Casino tournaments: What you need to know

Now that the casino industry has entered the virtual space, the competition for online casinos is getting more cutthroat than ever. From crypto payments, live-dealer games and upgraded slots, gambling platforms are continuously finding ways to entice new and old players. But the most notable effect of these marketing strategies is the creation of casino tournaments where intense competition between players occurs. 

If you’ve always wanted to unleash your competitive potential, casino tournaments are the perfect opportunity to show your skills and earn from them. Think of it as the Olympics of online casinos. But instead of winning a gold medal, you win free spins, raffle prizes and even free hotel stays!

How do casino tournaments differ from a regular casino round? What are the requirements you have to fill before you can become a player? To know more about its mechanics, rules and types, continue reading this article here at Bitcasino!

Understanding casino tournaments

Online casino tournaments are one of the most popular strategies of online casinos to establish a loyal customer base, as well as attract new players to create an account on the platform. They are different from standard casino games in that they focus on the spirit of competition between registered players.

For instance, if you're playing blackjack, your sole focus is getting a hand close to 21. What other players do during the game session is the least of your concerns since you’re up against the dealer. When you play online slots, your odds of winning completely depend on your bets, the hit rate and the RTP. Your total winnings won’t change based on other players playing the same slot title.

However, when you play in a casino tournament, you have to contend with multiple players aiming for the same prizes. This can be your chance to triple your winnings without putting your bankroll at risk, as well as significantly improve your skills in table games. 

How does it work?

Joining online casino tournaments are straightforward, for as long as you know how they work. You have to pay a certain entry fee for the tournament, depending on the platform and the type of game you will play. Some tournaments do not require entry charges called freerolls, allowing you to collect winnings without placing a wager. This is more common in land-based casinos, but online casino platforms are offering this as well. 

Remember that a tournament focuses on one game only. Once the showdown begins, you are not allowed to change what you’re playing in an attempt to win from game to game.

An unlimited number of players are allowed to join one tournament, but in most cases, there will only be one winner in the end. The winner is determined by the highest payout percentage, back-to-back wins and their total winnings. 

Here are the most common casino games that have tournaments:

Online slot tournaments

Take advantage of online slot tournaments to win exciting prizes without cranking your bets to the maximum amount. All you have to do is register, pay the entry fee and get high scores through winning spins. Every time you win, you get to climb the leaderboard.

The player who reaches the highest spot on the leaderboard by the end of the game will be declared the winner and receive the biggest tournament prizes. Depending on the casino, the remaining top 10, 20 or 50 players may also be included in the pool prize.

One of the best things about slots tournaments is you won’t go home empty-handed. Although you have to compete with hundreds of players, you can still keep your winnings to yourself throughout the session. 

Online poker tournaments

The popularity of online poker tournaments started in 1970 when the first World Series of Poker was held in Las Vegas. Its novelty has not worn off yet, urging online casinos to offer this competition for poker fans across the world. 

You will be competing with a large group of players and become the winner to claim the ultimate prize money. Before you can enter the tournament, you have to purchase a buy-in to receive the chips needed for the game. 

Online blackjack tournaments

Just like in a regular live dealer blackjack, joining online blackjack tournaments would still require you to beat the dealer. The only difference is that you’d also be competing against other players, increasing the challenge to a whole new level.

Keep in mind that your goal in the game is to get as many chips as possible before the tournament ends to be the winner. The number of rounds will depend on the casino platform you’re playing on. 

Casino tournament tips to keep in mind

Casino tournaments may sound complicated at first, especially when it’s your first time. The idea of competing against talented and skilful players may put pressure on you that you lose focus and patience when the game starts. However, with just a few tips in mind, you can navigate various tournaments like a pro. Check them out below:

Don’t rush

When joining online slot tournaments, you might feel tempted to go right at it and keep playing as soon as you enter the tournament. However, this is the first mistake you need to avoid. Players are even encouraged to start spinning 10 to 15 minutes after the tournament starts. That way, the chances of servers slowing down are reduced and the participants can cash in on thousands of spins before the time runs out. 

