Is Papaya Gaming Legit? [Lawsuit, List of Apps, and Alternatives]

We typically associate playing games for money with the casino, where stakes are high and the falls just as steep. However, much of online gaming for money happens on mobile apps that offer a similar earning experience. 

Indeed, 2020 saw 70% of online betting stemming from mobile devices, where playing casino games is easier than ever. For some, both players and developers alike, that convenience comes with a huge payout.

One of the most prominent casino game developers is Papaya Gaming. Though this company only has a few apps on the App Store and Samsung Galaxy Store, the premise underlying them all has proven to be incredibly profitable.

Many people wonder if Papaya Gaming is legitimate, especially given the type of games played on the various apps. Our article digs deeper into how these games work and how much you can earn from Papaya Gaming’s apps. 

Are you ready to find out if Papaya Gaming is legitimate? Let’s get started!

What is Papaya Gaming 

Founded back in 2016 by Alex Liakhovetsky, Andrey Birman, and Yonatan Zvik, Papaya Gaming has offices in both St. Louis, Missouri, and Tel Aviv.

The company offers popular gaming apps on the App Store and Samsung Galaxy Store, namely:

• Bubble Cash
• Solitaire Cash
• 21 Cash
• Bingo Cash
• Cookie Cash

These games rank among the most downloaded in the market, with over four million downloads across the globe. The majority of players are Americans but Papaya Gaming is expanding to the UK market as well.

The basic premise of each of these four games sticks to what you already know about the game type.

For example, Solitaire Cash bases itself on the game of Solitaire, where players can earn cash by playing solitaire against others from their mobile phones.

These game apps to win real money can be downloaded for free but offer tournaments and competitions where players can earn large cash pools. Both in-game currency and real cash can be used to enter these competitions.

Papaya Gaming Lawsuit

Papaya Gaming has lost or settled two significant cases, both centred on the same accusation: that the people you were playing against were not always people.

The $15 million bot settlement

A class action, Barcelo v. Papaya Gaming, alleged the company placed undisclosed bots into its skill based cash contests, naming Solitaire Cash, Bingo Cash and 21 Cash. The claim was that players who believed they were matched against other real people at their skill level were at times competing against software, which made it harder to win the cash on offer.

Papaya agreed to pay $15 million to resolve it and has not admitted any wrongdoing. The court granted preliminary approval on October 17, 2025. The deadline to file a claim was January 30, 2026, so that window has closed, and a final approval hearing was set for March 2, 2026. The official settlement administrator site holds the current status.

The $719 million Skillz judgment

Separately, rival platform Skillz sued Papaya. On April 23, 2026 a jury found Papaya liable and awarded $420 million in actual damages. A judgment entered July 27, 2026 ordered $719 million in disgorgement. That is one of the largest awards the mobile gaming sector has seen.

Where the cases stand right now

• Case filed: December 2024 in Los Angeles Superior Court, Barcelo v. Papaya Gaming, case 24STCV32626.
• Who was covered: anyone in the US or its territories with a Papaya account who made a deposit in a Papaya game between January 1, 2019 and September 5, 2024.
• Preliminary approval: October 17, 2025.
• Claim deadline: January 30, 2026. That window has closed, so new claims are no longer accepted.
• Final approval: granted March 2026, with payments set to follow roughly 90 days after.
• Appeal: a group of objectors tried to intervene and were denied. On July 30, 2026 California’s Second District Court of Appeal affirmed that denial (case B348956), which clears the last obstacle to the settlement standing.
• Skillz case: jury verdict April 23, 2026 for $420 million in actual damages, followed by a July 27, 2026 judgment ordering $719 million in disgorgement.

So the short version as of today: the bot settlement is final and survived appeal, the claim window is shut, and Papaya is carrying a nine figure judgment from a separate case. Papaya has never admitted wrongdoing in the class action.

How Papaya makes money

Papaya earns through the rake, a cut of each tournament pot funded by entry fees, reported at around 20 percent, which is comparable to the casino industry. That model rewards getting as many paying entrants into a contest as possible, which is the backdrop the bot allegations sit against. Co-founder Yonatan Zvik has disputed the characterisation of the lineup as gambling, telling CTech the games may sit in the App Store casino category but do not promote gambling the way other apps do.

None of this means the apps never pay. It means the core promise, a fair match against a real person of similar skill, is exactly what was disputed in court. Weigh that before depositing money.

Papaya Gaming Alternatives

The problem with a cash tournament is that you have to trust an opponent you cannot see. These three remove that question entirely. You are paid for finishing a task, so there is no entry fee, no deposit at risk, and no way for a bot to cost you a payout.

All three are free to join, none ask you to fund an account first, and you can run all three at once.

Papaya Gaming Apps

If you want to get paid to play games, Papaya Gaming is a one-stop shop. Each game incorporates gems as an internal currency, with the option to add real cash to enter competitions and increase your earnings. 

These games play off classic games you’re familiar with (Solitaire games and Bingo games) but with the added twist of earning money. A few minutes on a Papaya Gaming app could win you nothing or it could win you $150 or more. 

Papaya Gaming apps also have daily prizes that offer gems and cash. Play each game to win money, from $2 up to $2,000 if you’re among the top three. 

The best part about Papaya Gaming apps is that you don’t necessarily have to have skills. Instead, you can play for fun and still win big prizes. 

Cookie Cash

Cookie Cash is a new game from Papaya Gaming for those looking for puzzle games that pay real money.

