Slot Tournaments: Everything You Need to Know
If you’re looking to get more play for your stake, take a shot at a big win with a small outlay, and enjoy a lively way to play slots, a slot tournament may be worth a try.
This guide covers the key points about buy-in slot tournaments, along with free-to-enter leaderboard races that require you to opt in.
Buy-In Slot Tournaments
Online casinos that run slot tournaments may offer low-, medium- or high-stakes entry fees. Most buy-ins are low, at around €-$-£ 1 to €-$-£ 5. Some events cost €-$-£ 50 to €-$-£ 100, though high-stakes tournaments are uncommon. Once you’ve bought in, there’s no further payment: all remaining spins are free.
The casino picks a video slot and gives each entrant a set number of free spins. The average is about 250 spins. Once everyone has finished, the entrant with the highest total of ‘multipliers’ or ‘tournament money’ is declared the winner.
How long does a buy-in slot tournament last? The length of a buy-in tournament is entirely up to the online casino running it.
- A typical tournament lasts around 20 minutes
- All spins are free, as the buy-in covers the spin wagers
- Play takes place on video slot titles selected for the promotion
- A tournament with a large number of spins may run longer
- The average award is 150 to 250 spins
After all entrants have used their free spins or the allotted time is up, players in cash-paying leaderboard positions receive a share of the cash prize pool with 0x wagering requirements, according to the article. Check the specific terms before assuming this applies.
Slot Tournaments Without a Buy-In (No Buy-In) – Slot Races, Leaderboards & Opt-In
You may have heard of Pragmatic Play’s Drop & Wins leaderboard promotion or Playson’s recurring slot tournaments. Many online casinos also list ‘slot races’ in their tournament sections. These events often have no buy-in; simply opt in to participate.
Unlike the buy-in format, you pay for each spin with your own money, and a minimum spin bet usually applies. The casino or software provider selects the eligible games. For example, Pragmatic Play leaderboard tournaments marked ‘Drop & Wins’ award leaderboard points only for spins of 0.50 or more on the designated slots.
How long does an opt-in slot tournament last? Without a buy-in, casinos or software providers can run these events for an hour, and usually for up to a maximum of 1 week. Some combine a time limit, spin cap and minimum bet, such as (3 Hours) + (60 Spins) + ($0.30 Min Bet). Those conditions apply once you opt in.
- Possible time limits include 1 hour, 3 hours, 1 week, or even up to 1 month
- Some promotions also limit play to 50 spins, 100 spins, and so on
- A minimum spin bet usually applies to qualify or collect points
- Only video slot titles selected for the promotion count
When the tournament ends, players in prize-winning positions receive an award, according to the article. This is often described as ‘cash money’ with 0x wagering, but some casinos award ‘bonus money’ with wagering requirements instead.
Slot Tournament Prize Pools & The Bubble
Some slot tournaments pay only the winner, while others award prizes to the top 3 finishers - 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Larger events may pay out more positions, depending on the number of entrants. With more people buying in before the tournament begins, the prize pool can grow.
A larger prize pool may also be shared among more finishers. In a big tournament, the top 20 players may receive a cash prize. These paying positions are called the bubble; the article describes getting past it as a guaranteed cash win, subject to the tournament’s actual terms.
- Buy-In Tournaments: The article says payouts are made in cash
- Opt-In Tournaments: Check the tournament T&Cs before entering. Some offer a mix of cash prizes and free spins, with the prize described as withdrawable cash. Others pay tournament winnings as ‘bonus money’, which comes with a ‘wagering requirement’.
Advantages of Slot Tournaments
Now that we’ve covered the formats, let’s look at why you might add slot tournaments to your casino routine.
- Value for Money: A buy-in tournament can provide many more spins for your stake than betting the minimum from your casino balance. For example, a €5.00 buy-in that gives you 250 spins on a 10 pay lines slot works out to 0.02 per spin rather than 0.10 per spin.
- Any Entrant Can Win: The article compares slot tournaments with poker tournaments, where skill plays a role. It describes the results here as pure luck: there are no fish or sharks, and every entrant is said to have an equal chance. That doesn’t change the uncertainty of the outcome.
- Chance to win big for a small investment: A large field can mean many buy-ins go into the prize pool. Since the article describes entrants as having equal chances, it says a sizeable return is possible, not guaranteed.
- Discover new slots: As the casino picks the games in advance, you may come across a new slot title you enjoy and later decide to play with your casino balance.
- Great for beginners: Slot tournaments can offer a relatively inexpensive introduction to video slots. When the buy-in provides plenty of play, you can learn how the features work and how slots pay out without a large buy-in.
To wrap up, the guide suggests looking for an online casino with buy-in slot tournaments if you’d like to try this format.
