• Slots

How Do Slots Tournaments Work?

What is a slot tournament, and how does it differ from spinning regular slots? In simple terms, slot tournaments let players compete against each other for a chance at exciting cash prizes, bonus rewards, and more. These tournaments are especially popular at online slot casinos, offering a competitive twist on the standard slot experience.

Wondering exactly how do slot tournaments work? Unlike typical slots, you’re playing to outscore other participants within a set time or number of spins. And if you’re curious about how to win a slot tournament, this guide will break down everything from basic rules to helpful strategies, plus highlight where to find the top online slot tournaments available today.

How Do Slot Tournaments Work?

Tournaments promise thrilling prize pools to top performers. But how do slot tournaments work?

If you enter the event, you aim to score more points while playing the designated game. The scoring, rules for the tournament, and other factors can vary from casino to casino.

How to Enter a Slot Tournament

Entering a slot tournament is typically very straightforward. For starters, make sure you are logged into your account. You must create one to compete if you do not have an account.

After logging in, you must navigate to the tournaments page to view the events available to join. Then, pick the tournament you want to play in and join it.

Depending on the event and the casino, you may have to pay to compete. On the bright side, the tournament buy-in is usually affordable for even the smallest bankrolls. Many casinos also offer free tournaments, sometimes called freerolls, and exclusive events for VIP reward members.

Gameplay in Slot Tournaments

How does a slot tournament work? Once you have joined the event, you must compete with the other contestants to earn points. There is a time limit for the event, so make sure you utilize your time wisely.

Depending on the tournament, you will typically have either a limited number of spins or a limited amount of credits. In the latter, you can spin as many times as your credits allow within the time limit.

Using the auto spin feature is extremely helpful in tournaments with a set amount of credits. This will maximize the number of spins you can make before the tournament ends.

You need winning spins to earn points. The amount you win is often irrelevant, so keep your stake amount low to get as many spins as possible.

Slot Tournament Scoring Systems

There are two main scoring systems you will see in slot races: points and credits. In a point-based tournament, you score points for winning spins. Each win is worth one point, and the players with the most points will rank the highest on the tournament leaderboard.

The other primary scoring system in slot tournaments is credit-based. As the name suggests, the winners of these tournaments are the players who earn the most credits during the event.

In point-based events, you should bet the minimum and use the auto spin feature to maximize your bankroll and number of spins. With credit-based scoring events, betting higher stakes can help you secure more significant wins and move up the leaderboard faster.

How to Win a Slot Tournament

Scoring points or racking up credits is the key to winning a slot tournament. The players who succeed in this goal the best will place the highest on the leaderboard.

The tournament leaderboard ranks every contestant in the tournament. Most casinos allow you to view the leaderboard during the event to see how you compare to your competitors. At the end of the event, the players at the top of the leaderboard will divvy up the prize pool.

Some tournaments have prize tiers, which allow more contestants to win a reward. Every player who finishes in a tier wins the corresponding prize.

Types of Slot Tournaments

Slots are amongst the most versatile games at a casino. So, it is not surprising that there is also a wide variety of slot tournaments for you to enjoy.

Scheduled vs. Sit & Go

Scheduled tournaments require players to compete at the same time. These are popular at land-based casinos because they are easier to manage.

Sit & Go events, on the other hand, allow contestants to compete at any time during the time frame for the tournament. You can enter the tournament at any time and start to compete. These tournaments tend to be longer and attract more competitors.

Free vs. Real-Money Buy-in

Freeroll tournaments allow you to jump into the action without paying a buy-in, and players bet with fake casino funds. They are free to play,fi but usually have a real money requirement. For instance, you may have to reach a minimum bet handle in the casino to qualify for a prize.

Real-money slot races, on the other hand, require you to use your bankroll to compete. On the plus side, the funds you win during the tournament are usually yours to keep.

Invite-Only or Promotional Tournaments

Promotional tournaments are open for all members of the casino to join. Invite-only slot races, conversely, are reserved for the site’s most loyal members. Casinos offer free ticket entries to VIP events with exclusive prize pools for high-ranking players to enjoy.

Single-Elimination vs. Leaderboard-Style

Leaderboard-style events are the most popular slot races. You compete against every person in the tournament, and the players with the most points win prizes. In single-elimination tournaments, you compete head-to-head with another player in a shorter time frame to advance to the next round of the tournament.

Where to Play Online Slot Tournaments

Now that you know what a slot tournament is, you are ready to start competing in these exciting contests. Here are three secure casino sites that frequently offer high-quality slot tournaments.

BetOnline

BetOnline offers a wide selection of casino tournaments, including over half a dozen weekly slot races. There are paid slot tournaments featuring the newest and most popular slot titles. Members of BetOnline can also participate in free slot races every week at this casino.

All the slot tournaments at BetOnline are timed events. You start with a set bankroll and must rack up points with winning spins to move up the leaderboard. The prize pools for these tournaments range from $750 to $15,000 and are always guaranteed. 

Wild Casino

You can also play fantastic slot tournaments at Wild Casino. Like BetOnline, Wild offers weekly paid and free tournaments for slot fans to choose from. To qualify for a prize in free vents, you must have bet at least $100 in total handle in the two weeks before the slot race.

The tournament tab at Wild is conveniently split between paid and free events. You can see the start date, the remaining time in the tournament, and the prize pool for the race. Also, you can see the current leaderboard and how the prize pool will be split amongst the top performers.

Bovada

Bovada offers slot races under its “Full Schedule” and “Happening Now” tabs. There are multiple slots from Qora Games available, including:

• Fast and Sexy
• 777 Deluxe
• A Night With Cleo
• Gold Rush Gus

Three of the four slots include progressive jackpots that you can compete for while climbing the leaderboard. Bovada’s tournaments are point-based events, but they have a unique twist. You can earn points for every spin in addition to winning spins.

Also, the bigger your win, the more points you can win. Wins are split into four categories: standard, big, mega, and epic. Standard wins earn five points, big wins award 10 points, and mega and epic wins are worth 25 points.

Tips for Winning Slot Tournaments

Using the right strategy is essential to winning slot races. Here are three tips to help you win slot races.

Maximize Spins

The best strategy for slot races is to maximize your number of spins. This typically means betting the minimum and using the auto-spin mode to use all your credits as quickly and consistently as possible.

Practice in Advance

Knowing the game you are playing can also be a significant advantage. Playing the slot ahead of the tournament will let you learn the ins and outs of the game, giving you an edge over the other contestants.

Look for Overlays

Shopping for value is one of the best skills any gambler can master. In slot tournaments, you want to find overlays, or tournaments with a low entry cost and substantial prize pools. This strategy minimizes your risk and maximizes your potential reward.

What Are Your Favorite Slot Tournaments?

What is a slot tournament, and are they worth playing? Read the guide above to learn more about these exciting casino competitions and see where to enjoy them today.

For the best slot tournaments, I recommend creating an account at BetOnline. There is a wide selection of paid and free slot races to choose from every week. Also, you can use the code FREE250 to get $250 in free bets and 100 free spins in the casino, which are perfect for practicing slot games.