Online casinos have plenty to offer the casual player, from slots to table games to live casinos. But for the serious player or those looking for a little excitement outside the norm, online tournaments take online gambling to the next level.
Tournaments are games played by multiple players competing for a jackpot or some other kind of prize. Many casinos around the world offer tournament-style games. Online tournaments are simply a version of these that happen in the online environment only – in other words, in your favourite online casino.
If there is a game that exists, you can make a tournament out of it. So any online casino game, from slots to live dealer table games, can be turned into a tournament.
Most online casino tournaments fall into one of the following categories.
Progressive slots
Progressive slots are already played by multiple players at once, so how do you turn this into a tournament? By introducing guaranteed jackpots or other prizes for achieving certain goals.
Regular slots
Often, if a new game comes out, it will be turned into a promotional tournament. Players play the game as normal but rack up points that count towards jackpots or prizes.
Video table games
Whether it’s video poker, roulette, or baccarat, there are hundreds of video versions of beloved table games out there. Many of these form the basis for tournaments, during which players compete for points to win jackpots or other prizes.
Live dealer games
Not all online casinos offer live dealer games, but those that do often present tournaments for these. Players compete against one another, both for regular wins and to appear on the leaderboard for jackpots or other prizes.
Each online casino that offers tournament games will have its own unique procedure for joining. For the most part, however, you need to be registered with the relevant casino and sign up to join the tournament. Some casinos may require membership in a loyalty scheme, while others are open to all players.
If you want to have a chance at winning in a tournament, it helps to go in with a strategy. While it is impossible to know how the game will progress, especially if it is controlled by a random number generator (RNG), you can follow a few tips to maximise your chances.
1 – Know your game
Whether it’s an Olympus-themed slot or live dealer blackjack, it helps to know the game you’re dealing with. Practice makes perfect, so familiarise yourself with the game. You can do this by playing free or paid versions of the game, watching tutorials on YouTube, and reading our game guides.
2 – Set your budget
Tournaments can be high stakes, high excitement, and brutal competition. That means it can be super tempting to overspend, especially when chasing a huge prize or going head to head with your own appointed nemesis. Set a budget for your losses, and stick with it.
3 – Plan your bets
When you enter into the tournament, you’re likely committing to a lengthy period of gambling. Plan your betting strategy to maximise your available bankroll for the duration of the tournament, rather than blowing your stack too early.
4 – Make the time
While some flash tournaments will have a short time limit of just a few hours, many will take several hours, or even run over the course of days. Make sure you are comfortable with the potential time commitment and don’t have a killer pitch deck to prepare.
Not all online casinos offer tournaments, but there are plenty that do. Check out our casino reviews for more information, and check out your favourite online casino to see whether they offer tournaments.
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