HorseTourneys has intentionally chosen a payout philosophy that emphasizes meaningful top prizes in our major tournaments.

We recognize that reasonable people can disagree on payout structures, and that some players prefer flatter distributions that award a larger percentage of the field. We respect that viewpoint. However, our experience over many years has been that players are attracted to tournaments that offer truly significant winning opportunities and headline-level payouts.

Our goal is not simply to distribute prize money as broadly as possible. Rather, it is to create tournaments that generate excitement, attract participation, and provide the opportunity for transformative scores. Maintaining major prizes of $100,000 or more helps differentiate our tournaments, drives interest in the platform, and ultimately supports larger prize pools for all participants.

It is also worth noting that while payout structures are often debated, HorseTourneys’ major event payouts are not unusually top-heavy when compared to many successful tournament formats in poker, daily fantasy sports, and other competitive gaming contests. In larger fields, multiple finishing positions are paid, and first-place awards generally fall within the range commonly seen in other tournament-based industries. Our approach reflects a balance between rewarding top performance and preserving the type of headline prizes that attract participation and help grow overall prize pools.

While payout philosophies will always vary, the current structure is intentional and reflects our long-term view of what best serves the overall health and growth of the tournament ecosystem. 

We appreciate the feedback we receive from players and understand that not every payout philosophy will appeal equally to every participant. Our objective is to strike a balance that supports both competitive tournament play and the continued growth of the platform.

McKay Smith
President
HorseTourneys.com