RummyRoyal.com: Review of Rummy Royal
Rummy Royal offers rummy games where players can compete for cash prizes. I'm not a hardcore rummy fan, but the thousands of online players and available tables convinced me to give it a try. The following are my thoughts on what Rummy Royal has to offer, as well as the overall quality of their product.
Rummy Royal Games
Since Rummy Royal specializes in rummy games, I was curious to see how many they offered. The selection is respectable, with all the most popular rummy games being provided. The more obscure rummy games were left off the list, but I'm sure they wanted to focus on those that would appeal to the most players. Online rummy games from Rummy Royal include: Gin Rummy, Oklahoma Gin, Kalooki 51, Kalooki 40, Traditional Rummy, Rummy 500, Burraco, Turkish Rummy (Okey), Tripoley, Canasta, Rummikub, and Mahjong. You can click on any of the games and get a detailed rundown of the rules, as well as screenshots from actual gameplay.
Playing Rummy for Free
While RummyRoyal.com offers rummy with cash prizes, RummyRoyal.net allows players to enjoy the game of rummy for free. You can also learn how to play rummy on your mobile device or social networking site. There are numerous links at RummyRoyal.net that will take you to the .com version. Both sites are similar in design and presentation.
Types of Rummy Royal Tournaments
Rummy Royal provides players with a number of tournament options. Tournaments have a larger prize pool due to the number of competitors, and the various buy-in amounts are deducted from a player's account when they sign up.
The overall style of the rummy tournaments can be divided into quick tournaments, round tournaments, and multi-table tournaments. The quick table variety allows 2 to 4 players to compete, with each receiving penalty points based on the cards remaining in their hand at the conclusion of the round. Once a player exceeds the maximum allowable number of penalty points, they are eliminated from the game. The last remaining player is considered the winner, and they will receive the lion's share of the prize.
With multi-table tournaments, a larger number of players can compete for prize money. Freeroll tournaments don't require a buy-in, but the winnings will be significantly reduced. Players begin a multi-table rummy tournament with an equal number of chips, and this number is raised or lowered based on their performance during each round. If a player's chip total falls to zero, then they are eliminated from the tournament. When only four players remain, they face off at a final table to determine the winner. Players also receive tournament points along the way, and these are used to determine their overall ranking within the tournament (as well as their share of the prize money).
Round tournaments are the shortest of the bunch, and they often require the least amount of strategy. One-round, three-round and five-round tables are available. The winner of a one-round tourney is determined by who has the most points at the end of the hand. For multi-round tourneys, players will accumulate penalty points, with the winner being the person possessing the least number of penalty points after the final round.
In addition to the three categories of tournaments, Rummy Royal offers a number of special tourney types. These include:
Turbo - Each turn lasts only 30 seconds. Available for quick table and multi-table tournaments.
Speed - Online rummy tournaments designed to be played at a faster pace.
Guaranteed - While the prize pool is usually determined by the number of players, guaranteed tournaments offer a set payout to the winner.
Added Prize - During select tournaments, Rummy Royal will add additional money to the prize pool.
Rebuy - Players who are eliminated during the early stages of a tournament may buy their way back into the game.
Payment - In addition to winnings paid from the prize pool, payment (or wager) tournaments allow the winner of each hand to receive cash from his defeated opponents.
Freerolls - These multi-table tournaments offer cash prizes, but they cost nothing to enter. New freeroll tournaments are offered on a daily basis at Rummy Royal.
Royal Stars - Tournaments offered for members of the Rummy Royal loyalty program. Players can earn Royal Stars, which can then be converted into cash.
Qualifier Tourney - If you want to enter one of the bigger tournaments from Rummy Royal, you may need to win a spot by participating in a qualifying tournament.
Beginners - To give beginners a chance to get their feet wet and still win cash, Rummy Royal holds tournaments that are limited to those who've signed up within the last 90 days. Once you've been a member longer than that, you won't be able to participate in these contests.
Rummy Royal Promotions
I'll give Rummy Royal credit: They make a major effort to retain their customers. In addition to all their other features, the site also includes a number of bonus promotions. For example, you'll receive a $5 free bonus when you sign up, and Rummy Royal will match your first deposit up to $200. This latter bonus is added to your account a little at a time, as bonus whores would otherwise sign up and then cash out without ever playing.
There are also a number of ongoing promotions at Rummy Royal. Players who win a certain number of tournaments in a row are eligible for jackpot bonuses, and a tournament is held every Sunday that features a $500 prize pool and a $1 buy-in. There's also the Royal Stars Club, a loyalty program that allows players to earn various perks and privileges based on the amount of time they spend playing rummy.
Overall Thoughts on Rummy Royal
Even though I had never played rummy in my life, Rummy Royal managed to appeal to me with their simple design and wealth of detail. All the information I needed to get started was presented in an easy-to-understand fashion, and I never got the sense that the site was primarily interested in my money. Online rummy tournaments are running 24/7, which means players from all parts of the world will be able to find games and opponents to suit their needs. The ability to win cash while playing rummy was also a big plus, and I enjoyed the fact that the same games could be played for free by visiting RummyRoyal.net.
This page was written by John U. Hayes.
