Are you ready to put your luck to the test and compete for a share of $20,000 in prizes? The NorthStar 20 Grand Slots Showdown gives you the chance to win in one of the most exciting slot tournaments of the season.
Whether you’re a seasoned player or just looking for a fun way to introduce yourself to online slots, the 20 Grand Slots Showdown offers an action-packed source of entertainment.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of the excitement. Read below for more details, enter today, start spinning, and see if you can rise to the top!
20 Grand Slots Showdown FAQ:
WHEN DOES IT START?
The tournament runs from March 28, 2025 until April 26, 2025 with daily leaderboards beginning at 12 a.m. PT / 3 a.m. ET to 11:59 p.m. PT / 2:59 a.m. ET the next day.
In addition to the usual promotional Terms & Conditions found here, players must be registered NorthStar Bets customers who have opted in to the NorthStar 20 Grand Slots Showdown daily leaderboard at NorthStarBets.com or on the NorthStar Bets Canada app.
Eligible players must also opt in to the leaderboards on a daily basis to participate. Only winning spins with minimum bets of $2 qualify to score points.
HOW DOES THE SCORING WORK?
Points will be awarded based on a 100x multiplier of the win-to-bet ratio for individual spins. For example:
A $2 bet that wins $100
The win-to-bet ratio is 50
Player scores 5,000 points based on a 50 x 100 formula
Players are ranked from highest to lowest based on points earned.
Are you ready to put your luck to the test and compete for a share of $50,000 in prizes? The NorthStar 50 Grand Slots Showdown gives you the chance to win in one of the most exciting slot tournaments of the season.
Whether you’re a seasoned player or just looking for a fun way to introduce yourself to online slots, the 50 Grand Slots Showdown offers an action-packed source of entertainment.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of the excitement. Read below for more details, enter today, start spinning, and see if you can rise to the top!
50 Grand Slots Showdown FAQ:
WHEN DOES IT START?
The tournament runs from March 28, 2025 until April 26, 2025 with daily leaderboards beginning at 12 a.m. ET and ending at 11:59 p.m. ET.
HOW DO I QUALIFY?
Players must opt in each day to qualify for that day’s leaderboard. Opt-in is available via the tournament page or directly from eligible slots.
In addition to the usual requirements outlined here, you must be a new or existing NorthStar Bets customer. Eligible players must also opt in to the leaderboards on a daily basis to participate. Only winning spins with minimum bets of $2 qualify to score points.
HOW DOES THE SCORING WORK?
Points will be awarded based on a 100x multiplier of the win-to-bet ratio for individual spins. For example:
A $2 bet that wins $100
The win-to-bet ratio is 50
Player scores 5,000 points based on a 50 x 100 formula
Players are ranked from highest to lowest based on points earned.
While the Tokyo Series kicked things off, the big day is March 27. And it’s coming fast, meaning it’s time to write about what we think will happen this season.
Check out our 2025 MLB predictions and find out our staff’s favourite futures bets for the upcoming season.
MLB 2025 predictions
MLB 2025 predictions via NorthStar Bets writers Chris Toman, Jordan Horrobin and Avery Perri.
You’ll find picks on who they like to win the major individual awards and which teams they’re betting on to capture the Fall Classic.
Make sure to check out the key links below for all your MLB needs.
Toman’s pick:Philadelphia Phillies (+1,000) Analysis: The Dodgers are clearly the best team in baseball but a lot still has to go right for them to win the World Series, so I’m not touching them at by far the shortest odds in MLB.
I’m rolling with the Phillies, who I liked ahead of last season’s playoffs. They’re returning an offence that was top 10 in wRC+ and added to a rotation that was sixth in FIP and third in fWAR.
Jesus Luzardo makes a strong rotation — led by ace Zack Wheeler, the NL Cy Young runner-up — even nastier. And getting more than 121 games out of Trea Turner would certainly help.
Let’s not forget about the potential 70 homers and 200 walks they could get out of Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. This is a dangerous veteran team.
Horrobin’s pick:Texas Rangers (+2,000) Analysis: The World Series hangover was real in Arlington. Texas followed up its 2023 title run with 78 wins and an early offseason.
