A number of people typed “How to Play Games Online for Free and Win Real Money” into Google at midnight and then frowned when every other site asked for their bank information. It’s a good thing to be worried about. Most people don’t want to risk their money until they’re sure they can win. Let’s get to the point: do you have to pay to acquire that delectable reward money?

You can win for free without putting any money down, but there is usually some fine print. Sites like MPL (Mobile Premier League), WinZO, and Qureka hold tournaments every day that anyone can join for free. You can join, play, and maybe win money or credits without having to pay anything. What’s the catch? These rooms fill up faster than a bus in Mumbai at rush hour. Also, the prizes for free games are usually minimal. The excitement is still there, and occasionally the prizes are enough for a pizza.

Some sites include “freeroll tournaments,” which are free games that users can play for fun. PokerSaint and RummyCircle are two programs that do this quite well. You don’t have to pay anything up front; just bring your game face and maybe a solid Wi-Fi connection. The winners get money, but they don’t have to worry about losing real money. Good for folks who want to see how things are before they get in.

On the other hand, do you want to join tournaments with bigger prizes, bigger prize pools, or leaderboards with big payouts? That’s where the problem is. You will nearly always have to pay a deposit to play. The hook is mainly free games and freeroll tournaments. Have fun with them, but don’t expect to make a lot of money by playing for free.

If you’re new to the game, stick to free contests, enjoy the modest wins, and never chase after losers. You never know: your next samosas might come from a free gaming run that you do well in. Isn’t this an excellent deal?