Best Online Backgammon For Real Money
Written by
Joe - Poker PlayerLast updated:
December 6, 2022
If you have landed on this page, you probably are searching for online backgammon games to play for real money. As you know, backgammon is a fun game played worldwide and has been around since 3000 BC. People of all ages play the game. Although backgammon has never been a classic gambling game like card games, its popularity led to the involvement of betting, especially at online casinos and gaming clubs. Because the nature of the game allowed people to walk away in the middle of the play. But with the involvement of money, strategy becomes crucial, and players take the game more seriously, which adds to its excitement. Hence, this article focuses on the best online backgammon games, sites, and apps to play for real money.
Backgammon Gambling
Before I introduce the best sites and apps for playing real-money backgammon, we better review some backgammon gambling rules so you can pick the best sites and play more confidently.
Backgammon Rules Refresher
If you have played the game before, you know two players are involved in the backgammon game. Players move in opposite directions. The game’s goal is to be the first player to bear off all 15 counters(checkers). Bearing off is a process that begins when you move all your counters(pieces) into your home board or quadrant. You should get them all off the board to win the game.
As you know, the backgammon board is split into four smaller boards, where each board is worth six points. Smaller boards are home and outer boards, your home and outer boards, plus your opponent’s home and outer boards. Each player has 24 points on their boards numbered 1 to 24, starting in their home board against the railing. In other words, your number 1 will be your opponent’s 24 and vice versa. Points 1 to 6 make up the home (or inner) board, and points 7 to 12 make up the outer board.
Backgammon Gambling Rules
Although scoring and betting in backgammon involve points, these points are different from the points on the board. To make things easy, you can call the points on the board: Board points and the points each player earns from winning games: Scoring points. So, scoring points are what will earn you money. To bet on backgammon, you should know that wagers are placed per scoring point. You can wager as little as $1 or as much as $100 per point. Like betting on any other game, the amount of money to wager is up to you.
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Gammons & Backgammons
Usually, when you are the winning player and bear off your fifteenth or last checker, your opponent has already born off at least a couple of counters, too. This situation is called a single win, counted as one point. On the other hand, sometimes, while you are winning, your opponent still has not born off any checkers. In other words, all his 15 pieces are still in play.
This situation is known as gammon, which counts as a double win or 2 points. In other words, in this situation, you earn 2 points. Suppose you are a pro backgammon player and play so well that your opponent still has at least one checker on the bar(the partition between the two boards) or languishes back in his home board. In that case, you earn 3 points as this situation is called backgammon and counts as a triple win.
The Backgammon Doubling Cube 🎲
A doubling cube will not be involved in the normal or single-stakes play and will be placed on the bar. A doubling cube looks like a big die, but unlike a die, it has a different number printed on each side. Numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 are printed on doubling cube sides. Since there is no number 1 written on the cube, the cube will rest at number 64 at the bar when the game is played at single stakes.
During a single-stakes game, you or your opponent can offer the cube to each other. This means you offer to double the stakes and move from single-stakes to double-stakes play. If you offer the cube, your opponent can decline or accept the offer. If he declines the cube, he should resign the game for a score of one point. But if he accepts your offer, it means the stakes are doubled to two point and the game continues. Once your opponent accepts the offer, the cube will be in his possession and rest at number 2. This indicates that the game is being played at double stakes.
Once the doubling cube has been offered and accepted by either player at any point during the game, it cannot return to the bar. In other words, the game cannot be returned to single stakes. Only the player who accepted the offer and got the cube possession can offer it to the other player. Although the cube can be passed back and forth between the two players, it is very unlikely to happen. Because every time the cube is offered and accepted by a player, the stakes get doubled.
Every doubling action, gammons, and backgammons count toward the final results. For instance, if you and your opponent pass and accept the doubling cube twice during the game, you are playing a quadruple or 4-times stakes game. If you score a gammon, you will earn 8 points, and backgammon gives you 12 points.
Online Backgammon Game Variety
Online backgammon games generally fall under one of the one-on-one or tournament categories. One-on-one is the classic two-player game. Supplementary rules, time limits, and stakes vary from game to game.
On the other hand, backgammon tournaments typically take place over a weekend or a single night. Players compete against each other during a tournament to win points and prizes.
