Everything you need to know about PoolParty
PoolParty is a revolutionary platform where fans pool money to activate anything they want to see happen. From sports matchups to community projects, from creative challenges to entertainment events - when a pool locks (meets funding rules + entity acceptance), stakes form the activation purse. If not, automatic refunds are issued with optional RainCheck credits.
Fans create or join pools by staking money toward something they want to see happen. When both players/entities accept the challenge AND the minimum funding amount is reached, the pool "locks" and funds are distributed. If the pool doesn't meet these conditions by the deadline, everyone gets their money back automatically.
Yes! All payments are processed securely through Stripe, the world's leading payments platform. Your funds are held in escrow until the pool outcome is determined. If a pool fails, you get an automatic refund. We never hold your money longer than necessary.
Almost anything! Sports matchups, creative challenges, community projects, product launches, entertainment events, or any idea that has fans who want to see it happen. The only limits are your imagination and the willingness of the entities involved to participate.
Simply find a pool you want to support, enter your stake amount (minimum $1), and complete the payment through our secure Stripe checkout. You can use suggested amounts like $10, $50, $100, or $500, or enter any custom amount you're comfortable with.
You get a full refund automatically! If a pool doesn't reach its minimum funding amount or the players don't accept the challenge by the deadline, all stakes are refunded to the original payment method. You may also receive RainCheck credits as a bonus for participating.
RainCheck credits are platform-issued credits you can use for future stakes. They're given as a bonus when pools fail, as promotional rewards, or for special events. Credits can be used just like cash when staking in new pools, and they never expire (unless specified otherwise).
Absolutely! Use our "Request A Pool" feature to suggest new matchups, challenges, or events you'd like to see. Our team reviews requests and creates pools for the most popular ideas. The more detailed your request, the better chance it has of being approved.
Visit your profile page to see all your stakes, RainCheck credits, and payout history. You can track which pools you've supported, how much you've contributed, and your current credit balance all in one place.
Yes! Each pool has a comment section where you can discuss the matchup, cheer on your favorite players, or ask questions. Comments are automatically posted when you make a contribution, and you can reply to other comments to keep the conversation going.
Players need to create a profile and complete our KYC (Know Your Customer) verification process through Stripe Connect. This includes providing identification and setting up a payment account to receive payouts. Once verified, you can accept pool invitations and receive payments.
Fans can request pools featuring you, or admins can create pools directly. When you're invited to a pool, you'll receive a notification and can choose to accept or decline the challenge. You have until the pool deadline to make your decision.
When a pool successfully activates, you receive your share of the total funding minus the platform fee (typically 10-15%). For head-to-head matchups, the funds are split 50/50 between both players. For solo challenges, you receive the full amount minus fees.
Payments are processed automatically once a pool locks and activates. Funds are transferred to your Stripe Connect account within 2-7 business days, depending on your account setup and banking details.
You can decline any pool invitation. If you decline, the pool will fail and all fans will receive refunds. There's no penalty for declining - it's completely your choice whether to participate in any given challenge.
Currently, only admins can create pools directly. However, you can suggest pool ideas through the "Request A Pool" feature, and fans can request pools featuring you. We're working on allowing verified players to create their own pools in the future.
Pools go through several states: DRAFT (being created), LIVE_FUNDING (accepting stakes), LOCKED (conditions met, funds locked), ACTIVATED (payouts completed), SETTLED (fully complete), REFUNDED (failed, refunds issued), or CANCELLED (manually cancelled).
A pool locks when BOTH conditions are met: (1) The minimum funding amount is reached, AND (2) All required players/entities have accepted the challenge. Once locked, the pool is guaranteed to activate and payouts will be processed.
We support several rulesets: STANDARD (single match), BEST_OF_3 (first to win 2 out of 3), BEST_OF_5 (first to win 3 out of 5), and CUSTOM (special rules defined for specific pools). The ruleset determines how the competition is structured.
Platform fees are typically 10-15% of the total pool funding, calculated when the pool locks. For example, on a $1,000 pool with a 10% fee, the platform keeps $100 and the remaining $900 is distributed to the players. Fees help cover payment processing, platform operations, and development.
Pool deadlines and funding targets are generally fixed once created to maintain fairness. However, admins can make adjustments in special circumstances. If you have concerns about a pool, contact our support team and we'll review the situation.
We accept all major credit and debit cards through Stripe, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. We also support digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay for faster checkout.
Simply click "Sign Up" and create an account using your email address. We use Clerk for secure authentication, so you can also sign up with social accounts like Google or Apple for convenience.
Yes! We have a React Native mobile app available for iOS and Android. You can download it from the App Store or Google Play Store. The mobile app has all the same features as the web platform, optimized for mobile use.
Visit your profile page to update your name, profile picture, and other information. For players, you can also update your bio, social media links, and other profile details that fans will see.
Contact our support team through the help section or email us directly. We monitor all technical issues and respond quickly to resolve problems. For payment issues, we work directly with Stripe to ensure quick resolution.
We use Stripe's advanced fraud detection, require identity verification for players, implement rate limiting on comments and stakes, and maintain comprehensive audit logs. All transactions are monitored and suspicious activity is flagged automatically.
All pools are reviewed by our admin team before going live. We verify player identities and ensure all pool details are legitimate. If you suspect a fake pool, report it immediately and we'll investigate.
We have a clear dispute resolution process. For payment disputes, Stripe handles the initial review. For pool-related disputes, our admin team investigates and makes decisions based on our terms of service and community guidelines.
Yes, we take privacy seriously. We only collect necessary information, encrypt all data, and never sell your personal information. We comply with all relevant privacy regulations and use industry-standard security practices.
Our terms of service outline the rules for using PoolParty, including user responsibilities, platform policies, and dispute resolution procedures. You can find the full terms on our website or request a copy from our support team.
We charge a platform fee (typically 10-15%) on successful pool activations. This fee covers payment processing, platform operations, customer support, and continued development. We only make money when pools succeed, aligning our interests with yours.
You must be at least 18 years old to use PoolParty. We verify age during the account creation process and may require additional verification for high-value transactions.
Once a pool is live and accepting stakes, you cannot cancel your stake unless the pool itself fails or is cancelled by an admin. This ensures fairness for all participants. However, if a pool fails, you get a full refund automatically.
You can reach our support team through the help section on our website, email us directly, or use the contact form. We typically respond within 24 hours and prioritize urgent payment or account issues.
Yes! Each pool has its own comment section where fans can discuss and engage. We're also working on a general community forum where users can share ideas, discuss platform features, and connect with other PoolParty users.
We love hearing from our community! You can suggest new features through our feedback form, email us directly, or mention ideas in pool comments. We regularly review suggestions and implement the most popular ones.
We're always looking for partners who can help grow the PoolParty community. If you're interested in partnerships, sponsorships, or other collaboration opportunities, contact our business development team.
Can't find what you're looking for? Our support team is here to help!