What is RunAPool.com?

RunAPool.com helps you create and manage sports squares, raffles, and giveaways across 38 pages with shareable links, QR codes, and winner tools.

Do participants need an account to join?

No! Participants can join a pool or raffle just by clicking the shared link or scanning the QR code. They simply enter their name and contact info — no account required.

Does this app process payments?

No. This app does not process, track, or facilitate any payments between participants. All payouts and contributions are handled entirely outside the platform between participants and pool or raffle host. The app is for entertainment and organizational purposes only.

Pools and raffles for entertainment are generally considered legal in most U.S. states, especially when no money is exchanged through the platform. However, laws vary by jurisdiction. It is your responsibility to ensure compliance with your local laws. See our Terms of Service for more details.

How do I share my pool or raffle?

From your pool or raffle page, tap the copy link icon to copy the URL, or tap the share icon to display a QR code. Anyone with the link can view and join without an account.

Can I run a pool or raffle for something other than sports?

Absolutely! For squares pools, select "Other" as the sport type. Raffles are completely flexible — use any name and prize structure you like.

What is a squares pool?

A squares pool is a grid-based game where participants claim squares on a 10×10 grid. Each square corresponds to a combination of score digits for two teams. Winners are determined at the end of each period based on the last digit of each team's score.

How do I create a squares pool?

Sign in, then click "Create a Pool" from the home page or dashboard. Fill in the game details — sport, team names, and payout percentages for each checkpoint. Once submitted, your pool is instantly live and ready to share. There is a one-time fee of $2.99 per pool.

What sports are supported?

Football, basketball, hockey, baseball, and a generic "Other" option for any sport or event you'd like to run a pool for.

When are numbers assigned to squares?

Once the grid is 100% filled, the pool host can click "Generate Random Numbers." The system randomly shuffles 0–9 for both axes. This can only be done once and permanently locks the board.

How are winners determined?

Winners are determined by the last digit of each team's score at each checkpoint (e.g., end of Q1, halftime, final). The square where those two digits intersect on the grid wins that checkpoint's payout.

What grid size is available?

All pools use a standard 10×10 grid with 100 squares — the traditional squares pool format.

Can the host manually add participants?

Yes. As the pool host, you can manually add participants and assign them squares directly from the Host Actions tab on the pool page.

What is the "Touching Squares" bonus feature?

Touching Squares is an optional bonus feature you can enable when creating a pool. Any participant whose square is directly adjacent (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally — all 8 neighbors) to the winning square at a checkpoint also wins a fixed bonus payout.

How do I enable Touching Squares?

When creating your pool, scroll to the "Touching Squares Bonus" section and toggle it on. Set a fixed dollar amount to pay each touching square winner, then choose which checkpoints the bonus applies to — all checkpoints, final only, or specific ones you select.

How do I collect money from participants?

This app does not process payments. You collect money directly from participants using methods like cash, Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, or bank transfer. The app simply tracks who has paid so you can manage your pool or raffle.

What payment methods should I accept?

Popular options include: Cash (in-person), Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, wire transfer, or check. Choose methods that work best for you and your participants. Make sure everyone knows your preferred payment method before they join.

How do I track who has paid?

On the Participants page, you can mark each participant as "Paid" or "Unpaid." This helps you track collection status at a glance. You can also send reminders via SMS or email using the app's messaging tools.

Can I share my payment details with participants?

Yes. When creating a pool or raffle, you can optionally include your contact phone number and email in participant confirmation messages so they know how to send you payment.

A giveaway lets you showcase a prize and invite anyone to enter for free. Participants just provide their name, email, and optionally an Instagram handle. You then randomly select a winner from all verified entries.

How do I create a giveaway?

Sign in, then click "Create Giveaway" from the home page or dashboard. Fill in your giveaway title, prize details, upload a prize image, set start and end dates, and add any legal disclaimers. There is a one-time fee of $2.99 per giveaway.

How do participants enter?