Colour-code your opponents

If you want to win the biggest prizes in table game tournaments, you have to categorise your opponents by marking them with signs. For instance, observe the players in the game and label the participants who often defend their blinds. That way, you’d find it easier to call the shot when odds are against your favour. 

Some online casinos will allow you to colour-code your opponents so you can identify them with ease and you can find them in the game’s settings.

Avoid getting distracted

Joining a tournament becomes extra hard when you do it online, given that a lot of things may successfully distract you from winning the game. Make sure that you close every other tab in your window and choose an isolated room where you can play alone. This can help improve your concentration and have a relaxed mindset. 

Different types of casino tournaments

One of the best things about online casino tournaments is it has different types that can fit your gambling needs. They have various game mechanics, entry fees and payout structures, as well as parameters every player has to follow.

Here are some of them:

Reloader tournaments

To help you climb the leaderboard and come out as the winner, reloader tournaments green-light the participants to play again and again. You’d often notice that there’s a Rebuy option you can use to execute multiple attempts which often come with a price.

In this tournament, you have to pay a fee to play for a total of five minutes. When the time limit ends, you can pay again to extend your time and achieve the top score on the leaderboard. Typically, you will be offered 10 Rebuys in one session, extending your play by up to 50 minutes.

Think of it as buying a lottery ticket. The more you reload and risk, the higher your chances of winning.

Survivor tournaments

Interested in a tournament that emulates the concept of ‘survival of the fittest?’ If yes, then survivor tournaments will truly do the trick for you! They are considered knockout competitions, and at the end of each round, several players are knocked out. 

The mechanics may vary depending on your chosen platform, but these tournaments typically include three rounds of five minutes. All participants will play in Round 1 and the remaining 50% will move forward to the next one. When the top 10 is declared after Round 2, they will proceed to the final round. Whoever wins the last portion will take home the entire prize pool.

There is a 10-second interval between rounds, keeping you at the edge of your seat throughout the tournament!

Scheduled tournaments

A scheduled tournament will be announced and advertised, along with its definite start and end time. Before the match starts, a certain number of players will be required to register. The prize pool will also be revealed before the tournament begins, letting you know what’s at stake.

You have to pay a Buy-in fee before you can proceed. There are scheduled tournaments where the prizes are fixed. This means that the cash prize will remain the same regardless of the number of participants. Meanwhile, others may declare the total amount of Buy-in fees as the main reward of the tournament. 

Freeroll tournaments

As the name implies, freeroll tournaments allow you to join without paying for anything. All you have to do is enter the competition, play during the allotted time given by the casino and collect credits as much as possible to win. 

They often last approximately an hour and comprise several rounds, roughly five to seven minutes each. For instance, if you’re playing in a slot tournament, you have to generate credits in every spin to climb higher on the leaderboard.

However, there are comped slot tournaments that can only be played if you are sent an invitation. This typically means that you have to reach the VIP status so you can participate.

Sit ‘n Go tournaments

If you’re an avid online casino player, sit ‘n go tournaments are for you. They are flexibly scheduled tournaments, setting a predetermined length and number of players in advance. 

Once you enter the tournament, you have to ‘sit’ and wait for the game to reach the required number of participants and you’re good to ‘go’.

One-shot tournaments

One-shot competitions are ideal for players who are looking for a nail-biting game since they are fast-paced and played in a single round. 

Can Casino Live Dealers Cheat?

Live casino tournaments attract punters because of the reassuring presence of a human person dealing out cards instead of a machine that generates a random number. Cameras stream their actions, ensuring safe gaming and fair handling. If ever a dealer does cheat, they can be apprehended because of the live footage.

That’s why people prefer to play casino tournaments online nowadays. Aside from the personal touch, safety is ensured. You can then play live casino games such as live blackjack, baccarat, and roulette in any online casino that offers them without worries. 

Despite the safety that live casinos assures, cases of a live dealer cheating are not unheard of. An example is the BetOnline incident in 2017 where one blackjack dealer was caught doing a second shuffle. 

Instead of giving the first card from the card shoe to the player, the dealer gave the second card instead. In turn, the player received a 6-card while the dealer got the higher 8-card.

The player, Michael Morgenstern, posted the video online and contacted BetOnline’s customer service desk to no avail. The casino refused to give a statement.

