Tournaments are promotional events organized by online casinos. Games like slots, blackjack, and poker are usually used for these tournaments, and although they offer large prizes, they have different variants and rules. These are necessary to understand, so read on for a breakdown of all there is to know about the terms of casino tournaments.
Entry Requirements and Fees
The first aspect of casino tournaments to understand is the entry requirements. These will vary based on the event type:
- Buy-in tournament: This is the most common type of competition, where players pay an entry fee, ranging from a low amount for low-stakes slot events to thousands of dollars for high-roller poker specials. The buy-in contributes to the prize pool.
- Freerolls: These have no entry fee and may be offered as promotional bonuses by casinos or require players to use loyalty programs to enter. The prize pools are usually smaller compared to buy-in events. They are perfect for beginners who want to test their skills and potentially win free cash or spins.
- Satellites: These are low-budget events that give winners access to a more beneficial tournament. They help build skills and earn more rewards for a more manageable price.
- Slot tournaments: Entry fees for these tend to be on the lower end, typically between $1 and $100. Often, operators require participants to make minimum wagers in these events.
- Table games: These events usually involve games such as poker and blackjack and are more expensive compared to slots. They may have entry fees from $10 to $10,000.
Additionally, Canada-approved casino destinations with branded tournaments might have slightly higher buy-ins due to the larger audiences and potential prize pools on offer.
Prize Structures and Payout Distributions
There are three major prize structures in online tournaments. The first is ‘top heavy,’ which favours the winners. The champion and runners-up often claim 10-20% of the prize pool, while the winner can gain as much as 35%, with payouts decreasing significantly for lower ranks.
Flatter payouts share the prize pool among a larger portion of participants. These events can distribute as much as 50% to lower-ranked players. This is common for freerolls with smaller prize pools.
In a performance-based structure, payouts are based on a player’s performance within the tournament. In slot events, for example Drops & Wins, prizes might be awarded based on accumulated points or the highest total win during the allocated time.
Players can determine the prize structure of any event by looking at the number of participants in the tournament, the payout percentage, the minimum payout and the entry fee. The minimum payout and number of contestants tell the players if the tournament favours the best gamers or if everyone has a fair share.
Rules and Regulations Governing Tournaments
In Canada, online events enforce minimum age limits, depending on the state. They may also restrict participation based on a player’s location.
The rules for a specific casino game will typically remain the same within a tournament structure. However, additional rules are often included as well, such as minimum bet requirements for slots. There are also policies against players working together in a tournament.
Additionally, a slot tournament may award points based on total win amount, specific winning combinations, or achieving bonus rounds. The player with the highest accumulated points at the end wins.
Poker or blackjack events allow players to accumulate chips until the end of the designated time or elimination. The player with the highest chip stack is declared the winner.
Our Final Thoughts
Casino tournaments are good opportunities for players to test out their gaming prowess. They cover many online games and are available to new and regular players. For those focused on winning they should consider the buy-in fee and number of participants before subscribing to any event. After all, knowledge is key in the world of online gambling.
