Thanks to Online Slots' vast popularity, it's little wonder that so many people want to take their gaming to the next level and take part in Slots Tournaments. Here we will be talking about how to approach them and why their popularity keeps going from strength to strength.
While in the past tournaments were something that only poker players could look forward to, nowadays, you can get tournaments of a number of much-loved casino games (slots being one of them). Not only do live casinos offer them because they bring in new players and provide old players with a variation of their favourite game but thanks to the fact that buy-ins for slots tournaments are often free but give winning players real cash and prizes, this form of tournament can turn out to be of amazing value to the casino player.
Basically, players sign up for the tournament and get a certain amount of slot machine credits. They are then given a particular time in which to play those credits and make as much money as possible. These tournament credits are put in a separate credit account in the machine so that they don't affect your set starting credits. The only thing you need to focus on at this point is to use up all the allotted credits in the given time frame and hope that you hit enough jackpots to put up your total credits as high as you can. Payouts will then happen according to how many credits you have racked up in comparison to everyone else. Therefore, if there is a pool of $2000, the first place will win $1200, the second will win $500 and the third $300. It's worth noting that many times it's not only the players in the first three places who get prizes but small prizes are often given out to other participants too.
It may come as a surprise to some of our readers that a straight-forward activity like slots tournaments comes with strategic guidelines. At the end of the day, tournament or no tournament, players simply pull a lever (or press a button) and wait for the slot machine to work its magic. The truth is that while there is no effective strategy to playing slots on your own, but there are several tips, mostly involving bankroll management and choosing the best machine, that can improve your overall balance at the end of the day (visit our Slots Strategy page for more info). When it comes to tournament play, however, other factors are involved, and strategy should be applied to your game. The first thing to remember is that tournaments are played against other players and the clock. You are not battling a machine, but rather the other entrants to the tournament. With a guaranteed prize pool, it is irrelevant how many chips/credits you end up with. Remember: payouts are not in proportion to your winnings. They are according to your relative finishing position.
Based on the previous statement, it makes sense to follow these guidelines:
The above guidelines only help you if your opponents are making mistakes and wasting time. It’s clear that using up your credits is optimal play, so you can expect all your opponents to be doing the same. The truth is, the important decisions are made before the tournament even begins. When it comes to buy-in fees and payouts, there are three different kinds of tournaments:
Understanding the difference between the three will help you enroll only in those tournaments that most greatly benefit you.
Freerolls are tournaments that don’t require an entry fee. They are very common in online poker rooms, but online slots freerolls are harder to come by. They can be found, however, in many brick-and-mortar casinos. For the casinos it’s a great way to attract people and get them used to playing slots. Sometimes freerolls are open to the general public, but most times they are an invitation-only affair. Casinos use these freerolls to reward loyal players, sometimes as part of a larger comps package. The advantages of playing freerolls are obvious – you’re not risking anything other than your time, and you have a chance to win a real prize. You should look for freerolls if you want to enjoy the fun and thrill of slots play, without risking a thing.
If you are required to pay an entry fee to participate in a tournament, there are still two types you should look out for. Some tournaments pay out all the entry fees they have collected, splitting them amongst the top spots. In other cases, the casino facilitating the tournament will keep a cut, and that is how the casino makes a profit. Obviously, playing the first kind of tournament is to your advantage. Here is an example: suppose the entry fee is $10, and there are 25 people who signed up for the tournament. The total paid in entry fees is $250. If the casino keeps a cut, it will usually be around 10%, so in this case the prize pool will be $225. If the casino does not keep a cut, a total of $250 will be split amongst the winners. Obviously, the second option is better since you risk the same amount of money, but stand to win more.
We at GamblingPlanet are all about giving our players the perfect slots tournament experience which is why we have chosen some of the best slots tournaments casinos on the net and compiled them into a toplist. If you're at a bit of a loss as to which to choose, opt for a casino which is entirely slots-based so that you'll have a lot of variety. We suggest that you go through our Slots Rules page before you commit to playing any game. If you're an American player and want to get the most out of your slots experience, visit our Online Casinos USA page. Happy spinning and winning!