Latest review about free cash and real money tournaments on slots, roulette, video poker, table poker and blackjack at the best online casinos
Currently, free slot machine tournaments are the most popular format of such competitions in online casinos.
If the site has a tournament program, there is no doubt that video slot events are organized there. What’s more, most new casinos in Ireland host exclusively slot tournaments, and all of them do not require an entry fee.
Of course, customers like it, and such competitions are in demand among players. However, despite the many benefits of these tournaments, they are not perfect. The article discusses their main advantages and disadvantages, but first we recall how they work.
How do no-fee slot tournaments work?
Although the rules of individual online casino tournaments may differ, it is not difficult to highlight the basic provisions that will help you understand the mechanics of such events.
- If there are no entry fees in the tournament, customers most often play with their own money. In this case, all payments received on tournament slot machines remain with the players.
- The tournament takes into account only the bets made in the specified range and on the video slots involved in the tournament.
- Tournament points are accumulated on separate balances. The overall picture is displayed in the leaderboard, which is constantly updated.
- Winners are determined by the amount of net payouts, by maximum odds, or by some other principles.
- The number of spins is usually not limited. You can play from the beginning to the end of the event.
- Winners are determined by the number of tournament points scored.
- Most of the time there are multiple winners. The higher the place, the more valuable the rewards.
Let's repeat:
- These are the general principles that apply to most free slot tournaments.
- Don't forget to clarify the rules of the event in which you are going to participate.
What can you win in free tournaments?
There is no point in entering a tournament without knowing what you can win. Sometimes the prize fund consists of such insignificant rewards that it makes no sense to fight for prizes.
So, what can be at stake in slot tournaments with no entry fee?
- Real money – This is the most profitable option. Winners are awarded money, which they are free to immediately dispose of as they want.
- Bonus credits – In this case, the winners also receive money, but they can only be withdrawn after the wagering conditions are met. That is, they need to be played several times.
- Comp Points – Loyalty program points are often included in the prize pool of free slot tournaments. At the end of the competition, they are automatically added to the previously scored points.
- Free spins – Free spins on slot machines can also be prizes for winners of tournaments without contributions. They can be used on the specified slots at a predetermined rate.
- Valuable gifts – Popular gadgets and other items are sometimes raffled off. This is a somewhat old-fashioned and not always convenient format, because residents of different countries can take part in the tournament. Sometimes there are difficulties with the delivery of prizes, but it is almost always possible to collect rewards in cash.
- Multi-stage slot tournaments, in which a victory opens access to the next level, are rarely free. In the past, large online casinos or groups of gambling sites have hosted similar events, but participation in them almost always had to be paid.
Pros and cons of no deposit slot tournaments
Now let's take a closer look at the strengths and weaknesses of this format of competitions between fans of online casino slot machines.
Advantages of free tournaments on slot machines
Undoubtedly, tournaments on slots with no participation fee have many advantages.
- No Entry Fee – Of course, players love the fact that they don't have to part with their money before the event even starts. This approach increases the number of people wishing to compete for prizes in the tournament.
- No Registration – Most free slot tournaments do not require you to sign up, fill out a form, or contact a support representative. Usually you do not even need to press any buttons to start. It is enough to play on the devices involved at the specified time, making money bets in the required range. This will automatically make you a participant in the tournament.
- Publicity – The bulk of free competitions is open to all online casino customers. Of course, closed VIP tournaments are sometimes held, but that's another story.
- Large selection of events – Now this is a very common format of tournaments on slot machines. If you like it, you can participate in such events every day at different online casinos. There are really a lot of them.
- The right to choose slots – Tournaments are rarely held on one machine. Usually several models are used. Accordingly, players can choose the ones they like best. Of course, it is better to be guided not by personal preferences, but by the level of RTP, the degree of volatility, the range of bets and other important criteria.
- Simple Rules – In general, playing video slots is very simple. There is usually no need to understand the nuances, because the result almost does not depend on the actions of clients. The rules of slot tournaments are also not complicated at all. You just need to play, gaining tournament points. This should especially please beginners, who under such conditions can fight on equal terms with experienced players.
- Transparency – On top online casino sites, each tournament has its own page. It usually contains a leaderboard. Anyone, even not a participant in the competition, can follow the current results. This allows you to adjust tactics and strategy. For example, if you are in first place by a wide margin, there is no point in playing aggressively at high stakes.
- Themed Tournaments – It's no secret that many slot gamers choose models based on their theme. Someone likes pirates, someone likes animals and so on. Online casino operators often arrange free tournaments on themed slot machines, which makes the gameplay even more exciting.
Disadvantages of free slot tournaments
There are also disadvantages of tournaments on slot machines that do not require participation fees. Take note of them.
- Real Money Play – Most free slot tournaments require you to play with your hard-earned money. Yes, you are not charged anything for an entrance ticket, but then you will risk your bankroll. The consolation is that the winnings also remain with you. Therefore, choose models with maximum RTP, don't get carried away and hope for luck.
- Nondescript prizes – Very often, the rewards for the winners of such tournaments, to put it mildly, are not impressive. They can get a certain amount of loyalty program points, several dozen free spins at low rates, or small bonuses that need to be wagered under very difficult conditions. This is easy to explain: in the course of free slot tournaments, casinos earn only on the mathematical superiority inherent in the machines. Accordingly, large prizes may not justify themselves.
- Uneven Odds – Most free slot tournaments have a huge advantage in terms of conditions for high rollers. By playing at high stakes, customers accumulate tournament points much faster. It costs them nothing to get ahead of rivals with a small bankroll. True, VIPs are usually not interested in competing for small prizes.
- Unpredictability – In tournaments like this, you never know who your opponents will be. Will they play at micro limits or at maximum stakes? Will they run for a couple of minutes or will they fight from start to finish? You can hold the lead throughout the event, and lose the first place in the last hour due to an unexpected VIP. Intrigue is great, but it is extremely difficult to develop an effective strategy in such conditions.
- In addition, individual tournaments in online casinos may have particular disadvantages. For example, they can be played on slot machines with low RTP. Therefore, you should always carefully study the terms and conditions.
How to choose the best slot tournaments?
What nuances should be taken into account when considering a new slot tournament for you? We recommend checking each event against the following list.
- Involved Slots – View the list of slots that host the event. Find out what RTPs are included in them. Pay attention to volatility, betting limits and other characteristics. Are there models with a sufficiently high return among these video slots? If not, it will be very unprofitable to play.
- Prize Fund – What prizes are you offered to fight for? Does it make sense to fight for them? If there are fewer comp points at stake than your opponents, is it worth rushing into battle?
- Required bids – Are you satisfied with the bid range? Usually the spread is quite large, but this is not always the case. If you can only afford to play at the legal minimum, you will most likely find it difficult to compete with your opponents.
- Number of participants – How many opponents do you need to beat to become a prize winner? Perhaps there are thousands of them. Is it really possible to defeat them?
- Competitor Level – Who will you compete against? If there are many high rollers among the participants, and you are not one of them, your chances of success are negligible. To figure out what rates your competitors are playing at, try to analyze the leaderboard. If the opponents are gaining tournament points very quickly, they are probably playing big.
- Duration and timing of the event – How long will the tournament last? What time does it run? Will you have time to take part and really compete for prizes? In most cases, popping in for a few minutes won't be enough.
All events are considered on key points, which allows you to study all the most important conditions and additional nuances.
Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash
