According to a report released by the Game Developers Conference, India now has a staggering 591 million gamers, and the industry is set to hit $9.1 billion by 2029. This means India has so many gamers who play just for fun but could also earn from gaming. So what does that mean for you? It means you can join in too, right from your phone, tablet, or laptop. Even if you’re a beginner, there are tons of games that pay you to play. In this guide, we’ll break down the best money-earning games and apps that actually pay. Let’s get into the details.
What Are Money Earning Games?
You play and you earn. That’s what money-earning games are. It may be a normal bluff game or a blackjack game at the casino. If you earn from the game, it is a money-earning game. You may earn extra cash or score rewards like gift cards as well. Now, there are many online games known as real money games that can help you earn money on the side, like trivia games or esports.
| According to Chama Peiris, a well-known voice in the Digital Games industry and the Founder & CEO of Leeg, “Real money games are digital or mobile games where players can earn actual cash or valuable rewards.” he also adds that “Real money games allow you to convert your winnings into real currency or assets.” |
In digital games, you can convert your game points and wins into real money and rewards. That’s the major difference between traditional games and real money earning games.
Why are Money Earning Games Popular in India?
There are a few good reasons why money-earning games are popular in India.
- Firstly, Indians are insanely good at card games (and mobile games as well). Indians make up 20% of the total global gamers. That shows how popular gaming is in India.
- Secondly, the games are easily accessible in India. If someone has a phone and an internet connection, they can easily play games and earn. What’s shocking is that 66% of the gamers are from non-metro cities. It proves that gaming is not just an urban phenomenon.
- Thirdly, when gamers realized that many games have attractive bonuses, promotions, and referral rewards, they wanted to play more.
- And lastly, the ease with which gamers can withdraw the rewards makes these games more popular. The thrill of earning real money while doing something fun is what keeps the players in the loop.
What are The Different Types of Money-Earning Games?
With so many games around, it may be confusing to know how each game helps you earn. Here are different types of money-earning games you should know about.
- Card Games (Rummy, Poker, etc): Card games like rummy and poker test your skill and strategy. You compete with others to form the best combinations. When you win, you get cash prizes.
- Fantasy Sports: In fantasy sports, you create your own teams using real players. Cricket and football fantasy leagues are wildly popular in India.
- Trivia and Quiz apps: Just like normal trivia or quizzes, you answer normal questions and earn rewards/money if your answer is correct.
- Board and Arcade Games: Simple and fun games like Ludo, Carrom, or car racing let you win money by playing well. If you are into casual gaming, this can be a good side hustle.
- E-sports and competitive gaming: If you are into hard-core gaming, like playing video games like BGMI, Call of Duty, or Valorant, then you can join tournaments and win big cash prizes.
10 Best Real Money Gaming (RMG) Platforms in India
We’ve compiled a detailed list of top gaming apps and websites in India where you can earn real money by simply playing games.
| Name | Type | Earning Potential | Best for |
| Taj Rummy | Card games, especially rummy | Varies based on games, but there is a guaranteed welcome bonus of Rs. 5500 for real money rummy players. | Card players and rummy enthusiasts. |
| MPL (Mobile Premier League) | Card, fantasy, trivia, and arcade. | Varies based on the types of games you play on the platform. | Multi-game lovers and casual gamers. |
| Dream11 | Fantasy sports (especially cricket & football) | Varies based on contests. | Football & cricket lovers. |
| My11Circle | Fantasy sports (cricket, football, and kabaddi) | Varies based on contests. But more earnings in cricket leagues. | Players who are into league football and cricket. |
| GetRush | Trivia, Rummy, Fantasy. | Moderate earnings but no investment needed. | Beginners who want to earn by playing trivia. Or people who have some experience with rummy or fantasy sports. |
| Loco | Gaming and quiz | Varies based on the games and whether you are gaming or streaming. | Gamers, streamers, and casual players who like quizzes. |
| Zupee | Casual games like Ludo, Snakes & Ladders, and Trump Cards mania. | Varies based on the games you play. | Suitable for casual players who want to play for fun and earn some cash. |
| Qureka | Trivia quiz | Quick cash from live quizzes | Trivia enthusiasts and quiz gamers. |
| First Games by Paytm | Fantasy sports and rummy | Winnings can reach Rs. 1,00,000 daily. | People who are enthusiastic about cricket, football, or kabaddi, and card game lovers. |
| Gamerji | eSports tournament platform | Depends on the leagues you participate in. | Mid-level gamers and sports enthusiasts. |
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Taj Rummy
Taj Rummy is India’s leading online platform for playing real cash rummy games. It was founded in 2013 by Gridlogic Games Pvt Ltd. According to the info provided by Crunchbase, Taj Rummy is India’s first gaming platform to use Artificial Intelligence (AI). This helps ensure fair play, even if your game gets disconnected.
