Types of Online Slot Tournaments and Where to Find Them

In a slot tournament, players compete against each other to post the best score on one slot or more, aiming for a share of the prize pool. Some directories have exclusive tournament boards with passwords to join, while other sites give instant access right after registering.

Freerolls and slot tournaments are rarely “winner takes it all”. The prize fund is usually divided between the top five, ten or even more players, and the bigger the event, the more awards are up for grabs.

Tournaments normally involve complimentary funds or bonus spins on popular video slots, and they are in almost every case subject to wagering requirements. Each event has a leaderboard, a prize pool, a set of rules for joining and determining the winner, one slot or more (see the games available to play), time limits and other details such as mobile compatibility.

Buy-In or Freeroll?

Slot tournaments fall into two categories: buy-in and freeroll. Players either pay an entry fee to take part or they can join for free.

A buy-in does not give you an advantage. It simply means these tournaments have bigger prize pools. Freerolls are hosted by many online casinos and usually offer value to loyal customers or competitive players.

To decide whether you prefer freerolls or buy-ins, consider the experience required to take part and the size of your bankroll.

Tournaments with smaller prize pools tend to attract fewer entrants, which means less competition for the prizes. A bigger prize pool will probably attract many more players, and some of them can be serious rivals.

Other Types of Slot Tournaments

Freerolls and slot tournaments have become quite diverse over time. These are the other types you may come across.

Sign-up Freerolls

Sign-up freerolls are among the most frequent tournaments at iGaming platforms. They are free to enter once you have registered. Depending on the terms and conditions, an initial deposit may be needed to take part.

Scheduled Tournaments

Many online casinos host regularly scheduled tournaments in the form of buy-ins. To join, participants must usually sign up and pay in advance.

Comped Tournaments

Comped tournaments are intended mostly for loyal players with regular activity on the platform. Casinos with loyalty programmes often run VIP events as a token of appreciation.

One-Shot Tournaments

One-Shot events are challenging and competitive. They give you only one shot at moving on to the next stage, so some experience is required.

Re-Buy Tournaments

In re-buy tournaments, participants can buy their entry again and continue to play by paying for extra sessions.

Sit and Go and Survivor Tournaments

Sit ‘n Go and Survivor tournaments are less common. They either come with a limited number of “seats” or include several stages, where the lowest placed participants are eliminated at the end of every stage and the others advance to the next one. The winner is decided in the final round.

Where to Find Slot Tournaments

Our tournaments page lists current casino tournaments. You can also check the promotions page of an online casino, and the exclusive tournament boards some directories run.

For examples of past freerolls, see the news posts on the December freeroll slots tournament at Springbok Casino and the Lovebird freeroll slots tournament at Thunderbolt Casino. Both were past events, so check the casino for what is running now.

Read the Terms Before You Enter

Always read the terms and conditions of every freeroll or buy-in tournament before you enter. They set out the rules, time limits and any wagering on winnings.

18+ only. Gamble responsibly: SA Responsible Gambling Foundation counselling line 0800 006 008 (24/7).