Running a tipping comp used to mean a spreadsheet, a group chat full of late tips, and one poor soul chasing everyone for their picks. It doesn't anymore. Here's how to set one up properly so it runs itself.
1. Choose your format
There are two classic formats, and they suit different groups.
- Full-season tipping (Overall). Tip the winner of every game, earn a point for each correct tip, and climb a ladder across the season. Forgiving and inclusive: one bad week won't end your comp.
- Last Man Standing (survivor / knockout). Pick one team a round. Win to survive, lose or draw and you're out. Brutal, fast, and dramatic. Great as a standalone or as a side-game alongside the ladder.
2. Pick a sport and a start round
NRL, AFL, EPL, the A-League and the World Cup are the popular ones, but any league works. Decide which round you're starting from. Starting at round 1 of a season is cleanest, but you can launch mid-season or, for a cup, straight into the knockouts.
3. Set the rules that matter
A few decisions shape the whole comp. Get these right up front:
- Tip deadline. When do picks lock? A common choice is kickoff of the first game of the round, so nobody tips with extra information.
- Draws. In knockout, does a draw eliminate you, or are you safe? Decide before round one.
- Repeat picks (knockout). How long before you can use a team again? A five-round cooldown is a good default.
- Late or missed tips. Forgive the first one? Auto-pick the favourite? Or straight elimination? Set the policy so it's never an argument.
- Postponed games. Treat a postponement as a win, a void, or wait for the result.
4. Decide on prizes (or just glory)
Keep it simple. Collect a small buy-in at the start and split it across the top few places, or run it purely for bragging rights. A wooden spoon for last place is traditional and highly motivating. Puntr never handles money, so however you collect and pay out is between you and your group.
5. Share a join code and let it run
Once the comp is set up you get a join code. Drop it in the group chat or print a QR code for the office wall. Players join, make their first pick, and you're away. From there the app hides everyone's picks until the deadline, applies results as games finish, updates the ladder or knocks players out, and chases anyone who hasn't tipped. You just enjoy the sledging.
Keeping it fair
Two things make a comp feel fair: hidden picks and a hard deadline. If people can see each other's tips before the deadline, the comp is dead. If the deadline is soft, you'll spend the season arguing about late entries. Puntr enforces both automatically, so the game master never has to be the bad guy.
Frequently asked questions
How many people do I need for a tipping comp?
Any number works. Even three or four mates makes a good Last Man Standing comp; offices often run dozens or hundreds in a full-season ladder.
Do I need to collect money?
No. Many comps run purely for bragging rights. If you do want a prize pool, you organise the buy-in yourself. Puntr never handles money.
Can I run more than one comp?
Yes. You can run as many comps as you like, each with its own sport, rules and members, and be the game master of all of them.
What if someone forgets to tip?
You set the policy when you create the comp: forgive the first miss, auto-pick, or eliminate. The app applies it automatically so it's never a fight.