Self-Managed Contests: Contest Vault Payouts: Availability and Payout Schedule if Enabled

Splash has partnered with LeagueSafe to power Contest Vault for private contests. LeagueSafe handles the movement of funds, including collecting entry fees from players and distributing funds when commissioners issue payouts.

This article explains:

Players can currently pay their entry fees into Contest Vault, but commissioners cannot send payouts yet.

We're actively working with LeagueSafe to enable the payout functionality as quickly as possible. Commissioners will be notified when payouts are available.

If you already have money in your Contest Vault, your funds are secure and accounted for. The temporary unavailability of the payout feature does not mean your funds are missing or unavailable within the Contest Vault.

Once the payout functionality is enabled, the amount available to distribute will depend on your contest type, payment deadline, and the payout release schedule described below.

Contest Vault funds are intentionally released over time rather than making the entire amount available immediately after players pay.

This is designed to protect everyone participating in the contest.

If 100% of a contest's funds were available immediately, it could create a situation where the entire Contest Vault was distributed before the contest had progressed or results had settled.

The gradual release schedule reduces that risk by making a portion of the funds available at predetermined intervals.

As more time passes after the contest's payment deadline, more of the Contest Vault becomes eligible for payout. Eventually, 100% of the funds become available.

Pick'em, Survivor, One-and-Done, and other season-long contests follow a gradual payout schedule.

The schedule is based on the number of days that have passed since your contest's payment deadline.

At each stage, the amount available is whichever is lower:

The percentage of eligible Contest Vault funds OR the maximum dollar amount for that stage.

At the 42-day stage, the percentage and dollar caps no longer apply. The Contest Vault reaches its full unlock stage and 100% of eligible funds are available for payout.

The percentage and dollar maximum work together. They are not added together.

For example, the 7-day stage is:

Up to 15%, with a maximum of $1,000.

This does not mean you can distribute 15% plus an additional $1,000.

Instead, calculate 15% of the eligible funds and compare that amount with $1,000. Whichever number is lower is the maximum amount available at that stage.

15% of $4,000 is $600.

Because $600 is less than the $1,000 maximum, the amount available at the 7-day stage is:

Up to $600

15% of $10,000 is $1,500.

Because $1,500 is greater than the $1,000 maximum, the amount available at the 7-day stage is:

Up to $1,000

15% of $20,000 is $3,000.

Because the 7-day stage has a $1,000 maximum, the amount available is:

Up to $1,000

The same calculation applies at each stage until the Contest Vault reaches its 100% unlock date.

Suppose a season-long contest has $10,000 in eligible funds when its payment deadline passes.

The payout schedule would work like this:

These amounts represent the maximum portion of the Contest Vault that has unlocked by each stage.

The payout schedule is tied to your contest's payment deadline, not the date the contest was created, the date the first player paid, or the date the contest started.

The first payout stage is reached 7 days after the payment deadline.

For example, if your contest's payment deadline is September 1:

If you extend your contest's payment deadline, the payout schedule also moves.

The countdown is tied to the current payment deadline. Moving that deadline later means the payout stages will also occur later.

For example:

Your original payment deadline is September 1.

Under that deadline, your first 7-day payout stage would be September 8.

You then extend the payment deadline to September 8.

Your payout schedule now begins from September 8, meaning the first 7-day stage moves to September 15.

The remaining stages shift accordingly.

Before extending a payment deadline, commissioners should be aware that doing so can delay when Contest Vault funds become available for payout.

Late payments are treated differently from funds received by the original payment deadline.

The percentage calculations used during the gradual payout schedule are based on the money that was in the Contest Vault as of the original payment deadline.

Payments received after that original deadline are considered late payments.

Late payments:

Suppose your contest has $5,000 in Contest Vault funds when the original payment deadline passes.

Another player pays $500 after that original deadline.

For the gradual payout stages, the percentages continue to be calculated using the $5,000 that was present at the original deadline.

The additional $500 late payment does not increase those percentage-based amounts.

That $500 becomes available once the Contest Vault reaches its full, 100% unlock stage.