But you don’t have to squint to see the star power on this team, and with some injury luck it wouldn’t be crazy to see everything fall into place (especially in a thinner-than-usual American League).
In the sections below, you’ll read about MVP and Cy Young candidates from this club.
There’s also the always-steady Marcus Semien, the playoff-dominant Nathan Eovaldi and more than a couple of youngsters to dream on (Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter, Jack Leiter, Kumar Rocker).
Perri’s pick: Dodgers (+260) Analysis: This is a boring pick, but it’s the right one.
L.A. has warped baseball’s competitive landscape with another boatload of elite free-agent signings, headlined by two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell and Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki.
They’ll slot in alongside Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and, eventually, Shohei Ohtani in the starting rotation.
Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman bat alongside Ohtani in a murderer’s row no pitcher wants to see. Injuries are the only thing that can derail L.A.’s bid for another title.
Toman’s pick:Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+1,500) Analysis: The Toronto Blue Jays’ win total projection has been in the 78-80 range, a number I expect them to comfortably clear. I think the Jays are being slept on after last season’s disaster.
This looks like a bubble playoff team to me, and Guerrero possesses enormous upside as the club’s offensive catalyst.
Guerrero, 26, already has one MVP runner-up season and did this in the second half last year (MLB ranks in parentheses):
.376 BA (1st)
1.127 OPS (2nd)
10.1 K% (3rd)
It led to a 165 wRC+ season and a career-best .323 average. Guerrero has been a model of good health, too, playing at least 156 games in four consecutive seasons. At +1,500, this screams value.
Horrobin’s pick:Corey Seager (+1,300) Analysis: I like Witt, but I’ll leave Avery to make the case for the Kansas City Royals superstar. Another non-Judge option worth looking at is Seager.
Injuries are the main concern for Seager, who underwent sports hernia surgery last fall (his second one in less than a year). But he played restriction-free this spring, so hopefully the worst is behind him.
The 2023 MVP runner-up has finished in the 96th percentile or better in xBA and xSLG in three straight seasons, per Baseball Savant.
Perri’s pick:Bobby Witt Jr. (+400) Analysis: Witt and Judge were the only players to post 10+ fWAR seasons in 2024, and the 24-year-old hasn’t even reached his prime.
A true five-tool player, Witt can hit for power and average and is a menace on the basepaths.
A 40-40 season is very much in the cards. If you pair that with an AL batting title — which he won last year — it’ll be hard to give this award to someone else other than the Royals shortstop.
Toman’s pick:Elly De La Cruz (+1,000) Analysis: Here’s what I love about De La Cruz:
He’s 23 years old and coming off a 6.4 fWAR season (9th in MLB).
He has big pop with elite speed (67 steals, 1st in MLB) and defence at a premium position.
The projection systems see a step back in his defensive value and no real growth in his offensive game, which I would quibble with.
De La Cruz plays at one of the most hitter-friendly parks in the game, increased his walk rate considerably last season, and has a skill set that few in the game possess.
The Cincinnati Reds shortstop is only 258 games into his MLB career and is coming off a scorching hot spring, for whatever that’s worth.
FanGraphs projects a last-place finish for Cincinnati, which is one thing that could hold him back. But I’m expecting big things from De La Cruz in 2025.
Horrobin’s pick: Ohtani (+125) Analysis: It breaks my brain a little bit to tout an MVP winner with odds like this. But Ohtani is just that dude.
Last year, when Ohtani was shelved as a pitcher while recovering from Tommy John surgery, I was pretty sure someone else would earn NL MVP honours. Nope.
Authoring the first 50-50 season in league history, Ohtani won his third consensus MVP in four seasons.
Ohtani isn’t returning to an MLB mound just yet, but it seems that could happen as early as May. Combining his 50-homer bat with a career 3.01 ERA and 11.4 K/9 as a pitcher is simply unfair.
Perri’s pick:Austin Riley (+5,000) Analysis: Ohtani will probably win this award but I just can’t get down with a +125 price tag. So instead, I’ll take a flier on the Atlanta Braves’ Austin Riley.
The power-hitting third baseman is coming off a down year but had posted three stellar seasons before that, mashing 108 total home runs and never batting south of .270.
He’s going to hit behind Jurickson Profar and Ronald Acuna Jr., which is enviable for run production.
Toman’s pick:Logan Gilbert (+1,100) Analysis: As a frontrunner ahead of some arms with clear red flags, I don’t mind Skubal at +300. But I’ll recommend someone with more value.
Enter Gilbert, who throws in an ultra-kind pitching environment in Seattle that helps him suppress runs (3.38 ERA/3.52 FIP since 2022).
The Mariners ace is coming off his first 200-inning season, is an above-average strikeout arm, and is elite at limiting free passes.
Gilbert has been consistently good, and another step forward should help him move up the board after a sixth-place Cy Young finish in 2024.
Horrobin’s pick: Gilbert (+1,100) Analysis: For my money, the Mariners have the nastiest rotation in baseball. And Gilbert is the best of the bunch.
Last year’s MLB leader in innings (208.2) and WHIP (0.887) is a throwback workhorse with pinpoint command.
He hasn’t missed a start since debuting in 2021, and he’s ranked in the 95th percentile in walk rate in back-to-back years.
Gilbert isn’t expected to post gaudy strikeout numbers, but he has a deep and balanced arsenal. In 2024, four of his five pitch types had a whiff rate of 27.2% or better (league average was 25.3%).
Perri’s pick:Jacob deGrom (+1,200) Analysis: This is a risky play, and there’s no other way to put it.
deGrom hasn’t pitched a full season since 2019 (when he won this award for a second time) and has made 20 total starts over his last three campaigns.
But his ceiling is arguably higher than anyone in baseball, and we’ve seen veterans return to elite form after Tommy John surgery before. Just look at what Chris Sale did with the Braves last year.
deGrom has the fourth-highest K/9 rate in MLB history and the second-lowest ERA among all starters in the live ball era (min. 25 starts). I’ll take the plunge and bet on a triumphant return to form.
Toman’s pick:Yoshinobu Yamamoto (+2,000) Analysis: The NL has some intriguing value plays, and Yamamoto at +2,000 is one of them.
He has elite stuff, showed flashes of brilliance in his rookie season, and delivered in the playoffs for the World Series-winning Dodgers.
Yamamoto had a strong K rate in his first taste of the majors and did a good job at limiting walks and home runs, something he consistently did during his time in Japan.
You can do much worse than the hard-throwing righty with plus offerings who pitches on the best team in the majors.
Horrobin’s pick:Hunter Greene (+2,000) Analysis: There was a five-week injured list stint mixed in, but Greene’s numbers from July onward last year were marvellous:
9 starts
1.02 ERA
.198 opponent SLG
30.0 K%
Greene’s third MLB season — worth 6.2 bWAR despite some time off — was easily his best yet. He was an all-star and a down-ballot Cy Young candidate who posted a .188 xBA (96th percentile).
The Reds righty is a two-pitch pitcher, which is perfectly fine when you sit upper 90s with your fastball and generate a 39.0% whiff rate with your slider (17th among all pitches in MLB last year).
Perri’s pick:Spencer Schwellenbach (+2,500) Analysis: Schwellenbach’s solid rookie season was overshadowed by Skenes’ historic one but I think he can bridge the gap and then some this year:
Schwellenbach: 3.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 9.24 K/9 rate
Skenes: 1.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 11.50 K/9 rate
Schwellenbach righted the ship after an ugly first month in the majors, posting a 2.54 ERA in his last 15 starts. Moreover, the Braves fireballer had a 96th-percentile chase rate, but only a 70th-percentile K rate in 2024.
A few positive tweaks could make him an elite swing-and-miss arm.
Looking for March Madness 2025 information, betting & bracket contest tips?
Whether you’re a seasoned or casual sports bettor, or just looking to have fun and test your NCAA basketball knowledge with a unique and exciting bracket challenge, NorthStar Bets has you covered.
In this guide, we’ll provide key March Madness dates, the latest tournament odds, predictions, and information on our exciting Un-Bustable Bracket Challenge contest.
Who is the betting favorite to win March Madness 2025?
Who is the betting favorite to win March Madness 2025, you ask? Well, it seems to be a constantly moving target between Auburn and Duke. See below for the latest odds at NorthStar Bets.
Whether you’re focusing on SGPs, props, novelty markets, or more, our Sports Insights staff writers have you covered with pre-tournament and daily articles.
Bookmark this page for links to daily new articles and features!
The Un-Bustable Bracket Challenge: Conquer the Bracket!
Concerned about your March Madness bracket busting early? Not this time!
With NorthStar Bets’ Un-Bustable Bracket Challenge, you get a chance to stay in the game, even if your initial picks don’t go as planned.
How It Works:
Fill Out Your Bracket before the NCAA Tournament tips off.
Earn Points for every correct pick you make.
Make Adjustments After Each Round – If your picks don’t go your way, you can replace them for the next round!
Win – The top performer will take home $2,500 in cash, plus other exciting prizes!
Unlike traditional bracket pools where a few bad picks can ruin your chances early, the Un-Bustable Bracket Challenge gives you the flexibility to adapt as the tournament unfolds—keeping you engaged and in the running for big rewards!
Most brackets are broken by upsets in the first round, but with this challenge, you’ll have an opportunity to make adjustments and keep earning points.
Prize Pool
With $2,500 in cash up for grabs, with additional prizes, this contest gives you a real chance to win big.
The Ultimate March Madness Bracket Experience
Whether you’re a die-hard bettor or just love the excitement of March Madness, this contest ensures you stay invested in the tournament from start to finish.
March Madness FAQs
How to bet on March Madness
Our Avery Perri has produced this handy, How to Bet on March Madness guide full of tips, stats, and historical trends. Whether you follow the college game closely or are interested in betting on the event for the first time, there’s something here for you.
Where is March Madness played?
The 2025 NCAA Tournament will be played at various locations across the U.S., with the Final Four taking place at Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
When does March Madness 2025 start?
March Madness 2025 officially begins with the first four games on March 18-19, followed by the First Round on March 20-21.
What time does the March Madness bracket come out?
The official March Madness 2025 bracket will be revealed on Selection Sunday, which is March 16, 2025, at approximately 6 p.m ET.
Where is the first round of March Madness 2025?
The first round of games will be played in several locations, including Brooklyn, Indianapolis, Spokane, and Omaha.
As the madness of the tournament unfolds, NorthStar Bets’ Un-Bustable Bracket Challenge is heating up! With every buzzer-beater, our leaderboard is shifting, and the competition is fiercer than ever.
As upsets shake the bracket, every correct pick dramatically impacts the race for the top prize. The good news: with this event, because your bracket is Un-Bustable there’s still time to enter, so enter or make new picks by visiting the Un-Bustable Bracket Challlenge now!
Check out the latest leaderboard standings below and see how you stack up. With more games to come, anything can happen—so stay tuned as we get closer to crowning the ultimate Un-Bustable bracket champion!
(Brackets will lock one hour before tip-off of the first game in each round):
March 20, 2025: Round of 64
March 22, 2025: Prior to Round of 32
March 27, 2025: Prior to Round of 16
March 29, 2025: Prior to Elite 8
April 5, 2025: Prior to Final Four
April 7, 2025: Prior to Final
And remember to come back to your bracket between rounds to swap out any incorrect picks (that’s what makes your bracket Un-Bustable, after all). A $1,000 grand prize is on the line.
So don’t wait around – fill out your bracket today for a chance to win!
As the madness of the tournament unfolds, NorthStar Bets’ Un-Bustable Bracket Challenge is heating up! With every buzzer-beater, our leaderboard is shifting, and the competition is fiercer than ever.
As upsets shake the bracket, every correct pick dramatically impacts the race for the top prize. The good news: with this event, because your bracket is Un-Bustable there’s still time to enter, so enter or make new picks by visiting the Un-Bustable Bracket Challlenge now!
Check out the latest leaderboard standings below and see how you stack up. With more games to come, anything can happen—so stay tuned as we get closer to crowning the ultimate Un-Bustable bracket champion!