How You Can Earn on Taj Rummy
Taj Rummy makes it easy for you to play rummy and win money. Here’s how you can earn:
- Welcome Bonus: You can get a welcome bonus of up to ₹5,500 when you join. (This offer is applicable for real money players.). This often includes instant cash bonuses.
- Daily & Weekly Tournaments: You can participate in rummy cash tournaments held daily and weekly to win huge prizes.
- Cash Games: Play different versions of rummy like Points, Pool, and Deals Rummy for real money.
- Deposit Bonuses: You can get bonuses, sometimes up to Rs. 8000, on your cash deposits.
- Referral Program: You can earn money by referring friends, potentially up to ₹3,000 per referral.
- Skill-Based Winnings: Since rummy is a skill-based game, your expertise directly increases your chances of winning real cash prizes.
More Info on Taj Rummy
- Website/App: Available as both a website and app (Android and IOS)
- Ratings: 4.2 out of 5 stars on the Google Play Store, based on over 51,400 reviews. It has more than 10 lakh (1 million) downloads.
- Best For: Taj Rummy is best for Rummy enthusiasts who want to play classic 13-card Indian rummy for real cash. If you are good at rummy and are seeking regular cash/rewards, download the app now!
| NOTE: You can cash out your Taj Rummy winnings with instant UPI withdrawals to your bank account, Paytm, or other digital wallets. This makes it easy to access your winnings. Remember that the minimum withdrawal amount is Rs. 100. |
The platform is 100% legal and safe for playing rummy for cash, as rummy is considered a game of skill in India. However, playing rummy for cash is considered illegal in the states of Assam, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Nagaland, and Sikkim. Taj Rummy is unavailable for these states.
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MPL (Mobile Premier League)
Founded in 2018 by Sai Srinivas Kiran G and Shubham Malhotra, Mobile Premier League, or MPL, is one of India’s biggest skill-based eSports platforms. Since its launch, MPL has grown rapidly, by hosting hundreds of tournaments a month and having 120 million registered users.
How You Can Earn On MPL
MPL lets you play over 60 games across categories like fantasy sports, card games, puzzles, quizzes, and arcade games. You can earn money by playing skill-based games like fantasy cricket, football leagues, rummy, carrom, and quizzes to win cash prizes. The platform also announces weekly tournaments and contests that you can join to win big prizes. You could also refer the app to your friends and earn rewards (earn up to 1 lakh for each friend).
More Info on MPL
- Website/App: It has both the website and app. Available on Android and iOS.
- Ratings: MPL is highly rated in India with a 4.1+ star rating on the App Store.
- Best for: Whether you want to earn a little extra or compete seriously in large tournaments, MPL suits all levels.
| NOTE: If you want to know more about the ongoing promos on the platform, you can follow MPL on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and get the inside scoop. Moreover, you can also easily withdraw your earnings in real cash through Paytm, Amazon Pay, UPI, or bank transfer. |
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Dream11
Dream11 is India’s biggest fantasy sports app. It was created by Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth. It started as a small idea to bring fantasy cricket to millions of fans. Over time, Dream11 has grown impressively and, as of now, has around 200 million users. You can play fantasy cricket, football, kabaddi, and other sports on the platform.
How You Can Earn on Dream11
You can earn money on Dream11 by creating your fantasy sports teams. The app offers both free contests to practice and paid leagues for real earnings. You can join daily and special tournaments with big prize pools. Plus, you can also benefit from welcome bonuses. By referring friends, you also earn extra rewards.
More Info on Dream11
- Website/App: It has both an app and a website. The app is available for both Android and iOS devices.
- Ratings: Dream11 has an average of around 4.5 stars on the Google Play Store with 100 million downloads.
- Best For: Sports fans, especially cricket lovers who want to use their knowledge and passion to win money.
| TIP: Many beginners try to play all the matches to earn more money. But you need to be selective about the matches and play in smaller leagues to increase your chances of winning. For practice, you can start with free matches and then join the tournaments. |
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My11Circle
My11Circle is a popular fantasy sports app founded in 2019, quickly growing thanks to its simple design and engaging contests. It mainly focuses on fantasy cricket but also offers football and kabaddi leagues. It’s an easy platform that’s suitable for beginners.
How You Can Earn on My11Circle
You can earn money on My11Circle by creating fantasy teams with real players and competing in contests that reward cash prizes. There are paid leagues with entry fees, plus free contests to practice for beginners. The app hosts daily and weekly tournaments. You can also earn bonuses by referring your friends.
More Info on My11Circle
- Website/App: Website and app are both available. Mobile app available for Android and iOS.
- Ratings: 4.3-star ratings with more than 5 crore downloads.
