Win more, more often with this guide to cashing in on Gambling,com's exclusive selection of casino tournaments.

Since Gambling.com introduced online slots and video poker more than a year ago it has become the premier destination for tournaments on the web. They offer the chance to experience the thrill of playing against other live competitors, and they can be entered for as little as $1, as much as $11. The website offers a sleek new design, and registering gains you access to free tournaments with real cash prizes.

Because the tournaments are so successful, they are available around the clock. You are guaranteed to find one running on your favourite game when you want to play. No waiting. With this in mind, there follows a list of tricks and traps to help you beat the competition, avoid common mistakes made by tournament rookies and maximize your fun and profit (with a little luck of course).

Trick: know your game, and when to play

Assuming you have seta budget and know how many tournaments you are looking to enter, selecting the right tournament can put odds in your favour. When looking at the Running Tournaments and Upcoming Tournaments page on Gambling.com, the rules for each tournament are laid out in columns - including entry, number of players the tournament will accept and the prize amount. Each tournament contains a running leaderboard that shows up to the minute standings.

There are two types of real money tournaments: ones where a prize is guaranteed regardless if one player or 100 players enter (closing based on time), and the other requires a certain number of players to enter to close out the tournament (closing based on number of players).

Get to know the games, find your favourite, learn the paytable and keep track of how much it commonly takes to win. If you notice a tournament can be won with a lower-than-average score and it is set to time-expire or near capacity in number of entrants, your chances of winning that tournament have improved.

TIP: take advantage of Gambling.com freeroll tournaments to get to know your favourite games. They work and feel just like the real thing, are free to enter and offer great cash prizes.

TRAP: Over-entering

Knowing when to enter can be an effective strategy, but sound money management still applies. In a real-life scenario: a player notices that a"Road Runner Rage - Winner Takes All" is accepting a maximum of 12 players. With 9 having already entered, he notices the amount necessary to win is relatively low. He enters this tournament but is unsuccessful. Enticed by an "easy win", he continues to play, using up the final two entries, when he may have otherwise called it a day.

In blackjack, the house wins over time the more hands you play, and the same is true for tournaments. Players looking for a tournament win are often tempted to enter over-and-over looking for that elusive win. Of course there are no guarantees that playing more will earn you a tournament win any more than buying hundreds of lotto tickets will earn ajackpot.
Players enjoy tournaments because it lets them budget their time and bankroll. Each tournament contains a flat entry fee and lists the amount of time required to play it to completion. Stick to your budget, play within your limits and don't gamble to excess. Over time, playing outside your budget will offset any occasional wins.

Basic betting strategy

Regular Gambling,com Magazine readers know that a proper betting strategy can be as important as a lucky spin. The rule of thumb for slots and video poker tournaments are to bet as much as possible, with as many coins as possible, to win a jackpot as large as possible should you hit. Betting the maximum will also ensure that you are playing to win the tournament outright. There are no prizes for a good showing; tournaments demand aggressive play and shooting for first place. And many games award a bonus prize for hitting a jackpot on the maximum number of coins. If you haven't optimized your win, chances are the competition has.

TIP in the Gambling.com casino

Each game comes with a BET MAX button. Don't waste time selecting numbers of coins. Tournaments are a race against the clock, and a balance left unused is a jackpot potentially lost. This also means celebrating a big win after your game.

TRAP Losing focus

It may sound easy but simply concentrating will be the difference between winning and losing. Because your play is being timed, make sure outside distractions don't derail your tournament. Make sure to learn your game's paytable before the tournament begins. Nine-line, five-reel video slots can be confusing, and the number of winning combinations on a BET MAX wager can be dizzying. Don't become focused on the leaderboard to the point that it distracts from your play. Regardless of the leading balance, your job is to grow your balance as high as possible as quickly as possible.
Because each tournament has a preset time allotment, you will know in advance how long you must stay sharp. And if your machine is cold, don't become distracted. Gambling.com games feature a Random Number Generator that ensures the result of each spin is independent. A jackpot may be as close as your next spin.

Playing for Real

If you are like many players who have sampled casino games online for free but have yet to play for real cash, Gambling.com is a safe and easy way to play for real in a casino backed by the magazine and website's proven reputation. Register at Gambling.com and deposit with options like Visa and NETELLER. When you register you will find 2,000 free "Ludo" chips in your account good for free tournaments where you can win real cash prizes. And of course, if you are afraid of spending too much online, tournaments are a great way to ensure you don't exceed your budget (and dip into your winnings). Visit gambling.com/instructions if you require step-by-step instructions. Good luck!