(Brackets will lock one hour before tip-off of the first game in each round):
March 20, 2025: Round of 64
March 22, 2025: Prior to Round of 32
March 27, 2025: Prior to Round of 16
March 29, 2025: Prior to Elite 8
April 5, 2025: Prior to Final Four
April 7, 2025: Prior to Final
And remember to come back to your bracket between rounds to swap out any incorrect picks (that’s what makes your bracket Un-Bustable, after all). A $2,500 grand prize is on the line.
So don’t wait around – fill out your bracket today for a chance to win! You can also download our app here.
You’re invited to play for $10,000 in cash and bonuses, plus a guaranteed seat at the Blackjack Championship Final Table in the fall.
From March 21 to April 3, you’ll vie for weekly and overall prizes while also cashing in on winning hands along the way.
It’s a two-week event with $500 top prizes for weekly leaders and a grand prize of $2,500 to the overall winner. That means if you fall short in Week 1, you’re not busted, you can still win big in Week 2
In addition to the usual promotional Terms and Conditions found here, players must be registered NorthStar Bets customers who have opted in to the Blackjack Spring Open leaderboard at NorthStarBets.com or on the NorthStar Bets Canada app.
HOW DO THE POINTS WORK?
Opted in players earn leaderboard points for consecutive, qualified winning hands.
Qualified hands consist of opening cash bets of $5 or more.
The points system is progressive, meaning longer win streaks earn more points, i.e. three (3) consecutive wins are worth more than two (2).
Win streaks of 10 or more hands earn the same number of points.
THE LEADERBOARDS
OVERALL LEADERBOARD: Opens March 21, 2025 at 12:00 a.m. PT / 3:00 a.m. ET and closes April 3, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT / April 4, 2025 at 2:59 a.m. ET.
TWO WEEKLY LEADERBOARDS:
Open Fridays at 12:00 a.m. PT / 3:00 a.m. ET and reset Thursdays at 11:59 p.m. PT / Fridays at 2:59 a.m. during the promotion period.
The first weekly leaderboard resets March 27, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT / March 28, 2025 at 2:59 a.m. ET.
When playing this tournament — or any casino game — it’s important to keep the action fun. Our Responsible Gaming Guide has tips and tools to help you double down on that.
This is a two-week event with $1,000 top prizes for weekly leaders and a grand prize of $5,000 to the overall winner. That means if you fall short in Week 1 you’re not busted, you can still win big in Week 2.
WHO’S ELIGIBLE?
In addition to the usual promotional Terms and Conditions found here, players must be registered NorthStar Bets customers who have opted in to the Blackjack Spring Open leaderboard at NorthStarBets.ca or on the NorthStar Bets Ontario app.
HOW DO THE POINTS WORK?
Opted in players earn leaderboard points for consecutive, qualified winning hands.
Qualified hands consist of opening cash bets of $5 or more.
The points system is progressive, meaning longer win streaks earn more points, i.e. three (3) consecutive wins are worth more than two (2).
Win streaks of 10 or more hands earn the same number of points.
When playing this tournament — or any casino game — it’s important to keep the action fun. Our Responsible Gaming Guide has tips and tools to help you double down on that.
Everyone knows that feeling of having their March Madness bracket busted. The No. 2 seed you took to make it to the Final Four just lost in the first round.
And to make matters worse, your Cinderella pick is also heading home.
Fill out your bracket before the tournament begins and earn points for every correct pick. At the end of each round, you continue to make new picks — even if your picks from the previous round have been eliminated.
The difference with this challenge is that your bracket is never busted! ENTER NOW HERE
The Scoring
Correct picks made at the start of the tourney are worth the most, but our Un-Bustable Bracket allows you to continue to score with your amended picks, too.
A total of 64 points are up for grabs in each round. Correct picks in the Round of 64 are worth two points each, while correct points in the Round of 32 are worth four, and so on.
Let’s say before the Round of 64 begins, you pick Duke to win this year’s tournament and they end up winning. That would be worth a total of 126 points.
But what if Duke were to lose in the Elite Eight? In that case, you would have received just 14 total points from them.
