Most big contests have guaranteed prizes, meaning they’ll run as planned regardless of if they fill or not. But if a contest’s prize pool is not guaranteed, there are some requirements for it to run with prizes as planned.
If a public contest with a prize pool that isn’t guaranteed doesn't fill all of the open entries, the contest becomes free, the entry fees are refunded, and the contest runs without prizes.
If you're playing in a private contest that doesn't fill, it may still reward prizes if it meets the following criteria:
- Set for five (5) or more total entries spots
- At least 80% of the spots must be filled
- The contest has an entry fee of $25 or less
If your contest meets these requirements, it will pay out prizes. If your private contest does not fill and does not meet these criteria, the contest will run as a free game, and all entry fees are returned to the users' accounts.