Slot tournaments are casino events where players compete against each other by playing selected slot games during a specific time period. These can be free slot tournaments or require a buy-in.

Whenever you score a win on a participating slot machine game, this is recorded on the tournament leaderboard. At the end, players who rank highest receive the bigger portion of the prize pool and win real money.

Lower rankings may still receive a smaller share, but this depends on the individual rules of the specific slot tournament.

The best online casino tournaments offer different kinds of exciting prizes, big cash rewards, and a large variety of participating slots from renowned software providers. This is what you should look for when choosing your favourite online slot tournaments.

Not all online casino slots tournaments follow the same rules, but the basic workings are always the same. You compete against other casino game fans by playing participating games during a preset time period. Top scorers are awarded prizes that can include a large prize pool, smaller cash prizes and other rewards, such as online casino free spins and reload bonuses.

All slots tournaments include a leaderboard, which is the public scoreboard where you can track your position compared to other players. You’ll be competing for the prize pool, which is either awarded entirely to the highest scorer or distributed among the top 20 to 50 players, depending on the specific regulations.

Regulations for slots tournaments vary both according to the online casino and according to the participating games and the software provider. The most important things, such as whether it’s free or you need to buy in, as well as the prize details and how it's paid out, are always clearly laid out in the terms and conditions.

To take part in online casino tournaments you need to be registered with that gambling site. Unless the casino is offering free slots tournaments with no deposit needed, you’ll need to fund your account before joining the leaderboard.

Each tournament includes a list of participating slots. These can be tied to a specific provider, like Pragmatic Play’s Drops & Wins, or else be chosen by the casino. Most Canada casino tournaments will include titles that are most popular with players, such as Cleopatra, Jammin’ Jars, Razor Shark, and Floating Dragon.

Casino slot tournaments are a thrilling experience, whether taking place at one of Canada’s renowned land-based casinos or at an online gambling site. Here we’ll go through the advantages and disadvantages of both options to help you understand which version suits you best.

It’s undeniable that tournaments at brick-and-mortar establishments can offer a more immersive and interactive environment. Social butterflies will likely love the option of face-to-face interaction.

However, the reality is that it’s difficult to take part in such tournaments on the spur of the moment, as you will need to plan travel time and maybe even time off work to make it to the best Canadian land-based casinos.

Additionally, traditional casinos are limited in terms of tournament schedules. Because they actually require the physical space and on-site human resources to manage the event, such events take place a lot more sporadically than at online casinos, where you’re likely to find several tournaments taking place on the daily.

There’s a lot to be said for the convenience of finding slots tournaments to take part in with the tap of a button, without even the need to dress up or move from your couch. Technological advancements mean that the online gambling experience has made great strides in terms of engagement.

Our recommended online casinos also offer bigger prizes and more variety. Online casino slots tournaments may lack in-person interaction, but they certainly tip the scales in their favour thanks to all these important advantages.

• Scheduled tournaments

  These are the most common type of slot tournaments, starting and ending on a specific date and time. Online casinos advertise these under the ‘Tournaments’ tab of their main menu, and they can be either free slots tournaments or with an entry fee. To take part you simply sign up and wait for the tournament to kick off.

• Buy-in tournaments

  Here, you’ll be asked to pay a small entry fee to take part. It’s very rare for this to exceed $20, and it usually contributes to the prize pool. As soon as you pay the registration fee you’ll be allocated credits for spins on participating slots. Some casinos offer high-roller tournaments with higher buy-ins.

• Sit n’ go tournaments

  These are gaining popularity with Canadian players because you don’t need to wait for a scheduled time to play. A number of tournaments are offered 24/7, each starting as soon as a preset number of players sign up.

• PCH slot tournaments

  This is an acronym for Publisher’s Clearing House, a marketing company that hosts free slot tournaments and buy-ins. Prizes are funded by the company’s subscription services and can go up to $10,000.

• Comped tournaments

  You don’t choose these slots tournaments, they choose you. They are accessible only to players who have spent a specific bankroll at the casino, or who have been playing for a long time.

• Reloader tournaments

  Joined a slot tournament and not performing as well as you’d hoped? Reloader tournaments let you buy into another round and start from scratch if you’ve run out of credits.

• Extender tournaments

  These offer another opportunity to improve your position on the leaderboard if you need that extra push. You can boost your results by buying an add-on that will skyrocket your chances of winning.

• Survivor tournaments

  Strictly if you’re super competitive, these online casino tournaments reward the last player standing. The gameplay is divided into different rounds, with the lowest-ranking players eliminated at the end of every round.

• One-shot tournaments

  Another one for casino game players who thrive on adrenalin, as you’ll only be given one try to qualify for the next round in the tournament. Extending and reloading are not allowed in this type of slot tournament.

• Freeroll slots tournaments

  These are the unicorns of the world of online casino tournaments as you’ll be able to compete for large prizes without needing to pay anything. These tournaments typically operate within a scheduled time limit.

• 1

  Understand the slot tournament rules

  This is solid advice when playing any kind of online casino games, but especially so for slot tournaments and jackpots. Every casino and tournament comes with individual slot tournament rules. Make sure you understand how prizes are awarded, whether there are any special conditions to the gameplay, and if you need to take specific actions at set times.

• 2

  Remember to use up all your credits

  Whether you’re playing free slot tournaments or not, at the start of the gameplay you’ll be given a number of spins. You’ll be using these every time you hit the spin button, so make sure you use every single spin available to you. A wasted spin is a missed opportunity on the leaderboard.

• 3

  Stay focused and don’t stop spinning

  The premise of every online casino tournament is the same: those who land the biggest number of wins on the reels are the most likely to win prizes. You can’t land a win if you’re not spinning, so during your time in the game keep your focus, your fingers ready, and get as many points as possible.

• 4

  Bet across all paylines

  Every time you can bet across all paylines, do so. These are the bets that have the potential to land you bigger wins if you hit a good combo. Bigger wins translate into more points and a higher position on the leaderboard.

• 5

  Bet high

  Following on the same reasoning as above, go for the max. bet if allowed. During tournaments you’re using the casino spins, rather than having to replenish the ones you pay for. Every player receives the same number of spins, so it doesn’t make sense to ‘waste’ any of your spins on smaller bets.

• 6

  Don’t get distracted watching the leaderboard

  The temptation to keep one eye on the reels and another on the leaderboard is strong, because you’re probably wondering if anyone is beating you and what you can do about it. Forget the other players and concentrate on your game.

• 7

  Familiarize yourself with the terminology

  Before starting, make sure you know what terms like ‘extender’, ‘reload’ and other phrases mean so you don’t waste time trying to figure out what’s happening while others are climbing up the leaderboard.

Slots tournaments are a great way to enjoy online casino games, but don’t get carried away and spend more than you can afford. As always, it’s crucial to gamble responsibly. Slot tournaments are there to have fun, so don’t allow your competitive streak to get the better of you and lead you into unwise choices.