Live dealers that are cheating do not benefit anyone. This results in dirtying the online casino’s name, aside from pissing off customers who lost bets in unfair games. 

You can do your part to make sure you won’t be victimized by cheating dealers. Research an online casino’s history first before you register to a tournament. Check if they are licensed by any authorized body of government. Online reviews can often tell you if casinos use a provably fair model in monitoring their games.

The Ingredients to a Successful Live Game Tournament

Live Game Tournaments are still a developing part of the online casino industry. If a casino site would want to attract the most players, there are several elements to take into account.

The Size of the Prize

Big money means a bigger amount of people will be attracted to an event. It’s much like the appeal of testing your luck on a jackpot slot. There is a giant cash prize on the line and the chances of winning are the same as being struck by lightning. However, the big money is still a motivator for players to join in and try their luck. There is a similar effect when the prize pool of a Live Game Tournament is big. 

Tracking in Ranking

Players need to be able to track their progress in the limited amount of time a Live Game Tournament has. Seeing one’s place in the ranks of competition gives a sense of thrill and motivation. Tournaments usually have leaderboards that show real-time points and ranks of all participants. If a leaderboard is slow, players will lose momentum and drive. Players can strategize and play properly seeing where their opponents stand. 

Game Range

Crowd favourites should be a part of the Live Game Tournaments. They need to be some of the best and most well-known games in the business to attract more players. Online casinos need to offer different game types to cater to a wider market. The following are the most common examples of live games offered for tournaments.

Slots Tournaments

Slots Tournaments are a very popular variant of Live Game Tournaments. These kinds of events can bring in new players to the live casino business. Some bettors enjoy slots but do not necessarily play table games, and Slots Tournaments can bring in these kinds of players to live casinos. 

The only goal for players here is to try to hike up their credits in a limited amount of time and hit the big or small jackpots. Payouts of the tournaments can be distributed to the top players who made the most profit. Slot Tournaments usually last 1-2 days. 

Blackjack Tournaments

Blackjack Tournaments are usually played in rounds. These rounds can last from a day to several weekends. All participants need to start the tournament at the same time. Players who lose all their chips or have the least amount of chips during these rounds will be eliminated. Whoever survives the rounds with the most chips can win the tournament with a big cash prize.

Roulette Tournaments

Roulette Tournaments have the same process as Blackjack Tournaments. Players need to start at the same time with an equal amount of chips. Those who lose all their chips or have the least amount of chips can be eliminated after several rounds. The players with the biggest stack of chips can win the Roulette Tournament. 

Joining the craze: What are Bitcasino tournaments?

Bitcasino, an online casino platform established in 2014, is one of the top-notch casino platforms where exciting tournaments are offered. You have the chance to join slots tournaments hosted by the most reputable developers in the industry, including Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, Push Gaming and Play’n Go, among others. 

You have several opportunities to score 200% extra wins, free spins, extra rewards, triple up wins and rewards of up to 500 mBTC! Some of the best Bitcasino tournaments over the past months are:

• Click & Win tournament
• Tournament 1: Live Game Shows Qualifier
• Pragmatic Play Tournament
• Bada Bing Bada Boom tournament
• Wild Win Tournament
• Netent & Red Tiger tournament.
  
  

To join, you have to play any slot game or live casino game of your choice. Place a minimum bet of 0.02 mBTC, and you’re more than ready to be the next winner of our tournaments! Remember, don’t bet below the required waging amount since you will not generate points on the leaderboard.

Bitcasino guarantees fair play among players. Keep in mind that once the system detects fraud, foul play or manipulation during the tournament, you will be banned from playing in future events offered by the platform.

Enter a casino tournament and climb the leaderboard!

Find your way to the top of Bitcasino’s leaderboards and take home the entire prize pool when you join casino tournaments! Whether you’re a fan of slot games, blackjack, roulette or poker, you will find a competition where you can unleash your skills and become the next winner. Besides, you won’t have to place large wagers to have the odds on your side. 

Sign up now, watch out for Bitcasino’s tournaments and make a clean sweep!

Words by: Rachelle Bulalacao