Slots Slot Tournaments Mlife - How do they work

[cjcjcj]

Maybe a stupid question but I've never done a slot tournament.

Just got an MLife mailer about their "trifecta" slot tournaments all this year. Some of them seem intriguing in that you are guaranteed to get half your buy-in back in Freeplay at the very least. You play against others for up to $100k cash.

How do they work? I've only seen a slot tournament in passing at NYNY last trip and all I saw were people madly pushing the spin buttons. Is that all there is to it? Are you playing with your buy-in or an "imaginary" bank roll? Any "strategy" or it is it just random luck like slots are?

Thanks.

 

[DaiLun]

1) You play with your buy in, everyone has an equal chance

2)It's pure luck, based on machine selection.

 

[boxofbirds]

Yup, all slot tournaments work the same way. You get a machine for a certain amount of time, and you just hit the spin as fast as you can to get as many spins in as possible and hope you hit some big "payouts." You essentially have an unlimited bankroll in the machine. Your place in the tournament is based on your the total amounts you win in the time allowed. i.e. Pure luck.

The only differences I've seen are in the amount of the entry fee, the number of rounds, and payout structure. For invitation type tournaments they usually also have some sort of buffet or food for the entrants as well, and the tournament could be played out over multiple days. I also played one tournament at a local casino and they used a modern machine that had an extra feature: while you're pounding away at the buttons animated balloons would float up the screen randomly, if you hit the screen fast enough it would "pop" the animated balloon and extra credits would be added to your score.

 

[Geogran]

Mlife tournaments normally consist of:

Sign up and Pay for your buy-in (some are free but by invitation only)
Tournament play usually scheduled over a two day period (approx 9am to noon and 1-4pm - can vary)
Register the afternoon before or morning of the tournament play
You are assigned times and machine numbers at registration
Consists of 3 sessions - each session is 10 or 15 minutes ( Day 1 am, day 1 pm, day 2 am)
Arrive 15 minutes before your assigned time or earlier if you like to snack.
Beverages and appetizers provided (some are more substantial) usually a fun Master of Ceremonies
Bang away on your machine for the stated time
Total scores of 3 sessions added together and highest scores win based on specifics of tournament.(*)
Winners are announced/posted usually by 5-6pm on last day and freeplay is loaded to your card.

(*) There are many variations/enhancements to tournaments that are spelled out in your specific offer.

Fun way to meet other slot players

 

[mdm4sfest]

When I was in Vegas in July and August, I played the free slot tourney (I think they had 15 a day) at Harrahs, just had to earn 15-20 tier credits or something like that. At the end of it I was sweating like a whore in church while smacking that button continuously for 3 mins straight...

 

[boxofbirds]

Yeah, my arm was surprisingly tired after my first tournament! haha

 

[Geogran]

Yeah, my arm was surprisingly tired after my first tournament! haha

Same here.
I've been in tournaments where some stand up and dance while hitting the button, some fist pound, some play with one hand and fist bump with the other (takes coordination). One time a lady whose machine was a real dud resorted to literally elbowing hers - left elbow, bam - right elbow, bam. It can get crazy, but always fun.

 

[nostresshere]

You get so much time.

Constantly banking the machine is the norm, but worthless.

Like all slot machines, it ignores the button press until it finishes the current spin. Hitting it a bit early to not miss a second might be a good idea, but to bang at it while spinning is stupid.

Yes, STUPID.

Okay... an exception...some of the newer video slots will actually stop the spin if you keep hitting it, which means you can then spin again.

 

[Chuck2009x]

The only tourney I was ever in was at Cosmo, they were video machines and the spins were set up to complete so fast, the best thing to do was just bang away. I can't remember exactly, but I did count once and I want to say it was at least 90 spins in 2 mins.

 

[Grid]

I've done these before. They seem like mindless fun. I never paid to be in one but I have taken a shot for free. Most recently at Luxor. I think it was capped at 250 players and the minimum (players 150-250) got $100. So even if I shit the bed I still got $100 in free play, plus my room and whatever else the offer came with.

I ended up with the minimum but I did win $500 in the "1 lucky winner" drawing. So I ended up with 600 clams.

The only thing I hate about these things is being tethered to THAT casino. Usually its 2 or 3 rounds per day over 2 days. 10AM again at noon and again at like 3PM. On the last day you have to show up to see where you finished and thats at like 6 or 7PM. So you cant wander the strip or do anything on vacation but stay close to that hotel so you can play another round.

 

[nostresshere]

...The only thing I hate about these things is being tethered to THAT casino. Usually its 2 or 3 rounds per day over 2 days. 10AM again at noon and again at like 3PM. On the last day you have to show up to see where you finished and thats at like 6 or 7PM. So you cant wander the strip or do anything on vacation but stay close to that hotel so you can play another round.

That is why the casinos off this tournaments. Gets people into the casino, and somewhat holds them there. Sometimes it is only 1 round a day, but either way, you have to be there.