Prize Rules

This is placeholder template content, not legal advice. Prize competitions are frequently regulated as sweepstakes or contests depending on jurisdiction, and payment processors treat paid-entry skill competitions with monetary prizes as a restricted category. Have this page, the entry mechanism, and your payment processor agreement reviewed by a qualified attorney before advertising a cash prize.

1. Sponsor / Operator

These prize events are operated by [TODO: legal operator name], doing business as AN4RCHY ARK. Operator contact: [TODO: legal contact email/address]. AN4RCHY ARK is an independently operated ARK: Survival Ascended community and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Studio Wildcard or Snail Games. See our Disclaimer.

2. Eligibility

Open to players who meet the minimum age requirement in their jurisdiction (typically 18, or the age of majority) and who are not residents of a jurisdiction where this competition is void or restricted by law. Administrators, moderators, and their immediate household members are not eligible to win prizes, though they may play. NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A PRIZE WHERE REQUIRED BY LAW — see Section 5.

3. Geographic Restrictions

Void where prohibited or restricted by law. It is the participant’s responsibility to confirm they may legally participate from their location.

4. Event Start / End / Time Zone

Each event’s registration window, start time, end time, and final inspection time are published on that event’s page at /prize-events prior to registration opening, in Eastern Time (ET) unless otherwise stated, and are not changed once registration opens except as described in Section 12 (Force Majeure).

5. How to Participate / Payment Requirement

Participation currently requires purchasing Wipe Access for the applicable event and joining a tribe of no more than the published tribe limit. [TODO / FLAG FOR REVIEW: tying prize eligibility to a paid purchase is a compliance question for our payment processor and applicable contest law — this needs sign-off before it is relied upon, and a free alternate method of entry (AMOE) may be required in your jurisdiction.] One entry per player per event. Duplicate accounts, account sharing, and tribe-limit bypass attempts are prohibited and grounds for disqualification.

6. Prize Description & Value

The prize amount and description for each event are published on that event’s page prior to the event’s start and are not subject to change once registration opens, except as described in Section 12. Approximate retail/cash value equals the published prize amount.

7. Winner-Selection Method

At the scheduled final inspection time, an administrator inspects the designated Prize Location. The eligible tribe controlling a qualifying base at the Prize Location at that moment — as defined in our Server Rules (minimum structure count, bed, storage, crafting stations, functional defenses, and tribe ownership of the main structure overlapping the location) — is declared the winner. There is no requirement to control the location for any duration prior to inspection. This is a skill-based competition; outcomes are determined by gameplay, not chance.

8. Admin Verification

The declared winner is recorded with supporting screenshots and/or server logs at the time of inspection. Verification records are retained and published on the event’s page and Winners page where appropriate.

9. Tie Handling

A qualifying base at the Prize Location can only be owned by one tribe at the moment of inspection under our structure-ownership rules, so ties are not expected under normal circumstances. If an unforeseen tie occurs, administrators will determine the result based on the verification records described in Section 8, and that decision is final.

10. Cheating, Exploits & Disqualification

Cheating, payment fraud, chargeback abuse, tribe-limit bypass, unauthorized alliances, exploit abuse (including meshing and duplication), duplicate accounts, and account sharing are grounds for disqualification from an event’s prize competition, forfeiting any claim to the prize even if the disqualified tribe controlled the Prize Location at inspection.

11. Server Outages & Force Majeure

In the event of a server crash, data loss, hosting provider outage, or other event outside our reasonable control that materially affects the competition, administrators may extend the event timeline, reschedule the final inspection, or in extreme cases void and reschedule the event. Any such change will be announced via Discord and on the event’s page.

12. Prize Payout

Cash prizes are paid via the method specified on the Winners page within the stated timeframe after a confirmed win. We may require identity verification before releasing a prize. In-game or cosmetic prizes are delivered per the delivery process described in our FAQ.

13. Taxes

Winners are solely responsible for any taxes owed on prizes received. Where required by law, we may request tax documentation before releasing a prize.

14. Public Winner Announcement & Privacy

The winning tribe’s name and public in-game/Discord identifiers may be announced on our website and Discord. We do not publish winners’ real names, addresses, or payment details.

15. Disputes

Questions or disputes about an event result should be raised through our Support channel within 7 days of the result being announced. Administrator decisions on verification and eligibility are final.

16. Event Modification / Cancellation

We reserve the right to modify or cancel an announced event before it starts if necessary (e.g. insufficient registrations, technical issues, or legal/compliance concerns). Any fees paid for a cancelled event will be refunded per our Refund Policy.

17. Contact

Questions about these rules: support@an4rchy.org or via Discord.