Online Slot Tournaments
Slot Tournaments are incredibly fun competitions and they can bring you plenty of prizes. We provide you with everything you need to make the most out of them: a list of all the ongoing tournaments, a complete guide on how to join and play, and useful tips for creating a winning strategy!
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What is a Slot Tournament?
DEFINITION
A slot tournament is a competition that takes place between slots players and the main goal is to win as many coins as possible. The player that ends up with the highest number of coins is declared the winner.
These tournaments used to take place in land-based casinos, but with the emergence of brand new online casinos, most of them have been adapted to both PC and mobile platforms.
Online slot tournaments follow similar rules to regular slot tournaments, but they could also add a few rules of their own, such as more flexible time limits.
Are Online Slot Tournaments Free to Enter?
A casino slot tournament may be free to enter, but you still have to wager your own money in order to win coins. Unlike other types of online casino competitions, however, in this case, you do not have to pay a fee or buy a ticket to join it.
Other gambling tournaments may apply an entry fee, also known as a buy-in. By paying this fee, you contribute to the prize pool for the tournament winner.
REMEMBER
In free slot tournaments online, customers usually play with their own money. All winnings also remain on their balance sheet.
How Do Slot Tournaments Work?
Here is how slot tournaments work and what to expect when you join one:
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You only have to opt-in for free online slot tournaments. For the buy-in ones, you have to first pay the fee;
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Play the slot machine or selection of slots that participate in the competition wagering your own money;
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Win coins and see how you stack against other players on the leaderboard before the time runs up. The competition may last from 20 minutes to a month;
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If you are the first on the leaderboard, you are awarded a prize. This can be cash, cash and free spins, or free spins only.
REMEMBER
Make sure to check which online slot or selection of slots participate in the competition! If you play other titles, you will not be awarded any coins and you will not advance on the leaderboard.
Now that you know how to play a slot tournament let’s discover the types of competitions you can find.
The Basic Format of a Slot Tournament
Slot tournaments may come in different shapes and forms, but let’s take a look at the main aspects of the basic slot tournament format:
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After registering as a participant, you receive the exact length of time during which you will compete, usually 20 minutes.
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You receive the number of your slot machine for physical casinos and you have to take a seat and wait. For online casinos, you have to open the game and wait for the signal or notification to start playing.
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All participants receive the same amount of credits to spend, for equal chances. This is usually 1,000 credits. An amount of credits is paid for every spin.
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Any coins you win are transferred to a separate tournament account - they will not be used for betting. This allows players to keep on having equal chances throughout the tournament, as using the coins they won in the beginning would present an advantage for the lucky ones.
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When the time allotted for the session expires, the slot is automatically blocked in land-based casinos. This is for the organizers to come and record the final result. In online casinos the won coins are recorded automatically as you win them.
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In some cases, you may have to wait a couple of minutes for additional verifications before the final results are displayed.
INTERESTING FACT
In traditional casinos, it is not uncommon for a limited number of machines to be reserved for competitions. Therefore, in order to give everyone the opportunity to compete, the organizers are forced to arrange several identical circles of equal rank.
The order of participation of players, in this case, does not affect the distribution of names in the standings.
Land-based vs. Online Slot Tournaments
Land-based and online slot tournaments have plenty of similarities but let’s see what the differences between these are:
| Land-based Casino Slot Tournament | Online Casino Slot Tournament |
|---|---|
| You have to be at the casino before the competition starts to register and occupy your assigned slot machine. | You can participate from anywhere using any device - your Personal Computer, tablet, or smartphone. |
| The number of participants is limited to the number of available slot machines they have at the location and the available space. | Any number of players can participate since they can all access the same game simultaneously. |
| Offers a social experience, as you can chat with other players before and after the tournament. | There is no social component to the competition, as you cannot see or talk to other participants. |
| You may only win physical prizes such as cash, gadgets, jewelry, and even cars or trips. | Aside from any real-life prize the online casino may offer, you could also win special bonuses or casino perks. |
Types of tournaments
There are two main types of slot tournaments, depending on their entry requirements: freeroll and buy-in.
Buy-in tournaments
In most cases, you have to pay to play in slot tournaments. These are called buy-in tournaments because you are literally buying your way into the contest by paying an entry fee. This fee doesn’t give any advantage in the actual tournament, it just allows you access.
