Is Solitaire Cash a Scam?

If you’re thinking of playing Solitaire Cash, you need to know: Is Solitaire Cash a scam? 

Below, we explain whether Solitaire Cash is a scam and discuss some steps you can take to improve your safety when playing this game. 

What Is Solitaire Cash?

Solitaire Cash is a mobile game app that combines classic Klondike Solitaire with the ability to win money prizes.

It is created by Papaya Gaming. 

As part of the game, you are matched with other players of similar skill levels. Everyone plays the same deck layout to ensure fairness. The top three players in each tournament win real cash prizes.

You typically have to pay money to enter a cash tournament. However, you can also enter tournaments by accumulating gems through daily bonuses or free play, but it takes time.

Paid cash games aren’t available in certain U.S. states. 

Solitaire Cash is available for iOS (through the Apple App Store) and Samsung (through the Galaxy Store). It’s not available on Google Play. 

Is Solitaire Cash a Scam?

Depends on your definition of “scam” and why you’re looking to play Solitaire Cash, i.e., for fun or to win cash. 

Looking at third-party reviews, Solitaire Cash appears to be a legitimate game, but not one from which you are likely to make money. 

• Writing for FinaceBuzz, Mindy Woodall said she didn’t make any real money from playing the game, but she didn’t lose any, either. 
• On the other hand, writing for SlashGear, Adam Doud said he deposited $25 and lost it all within about two days. His verdict was that the app is a “money pit.”  
• Speaking to TODAY, YouTuber Corinna Jacqueline said she played the game for around 6 hours a day for over a year. She made about $100 in total. You can see her YouTube video about her experience playing Solitaire Cash.  

Some reviews point out that the app can be considered a form of gambling, with more players probably losing money than making money. 

In 2024, the Michigan Gaming Control Board ordered Papaya Gaming to cease operations, saying its money-staked skill-based apps constitute illegal gambling under state law. 

Experts say games like Solitaire Cash are designed to take your money. 

Speaking to TODAY, PCMag gaming expert Jordan Minor said Solitaire Cash (and other games) use tactics to keep you spending, for example, by giving you bonus cash prizes when you pay to enter more tournaments (but if you try to withdraw the bonus cash, you’ll soon realize it’s not possible as the bonus cash can only be used to play more games).

In 2024, a class action lawsuit in New York was filed against Solitaire Cash developer Papaya Games. It alleged that Papaya Games presented its app as a skill-based contest with live opponents while, in reality, secretly using bots. 

At the time of writing, the game has a 4.6 out of 5.0-star rating (from 385.6k ratings) on the App Store. 

Security

In its privacy policy, Papaya Games (developer of Solitaire Cash) says it uses “administrative, technical, and physical safeguards” to protect your data. However, it doesn’t describe in detail what these safeguards are. 

Privacy

In its privacy policy, Papaya Games (developer of Solitaire Cash) outlines the types of data it collects and for what purposes. 

It collects account information (e.g., full name, phone number, email address, user nickname, and birth date, as well as voluntary information like your profile image), payment information, and usage information (e.g., IP address, geolocation data, and gameplay recordings). 

Papaya Games says it collects this data for purposes like providing you with its services, marketing and advertising, and complying with any applicable laws. 

The company says it may share your personal data with affiliated companies, payment processors, service providers, third-party advertisers, third-party integrations, law enforcement, auditors and advisers, and mergers and acquisitions. 

It may store and process your personal data in “various jurisdictions around the world.” 

The “App Privacy” section on Solitaire Cash’s App Store page says that the app can use purchase data, contact information, identifiers, location, user content, and usage data to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies. 

It also says that your purchase data, location, user content, usage data, financial information, contact information, identifiers, and diagnostics may be collected and linked to your identity.  

So, Should You Play Solitaire Cash?

If you’re looking for a fun game, then Solitaire Cash is a good option. However, if you’re looking to make money, then you may want to look for other ways to do so. 

Although skilled players might earn modest profits from playing Solitaire Cash, the average person will only likely break even or lose money.

How to Play Solitaire Cash Safely

Here are some tips for a safer experience while playing Solitaire Cash.

• Use a masked email. Create a masked or separate email address for gaming accounts to keep your main email private.
• Make sure you have a strong password. Create a strong password (consider using a passphrase) that you haven’t used elsewhere. 
• Avoid personal information sharing. Limit how much personal information you share in your gaming profiles or forums linked to the game.
• Check app permissions. See what permissions Solitaire Cash requests when downloading it. If the permissions it asks for seem excessive, consider not installing the game. 
• Use a secure payment method. Consider options like prepaid cards. 
• Have a spending limit. Set a budget for tournaments and stick to it. 
• Monitor your transactions. Check your payment account or card statements periodically for charges you don’t recognize.
• Read the privacy policy. Understand how Solitaire Cash will use and store your data and whom it will share it with. 
• Look for alternatives. Explore other mobile games with better privacy protections and consider non-gambling apps for a more reliable way to make a small bit of income.