COVID’s Impact on Online Gambling — Weekend Tournaments and Where to Find the Biggest Prizes
Wow — remember March 2020 and how everything flipped? Online gambling went from niche weekend pastime to mainstream entertainment almost overnight, and weekend tournaments became a major draw for players hunting for bigger prize pools. This piece starts with hard changes driven by COVID, then moves into practical ways beginners can find high-value weekend tournaments without getting burned, so read on for actionable steps.
At first it seemed obvious: brick-and-mortar closures pushed players online, which bumped liquidity and tournament attendance, and that in turn grew guaranteed prize pools and frequency of weekend events. But the real picture is richer — operators changed their business models, introduced more short-format events, and leaned on fast crypto payouts to attract weekend grinders. I’ll unpack those shifts and then explain how to compare tournament value properly.
How COVID Changed Weekend Tournaments — Quick Overview
Hold on — when venues shut, online platforms absorbed players, and that meant higher tournament fields and often bigger GUARANTEED pools, which changed value dynamics for recreational players. The surge brought more frequent micro- and mid-stakes weekend tourneys, often with guaranteed prize pools between AU$5k–AU$100k depending on operator promotions, and I’ll show you how those guarantees matter below.
Operators also adjusted entry structures: more satellites, freeroll lead-ins, and multi-day qualifiers aimed to maximise retention across a weekend. This was partly a product decision and partly a marketing response to new player behaviour, and understanding that mix helps you spot real value versus hype.
Why Bigger Fields Don’t Always Mean Worse Value
Something’s off if you assume large fields are always a trap — bigger fields can still be profitable for skilled players because prize distribution and rake structure matter more than raw entrants. For example, a AU$50 buy-in with 1,000 entrants and 8% rake yields a prize pool of AU$46,000, while a AU$100 buy-in with 300 entrants and 5% rake yields AU$28,500 — so the smaller, higher-buyin event may actually pay less overall despite fewer players. Next, I’ll break down how to calculate expected value (EV) for a weekend tournament entry.
Mini-Calculation: Quick EV for Weekend Tournaments
Alright, check this out — here’s a simple EV approach for a beginner. Suppose a tournament entry is AU$50, field size 1,000, and you believe your long-term chance to finish in paid places is 1%. Prize pool (after 8% rake) = AU$46,000; average payout to top 100 equals pool split rules but assume average cash for top 100 ~AU$460; your expected cash = 1% * AU$460 = AU$4.60; EV = AU$4.60 − AU$50 = −AU$45.40. That looks terrible, but if you have a strategy that improves your cashing chance to 5% (e.g., late-stage heads-up skills), expected cash = 5% * AU$460 = AU$23, EV = −AU$27 — still losing but much closer. The key point: even modest edge improvements change EV meaningfully, and I’ll next explain practical levers to improve your edge.
How to Improve Your Edge on Weekend Tournaments
Here’s the thing: focus on three levers — game selection, bankroll sizing, and understanding payout structure — and you’ll see better outcomes on weekends where the largest pools exist. Game selection means choosing field sizes and buy-in tiers where your ROI is maximised; bankroll sizing prevents catastrophic downswing while enabling you to play enough events to realise EV; payout structure knowledge guides you to tournaments where deep runs pay proportionally more. After that, we’ll compare common platform approaches so you can choose wisely.
Platform Comparison: What to Look For (Table)
| Feature | Small Operators | Major Operators | Crypto-Focused Sites |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical Weekend Guarantees | AU$1k–AU$20k | AU$20k–AU$200k+ | AU$5k–AU$150k |
| Rake / Fees | Low–Moderate (6–9%) | Moderate–Higher (6–12%) | Variable, sometimes lower for crypto |
| Satellite / Qualifier Depth | Shallow | Extensive | Good for small buy-ins |
| Payout Speed (Withdrawals) | Bank delays possible | Standard banking times | Often fastest via crypto |
| Promos / Boosted Guarantees | Occasional | Frequent, marketing-driven | Common — attracts crypto users |
These comparisons set the stage for where the biggest weekend prizes are being concentrated, and next I’ll show practical checks to evaluate a specific weekend event before you buy-in.
Practical Checklist: How to Evaluate a Weekend Tournament (Quick Checklist)
- Check the guarantee vs. likely entrants (past event attendance helps predict shortfall/overlay).
- Calculate rake and compare to alternate events at nearby buy-in tiers.
- Review payout structure — flatter vs. top-heavy payouts affect ROI for different playstyles.
- Confirm satellite paths and freerolls — can you buy-in cheaper via qualifiers?
