Is Bubble Cash a Scam? 

So, you’re thinking about using Bubble Cash, but you want to know if it’s a scam? 

It’s a common question, and always an important one to ask. In this article, we will discuss whether or not Bubble Cash is a scam, and some steps you can take to improve your safety when using this app. 

What Is Bubble Cash?

Bubble Cash is a real money bubble-shooter app from Papaya Gaming. 

How it works

Players shoot and match three or more same‑color bubbles to clear the board.

Multiplayer tournaments, both free and paid‑to‑enter, are available where players compete for the highest score to win real‑money prizes.

Winnings are paid to PayPal (or Apple Pay).

The app is available on iOS and Samsung devices.

Is Bubble Cash a Scam?

Bubble Cash is not a scam. It’s a legitimate game, but the likelihood of you making any real money is slim. 

Multiple review sites have reviewed Bubble Cash. 

According to The Budget Diet, Bubble Cash is legit, but is best suited for players who enjoy competitive gaming and are willing to risk their own money.

FinanceBuzz says Bubble Cash is a fun, legitimate bubble‑shooter app where you can win real money, but it’s difficult to profit after entry fees, so it’s best enjoyed as entertainment rather than a reliable income source.

SideHustles says Bubble Cash is a legitimate but risky bubble‑shooter app that pays real money through tournaments. 

However, their test showed a net loss ($5 in, $0.40 out), so most players are likely to lose more than they win, making it better for entertainment than as a side hustle. As a result, SideHustles gave Bubble Cash a rating of 2.1 out of 5.0 stars. 

User reviews of Bubble Cash are mixed:

• 1.6 out of 5.0 stars (from 27 reviews) on Trustpilot.
• 4.6 out of 5.0 stars (from 176,521 reviews) on the App Store. 
• 4.5 out of 5.0 stars (from 26,233 reviews) on Google Play. 

Industry experts warn that apps like Bubble Cash are built to drain your wallet.

Jordan Minor, a gaming analyst at PCMag, told TODAY that games like Bubble Cash encourage players to keep spending by offering enticing “bonus cash” rewards for entering more tournaments. 

The catch, he explained, is that these bonus funds can’t actually be withdrawn (i.e., they can only be used to play additional games).

Regulatory issues

In 2024, the Michigan Gaming Control Board directed Papaya Gaming to halt operations, ruling that its cash-entry skill games amounted to illegal gambling under state law.

Class action

That same year, a class action lawsuit was filed in New York against Papaya Gaming, accusing the company of misleading players by promoting Bubble Cash as a skill-based competition with real opponents while allegedly relying on bots behind the scenes.

Terms of use

There are some important points in Papaya Games’ (developer of Bubble Cash) terms of use that every user should be aware of. 

Most notably:

• Withdrawals may require ID verification and can take up to 90 days.
• Bonus Funds can be used for contests, but cannot be withdrawn.
• Withdrawing real money automatically forfeits all Bonus Funds in your account.
• Inactive accounts may be charged a $2 monthly maintenance fee after 6 months.
• If you don’t claim winnings within 60 days, you lose them.
• Papaya may suspend or terminate services/accounts at any time without notice.

Security

We couldn’t find much information about Bubble Cash’s security practices.

In its privacy policy, Papaya Games (developer of Bubble Cash) states it employs “administrative, technical, and physical safeguards” to safeguard players’ information. 

It doesn’t go into detail as to what these safeguards are. 

Privacy

Papaya Games (developer of Bubble Cash) explains the kind of data it collects, for what purposes, and with whom it shares it in its privacy policy. 

It collects the following information:

• Account information, such as full name, email address, phone number, user nickname, and birth date. Plus, any voluntary data, such as your profile image.
• Payment information, which will depend on the type of billing method you choose. 
• Usage information, such as IP address, geolocation data, and gameplay recordings. 
• Communication information, such as personal data from your emails to Bubble Cash support. 

The company collects this data to provide you with services and support, process payments, improve and secure its services, deliver personalized ads and marketing, comply with legal obligations, and prevent fraud/cheating. 

It may share your data with affiliated companies, service providers, payment processors, third-party advertisers and integrations, law enforcement, auditors, advisers, and in mergers and acquisitions scenarios. 

The company may store and process your data in “various jurisdictions around the world.” 

Data is kept for as long as needed for services, legal obligations, or disputes. Outdated/unused data will be destroyed when no longer necessary.

It may send you promotional content about Papaya or partners. You can opt out of marketing emails. If you do, you will still get service updates.

The “App Privacy” section of Bubble Cash’s App Store page states that the company can use your purchases, contact details, identifiers, location, user content, and usage data to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies. 

It also notes that it may collect certain data (including your purchases, location, user content, usage data, financial information, contact information, identifiers, and diagnostics) and link it to your identity. 

Depending on where you live, you may be able to exercise your privacy rights, such as the right to opt out of the sale/sharing of your data for behavioural advertising and to delete your information. 

As per its terms of use, any content you upload (including name, voice, image) can be used by Papaya permanently and royalty-free for promotion. The company can publish your game performance and stats publicly.

So, Should You Use Bubble Cash?

Depends.

As a fun game, Bubble Cash is a good option. 

But if you’re looking for a way to make money on the side, then you should explore other options. 

Curious about other game apps? We’ve written guides for the following: 

• Is Bingo Cash a Scam?
• Is Mistplay a Scam?

How to Use Bubble Cash Safely and Privately 

• Create a masked email. Having a separate email (or using a masked one) for gaming accounts like Bubble Cash can help you keep your primary email free of spam and reduce your exposure in case of any security incidents.
• Protect your account. Create a strong password and don’t reuse it elsewhere. Consider using a password manager for easier management of passwords. 
• Don’t overshare. Limit the amount of personal data you share in your gaming profile or on any forums or social media groups linked to the game.
• Review Bubble Cash app permissions. If the permissions Bubble Cash asks for seem excessive, don’t install the game.  
• Use PayPal instead of cards. It adds an extra layer of security and helps prevent direct exposure of your bank details.
• Set a spending cap. Decide in advance how much (if any) you’re willing to spend while playing Bubble Cash and stick to it.
• Never share payment information in chat/support. Only enter payment details through the official in-app payment system.
• Stick to free practice rounds. Use free games to enjoy the app without risking money.
• Avoid chasing losses. If you lose, don’t try to win it back right away. That’s how overspending happens.
• View “bonus cash” skeptically. Remember, it can’t be withdrawn, only reused for more games.
• Regularly update the Bubble Cash app. To patch security vulnerabilities.
• Log out on shared devices. To protect your account.
• Check local laws. Some U.S. states ban cash tournaments in Bubble Cash. Using the app in these areas could risk your account.
• Use a VPN cautiously. While a VPN may help protect your location privacy, it can violate the app’s terms and risk account suspension if detected.
• Monitor your transactions. Review your payment account or card statements regularly for any unauthorised charges.
• Read the privacy policy. This will help you understand how Bubble Cash uses and stores user information, as well as with whom it will share it. 
• Consider alternatives. Explore other mobile games with more robust privacy protections and look into non-gambling apps for a more reliable method of making money on the side.