Participants visit your giveaway link or scan the QR code. They enter their first name, email, and optionally their Instagram handle. The app sends them a verification email — once they click the link, their entry is confirmed and counted.

Can I collect Instagram handles?

Yes! You can optionally ask participants for their Instagram handle when they enter. This is useful for promoting winners or future giveaways on social media.

Can I opt participants in to marketing emails?

Yes. You can include a checkbox asking participants to opt in to receive future emails or promotions. Their preference is tracked with their entry.

How do I pick a winner?

Once your giveaway ends, go to the Host Actions section and click "Pick Winner." The app randomly selects from all verified entries. You can reset and repick if needed before announcing.

How does the app prevent fraud?

The app uses multiple anti-fraud checks including email verification, IP address tracking, duplicate detection across email and Instagram handles, and flagging of suspicious activity. You can review flagged entries and take action.

Can I pause or end a giveaway?

Yes! You can pause your giveaway to temporarily stop new entries, or end it permanently. Ended giveaways no longer accept new entries but existing entries remain.

Can I share my giveaway?

Absolutely. From your giveaway page, copy the link or download a QR code to share on Instagram, email, or anywhere else. Anyone with the link can view and enter your giveaway.

Is the giveaway public or private?

By default, giveaways are public and appear in the directory. You can toggle visibility when creating or editing your giveaway.

What disclaimers should I include?

You can add custom legal disclaimers about Instagram (e.g., "This giveaway is not endorsed by Instagram") and a "No Purchase Necessary" statement. These appear on your giveaway page.

A raffle lets you sell numbered tickets to participants, then randomly draw one or more winners. You set the ticket prices, prize structure, and number of drawings — then share the link for people to enter.

How do I create a raffle?

Sign in, then click "Start a Raffle" from the home page or dashboard. Set your raffle name, ticket pricing options, and prize structure (fixed amount, percentage of sales, or custom description). There is a one-time fee of $2.99 per raffle.

What ticket options can I offer?

You can set up multiple ticket tiers — for example, "1 ticket for $5" or "5 tickets for $20." Participants choose which option to purchase when they enter.

What prize types are available?

For a single-draw raffle, you can offer a fixed dollar prize, a percentage of total ticket sales, or a fully custom prize description. For multi-draw raffles, you can set the same prize per draw or define different percentages for each drawing.

Can I do multiple drawings?

Yes! When creating a raffle, choose "Multiple Draws" and specify how many drawings you plan to hold (or set it to unlimited). Each drawing is conducted separately, and you pick a new winner each time.

How does the drawing work?

When you're ready to draw, open your raffle and click "Conduct Drawing" in the Host Actions section. The app randomly selects a ticket from all paid entries. The winner's name and ticket number are recorded and can be shared with participants.

Can participants buy tickets without an account?

Yes! Participants just need the raffle link or QR code. They enter their name, email, and optionally phone number, then choose a ticket option. No account needed.

Can I lock ticket sales?

Yes. As the host, you can toggle "Lock Tickets" in the Host Actions panel to prevent new ticket purchases at any time — useful before conducting a drawing or when sales have closed.

Can I manually add participants?

Yes. From the Host Actions section, click "Add Participant" to manually enter someone's info and assign tickets. These entries are marked as host-added.

How do I share raffle results with participants?

After a drawing is complete, click "Share Results with Participants" in the Host Actions panel. The app will send an email to all paid participants announcing the winner(s).

How does RunAPool compare to traditional paper raffle tickets?

Traditional raffle ticket books typically cost $10–$30+ to print, require in-person distribution, and mean manual tracking of every stub. With RunAPool, you pay a flat $2.99, share a link or QR code instantly, and all ticket numbering and tracking is handled automatically. The random drawing is conducted digitally and results can be sent to all participants with one click — no hat, no bowl, no spreadsheet.

Frequently Asked Questions

General

Squares Pools

Collecting Money

Giveaways

Raffles