I am assuming the casino tournaments you are mentioning are the small buy-in daily ones at various locations throughout CA (either limit or no limit format). The Bay Area and L.A. casinos would have maybe 6-12 tables for these daily tourneys. I won one at Hollywood Park in L.A. where there was a $15 entry fee and I cashed about $850 (although the first place would've paid $1000 I made a deal with 3 players remained where I had about 70% of the chips and the other two had about 15% each, or something to that effect.)
Firstly, I want to emphasize that add ons are almost always associated (close to 100%) in rebuy tourneys. Although my experience is limited, I have never played in a no-rebuy tourney with add ons.
These are called Progressive Stack Rebuy Tourneys because you get more chips later per same amount of money. The following structure is somewhat typical (although the amount of entry fees might have gone up than described):
1. Buy-in: $15 for $200 in chips
2. Rebuys: 1st 20 minutes $10 for $200 in chips. Option to rebuy anytime chip count is under $200.
2nd 20 minutes $10 for $300 in chips. Option to rebuy anytime chip count is under $300.
3rd 20 minutes $10 for $400 in chips. Option to rebuy anytime chip count is under $400.
3. Add on: One optional $10 add on for $400 in chips regardless of number of chips in a player's stack at the end of the first 60 minutes. Players with less than $400 can opt to both rebuy and add on (i.e. pay $20 for $800 in chips)
4. There is no more rebuys/addons after the first 60 minutes (usually there is an intermission at this time).
5. Betting limits: Increase every 20 minutes starting at 10-20, then 15-30, 30-60, etc.
Firstly, I want to emphasize that add ons are almost always associated (close to 100%) in rebuy tourneys. Although my experience is limited, I have never played in a no-rebuy tourney with add ons.
These are called Progressive Stack Rebuy Tourneys because you get more chips later per same amount of money. The following structure is somewhat typical (although the amount of entry fees might have gone up than described):
1. Buy-in: $15 for $200 in chips
2. Rebuys: 1st 20 minutes $10 for $200 in chips. Option to rebuy anytime chip count is under $200.
2nd 20 minutes $10 for $300 in chips. Option to rebuy anytime chip count is under $300.
3rd 20 minutes $10 for $400 in chips. Option to rebuy anytime chip count is under $400.
3. Add on: One optional $10 add on for $400 in chips regardless of number of chips in a player's stack at the end of the first 60 minutes. Players with less than $400 can opt to both rebuy and add on (i.e. pay $20 for $800 in chips)
4. There is no more rebuys/addons after the first 60 minutes (usually there is an intermission at this time).
5. Betting limits: Increase every 20 minutes starting at 10-20, then 15-30, 30-60, etc.