Freeroll tournaments (or free slot tournaments)
Unlike their more common pay-to-play counterparts, freeroll tournaments don’t require an entry fee, which means you can enter the contest free of charge.
This gives you the chance to compete for a large prize with zero investment.
This type of tournament can sometimes be part of an online casino's promotional offers, such as a sign-up welcome package, and they last for a shorter amount of time.
Other types of tournaments you may encounter are:
Scheduled tournaments
This is a common type of buy-in tournament, which you have to register and pay for in advance.
Comped tournaments
These are exclusive events available only to the loyal customers of a particular casino.
Signup freeroll tournaments
As mentioned above, some freeroll tournaments are part of a casino sign-up package. This means that if you open an account with that casino, you are automatically allowed access to a slot tournament.
Survivor slot tournaments
This type of slot tournament is highly competitive and involves several rounds and elimination phases. As the name suggests, only if you survive/win one phase, you can move on to the next.
One-shot tournaments
These slot tournaments are even more competitive than the survivor type. Here, you get one chance to qualify for the next round, and if you don’t, you are out of the competition.
PCH Slot Tournaments
PCH stands for Publisher’s Clearing House. This is a direct marketing company and it hosts both buy-in and freeroll slot tournaments with prizes ranging from $100 to $10,000 on a daily basis. These give you the chance of winning real money prizes for free.
Reloader Tournaments
This is a very popular type of tournament, as it gives you the opportunity to buy yourself into another round if you have low winnings or have lost all your credits early in the competition. Oftentimes, these feature online slot machines created by Microgaming, a famous and prolific software developer.
Extender Tournaments
Similar to Reloader Tournaments, the advantage that these give you is represented by the opportunity to buy an add-on that will maximize your winning chances.
BE AWARE!
Buying an add-on in Extender Tournaments is helpful but will NOT guarantee you a place on the leaderboard.
How to Enter a Comped Tournament
To take part in exclusive tournaments, you need to climb the status ladder within the VIP club program. Usually, there are several levels in it, to increase users need to accumulate special experience points ( also called comp points).
These points allow you to receive additional privileges and can also be exchanged for real money at a favorable intra-club rate.
Slot machines in online casinos are an incredibly exciting and convenient format for gambling leisure. But, as they say, there is no limit to perfection, so some casinos offer something exclusive for regular active customers.
These are VIP tournaments on slot machines, where the best of the best compete, participating in the drawing of large prize amounts.
What are the Benefits of Exclusive Tournaments?
The main goal of all the tournaments at an online casino is to participate in the draw and receive large rewards. And, what is the most pleasant, it does not require special knowledge and skills, because for tournament competitions it is enough just to be able and love to play real cash slots.
The free online slot tournaments no deposit for VIP customers may involve, for instance, the most popular or newest online slots, which can be a selection of random games from a popular category or from a theme.
Participation in them gives you the opportunity to compete with other strong contenders to win, compete for the main prize and the title of the main winner.
Where Can I Play Slot Tournaments Online?
You’ve got plenty of free casino tournaments no deposit on our site, along with buy-in options too. All you have to do is pick the one that you like most.
A lot of online casinos host free tournaments for money on a regular basis. To sign up for any of them, you just need to open an account with that casino and choose a competition. You can even play mobile casino slot tournaments!
On this page, you can find a list of many such online casinos where you can go play slot tournaments. The list includes the name of the casino hosting the tournament, games allowed (game name, game type), registration start/end date, prizes, and entry fee.
We offer you filter options that help you quickly find what you are looking for.
You can choose to:
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See the tournaments available in your jurisdiction;
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See the ones that are still open and which you can join;
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Display only the online slots tournaments free entry;
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See only the newest additions to our list;
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Show only the open tournaments at the online casinos that accept players from your country.
How to choose a slot tournament?
Winning a slot tournament may be down to luck, but choosing one is up to you. There are many types of tournaments available right now, and picking the right one for you doesn’t have to be challenging, if you know what you want.