Extending the deadline changes the dates used for the payout release schedule, but the gradual payout percentages are still based on the funds collected as of the original payment deadline.

This distinction is important:

The current payment deadline determines when the payout stages occur.

The original payment deadline determines which funds are included in the gradual percentage calculations.

Payments received after the original deadline are treated as late payments and become available at the 100% unlock stage.

Contests built around a single event use a simpler payout schedule.

For eligible single-event contests:

100% of the Contest Vault funds become available 7 days after the payment deadline.

There are no 15%, 30%, 45%, 60%, or 75% gradual stages for these contests.

For example, a single-event Masters contest with a payment deadline of April 1 would reach its 100% unlock stage on April 8.

Are Contest Vault payouts available right now?

Not yet. Players can currently submit entry fee payments into Contest Vault, but commissioners cannot send payouts at this time. Splash is working with LeagueSafe to enable payout functionality as quickly as possible. Commissioners will be notified when it becomes available.

Are the funds in my Contest Vault safe while payouts are unavailable?

Yes. Funds already collected through Contest Vault remain secure and accounted for while payout functionality is being enabled.

Does the payout schedule start when my contest starts?

No. The schedule is based on your contest's payment deadline, not the contest start date.

Does the schedule start when the first player pays?

No. Individual payment dates do not start the payout schedule. The schedule is tied to the contest's payment deadline.

Does the schedule start when the last player pays?

No. The schedule is based on the payment deadline rather than the date of the final payment.

What happens 7 days after the payment deadline?

For season-long contests, up to 15% of eligible funds becomes available, subject to a maximum of $1,000.

For eligible single-event contests, 100% of funds becomes available at the 7-day stage.

Does "15%, max $1,000" mean I receive 15% plus $1,000?

No. It means the maximum available is whichever amount is lower: 15% of eligible funds or $1,000.

If 15% of my funds is more than $1,000, how much is available after 7 days?

Up to $1,000.

If 15% of my funds is less than $1,000, how much is available after 7 days?

Up to the 15% amount.

For example, 15% of $4,000 is $600, so up to $600 would be available.

When does 100% of the Contest Vault become available?

For season-long contests, 100% becomes available 42 days after the applicable payment deadline.

For eligible single-event contests, 100% becomes available 7 days after the payment deadline.

Can I request that Splash or LeagueSafe unlock my Contest Vault early?

No. Commissioners cannot distribute more than the amount permitted by the applicable payout schedule.

Can I change the payment deadline without affecting payouts?

No. Extending the payment deadline shifts the payout schedule. A later payment deadline means the payout stages will also occur later.

If I extend my payment deadline, are payments made during the extension included in the percentage calculations?

Payments made after the original payment deadline are considered late payments. They are not included in the gradual percentage calculations and become available at the 100% unlock stage.

Why is my available payout amount lower than the percentage listed in the schedule?

Each stage also has a dollar maximum. Your available amount is whichever is lower: the applicable percentage or the dollar cap.

For example, if 30% of your eligible funds equals $4,500, the 14-day stage still has a $2,000 maximum. Therefore, up to $2,000 would be available at that stage.

Why isn't a late payment increasing the amount I can pay out?

Gradual payout percentages are based on the funds collected by the original payment deadline. A payment received afterward is considered a late payment and becomes available at the full 100% unlock stage.

Do Pick'em and Survivor contests follow the same schedule?

Yes. Pick'em and Survivor contests follow the season-long schedule outlined above. One-and-Done and other applicable season-long contests also follow the gradual release schedule.

Do single-event contests follow the same schedule?

No. Eligible single-event contests, such as Masters contests, reach 100% availability 7 days after the payment deadline.

Before making changes to your contest or planning payouts, keep these rules in mind:

We understand that commissioners are responsible for managing their contests and setting expectations with their players. The Contest Vault payout schedule is designed to protect the funds collected for every contest while still allowing funds to become available as the contest progresses.

Thank you for your patience while we work with LeagueSafe to enable Contest Vault payouts.