Un-Bustable Bracket Challenge points breakdown
Now — with Duke eliminated — you’ll want to pick another team to win. Let’s say you switch to the UCLA Bruins, who have hypothetically advanced to the Final Four.
If UCLA were to end up winning, that would be worth a total of six points (two from the Final Four and four from the Final).
The Bracket Challenge Grand Prize is a $1,000 award to the leading point-getter after the tournament.
The top five point leaders after each round will receive $50 in Free Bets on the NorthStar Bets Platform. Scores are cumulative up to the end of the round. The top-five points leaders at the end of each round will be determined by their total score, not the round total.
In the event of ties for the round prizes or the Grand Prize, the player with the most correctly predicted wins for higher seeds will win (No. 16 seed being the highest possible selection).
Q: “What are the deadlines for submitting my picks?”
Users can make picks up until one hourbefore the first game of each round for the full allotment of points. Once that deadline passes, picks for that specific round will be locked.
Q: “Can I change my picks once the deadline has passed?”
Once the deadline has passed, users can still change their selections for the following rounds. For example, once the Round of 64 is locked, alterations can still be made to the Round of 32 and onward. But remember, switching picks once the round has begun will make them worth fewer points.
Q: “Can I change my pick while a game is in progress?”
You cannot change a pick involving a team in the middle of a game.
Q: “Is there a limit to the number of changes I can make to my bracket?”
No, there is no limit to the number of changes you can make to your bracket.
Q: “Where can I find the standings?”
The standings will be found at the contest hub page here. We’ll also send out recaps of your performance after each round to the email associated with your NorthStar Bets account.
Everyone knows that feeling of having their March Madness bracket busted. The No. 2 seed you took to make it to the Final Four just lost in the first round.
And to make matters worse, your Cinderella pick is also heading home.
Fill out your bracket before the tournament begins and earn points for every correct pick. At the end of each round, you continue to make new picks — even if your picks from the previous round have been eliminated.
The difference with this challenge is that your bracket is never busted!
Correct picks made at the start of the tourney are worth the most, but our Un-Bustable Bracket allows you to continue to score with your amended picks, too.
A total of 64 points are up for grabs in each round. Correct picks in the Round of 64 are worth two points each, while correct points in the Round of 32 are worth four, and so on.
Let’s say before the Round of 64 begins, you pick Duke to win this year’s tournament and they end up winning. That would be worth a total of 126 points.
But what if Duke were to lose in the Elite Eight? In that case, you would have received just 14 total points from them.
Un-Bustable Bracket Challenge points breakdown
Now — with Duke eliminated — you’ll want to pick another team to win. Let’s say you switch to the UCLA Bruins, who have hypothetically advanced to the Final Four.
If UCLA were to end up winning, that would be worth a total of six points (two from the Final Four and four from the Final).
The Bracket Challenge Grand Prize is a $2,500 award to the leading point-getter after the tournament.
The top five point leaders after each round will receive $50 in Free Bets on the NorthStar Bets Platform. Scores are cumulative up to the end of the round. The top-five points leaders at the end of each round will be determined by their total score, not the round total.
In the event of ties for the round prizes or the Grand Prize, the player with the most correctly predicted wins for higher seeds will win (No. 16 seed being the highest possible selection).
Un-Bustable Bracket Challenge FAQs
Q: “How do I register for NorthStar Bets’ Un-Bustable Bracket Challenge?”
Q: “What are the deadlines for submitting my picks?”
Users can make picks up until one hourbefore the first game of each round for the full allotment of points. Once that deadline passes, picks for that specific round will be locked.
Q: “Can I change my picks once the deadline has passed?”
Once the deadline has passed, users can still change their selections for the following rounds. For example, once the Round of 64 is locked, alterations can still be made to the Round of 32 and onward. But remember, switching picks once the round has begun will make them worth fewer points.
Q: “Can I change my pick while a game is in progress?”
You cannot change a pick involving a team in the middle of a game.
Q: “Is there a limit to the number of changes I can make to my bracket?”
No, there is no limit to the number of changes you can make to your bracket.
Q: “Where can I find the standings?”
The standings will be found at the contest hub page here. We’ll also send out recaps of your performance after each round to the email associated with your NorthStar Bets account.