- Best For: New fantasy sports players and those who prefer manageable contests with realistic winning odds.
| NOTE: At My11Circle, you can withdraw any amount from your Withdrawable Account at any time (minimum Rs. 100). But as per Finance Act 2023, a 30% tax is deducted on your net winnings (total withdrawn minus total deposited in a financial year) at the time of withdrawal or the end of the financial year. So calculate your earnings before making the withdrawal. |
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GetRush
GetRush is a trusted skill-gaming platform that provides AAA-rated games like Ludo, Carrom, Call Break, Snakes & Ladders, and more. It’s 100% safe to play on this platform. You can play fun games and earn money comfortably.
How You Can Earn on GetRush
You can join small fantasy teams and play in contests or take part in ludo, carrom, and other games. There are big game tournaments, especially for Ludo, that you can join. It also has a refer and earn program where you can refer your friends and earn Rs. 1000 per successful referral.
More Info on GetRush
- Website/App: It has a website. But the app provides a better experience. Available for download on both Android and IOS.
- Ratings: 4.2-star ratings on Play Store with more than 5 crore downloads.
- Best For: Casual gamers.
| IMPORTANT: You can deposit money into your GetRush wallet using UPI, bank account, wallets, or debit/credit cards. But do remember that you can only withdraw your winnings. You can’t withdraw deposits and bonuses separately. |
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Loco
Loco is a live-streaming and gaming platform. It is best known for esports tournaments, gaming live streams, and hosting virtual communities. People usually stream top games like BGMI, Free Fire, and more. The app focuses on connecting gamers, allowing them to watch, play, earn, and even live stream their own content. If you are a gamer, you can earn by streaming your games. Or you can also earn by participating in trivia or quiz games.
How You Can Earn on Loco
You can earn money on Loco by starting your own live stream. Start by building a viewer base, and you can earn good money from that. You can also take daily quizzes and be part of fun games like Ludo. Popular streamers can accumulate coins and direct rewards from Loco’s monetization programs. Not just that, if you watch live gaming streams for a long time, you also collect rewards.
More Info on Loco
- Website/App: Website and app are both available. Mobile app available for Android and iOS.
- Ratings: 4.1-star ratings on App Store.
- Best For: Gamers, streamers, and people who love taking quizzes.
| NOTE: You can earn rewards by taking quizzes. But you can earn some real money by streaming our games. It may be a little time-consuming because you may have to complete a few levels before seeing the real money come in. |
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Zupee
Zupee is an app where you can play classic games like Ludo, Snakes & Ladders, Tambola, Trump Cards Mania, and more. It has a realistic interface and a stylized board that keeps the players engaged. You also get a chance not just to earn rewards, but to earn real cash.
How You Can Earn on Zupee Gold
You can participate in popular games like Ludo Supreme and Ludo Turbo. Compete against real players for cash rewards. Zupee has a free version of Ludo, which you can try out, and when you’re ready, you can participate in cash games. You can also refer the app to your friend and earn Rs. 5 for every referral.
More Info on Zupee
- Website/App: You can play games on both the website and app. Mobile app available for Android and iOS.
- Ratings: 4.5-star ratings on App Store.
- Best For: Casual gamers who want to earn more while playing.
| NOTE: You can only refer up to 30 people to the Zupee app. They have a limit on how many people you can refer. However, if you want to save more, you can try out the Zupee coupons page on the website and find various ways to save on the app. There are coupons for cashback on deposits, for sign-ups, and more. |
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Qureka
Qureka is a popular quiz platform. You can find new quizzes every half an hour from 9 am to 9 pm. If you are someone who likes trivia and wants to earn rewards, then this is the best way to earn.
How You Can Earn on Qureka
Join the daily live quizzes covering general knowledge, current affairs, and diverse topics. You can also refer your friends to the platform and play with them. And participate in quiz contests for bigger rewards.
More Info on Qureka
- Website/App: It has both a website and an app. But the app provides a superior experience. Mobile app available for Android. Currently not available on App Store.
- Ratings: 3.8-star ratings on Google Play Store with 1 crore+ downloads.
- Best For: Trivia buffs and quizzers.
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First Games by Paytm
First Games is an initiative by Paytm. You can play money games like fantasy sports and rummy on the platform. The platform has more than 30 million users and generates more than Rs. 1000 crore in monthly winnings. If you are good at sports (football, kabaddi, and cricket), you can try out fantasy sports at First Games.
How You Can Earn on First Games
You can earn some real money by participating in fantasy cricket leagues, skill games like rummy, ludo, and other card and board games, to earn cash prizes. Players can also refer the app to their friends and earn up to Rs. 500 per referral.
More Info on First Games
- Website/App: It has both a website and app. But the app allows you to play. Mobile app available for Android and IOS.
- Ratings: 4.3-star ratings on Google Play Store with 10L+ downloads.
