Frequently asked questions
Helpful answers for managers and players before game day.
Share the public player link
Copy the public player link and share it by text, email, group chat, or a marketing platform such as Mailchimp. Players open the link, register themselves, choose their own squares, and complete their reservation. This is the simplest self-service option.
In the Manager Dashboard, open the grid and expand Manage Your Grid then Onboard players. Select Copy invite link in that section's header to copy the public link. For a ready-to-send message on a free grid, use Invite players in the Let players pick squares panel, then open Invite Templates to copy the preconfigured text, email, or HTML email message for your preferred messaging or marketing platform.
Send secure in-app invitations
For paid grids, use Invite players to build a player list manually or import it from CSV, then send each person a secure, authenticated link by email. They use that link to access the grid and reserve their own squares.
Bulk-assign squares to a roster
Choose Assign multiple players, then Import from CSV to reserve squares for several regular players at once. Add the roster manually or import a CSV, set each player's requested square count, and the app assigns the squares in one flow.
This works well as a standing-reservation approach for a single grid: reserve the usual number of squares for regular players before game day. It is not recurring billing or a commitment beyond that grid. On paid grids, when Remove unpaid squares when a configured event starts is enabled, unpaid squares that have not been reported or confirmed as paid stop participating in each payout event when its number set locks. Paid and reported-paid squares remain eligible. Players can still join the Squares game for the remainder of the game once they pay.
Assign squares to one player
Use Assign one player when you want to place squares for a specific person. Add a player manually or load a CSV roster, then auto-pick or choose that player's squares on the grid. On paid grids, the same Remove unpaid squares when a configured event starts option controls whether unpaid squares can participate in each payout event.
CSV template fields
The template includes First Name and Last Name for each player's name, plus a required Email. Phone and Preferred payment method are optional. Squares assignment is the optional requested count: enter 0 to assign that player the grid's maximum allowed number of squares. You can review or change every player's count before confirming the assignment.
Download the player roster CSV templateUse AI to format a contact list
Paste this prompt into an approved AI tool, then add your contact list where indicated.
Convert the contact list below into a CSV for The Squares Game.
Return CSV only—no explanation, Markdown, or extra text.
Use this exact header row:
First Name,Last Name,Email,Phone,Preferred payment method,Squares assignment
Rules:
- One player per row.
- Include First Name, Last Name, and Email when available.
- Preserve phone numbers when available.
- Preferred payment method is optional. Use only: Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Stripe.
- Squares assignment is optional and must be a whole number.
- Use 0 in Squares assignment when the player should receive the grid's maximum allowed number of squares.
- Leave unavailable optional fields blank.
- Do not invent names, email addresses, phone numbers, payment methods, or square counts.
- Remove duplicate players based on email address.
Contact list to convert:
[paste or attach your contact list here]Only paste contact information into AI tools you are authorized to use.
Every player grid has a Payouts & prizes section. It shows the Entry price, Payout schedule, Estimated prizes, and Payment and timing for that grid.
A payout schedule divides the pool's payout amount among its configured scoring checkpoints, such as the end of a quarter, half, period, or game. On paid grids, final prize amounts depend on paid squares and the manager's configured payout schedule.
When a configured event ends, The Squares Game matches the score digits to the winning square, identifies the player and preferred payout method, calculates the prize from the eligible amount and configured payout percentage, and keeps it visible until the manager records it as paid.
Free grids give groups a live game with player-selected squares, live scores, number draws, and real winner identification. Coordinate any payment and prize delivery directly with the manager; the full version adds configurable payouts, payment options, and manager automation.
Players can choose squares on the grid or use Auto pick, then select Reserve. Payment actions appear after the app knows which squares belong to that player.
On a paid grid, Pay with card appears when card checkout is enabled. Pay peer to peer appears when the manager has listed a payment option such as Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, PayPal, or another method. If both appear, choose one payment path for the same squares—do not pay twice.
On a free grid, coordinate any payment directly with the manager. The free game still runs live scoring, number draws, winner identification, and manager-managed payment and payout tracking; the full version adds in-app card checkout, configured payment options, and a detailed payment ledger.
At lock time, the grid closes and no more picks are allowed. Payout events are the configured score checkpoints that can produce a winning square, such as the end of a quarter, period, half, or game.
Using the live feed, The Squares Game detects when the game or a configured event starts and randomly assigns digits 0 through 9 to both team axes. Each number set is drawn only when its event begins—for example, Q2 numbers are drawn when Q2 starts.
For each payout event, the live score determines the winning square. Match the last digit of each team's score to the row and column numbers on the grid. The winner is shown after that configured game checkpoint is confirmed.
On paid grids, managers can enable Remove unpaid squares when a configured event starts.
When enabled, unpaid squares that were not reported or confirmed as paid stop participating as each configured event starts. Paid and reported-paid squares stay in the game for that event, and players can pay to rejoin the remaining game.
This is a paid-grid automation. Free-grid managers can still run the live game; the full version adds automatic cleanup for unpaid manager-assigned squares.
From the Manager Dashboard, open the grid you want to manage. Manage Your Grid is the starting point for onboarding players, reviewing the game, and changing less-frequent grid settings.
Use Manage players and game for player, participation, winner, and grid activity tools. Use Other grid actions for assignment limits and other less-frequent settings. Select Edit to open Edit grid settings, including the manager message; the message can be updated even after the grid locks.
In the free version, players open one public link, enter a name, and choose squares. The grid runs live with real player names, live scoring, number draws, and winner identification.
The Squares Game uses the live score to identify the winning square at each configured event and displays the real player name entered for that square.
The free version gives a group a live Squares game with player-selected squares, live scores, automatic number draws, winner identification, and manager-managed payment and payout tracking. The full version makes management easier with flexible payout settings, configured payment options, secure invitations, and manager automation.
Yes. Create a grid for your group, then use the Manager messageto explain the fundraiser, event, or watch-party details to players. That message appears above Payouts & prizes on the player grid and in Quick Pick.
Use the public player link, secure invitations on paid grids, or manager assignments to fill the grid. For paid grids, set the price, payout percentage, and payout schedule that fit the event before sharing it.
Managers use Manage Your Grid and Manage players and game to run their own grid. Players see the game's manager message, payout details, score updates, and their square status, but do not receive manager controls.
On free grids, selecting an occupied square can show the displayed player name and reservation status. Paid-grid players use their secure player link for access. For more detail about data handling, review the Privacy Policy.
For a paid grid, open the newest secure invite email. If the latest link does not work or is unavailable, ask the manager to resend the invite.
Squares can usually be changed before lock. After lock, no changes are allowed. Contact the game manager listed on the grid for payout or rule questions.
The Squares Game supports NFL and college football, the UFL, the AFL (Australian Football League), NBA, WNBA, and men's and women's college basketball when eligible games are available in the game picker.
Visit Supported Sports for the current list and sport-specific guides.