire Cube, at the top of the page.

Alternatively, you can find these games in the Apple App Store. Simply click the download button to install the game.

How to deposit and cash out?

When you play Skillz games, you will set up a username and password, which will work with all the titles. You can keep track of your deposits and withdrawals from a single account page.

Depositing is easy.

Furthermore, withdrawals will use the same route as the deposit whenever possible to protect against fraud and money laundering.

Here are your main deposit options:

  • Credit Card: You can use your regular bank card to deposit in the same way you’d make an online purchase. Visa and Mastercard are welcome.
  • Prepaid Debit Card: This type of card is available via convenience stores. You’ll need to keep your card, even after you spend the balance, to make sure your withdrawal can be processed.
  • Apple Pay: For iPhone or iPad users, Apple Pay makes a fast, convenient and secure payment option.
  • PayPal: The popular e-wallet service adds a secure third-party system between your bank and the Skillz platform.

Withdrawals up to the amount you deposited must occur via the same method wherever this is possible.

For anything above this amount, you can request a paper check that will be sent to your home. The withdrawal process is slower than other online platforms, four weeks or more.

You can access the deposit and withdrawal methods via the “Store” icon at the top of the app.

Bonus cash and other Skillz game rewards

You can collect bonus cash by referring Skillz to your friends.

Play Games For Real Money Uk

Skillz will give you $10 in bonus cash for every friend you refer that plays for real money. You can also find (time-limited) bonus cash offers through social media.

Online Games With Real Money

You can use the bonus cash to enter tournaments, but you can’t withdraw it. If you do make a withdrawal while you still have a bonus cash balance, it will be forfeited.

Play Free For Real Money

Other rewards come via a loyalty reward scheme.

You can win “ticketz” and trophies. You accumulate “ticketz” based on your entry fees in real money Skillz tournaments. You can redeem these for prizes from the store, with new items being added to the listing all the time. You can also redeem your ticketz for cash to enter into real money Skillz games.

There is also a VIP system for big spenders.

You’ll need to reach the blacktier of the loyalty program to be considered a VIP. This level comes with perks that include a big “ticketzmultiplier” for every contest you enter.

Play Real Games For Real Money

Add to this the matchcodes (free entry codes), and you’ll see that Skillz looks after its players well.