How to Win Online Slot Tournaments

B. Atanasov
Boris Atanasov is an iGaming writer with over four years’ experience, creating engaging content on slots, video poker, roulette, and blackjack.
 (editor) | Updated:

Participating in slot tournaments is a great way to spark your competitive spirit and potentially walk away with a generous prize. Slot fans can now join these action-packed competitions from the comfort of their homes, as many online casinos host them regularly. Slot tournaments are fun, simple to play, and do not require any particular skills.

With that said, there are ways to improve your winning chances and catapult yourself into the lead. In what follows, we cover everything players should know about online slot tournaments, including the different formats available, the entry process, and tips to help them come out on top of the leaderboard.

Basics of Online Slot Tournaments

Online slot tournaments are competitions where players are ranked based on their performance in selected slots. They let participants socialize with fellow competitors and try out the newest releases from the industry’s leading software providers. Online gambling operators host such contests for three main reasons:

  • To promote and popularize slot games recently added to their gaming libraries
  • To engage new players and maintain the interest of existing customers
  • To attract more action and generate additional revenue
The Leaderboards
Spin Value and Qualifying Games
The Scoring
The Prizes

Types of Slot Tournaments You Can Play Online

1Overview

If you are thinking about entering a slot tournament at an online casino, you should first learn to distinguish among the different tournament formats. Understanding the specific rules and quirks of each format will help you plan a winning strategy. Below, we cover some of the most common slot tournament types you will encounter online.

2Scheduled Tournaments

Scheduled tournaments start and finish at predetermined times, provided the minimum required number of participants has been reached. This widely used format requires advance registration. Scheduled tournaments can last from several hours to a month, depending on where you play.

3Freerolls

As the name suggests, freerolls do not require players to buy their way in. All you have to do is sign up on time and play the qualifying slots during the specified period. However, there may still be requirements to meet.

Some online casinos ask interested players to earn a certain number of comp points before they can join their freerolls. Prize pools are typically smaller because participation is free.

4Buy-In Tournaments

Buy-in tournaments are essentially the opposite of freerolls because participants must pay an entry fee. The host casino then provides them with a specific number of credits to play with. The buy-in amount is proportional to the prize pool, so the larger the rewards, the more you have to pay to get in.

5Sit and Go Tournaments

Sit and Go tournaments offer a limited number of seats and begin as soon as all positions are filled. When this happens, a pop-up message appears on the screen, giving you time to set the reels in motion.

6Guaranteed Tournaments

Guaranteed tournaments offer prize pools that are fixed at a minimum amount, with predetermined payouts awarded to the top finishers on the leaderboard. If the pool exceeds the guaranteed figure, it continues to grow.

7Re-Buy Tournaments

Re-buy tournaments allow participants to purchase additional credits or spins if they run out. The re-buy amount or spin count typically matches the original buy-in.

These tournaments are more strategic, as players can buy extra spins to improve their chances of winning. Some casinos limit the maximum number of re-buys per player.

8Freezeouts

Freezeouts are the opposite of re-buy tournaments, as each participant can make no more than one buy-in. All players compete under the same conditions. Those who exhaust their credits or spins drop out of the race if other contestants outperform them.

9Survivor Tournaments

Survivor tournaments consist of multiple flights, each running for the same length of time. The players with the lowest scores are disqualified at the end of every round. One-shot tournaments are similar, as players must reach a specific score; those who fail cannot proceed to the next stage.

10Heads-Up Tournaments

Heads-up tournaments are less common, but you can still find them at some online casinos, with Videoslots being one example. Here, you compete against a single contender for the chance to double your original buy-in. The battle continues until time runs out or both contestants complete their allotted spins.

Joining Online Slot Tournaments

Joining Online Slot TournamentsJoining an online slot tourney is as simple as it gets, but you still need to plan ahead and consider a few things first. We recommend that you visit the tournament page of your preferred online casino regularly to keep track of upcoming competitions.

Some gambling operators host multiple tournaments each day, while others hold them weekly. The tournament section features all the vital information you need to pick a suitable tourney, including the qualifying games, the entry fees (if any), the minimum bet requirements, and how scores are recorded.

slot tournaments

Make sure you read the terms and conditions of your chosen slot competition carefully before it starts. You will never win a slot tournament if you keep getting disqualified for rule violations.

Once you decide which contest to join, simply register. The registration process is straightforward and requires only a couple of clicks to complete. Make sure you have sufficient funds in your balance to cover the entry fee if you choose a buy-in tournament or plan on multiple rebuys.

How to Improve Your Chances of Winning Online Slot Tournaments

1Overview

Online slot tournaments are enjoyable because every spin is packed with action, but the competition can be fierce. As exciting as these events are, claiming a share of the prize pool depends largely on luck. Still, there are several things players can do to improve their chances of winning.

All online slots rely on random number generators (RNGs) to determine whether any given spin produces a winning combination. The result is decided a millisecond after you hit the spin button. There is virtually nothing spinners can do to influence the outcome of a round.

2Get a good rest before the tournament starts

As unbelievable as it may sound, repeatedly clicking the spin button becomes tiring after a while, so we recommend taking full advantage of any rest opportunities.

3Test the qualifying slot releases before the tournament starts

If you want to preserve your bankroll for the tournament itself, play in free mode with demo credits. This will give you a clear idea of how the games behave and their volatility. Do not forget to examine the paytable to see what you can expect in terms of winning combinations and bonus features.

4Choose an environment that is free of major distractions

Online slots usually do not require intense concentration, but every second counts when you compete against other spinners. Focus on winning and spin the reels as quickly as possible.

5Set up an alarm or a notification on your smartphone to ensure you join the tournament on time

Some gambling sites allow players to join after a tournament has started, but late entries reduce your chances of climbing the leaderboard. It is difficult, if not impossible, to catch up with contestants who are already hundreds of spins ahead.

6Bet large in point-based tournaments to progress faster in the leaderboard

In such tournaments, the number of points you receive per spin is proportional to your wager size. (e.g., ¢20 equals 1 point, ¢40 earns you 2 points, ¢60 results in 3 points, and so on). Larger bets will, therefore, generate more points for you.

7Spin the reels as fast as possible and do not wait to see the results

As we explained earlier, the outcome is determined the instant you hit the button. The reels spin only to make the experience feel authentic.

The software updates your balance even if you spin again before the reels stop. Waiting for the animation to finish will only slow you down and reduce your chance of taking the lead.

8Turn on the turbo mode feature if the tournament’s terms and conditions allow using it

Turbo mode increases your speed because the reels come to rest almost instantly after you hit the spin button. Keep in mind that turbo mode is disabled for players in some jurisdictions, such as the UK, due to regulatory requirements.

9Put all your credits to good use as the casino will not carry them over

Any remaining credits are voided after the slot tournament ends.

10Do not allow the leaderboard to distract you

Constantly checking your position will slow you down, and most slot tournaments are all about speed. If you glance at the leaderboard every few seconds, you are less likely to finish among the top players.