Online Backgammon Rules
Before you start playing online backgammon games, you better learn the following general rules of the game:
- Automatic Double: When any player offers the doubling cube to the other player, and he accepts the offer, their bets will automatically raise by one.
- Beavers: This rule only applies to money-backgammon plays. If you offer the doubling cube to your opponent, your opponent can accept it and immediately redouble(beaver). In this case, you can refuse the beaver only by resigning from the game and losing the current doubled stakes. Otherwise, you must continue with the beaver and keep playing at quadruples.
- The Jacoby Rule: According to this rule, you can double down after you or your opponent have rolled one or two doubles.
Best Sites And Apps To Play Online Backgammon In 2024
In recent years, playing live dealer casino games has become so popular because it is super fun as you feel you are playing at an actual casino. Unfortunately, backgammon is not a game that can be played by a live dealer.
Finding a legit real money online casino offering backgammon games is also challenging, as top US websites like Betonline, Wild Casino, Super Slots, and BetUS or Red Dog Casino do not have backgammon games.
It does not mean that you cannot play real money backgammon online. Websites like Backgammon Masters have fake and real money games. But we cannot confirm its payout fairness, as the platform is not independently audited for game or payout fairness the way legit online casinos do.
Top 3 Backgammon Apps For 2024
A huge list of backgammon apps is available in the App Store and Google Play. Still, not all of them are worth it. Below, you will find the best 3 apps to download and master your backgammon skills.
1. Backgammon Lord of The Board: 4.4 App Store Rating
Lord of the Board is one the oldest and most popular backgammon apps on the phone. The game is offered for adults and does not involve real-money gambling. Still, its enticing graphics, interactive chat option, player statistics profile, RNG dice roll, competitive leaderboards, and live tournaments make it a must-have backgammon app on your phone.
You can play with other players, challenge yourself, and try new strategies. It is the best choice to master the game.
- Age Rating: 17+
- Compatibility: iPhone(iOS 11 or later), iPad(iOS 11 or later), iPod Touch(iOS 11 or later).
- In-App Purchases: Yes
- Windows: Yes(windows 10)
- Google Play downloads: 5M
2. Backgammon Liveâ„¢ Board Game: 4.7 App Store Rating
This one offers different modes and includes the features of a classic game plus a few twists that make it a great backgammon game to have, especially for iPads.
Mini-games allow you to take a break from backgammon and play Blackjack, Roulette, Slot, and High or Low game within the same app.
Backgammon Blitz is another twist that allows players to enjoy the Hyper feature and 3D visuals.
Live chat option, multiple daily tournaments, and customizable leaderboards add to the thrill of the game.
- Age Rating: 17+
- Compatibility: iPhone(iOS 11 or later), iPad(iOS 11 or later), iPod Touch(iOS 11 or later).
- In-App Purchases: Yes
- Windows: Yes(Windows 10)
- Google Play downloads: 1M
3. Jawaker: 4.7 App Store Rating
Backgammon is actually an ancient Egyptian strategy board game called Tawla(طاولة). The game is pretty popular among Arab players. It means backgammon is loved worldwide regardless of its name!
Jawaker is a popular mobile app with more than 1o classic card and board games. It is perfect for those who want to spice things up, learn new games, and challenge themselves. You will find various games, including Backgammon(Tawla), Solitaire, the popular Saudi game Baloot, and many more.
- Age Rating: 17+
- Compatibility: iPhone(iOS 11 or later), iPad(iOS 11 or later), iPod Touch(iOS 11 or later), Mac(macOS 11.0 or later with Apple M1 chip or later).
- In-App Purchases: Yes
- Windows: Yes(Windows 10)
- Google Play downloads: 10M
Best Real Money Alternative To Backgammon
Since finding a legit real money backgammon website is challenging, we recommend playing games that offer the same level of luck and strategy involved. The best real money alternative to backgammon is Poker.
Similar to backgammon, poker is the game of strategy and luck. Many poker variants with varying difficulty levels and betting limits are available online on legit online casinos.
Pick one of our trusted recommended online casinos and start playing today to win real money.
To Sum It Up
Although backgammon has been around and played for thousands of years, thanks to the internet revolution, playing backgammon has become more easy and fun today. Even if you don’t have a board of your own, you can grab your phone, download one of the top apps, and start playing online backgammon.
If you decide to play the game for real money, make sure the platform is legit and reliable.
Happy doubling!