Here are some things to consider when looking for a slot tournament:
| Availability | Make sure you are available at the time when a slot tournament is scheduled to happen. When you sign up for such a contest, check your own schedule, so you don’t waste your money (in case it requires an entry fee) and a good opportunity. On the other hand, check to see if the slot tournament you choose is available to you and it’s not a VIP event that caters only to premium members of a certain online casino. |
| Entry fee | If you don’t mind spending an extra buck to buy your way into a multiplayer slot contest, then go for it. There are many buy-in tournaments to choose from. If you don’t want to spend any money or it’s your first time participating in a slot tournament, then you’re better off choosing a freeroll tournament. |
| Prizes | Nobody likes wasting their time or money without getting much in return. If you care about prizes, then you should definitely check what prizes are available for a particular slot tournament and how they are distributed before making your choice. The prizes you can win from slot tournaments are typically money, free spins, or both. |
| Rebuy option | Some tournaments offer the rebuy option, which means they allow you to purchase more chips (or credits) if you run out of them. This happens usually early in the tournament, during what is called a rebuy period. Depending on the tournament, you may have a limited or unlimited number of rebuys available. If this is something you’re interested in, look for rebuy tournaments and choose those. |
| Games | It’s important that you enjoy playing your slots, particularly during a tournament. So take some time and find out which games will be featured in the contest. Maybe some of them are familiar to you or even among your favorites. Maybe you are a fan of Vegas themed slots and would like to play them in a competition. Either way, it’s best to know your way around the slots before heading into the tournament. |
| Casino reputation | Last but not least, check the casino’s reputation before you sign up for any tournament on their site. The online casino has to be legit, trustworthy and offer fair terms and conditions. |
Slot Tournament Rules: What You Need to Know
These competitions may come in various shapes and forms, but there are some basic rules that apply to the majority of them such as:
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Every tournament has a fixed timeframe;
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All players start the competition with the same number of credits and equal chances;
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All players compete playing the same slot machine;
- Each of the first places on the leaderboard gets a share of the prize pool;
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The winner of the tournament is the player with the highest number of won credits.
REMEMBER
Always read the rules of a slot tournament before joining! There may be differences and other rules, features, or restrictions aside from the basic ones we have just discussed.
Slot Tournament Strategy and Useful Tips
Here are the best slot tournament strategy and useful tips to maximize your chances of winning and also have fun in a responsible way:
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READ THE RULES CAREFULLY
It goes without saying that you should know what you’re getting into when you sign up for a tournament. That’s why it’s crucial to read the rules for every tournament you participate in, because they tend to differ from one another. -
BET AS HIGH AS YOU NEED
Participating in a slot tournament usually means you’re not playing with your own money. Online casinos usually provide you (and all other players) with an allotted budget (or credits). That means that you can bet as high as you want, if you think that will lead to more wins. -
CONCENTRATE AND MAINTAIN YOUR PACE
Just like you would in a land-based casino tournament, you have to stay focused and keep up the pace while you’re playing. This works best if you’re already somewhat familiar with the slot(s) in the tournament. Examine the paytable, RTP and other factors that you think might influence your final score. You can also check our best payout slot machines to see if the game you wish to take the tournament on is featured there. -
PICK A TOURNAMENT YOU CAN COMPLETE
If the slot tournament you’re participating in takes too long, you might get tired or bored of clicking the same button endlessly (particularly if you haven’t had a win in a while). To solve this, make sure you pick a shorter tournament that you know you can finish, without quitting simply because you’re bored. -
WATCH YOUR FUNDS
It is very important to always be aware of how many funds you have available. Before joining a competition, make sure you have enough money to pay the fee or, alternatively, opt for online casinos offering free slot tournaments. Also, if the competition is held over a long period of time, pay attention to how much of your budget goes into add-ons and other perks. Otherwise, you may get carried away with the excitement and then realize you have emptied your account balance. - ONLY BUY ADD-ONS WHEN IT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Add-ons can be a very good advantage for a player who is only a few points away from any of the top positions. If rank in the bottom half of the leaderboard, buying and using an add-on will improve your rank but you will still be far from sharing the prize. So make sure you choose wisely when to spend your money and keep on trying!What’s the best way to practice for a slot tournament?
Tournaments are amazing opportunities to test, challenge, and improve your online slot playing skills. But before you sign up for this kind of competition, it’s important to practice so that you have the best odds of winning and walking away with amazing prizes.
So how do you do that? Well, you have a couple of options. You can either play online slots in demo mode or join an online casino and play for higher stakes.
Here on SlotsMate.com, we have a massive, ever-growing collection of free slots to choose from, so it’s up to you what you pick for your practice.
However, a much more exciting option would be to sign up for an online casino and play. Don’t worry, you don’t have to invest anything from the start, as most online casinos give out welcome bonuses to new players.
