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Online casino tournaments (October 2026): Best slot tournaments ranked
Check out our guide covering online casino tournaments, where players participate in free leaderboard competitions that feature real money prize pools.
Real money online casino tournaments continue to grow in popularity as more legal operators offer these contests. They usually involve a leaderboard-based promotion that consists of players competing against each other, rather than the casino, in order to move their way up the leaderboard.
Many of the best online casinos offer these online casino tournaments through leaderboard competitions that showcase a notable prize pool. While many of these online casino leaderboard tournaments are free, there are some platforms that also offer them through a given buy-in. Let's dive deeper into these casino slot tournaments and everything players need to know about them.
Best online casino tournaments in the US (September 2026)
Here are some of the top online casino tournaments currently available through several of the best online casinos active in the U.S.
Online casino tournaments are a fun wrinkle to standard wagering on online casino games. Most operators display these leaderboard competitions within the promotions or casino bonuses section of the platform, and players simply need to opt in to participate.
Often, these casino tournament real money contests are based around slots play, but that's not always the case. For example, Caesars Palace Online Casino has run leaderboards around live dealer table games.
That said, the online casino provider will always supply players with rules around the leaderboard, including which games are specifically eligible. After opting in, users are rewarded with points based on their play with these games. Rules may vary depending on the operator and specific tournament, but you usually earn points based on how much you've wagered or won on these certain games.
Leaderboard tournaments always have a set time period for when players are able to collect points. Whoever nets the most points throughout that timeframe will find themselves atop the leaderboard along with a nice prize.
While winning first place is ideal, getting yourself anywhere on a leaderboard should be considered an accomplishment, and one that comes with a reward. The overall prize pool attached to these online casino tournaments is distributed to all who place within the final rankings, sometimes including as many as 500 players.
Pros of casino tournaments
Cons of casino tournaments
Usually free to join
Not always available
Sizable prize pools available
Limited game selection
Compete against other players, not the casino
Typically must clear any bonus earned through a wagering requirement
Types of casino tournaments
There are several different variations of online casino tournaments. Although many of these can be categorized as free casino tournaments, there are some that require an entry fee to join. Let's examine the main types of these online casino leaderboard competitions available in the U.S.
Buy-in tournaments (entry fee, added to the prize pool)
Despite the fact that the majority of casino slot tournaments are completely free to join, there are certain other alternatives that include a set buy-in. Players must pay that buy-in to be included within the pool, as opposed to simply opting in to most others.
With these, the prize pool is usually not a preset amount of money; instead, it fluctuates based on how many players enter the leaderboard or tournament.
Another factor that may change under a paid online casino tournament that requires an entry fee is the amount you're able to wager. Some of these contests utilize a fixed amount of tournament credits or spins so that all participants are on a level playing field. Sometimes a much smaller time frame is implemented to keep the competition even, as well.
Freeroll tournaments (free entry, no wagering required)
As noted, most of the online casino tournaments provided by the top casino operators are completely free to join and only require an opt-in. Players will need a direct invitation to some of these contests, while others will simply be listed within your rewards or promotions tab.
Regardless, an opt-in is all you need to register for these freeroll casino slot tournaments, giving players an opportunity to cash in on some casino credit without an additional fee. Players should always look to take full advantage of free casino tournaments, as they offer prizes for wagering on games that you may have played anyway.
Ongoing leaderboard races vs. scheduled one-time events
The timeframes for which online casino tournaments take place vary greatly. Some run over the course of several days or even weeks, compared to others that are scheduled events set for one specific time.
The most commonly seen time period for a casino tournament real money event is usually about a week, with many others lasting around three full days, or 72 hours.
Online casino tournaments that are scheduled one-time events are rarer and typically involve leaderboards in which you need to buy in. Sometimes, players must complete the entire event in one sitting, as this form of tournament completes in just a few hours or so.
Casino tournament reviews (October 2026)
Let's take a closer look at some of the top online casinos and how their casino slot tournaments are formatted.
DraftKings Casino
Currently, DraftKings Casino is offering a casino tournament real money event with its $50,000 Cash Eruption Leaderboard. The operator is considered one of the best platforms within the legal gaming industry for consistently releasing new promos for existing players, and leaderboards are often included.
Its current leaderboard is based around the online slots game Cash Eruption. Like with most leaderboard tournaments, players earn points for wagering on the eligible game following an opt-in.
One specific rule within DraftKings' contest is that only winning wagers will count toward collecting points. The operator rewards points stemming from the ratio of each individual wager to how much you've won through those bets. It calculates a player's total winnings from one wager and divides that by the total amount of the bet. For example, if your $5 wager results in a $1,000 win, you'll collect 200 leaderboard points.
