About tournaments
If you’re the type of person who loves competition, then tournaments are just your ticket. And don’t worry about being a novice — most tournaments are very player-friendly and easy to understand. But before you play in a tournament (and ideally win), you need to know what you’re getting into before you jump in, head first.
Although poker and online blackjack are probably the best-known tournament competitions, tournaments in craps, slots, baccarat, Pai Gow poker, video poker, and keno draw good crowds and a loyal following. And even though hot spots such as Las Vegas host the biggest events, casinos all over the country regularly hold tournaments.
The prize money and number of participants in tournaments vary greatly depending on whether the event is a local weekly competition or a huge, heavily advertised extravaganza designed to attract hordes of traffic. Using the example of blackjack and poker, I split these various tournaments into three separate size categories to give you a quick overview. However, if you’re considering playing in a tournament, I suggest you start off with the smallest tournament possible.
