Regular Aviator play already comes with a chance at a big multiplier. But on several platforms active in Africa, there’s a second layer of competition sitting on top of that: Aviator tournaments, where your regular bets earn points on a live leaderboard, and the top finishers split extra cash prizes. In Ghana, the first-ever Betway Aviator Legends Tournament ended with a single winner walking away with GH₵500,000. This guide breaks down which platforms run these tournaments, how the ranking actually works, and what to do to give yourself a real shot at a prize.
What Exactly Is an Aviator Tournament?
An Aviator tournament is a time-limited competition built on top of the regular game. Instead of just chasing a multiplier for yourself, you earn tournament points — usually based on the size of your bet, your win multiplier, or both — and those points place you on a live leaderboard alongside every other participant. When the tournament window closes, the operator pays out a separate prize pool to the top-ranked players, on top of anything you already won from the base game.
The underlying format most African operators use is called “Aviarace”, built into Spribe’s Aviator engine itself — which is why the mechanics feel similar from one platform to another even though the prize amounts and rules differ.
Which Platforms Run Aviator Tournaments in Africa?
Not every operator offering Aviator also runs a tournament layer on top of it, and the ones that do rotate their promotions regularly. Here’s what’s been confirmed on the three platforms most commonly compared for Aviator play in Africa — for a full breakdown of how these three stack up outside of tournaments, see our platform comparison for Aviator in Africa.
1xBet’s Aviarace Tournaments
1xBet runs its Aviator competitions under the Aviarace banner. Players earn bonus points through regular gameplay, and top performers on the leaderboard receive cash rewards or free bets rather than a single grand-prize payout. The format has run in multiple rounds rather than a single one-off event, which keeps the leaderboard resetting periodically.
Melbet’s Weekly Aviator Tournament (Nigeria)
Melbet’s Nigerian Aviator tournament is one of the more clearly documented formats: a weekly competition with a ₦2,000,000 total prize pool. The top spot pays ₦30,000, second place ₦25,000, and third place ₦20,000, with rewards scaling down all the way to ₦2,000 for 20th place. Points accumulate at a rate of 1 point per ₦60 wagered on Aviator, and a live leaderboard displays the top 20 participants throughout the week.
Betway’s Aviator Legends and Aviator Madness
Betway has run two distinct Aviator tournament formats. In Ghana, the Aviator Legends Tournament ran from 2 to 30 June 2025, with the top 8 leaderboard finishers advancing to a grand finale in Accra. The eventual winner, Clifford Danquah, walked away with a GH₵500,000 cash prize — roughly $49,020 — after beating seven other finalists at the Labadi Beach Hotel finale on 24 July 2025, according to Graphic Online. In South Africa, Betway’s Aviator Madness promotion has offered a R5 million cash prize pool, with entry qualification starting from bets as low as R2.
How Do Aviator Tournament Leaderboards and Rankings Work?
Every operator sets its own scoring formula, but the mechanics fall into two broad models. Some, like Melbet’s Nigerian tournament, reward total volume wagered — every ₦60 bet earns a fixed point, so consistent, frequent betting climbs the leaderboard even without a single huge win. Others, closer to 1xBet’s Aviarace format, weight points toward your win multiplier, meaning a single well-timed cash-out at a high multiplier can jump you several places at once.
This distinction matters for strategy: a volume-based leaderboard rewards steady, smaller bets placed often during the tournament window, while a multiplier-based one rewards a few higher-risk, higher-reward rounds. Always check which model the specific tournament you’ve entered is using before deciding how to bet.
How to Join an Aviator Tournament
Joining is rarely a separate sign-up step — it’s built around your regular Aviator play. Here’s the general process across the platforms above.
- Create or log into an account on a platform currently running an Aviator tournament, such as 1xBet, Melbet, or Betway.
- Deposit funds and open the Aviator game from the casino lobby.
- Check the “Tournaments” or “Aviarace” tab inside the game or promotions section to confirm a tournament is active and that you’re automatically opted in.
- Place real-money bets during the tournament window — points only count for bets placed while the event is live, not before or after.
- Track your position on the live leaderboard, which updates in real time as points accumulate.
How to Maximize Your Chances of Winning Extra Prizes
Tournament prize pools are finite and split across a limited number of leaderboard spots, so a few habits noticeably improve your odds compared to playing without a plan. For the underlying Aviator strategy that feeds into these tournament points, our Aviator betting strategy guide covers cash-out timing and bankroll management in more depth.
- Check the scoring model first. If points come from volume wagered, spread smaller bets across the whole tournament window instead of one large bet.
- Watch the leaderboard cutoff, not just first place. On formats like Melbet’s, prizes extend to 20th position — a modest points gap can be the difference between nothing and a payout.
- Play during the full tournament window, not just the last day. Late entrants competing on volume-based leaderboards start with a real points deficit against players who’ve been active from day one.
- Set a loss limit for tournament sessions specifically. Chasing leaderboard points with bets you wouldn’t normally place is how tournament participation turns into losses unrelated to the prize itself.
- Confirm prize terms before the tournament ends, since wagering requirements on winnings vary by operator and promotion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to pay an entry fee to join an Aviator tournament?
No. In the formats confirmed above, entry is free — you qualify automatically by placing real-money bets on Aviator during the active tournament window. Some platforms set a minimum bet size for points to count, so it’s worth checking the specific tournament’s rules.
Can new players win Aviator tournament prizes?
Yes, as long as they meet the entry criteria for that specific tournament. Ranking is based on points earned during the active window, not on account age or betting history.
Do Aviator tournament prizes come with wagering requirements?
It depends on the operator and the specific promotion — this isn’t consistent across platforms. Always check the terms of the individual tournament before assuming a prize is withdrawable without extra conditions.
How often do Aviator tournaments run in Africa?
Frequency varies by operator. Melbet’s Nigerian format runs weekly with a fresh leaderboard each time, while Betway’s Aviator Legends ran as a month-long event building to a single grand finale. 1xBet’s Aviarace has run in multiple rounds rather than a fixed weekly schedule.
Paul Pallon is a passionate gaming specialist focused on video games, esports, and digital entertainment. He analyzes gaming trends, reviews new releases, and shares expert insights on competitive gaming, helping players stay informed about the evolving gaming landscape.