Overall, the top 500 finishers on the leaderboard will win some type of payout ($25 for places 351-500), with the first-place prize resulting in $7,500 in casino credits.
The DraftKings leaderboard is available for three days once it begins. This current one requires no buy-in, as players can just opt in prior to its start date.
The typical prize pool for leaderboard tournaments differs at DraftKings between two amounts. The platform offers its usual leaderboards with $50,000 in total within the prize pool, while it also highlights smaller Silver Leaderboards, which consist of just $2,500 in overall prizes.
The $50,000 leaderboard available at FanDuel Casino is quite similar to the one at DraftKings. FanDuel highlights its latest online casino tournament around the slot 7s Fire Blitz X Cash Boost.
Once again, casino users earn points for playing the eligible game in their attempt to gain as many points as possible along the way. A total of 500 players receive payouts ($20 for places 251-500), with the top prize totaling $10,000.
FanDuel utilizes familiar rules for its online casino leaderboard. Losing wagers don't return any points, while the operator states that players will earn points equal to their bets' winnings divided by the wager's total stake. This produces the same point rules as DraftKings, where a $5 bet that wins $1,000 earns you 200 points.
There are no entry requirements around this FanDuel Casino leaderboard: Players just need to opt in to become eligible. The platform's online casino tournaments feature varying totals, with $50,000 as a common prize pool. This does adjust from time to time, as there are some leaderboards worth $25,000, and other special editions like holiday leaderboards reaching $75,000 in total prizes.
BetMGM's casino slot tournaments are similar to the ones mentioned; however, they do feature several notable differences. Right now, players can join the operator's $30K Leaderboard and play a group of eligible slot games in order to try to gain points.
Even though the basis of the casino tournament remains the same, BetMGM has implemented different rules that players should take note of, including how the tournament rewards points.
As opposed to its competitors, BetMGM hands out one leaderboard point for every $40 wagered on the select games. This is a big change compared to DraftKings and FanDuel, as BetMGM is more focused on sheer volume than winning wagers. This can be viewed as beneficial for bettors, as the results of their slots play don't actually matter.
Besides this online casino tournament only including $30,000, there are a couple of other differences, too. Only 100 players will earn rewards from BetMGM, a significantly smaller amount than others. Since that's the case, players finishing between places 51-100 only get $25 each. That said, BetMGM's leaderboard does offer the highest payout to first place, as the winner of the $30K Leaderboard takes home a staggering $12,000.
This tournament doesn't require any additional entry fee. BetMGM's leaderboard is available for seven total days once it goes live. Despite it not being tied directly to one slot game, BetMGM does list 10 total games that are eligible to wager on. These include some classics, like Cleopatra Gold, Triple Cash Eruption, and Mystery of the Lamp Secret Bazaar.
Lots of BetMGM free casino tournaments feature the $30,000 prize pool as this one does, but others have exceeded that total. Many reach the $50,000 threshold, while the platform's Lucky Rush Leaderboard has extended all the way to $100,000.
Caesars Palace Online Casino also has an active leaderboard tournament. Its Live Dealer Table Games Leaderboard Challenge is up and running, with players getting the chance to earn part of the $25,000 prize pool.
Overall, a total of 285 Caesars players will walk away with credit from the online casino tournament, with those finishing between places 121-285 receiving $25. While the competition's top prize isn't quite as big as some others, it's still a respectable sum of $5,000.
Similar to BetMGM, Caesars is delivering points to players based on how much they wager, as opposed to a scoring system revolving around winning. The operator is rewarding two leaderboard points for every $5 wagered on Live Dealer Red Door Roulette, along with one point for every $5 bet on 11 additional eligible live dealer titles. Several popular live dealer options are included among these, like Live Dealer American Roulette, Live Dealer Caesars Blackjack, and the game show Crazy Time.
There is no buy-in for this casino tournament, and Caesars' leaderboard contest lasts for exactly one week.
While this specific leaderboard features a prize pool of $25,000, Caesars does vary this total. Some tournaments only include $10,000 worth of overall prizes, with others hitting as much as $60,000.
Golden Nugget Casino's Golden Tour Leaderboard is available to join right now. The platform often offers free casino tournaments like this one, with players having the opportunity to take advantage of a massive $100,000 prize pool.
With so much money to spread around, Golden Nugget is paying out the top 1,500 positions on the leaderboard, a significant jump up from other operators. This format supplies $20 to those finishing in places 1,251-1,500, while first place earns $10,000. Unlike the others, Golden Nugget is less strict regarding its eligible games for the tournament, as it states that all slots are eligible.