Players can dive into the familiar world of Match 3, aligning pieces to clear them, setting the stage for high-scoring combos. But with Cookie Cash, there's a twist – users can earn cash prizes!

Infused with a fresh spin on a timeless classic, Cookie Cash boasts a player-friendly design, melding captivating graphics with a seamless interface, ensuring immersive gameplay.

One can opt to play for free, or up the ante by depositing money and competing against others for lucrative rewards.

21 Cash

Available only on the App Store, 21 Cash gives you two minutes to stack pairs of cards that equal 21. This blackjack-like game awards the player with the most points at the end of each round. 

In getting as many stacks of 21 as you can, you’re only allowed three mistakes. In addition to playing for free, you can also enter tournaments to cash in on real money earnings. 

21 Cash also offers free gems if you log in daily. For win-real-money apps, that’s fairly common but it is a nice way to build up your earnings over time. 

Bingo Cash

Download Bingo Cash from the Samsung Galaxy Store or the App Store to start playing. Like most bingo apps that pay real money, Bingo Cash draws upon the basic structure of bingo but adds a bit of competition to the mix. 

Each player in Bingo Cash gets the same card. The top three players to get the most points win up to $200 in some cases and you can earn more by using Bingo Cash tips.

Moreover, Bingo Cash matches players based on skill and offers a free daily raffle. You can also get a free $1 bonus for any referrals you make. 

Cash out with Bingo Cash via PayPal, American Express, Apple Pay, or Visa/Mastercard. If you make a $10 deposit, Bingo Cash will match that, but only for 24 hours after your deposit hits.

Solitaire Cash

Solitaire Cash has over four million downloads on the App Store. Enter tournaments and compete with other players to earn cash prizes in this skills-based game and you could end up with up to $83 per victory.

In addition to tournaments, you can also play alone to hone your skills. If you never want to spend any real money, you can still win real cash for finishing in the top three of any tournament you enter.

Get a 100-gem sign-up bonus with Solitaire Cash, available from the App Store as well as the Samsung Galaxy Store.

You can download this classic Klondike solitaire game for free, though it is the app named most often in the bot allegations above. We break down the payouts, the settlement and whether it is still worth playing in our full Solitaire Cash review.

Bubble Cash

If you’re tired of card games and daubing, check out Bubble Cash. This classic bubble shooter game keeps you busy as you try to remove bubbles with strategy in mind. 

The name of the game is to match bubbles of the same color to remove them from the field. You can play free practice games or compete in tournaments for PayPal cash.

Challenge your mind by playing Bubble Cash for extra funds you can use to treat yourself. Download the app from the Samsung Galaxy Store or App Store today. 

Papaya Gaming Promo Codes

You can often find Papaya Gaming promotional codes on their social media profiles. For example, you could subscribe to their Instagram page and receive codes you can redeem for more rewards. 

Most promotional codes give you what’s called “bonus cash,” which technically doesn’t have any value except for in the game. You have to spend that cash within the game itself to make any use of it. 

However, bonus cash can give you a free way to enter a paid tournament and potentially win big. It all depends on how well you rank and what Papaya Gaming app you’re playing. 

How to Make the Most of Papaya Gaming Apps

Unlike apps that peek over your shoulder as you play, Papaya Gaming apps let you earn extra money through tournaments.

Your gameplay experience will vary from one app to another, but here are some ways you can make the most of your game time: 

• Start with free games to see how well you do with each app. Play for free until you feel comfortable with the game itself. 
• Choose competitions that have a low entry cost so you can minimize risk. Losing $0.50 is much easier to deal with than listing $5. 
• Ensure you’ve set aside time and space to dedicate to your gaming. With time limits and responsiveness critical in each of these Papaya Gaming apps, a quick finger is required. 
• Cash out earnings when you reach the minimum amount. While you can certainly wait longer to cash out until you’ve got more rewards stacked up, it’s often best to get in and out before something happens to your account.  

It’s important to note that since you can’t possibly replace your full-time position with a gaming app like Papaya Gaming offers, it’s all about setting your expectations. Ensure that you’re working toward a goal but don’t let earning a few cents get in the way of your daily life. 

Papaya Gaming Pros and Cons

Papaya Gaming offers several exciting and fun ways to earn extra money, but how does it stack up? Keep reading to see where the chips fall. 

Pros:

• Apps are free to download
• Variety of games
• Easy to cash out 
• Promotional codes sometimes available on social media
• Free gameplay as well as paid opportunities
• Many cashout options, including PayPal and real cash 

Cons:

• Most tournaments require real cash entry fees
• Playing games on other platforms can be more lucrative 
• A somewhat limited selection of games
• $1 fee to withdraw earnings 

FAQs

Join the Fun with Papaya Gaming 

Several app developers top the charts for the most downloaded games, but Papaya Gaming has seemingly come out of nowhere to rank high on the list for its four gaming apps. Bubble Cash, 21 Cash, Solitaire Cash, and Bingo Cash make it easy to earn extra money just by playing games you love. 

We hope this article helped you to find out more about Papaya Gaming so you can download these apps and contribute to your bank account. It’s well worth it to do some research, especially with so many sophisticated scams these days. 

Papaya Gaming is just one of many app developers out there that offers the chance to earn money for the games you may already play. Combine these apps and you can potentially make quite a bit of money in your spare time. 

Which Papaya Gaming app(s) will you download?