- Best For: Fantasy sports enthusiasts, sports lovers, as well as casual gamers.
| TIP: If you are new to the platform, you can participate in the free contests and analyze your gameplay. Once you are confident, you can invest in paid contests and compete for rewards/ cash. |
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Gamerji
Gamerji is an eSports tournament platform. Daily matches are conducted for games such as Clash Royale, Call of Duty, Free Fire, and more. You can compete on the platform, share your gaming content, and win prizes.
How You Can Earn on Gamerji
You can do both: stream and play on Gamerji. Earn rewards for streaming content, playing, and interacting with other gamers. The app also has a referral program where you can earn 150 free coins for successfully referring your friends.
More Info on Gamerji
- Website/App: You can log in using both the website and app. Gamerji offers an app available on Android.
- Ratings: 3.5-star rating with more than 1 lakh downloads.
- Best For: Casual and mid-level competitive gamers who enjoy a variety of skill games.
How Do Money Earning Games Work?
When you play games like rummy or fantasy sports online, there is a certain procedure to these things. To play smarter, you need to understand the process. According to Chama Peiris (as mentioned before), there are four layers to money-earning games and their mechanism.
- Game mechanics
- Reward system
- Payment and withdrawal
- Security and fair play.
But we have made things easier for you. Here is how money-earning games actually work. Without any ornamental language or fluff.
- Step 1: You join the gaming website or platform by paying an entry fee.
- Step 2: You use your skills to compete with others.
- Step 3: When you perform well, you win cash prizes or rewards.
- Step 4: Money/rewards are transferred to your bank or wallet.
- Step 5: Anti-cheat methods are used to keep the competition honest.
Things To Remember Before Gaming Online in India
Before you start gaming online to earn money, there are a few things you should keep in mind. We have listed a few of the important factors below:
- Legal Age: You must be at least 18 years old to participate in real-money online gaming. Many states have banned minors from playing real money games.
- Skill vs Chance: While most states have prohibited gambling, Indian law generally allows skill-based games. So people can participate in games like fantasy sports, rummy, and puzzles. But bans games based purely on chance or gambling. So make sure the game is legal in your state before you start playing it.
- KYC Verification: Make sure you complete mandatory KYC (Know Your Customer) verification using Aadhaar or PAN before depositing or withdrawing money.
- Restricted Play Hours: Some states, like Tamil Nadu restrict online gaming between 12 AM and 5 AM to reduce addiction. Search for the restricted play hours in your location to ensure you are adhering to the regulations.
- Taxation: Your winnings from real money games are considered taxable income. That means you will be subjected to a 30% tax on your winnings..
- Beware of Scams: Try to play on verified, licensed platforms. Avoid suspicious apps promising guaranteed winnings or asking for advance payments. You can easily spot the fakes. Look for unrealistic claims and too good to be true ads, and stay away from it.
- Secure Payments: Use trusted payment methods like UPI, net banking, wallets, or cards. Check the payment and security policy of the platform before playing on it. Watch for secure encrypted transactions and never share your OTPs or passwords.
- Avoid Fraudulent Sites: Fake gaming apps and websites are pretty common. Check app ratings, reviews, and legitimacy before downloading. Don’t fall prey to scams.
- Data Privacy: Share personal details only on secure, verified platforms. Beware of phishing or data theft attempts.
- Addiction Awareness: Gaming can be addictive. So, take breaks and monitor your gaming time. We have created a short checklist for you to make gaming online easier:
Quick Checklist For When You Start Gaming Online:
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Keeping these points in mind will help you enjoy online gaming safely. So you don’t fall for scams or do anything illegal (unknowingly). Ensure you always play on reputed platforms and keep a track of your spendings. These games may seem tempting, but always verify the rules, the apps, the law, the security, and the payment process before getting into this. Play to earn, but proceed with caution.
FAQs
Which game is the best to earn money in India?
The best games to earn money in India are skill-based games like rummy, teen patti, fantasy sports (Dream11, MPL, My11Circle), call break, and ludo. You can play these games on any of the platforms mentioned above and earn rewards/real money. Choose a platform that has games you are good at. For example, if you are good at fantasy sports, then Dream11 or MPL would suit you better than Qureka.
How to earn Rs. 100 a day in India?
To earn around ₹100 a day, you can participate in low-entry contests on skill gaming apps like MPL or Zupee. Try to join the referral programs of these gaming platforms and earn additional rewards on top of your regular winnings.
Is Zupee legal in India?
Yes, Zupee is a legal platform in India because it operates under the framework of skill-based gaming regulations. That means the platform only deals with skill-based games like Ludo and Snakes & Ladders. It does not have any betting or gaming features/games.
Do earning apps really pay?
Earning apps do pay real money, but only after you meet minimum withdrawal limits and complete KYC verification. Trusted platforms process payments through UPI, Paytm, and bank transfers, usually within minutes to 48 hours. However, beware of scam apps promising big payouts with upfront fees. Always use verified apps with good reviews to be safe.