--- title: "Set the win chance and prize limits" description: "How instant win works, fixed and participant-based chances, active periods, daily resets and winning only once." url: https://scratcher.io/help/prizes/win-chance-and-limits language: en --- 1. [Help center](https://scratcher.io/help) 2. [Prizes and winners](https://scratcher.io/help/prizes) 3. Set the win chance and prize limits # Set the win chance and prize limits How instant win works, fixed and participant-based chances, active periods, daily resets and winning only once. ## How instant win works Every time someone plays, Scratcher draws a random number and checks it against the chances of the prizes that are still available. If the number falls within a prize's chance, the player wins that prize. If not, they get no prize. The animation of the game only shows the result. A prize can't be won when it is sold out, disabled, outside its active period, or when it uses unique discount codes and there are no unused codes left. That last one is the most common reason a prize "stops working". ## Fixed win chance Set the **Winning chance (0-100%)** on each prize. Three prizes at 10% each give a 30% chance to win something. The total of all prizes can't go above 100% unless you turn on the add-on **Exceed 100% win chance** in the game's prize settings. **Fill remaining** gives a prize all the chance that is left. Use it for a consolation prize, so everyone wins something. ## Participant-based win chance If you want your prizes to last for the whole campaign, use **Participant-based win chance** on the prize's **Settings** tab. The prize list then shows the chance as **Win chance based on participants**. Enter how many **Expected participants** you think you'll have. Scratcher then adjusts the chance as people play, so the prizes are spread across the campaign. The setting is shared by all prizes in the game. ## Limit when a prize can be won In the **Prizes** panel, **Display active periods** shows when each prize can be won. These add-ons are on the prize's **Settings** tab. Some appear after the prize has been saved. - **Active period**: the prize can only be won in a certain period, for example on day 3 of a calendar. - **Reset amount**: make more prizes available at a set time, for example 20 new prizes every day. - **Increase win chance** and **Decrease win chance**: change the chance in a period, for example raise it in the last week so all prizes are given out. - **Win once**: each person can only win this prize once. In the game's prize settings, **Only allow winning once** means a person can only win one prize in the game. ## Check your setup Run the campaign health check before you launch. It warns you if the win chances add up to more than 100% or a prize has no codes. See [Fix editor errors and run a health check](https://scratcher.io/help/campaigns/editor-errors-and-health-check). The add-ons in their own words: - **Exceed 100% win chance**: "Let the total win chance go above 100%, useful for prizes tied to an active period." - **Custom no-prize page**: "Show a specific page instead of the next one when a participant doesn't win a prize." - **Draw tickets**: "Give participants tickets that determine who wins draw prizes", with the **Amount of tickets on participation**. - **Increase win chance** sets the **Win chance increase**, and **Decrease win chance** sets the **Win chance decrease**. - **Custom prize page** uses the **Next page in campaign flow** unless you choose another page. Prizes and winners - [Add a prize](https://scratcher.io/help/prizes/add-a-prize) - [Set the win chance and prize limits](https://scratcher.io/help/prizes/win-chance-and-limits) - [Give discount codes as prizes](https://scratcher.io/help/prizes/discount-codes) - [Barcodes and redeeming prizes in store](https://scratcher.io/help/prizes/barcodes-and-in-store-redemption) - [Draw winners](https://scratcher.io/help/prizes/draw-winners) - [Win and lose pages](https://scratcher.io/help/prizes/win-and-lose-pages) - [See your winners and handle prizes](https://scratcher.io/help/prizes/see-your-winners) - [Prize schedules, prize pools and other prize add-ons](https://scratcher.io/help/prizes/prize-schedules-and-pools) - [Every prize setting explained](https://scratcher.io/help/prizes/every-prize-setting) ## Related articles - [Add a prize](https://scratcher.io/help/prizes/add-a-prize): Add a prize to your game: name, image, value, how many there are, the chance to win and how it is redeemed. - [Draw winners](https://scratcher.io/help/prizes/draw-winners): Draw prizes among the players by hand or automatically, use draw tickets, and see the winners. - [Limit how often people can play](https://scratcher.io/help/forms/limit-participation): Let people play once, daily, weekly or without limit, cap the number of participants and change the messages they see. ## Still need help? Real people are here to help. If you already use Scratcher, the quickest way is the chat inside the platform. - **[Chat with us](https://platform.scratcher.io/login)** Log in and click the chat button in the bottom-right corner. Rex answers right away, and our team is a click away. - **[Book a meeting](https://scratcher.io/book-a-meeting)** A free 30-minute video call with our team: a tour, campaign ideas or help with your setup. - **[Email us](mailto:contact@scratcher.io)** Write to contact@scratcher.io and we will get back to you.