💰 Money Flow & Security
Where does the money go?
ThePot never touches your money. Every dollar flows directly between members and your winners through secure escrow — with full visibility the whole time.
How your money moves
Step 1
Create & Invite
Commissioner sets entry fee, payout rules & invites members
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Step 2
Members Pay
Card payment, or Venmo / cash — commissioner records either way
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Step 3
Secure Escrow
Funds held in secure escrow — ThePot cannot touch or withdraw them
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Step 4
Season Plays
Standings sync automatically, pot grows visible to all members
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Step 5
Winners Paid
Winners paid directly — automatic, no commissioner delays
The full breakdown
⚙ Setup
1
Commissioner creates the league
One person sets everything up: entry fee amount, payout split (winner-takes-all, top 2, top 3, or custom), max members, and which fantasy platform to sync standings from.
2
Invite links go out to members
The commissioner shares a unique invite link — by email, QR code, or direct message. Each link is single-use and tracks who’s accepted. No account required to view the invite.
💳 Collection
3
Members pay — card, Venmo, or cash
ThePot supports two payment paths. Members choose whichever works for them:
💳 Card Payment
Credit card, debit card, or bank transfer (ACH). Pot updates instantly. No surcharge.
Visa · Mastercard · Amex
Bank transfer (ACH)
📷 External
Venmo, cash, PayPal, or any method. Commissioner marks the member paid — pot updates the same way.
Venmo
Cash
PayPal
4
Funds held in secure escrow — not ThePot
🔒 What is escrow?
Escrow means the money is held by a neutral third party until the season ends. ThePot cannot withdraw, spend, or touch your funds. They’re locked until you finalize standings and the automatic payout runs.
Funds are processed by a licensed payment processor regulated by financial authorities and held separately from ThePot’s operating accounts — fully protected under their money-transmission licenses.
All members can see the live pot total at any time. The pot tracker updates the moment each member pays — full transparency, zero trust-me moments.
📈 All Season
5
Standings sync automatically
Once the commissioner connects the fantasy platform (Sleeper, ESPN Fantasy, Yahoo, or Premier League Fantasy), standings update throughout the season without manual input. ThePot’s Scout AI also generates weekly predictions based on current standings.
🏆 Payout
6
Commissioner finalizes standings
When the season ends, the commissioner clicks Finalize. Before confirming, an optional AI dispute check reviews the standings against your platform’s data to catch any sync errors or discrepancies — protecting both the commissioner and members.
7
Winners receive their payouts automatically
Winnings are distributed directly to each winner’s bank account or card. ThePot never holds the payout funds — they go from secure escrow straight to winners. No manual transfers, no commissioner delays, no disputes about who got paid what.
5%
That’s the only fee ThePot charges — 5% of the total pot, taken automatically at payout. Nothing charged upfront. Free to create leagues, invite members, and run all season. You only pay when winners get paid.
Winners typically receive funds within 1–3 business days — same speed as a standard bank transfer.
Common questions about the money
The pot only includes members who have paid. The commissioner can see exactly who’s paid and who hasn’t, send individual payment reminders, and choose whether to start the season with a partial pot or wait until everyone is in. Unpaid members show clearly in the dashboard.
Funds are held in secure escrow, not by the commissioner. The commissioner has no ability to withdraw the pot — they can only trigger the finalize action, which automatically distributes to winners per the pre-set payout rules. ThePot’s platform admins can also intervene in verified dispute cases.
Yes — the commissioner can cancel a league, which triggers full refunds to all paying members. Refunds typically appear within 5–10 business days depending on the member’s bank. A cancelled league cannot be restarted.
ThePot is designed for fantasy sports league fee collection — a well-established, legal category distinct from gambling in most US states and jurisdictions. We apply geographic restrictions in states where fee-based fantasy sports are not permitted. You’ll see a clear message if your state is restricted during payment. Always consult local regulations if unsure.
ThePot stores your email address and name for your account. Payment details (card numbers, bank info) are handled entirely by our licensed payment processor — ThePot never sees or stores raw payment data. Our payment infrastructure is PCI-DSS compliant, the highest standard in payment security.
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