Casino tournaments
A tournament ranks players over a period and pays the top of a leaderboard. How it scores decides who can realistically win, and the two common systems favour completely different players.
Written by Imogen Hartley
5 min read
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Contents
Turnover leaderboards versus multiplier leaderboards
A turnover leaderboard ranks by total staked, which means the top places go to whoever bet the most. Competing costs exactly what it looks like it costs, and the prize is smaller than the turnover required to reach it for everyone except the winner.
A multiplier leaderboard ranks by the largest win relative to stake, which any player can top with one lucky spin at any stake. This is the format worth entering: participation costs nothing beyond the play you were doing anyway.
Read the prize distribution, not the prize pool
A £10,000 pool paying only the top three is a different proposition from the same pool spread across two hundred places. The second gives a realistic chance of a small prize; the first is a contest between a handful of very large players.
Both are published in the tournament terms. The distribution table tells you within a few seconds whether the event is aimed at you.
Casino tournaments: what we like / what could be better
What we like
- Multiplier-based leaderboards can be topped from any stake with one spin
- Prizes are frequently cash rather than bonus funds
- Participation usually requires no additional deposit or opt-in cost
- Prize distribution and scoring rules are published in advance
What could be better
- Turnover leaderboards are effectively decided by who stakes the most
- Prize pools concentrated on the top few places make a placing unrealistic for most
- Encourage extended play to hold a position, which costs more than the prize returns
- Qualifying games are restricted, and the list is chosen by the operator
Frequently asked questions
Can I win a tournament playing small stakes?
On a multiplier leaderboard, yes: it ranks by win relative to stake, so a large multiplier at 20p competes with the same multiplier at £20. On a turnover leaderboard, no.
Are tournament prizes paid as cash?
Frequently yes, which is unusual among casino promotions. The terms state whether the prize is cash or bonus funds, and it is worth checking before committing time.
Do I have to opt in?
It varies. Some tournaments enroll every qualifying spin automatically; others require joining first, and spins before joining do not count.
How are tournament positions scored?
Either by total turnover or by highest win multiplier on a single spin. The second is far more accessible to smaller stakes and is worth seeking out.
Is there an entry fee?
Rarely at casinos. Most run free with qualification through normal play on eligible games.
How many players actually win?
The prize table states it, and the tail is usually long and thin. Positions beyond the top few pay small amounts.
Do I have to opt in?
Frequently yes. Check before playing, because retrospective entry is not usually possible.