- Verify withdrawal methods and KYC timelines if you expect a cashout soon.
Use this checklist to decide which weekend tournaments are worth your time, and next I’ll give platform-specific tactics and where to spot overlays or real value.
Where to Find the Biggest Weekend Prize Pools (Platform Tactics)
On a practical level, major operators and crypto-focused sites have leaned into weekend events as marquee offerings — they back guarantees with marketing and satellites to fill the field, while some smaller sites intentionally under-promote to create overlays. If you want to watch where large guarantees surface and sometimes overpay, track calendar pages and satellite volume for a few weeks to spot patterns. To test strategies live, consider trying a reputable site that frequently runs big weekend GPs — many players point newcomers to platforms like here for browsing current promotions and tournament schedules — but always verify T&Cs and KYC times before depositing.
To be honest, that recommendation comes after seeing how some sites list reliable weekend series and handle crypto payouts for faster cashouts, and I’ll now outline common mistakes to avoid when chasing weekend prize pools.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Chasing overlay myths — don’t assume a guarantee means an overlay; check recent attendance and historical overlays.
- Underestimating variance — weekend series bring bigger swings; size your bankroll with at least 100–200 buy-ins for the tier you play.
- Ignoring payout structure — top-heavy events favour grinders who can navigate big fields and final table play, whereas flatter events reward consistent cashing.
- Late KYC panic — if you win big, unverified accounts face payout delays; upload documents ASAP.
- Over-relying on promotions — bonus T&Cs can restrict tournament play or impose max cashout limits, so read the small print.
These mistakes explain why many newcomers lose value chasing weekend prizes, and next I’ll provide two short hypothetical cases to illustrate good vs poor approach choices.
Two Mini-Cases (Short Examples)
Case A — “Weekend Grinder”: Sam targets AU$50 weekend events and uses satellites; over a month he plays 200 entries, focuses on late-stage play, and increases effective cashing rate from 1% to 3%. Because he played satellites to reduce cost and studied payout spreads, he converted more deep runs into net profit — his approach emphasised volume and skill edges, which we’ll contrast with Case B next.
Case B — “One-Off Chaser”: Lee deposits AU$500, enters a single AU$100 buy-in flagship weekend event with 1,500 entrants, chases a big payday but hadn’t verified KYC and ignored rake differences; when he busted, he was left with little sample size and a delayed withdrawal when he later won a small amount. That lack of planning cost time and liquidity, which highlights why preparing for KYC and bankroll management matters before entry.
Mini-FAQ
Q: Are weekend tournament guarantees realistic post-COVID?
A: Many are real because operators capitalised on higher online traffic during COVID and kept the series running; however, some guarantees are marketing-backed and rely on satellites to meet the promise, so monitor past event fill rates to judge realism.
Q: Should beginners play weekend big fields or smaller mid-week events?
A: Beginners often do better in smaller mid-week fields where skill edge and lower variance give better learning value; weekend fields are tougher but offer larger top prizes if you’re prepared for volume and bankroll swings.
Q: Does crypto improve weekend tournament experience?
A: Crypto can accelerate withdrawals and sometimes reduce fees, which matters if you win; however, ensure the site’s KYC and AML policies match your expectations and that you’re comfortable with exchange conversions.
These FAQs should clear up common beginner doubts, and next I’ll summarise the practical takeaway and give final safety notes about responsible play.
Final Practical Takeaways & Responsible-Gaming Notes
My gut says if you treat weekend tournaments like adventure rides rather than income sources, you’ll enjoy them more and make better decisions; focus on event selection, bank management, and KYC readiness, and aim to play enough volume to smooth variance rather than relying on a single big hit. Before you jump into high-stakes weekend series, check the facts — guaranteed pool history, rake, satellite depth, and withdrawal terms — and consider trialling a few events at lower stakes to test your read on field difficulty.
18+ only. Play responsibly — set deposit and session limits, and use self-exclusion if gambling causes harm. For AU players, consult local resources such as Gamblers Anonymous and state-specific helplines if you need support.
Sources
- Operator event calendars and past tournament results (publicly available on operator sites)
- Industry analyses on post-2020 online gambling trends (public reports, operator press releases)
- Player experience summaries and community tracker threads (poker/tournament forums)
About the Author
I’m an industry analyst and recreational tournament player based in Australia with hands-on experience tracking online weekend series since 2019; I write practical guides and testing notes to help beginners make informed choices and avoid common traps, and my recommendations favour verified sites, transparent terms, and responsible play.