You can easily claim a free bonus no deposit required and start playing instantly, free of charge.
TIP
Playing for higher stakes is very useful as practice for slot tournaments. Although slot machines are generally games of chance, you can pick up strategy tips and tricks that will help you in any type of tournament you want to take part in.
Small and Big Stack Tournaments
Before the tournament, you need to decide what stack size is available to you and start playing from that. Let's see how they compare:
| The Big Stack Tournament | The Small Stack Tournament |
|---|---|
| The easiest option and is great for beginners | A fast one that requires more attention and skill |
| Here you will have a much larger number of spins, and, accordingly, the right to make a mistake | There are fewer spins and a mistake is fraught with loss |
| The main condition for such a game is strong nerves because tournaments with large stacks are long and exhausting | The advantages of a small stack come from the disadvantages of a large one: such a game is much shorter in time, which allows you to win much faster |
The strategies of the game in both cases are strikingly different, because if with a large stack you have time to spin up and make mistakes that do not turn out to be critical, then with a small stack you will be deprived of such luxury.
How to Win a Slot Tournament
You have probably already wondered if a slot machine tournament requires a certain strategy. In principle, only luck has a significant impact on the final ranking of participants.
However, among the most useful skills in such a competition, reaction speed and concentration should still be singled out. Let’s see what other aspects you need to pay attention to maximize your winning chances:
| Unused credits |
| Since it is necessary to spend all the credits for a limited amount of time, you will have to play the slot machine as quickly as possible. Each successful attempt increases the final score. Unused credits are a serious "blow" to the result of the participant because each of them could bring a lot of coins (perhaps even the maximum allowable number of them). To increase the speed of the game, experienced tournament participants are advised not to take their fingers (or the cursor in the case of online slots) from the spinning start button. Press quickly but gently. It’s not worth moving your fingers or the cursor away, because a lot of precious seconds will eventually be lost on movements back and forth. |
| Speed and concentration |
| Of course, a slot tournament requires concentration, which is not needed by free slots players or those who like to play real money slots privately. You probably remember that after the occurrence of a winning combination, the slot machine imitates for some time the "pouring" of prize coins into the player's bankroll. The larger the amount you receive, the longer the process takes. If this is allowed by the settings, it is better to interrupt such spectacular inserts and immediately continue spinning. This option is usually present in the best online slot games nowadays. If such pauses cannot be avoided, use a short break to catch your breath, but do not take your fingers from the “Spin” button and do not take your eyes off the screen of the video slot. |
| Positive mind space |
| Be sure to refrain from celebrating when receiving a large number of coins. There are cases when the participants at free slots tournaments win real money, are stormily celebrating success, and hardly manage to spend even half of all their credits during the playing time, because the time frames are set by the organizers without significant gaps for a break and expression of emotions. Oddly enough, some participants in slot machine competitions note that a conditional 20-minute session seems like an hour to them, and during this time they manage to get tired, bored, or simply lose concentration. So make sure that you are rested and in a cheerful state of mind before starting the game. |
| Comparing results |
| An understandable desire to compare your current results with those of your rivals can also prevent you from playing slots in tournaments as efficiently as possible. Some participants are constantly distracted from their own slot machine, peeping either at neighboring machines or at the tournament table. This is not that useful in terms of tactics or strategy, but it consumes much more time and attention than it seems. On the other hand, if the rules of the competition imply a change in the size of the bet, then evaluating your current performance in comparison with competitors may make sense. If after, say, half the time, you see that you are lagging behind the others or clearly do not have time to spend all the credits, you can make an informed decision to increase the rate. |
| Time saving and bankroll management |
| The more often you participate in tournaments on gaming slots, the more time you can subsequently save for fleeting pauses, comparison of your current results, and even breaks for a sip of a refreshing drink. However, first, you need to make sure that you manage to master the entire game bankroll before the final whistle. |
The Bottom Line
Slots tournaments are very popular among casino players around the world. This is because they offer entertainment through the famous games they often feature, meet the players’ need for competition, and give them a chance of winning a real cash prize in free-to-join competitions.
However, real-money tournaments are not to be overlooked. The participation fee is usually very low and contributes to the prize pool, thus offering higher prizes than freeroll slot tournaments.
Check out our list of real-money tournaments, learn about the best slot tournament strategy, and have lots of fun competing!
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