Tournaments

Just like land-based casinos, online casinos also offer tournaments. Internet tourneys are a nice way to enjoy the games you love in a different format.

If you're new to online casino tournaments, though, they can require some adjustments. That said, we're going to discuss the basics of these events and how you can enjoy them for free.

Land-based vs. online casino tournaments

Perhaps you've played in a land-based casino tournament before. Brick-and-mortar venues commonly hold these tourneys as promotions to recruit new customers or satisfy existing players.

The Las Vegas slot tournament schedule, for instance, is bursting with different events on a regular basis. You'll normally receive news from specific casinos that you've been to in the past, which explains the details behind these events.

Let's say that you get an email about the Bellagio slot tournament schedule, for example. You can then use this info to know when to visit the Bellagio and jump in these events. The key issue, though, is that you have to physically travel to the casino in this case.

Online casino tournaments differ, because you don't have to go anywhere. Instead, you can simply play from a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Another difference regarding internet casino tourneys is that the schedule is on the website. You don't need to wait for an email or be a special VIP. Instead, you just visit the site in question and check out the schedule.

Basics of tournaments at internet casinos

Most online casinos feature tournaments. The two main types include table game and slots tourneys. The table game events usually revolve around blackjack, while slots tournaments can include any slot found at the casino in question.

Sometimes a software provider will feature the same tourneys across a network of sites. For example, Microgaming casino tournaments may be held at every gaming site that exclusively runs this company's software.

Another thing worth mentioning is that the requirements to enter tourneys can vary. You may be able to play in some events for free (a.k.a. freeroll), while others require an entry fee or even a certain VIP status.

Casino tournament freerolls are usually available to any player at a specific site. The prize pools for these tourneys aren't always big (e.g. $100), but this is to be expected when considering that the site is offering free money.

Buy-in events require an entry fee before you're eligible to play. Luckily, the entries aren't usually very large. You'll probably only have to pay between $1 and $5 to enter such tourneys.

An invitational slots tournament is only open to players of a certain VIP status. For example, a casino might hold a blackjack event that's only offered to Gold and Platinum loyalty levels.

Prize pools for online casino tournaments can vary greatly. Some offer as little as $50, while others can deliver $10,000 or more. You should always check out the prize pool and payout structure before entering an event.

Online slots tournaments rule the roost

Earlier, we mentioned how both slots and table game tourneys are available. Of these, slots tournaments are by far the most popular. We estimate that around 90% to 95% of all tourneys revolve around slots.

Online casinos usually feature new or popular slots for each tournament. New games give you a chance to both preview something you haven't played before and compete for prize money. Popular games have universal appeal to a casino's entire player base.

You'll especially find a lot of slots freerolls at internet casinos. As discussed before, freerolls give you an opportunity to build your bankroll for free. Do note, though, that freeroll winnings can be subject to a casino's terms and conditions.

Can you play mobile slot tournaments?

You certainly can play slots tourneys through your smartphone or tablet. You simply need to have a device that's running either Android or iOS (Apple).

All of the basic types of tourneys are available through mobile devices. Daily freeroll slot tournaments are in abundance at mobile casinos. Aside from free casino tournaments, you can also look forward to real money events too.

You can simply visit a mobile casino's lobby and comb through the schedule to see what all is available. Make a deposit using one of the available banking methods if you'd like to play real money slots tournaments.

USA friendly online casinos with free daily slots tournaments

If you're from the United States, you may wonder what internet casino tourney options — if any — are available. The good news is that there are many events available for USA players. In fact, some of the best online slots tournaments are just a few clicks away.

Here are some of the different US-friendly sites that hold tourneys on a regular basis:

Of course, all of these sites can have barriers to entry to their tourneys. Some even require a special code, or password, to enter their events. For example, you might have to enter a Sloto Cash tournament password before you can play in their tourneys.

You shouldn't have any problem figuring out the requirements, though. Each of these gaming sites does a good job of explaining what you must do to play.

In summary, many online casino tournament opportunities exist for USA players and the rest of the world. You'll have no shortage of options, regardless of if you choose the sites above or take your play elsewhere.

How to find the best online tournaments in Rival casinos

When you spot a Rival casino, it is a good idea to see if it has any tournaments on offer. If it does, you’ve got a golden opportunity to see if you can enter any of them. There are lots of ways to see which tournaments are best:

  • Which game is on offer in each event?
  • Does the tournament have an entry fee, and if so, how much is it?
  • Are there any re-buys?
  • What is the prize pool like?
  • Is it a winner takes all prize or are there several up for grabs?

You might have preferences in these areas, of course. Once you know what your preferences are, you can decide which tournaments are going to be the best ones in your case.

How to play online tournaments to maximize your odds of winning

Choose a tournament that uses a game you know you like to play. It’s no use playing something you dislike, as you’ll still be betting on it and playing it for a while – possibly longer than you typically would. At least if you play an entertaining game, you’re going to get the chance to appreciate it. See the tournament part of the deal as an extra if you can.

Keep your bets as low as possible to make sure you can participate for as long as you can. Look at what is required for you to get on the tournament table too. Is it connected to the bets you place, or the prizes won? Understanding the rules before you play is of paramount importance if you want to get the best winning chances.

What are freerolls and why are they ideal for tourney newbies?

Freerolls are just what they sound like – the chance to enter a free tournament instead of paying for it. There are far more of these around than you might think, too.

Many Rival casinos do have these games to try, and we think they’re perfect for new players who haven’t tried tournaments before. You are in with a chance of winning prizes, but you do not need to dip into your playing budget to pay for entry.

Are you ready to participate in real money tournaments?

We’re not just referring to the real money that could be won by those finishing in the top positions in the tournament. We are also referring to the entry fee you might need to pay to get into the tourney to start with.

Paid tournaments don’t sound as good as the free rolls. However, you usually pay just one fee to enter, with some offering re-buys as well. An entry fee typically means the prize pool is either guaranteed or larger in size. Some of them can be huge, spread between several winners or taken by the person who comes top of the tournament league when the event ends.

Make sure your budget allows you to play the game involved and to pay for the entry fee before you begin.

How do Bitcoin tournaments work?

Much the same as ordinary tournaments. You might see there is an mBTC entry fee in cases where there is a charge to take part. Of course, there is equally a chance you could find freerolls to try as well.

In the case of prizes, these should be indicated in mBTC as well. For example, the top prize might be one Bitcoin.

Look out for daily, weekly, and monthly tournaments

Consider which ones would suit you best. Daily ones are perfect for newcomers, because many Rival sites have free daily events to enter. These last for 24 hours, so you don’t need to find tons of room to play across a longer period.

If you want to enter a bigger tournament, look out for weekly or monthly ones. The longer ones might be associated with special times of the year. It is not unusual to see a summer tournament, for example, perhaps running over a six-week period. Always be aware of the duration of a tournament before you begin and be sure to look at the potential prizes that could be won too.

Slots tournaments are most popular of all

While you can find tournaments revolving around other game types at Rival casinos, it is most common to find a slot game as the big attraction. If you can find a daily tournament based on a Rival slot, you might have something different to try each day of the coming month. Slots are mostly incredibly popular, especially when a tournament is free to enter.

Table games tournaments are available too

Yep, it’s not only slots that get a look-in when the tournament action begins. Our advice would be to go for a freeroll if you can, as a table game tournament requires some knowledge of whichever game is being played before you start. Make sure you know what is expected of you and how best to play the required table game before diving into this type of tourney.