Golden Nugget's leaderboard points are distributed just like DraftKings and FanDuel, where players only receive points for winning wagers. Again, the same calculation is involved, with players taking their total winnings from a wager and dividing that by the total wager amount to determine the number of points they collect.
Golden Nugget doesn't apply an entry fee to this tournament. The contest is available for one week.
These $100,000 prize pools are common with the online casino, but their totals do differ from time to time. The platform has also run tournaments in the past that include prize pools of $10,000, $25,000, and $80,000.
Entering an online casino tournament at the best mobile casinos is an easy process that only requires a few steps:
Find active slot tournaments within your online casino.
Review entry requirements and the list of eligible games.
Opt in to the free casino tournament or provide the necessary buy-in.
Wager on eligible games to gather points.
Track your leaderboard position throughout the tournament to know where you stand.
Collect your bonus casino credits if you place on the final leaderboard standings.
Casino tournament strategy
Even though participating in online casino tournaments is fairly straightforward, there is some strategy involved.
The most important part of any leaderboard tournament is understanding the rules and format of that specific contest. Players must know all the details before getting started, like when the tournament begins, which games are eligible, and how points are acquired.
Knowing the scoring system is crucial, as players must recognize whether their tournament provides points on winning wagers or just overall volume. Some may even only count a player's biggest win during a set period of time, so having a solid grasp of the scoring system is necessary.
Another part of a successful strategy is to make sure you know when the leaderboard competition begins. Being ready for the start of the window will have you earning points immediately without wasting valuable time.
Lastly, while players are often given a set of eligible games, they can play the ones that are the quickest and include the fastest spins per minute. This can help maximize your wagers.
Best games to play in tournaments
As noted, players looking to take advantage of these online casino leaderboard tournaments should attempt to utilize as many fast-spin slots as possible. Players will find these options within some standard classic games, as well as new online slots.
By reducing the animation and celebration graphics that follow each spin, players can optimize their play by wagering more within a shorter period of time. While this might not be the best approach overall, it can be helpful when you're in a tournament with limited time.
Whether it's with Megaways slots or more classic slot games, players can find fast-spin options that will help them move more efficiently. The following are some top slots to utilize when looking to maximize your spins per minute.
Game
Why it suits tournament play
Casino
Starburst
Fast-spin option, low volatility
FanDuel, Caesars
Book of Dead
Turbo option, fast bonus round
BetMGM
Double Diamond
No extended bonus round
DraftKings
Divine Fortune
Straightforward, only 5 reels
DraftKings, Golden Nugget
Bonanza Megaways
Turbo option
BetMGM, Caesars
Responsible Gaming
Players in the United States must be at least 21 years old and otherwise eligible to register and place bets at online casinos. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please seek assistance from trained professionals such as the Problem Gambling Help Network at 1-800-MY-RESET.
Players should recognize that these tournament formats encourage faster play than usual, so time and spend limits could be very beneficial.
Online casino tournaments often involve leaderboard competitions where players compete to earn the most points from playing eligible games during a set timeframe. The players who earn the most points finish with a spot on the leaderboard and win casino credits.
Do I have to pay to enter a casino tournament?
Some online casino tournaments do require a paid buy-in; however, most are completely free and only need players to opt in.
How are casino tournament winners determined?
The winners are determined by who has collected the most points during the given timeframe. Players can check in on the standings throughout the tournament to see how many points they need to move up the rankings.
Can I win real money in a casino tournament?
Yes, casino slot tournaments include real money payouts to all of the winners in the form of casino credits.
What games are usually eligible for tournaments?
Eligible games will vary based on the operator and specific casino tournament; however, slot games are usually the focus of these contests.
How long do casino tournaments typically run?
Again, the time periods differ between platforms, but the majority of online casino tournaments last for one week.
Do all online casinos offer tournaments?
While not every operator features leaderboard tournaments, the majority of the top online casinos within the U.S. do offer them.
Is there a skill element to casino tournaments?
Although the slot gameplay within eligible titles is mostly luck, there are some skill elements involved, like knowing all the tournament rules and utilizing fast-spin slots.
What is the minimum age to enter a casino tournament?
The minimum age to wager at online casinos and participate in these tournaments is 21 in the U.S.
Where can I find responsible gambling support?
All of the top online casinos include tools like limits to help players gamble more responsibly. They also all offer additional outside resources to use if you feel you need more help.
Our editorial team's selections for "the best online casino tournaments" are based on independent editorial analysis, not on operator payments. We evaluate licensed operators across criteria, including bonus value and transparency, wagering requirements, payout reliability, customer support, and responsible gaming practices. Rankings reflect our team's opinion at the time of review and may be updated periodically.
