How to Run a Winning Pick'Em Club: The Host Playbook
The best Pick'Em clubs succeed because of active hosts, not just good picks. Set meaningful stakes, communicate weekly, use your leaderboard as a recruiting tool, and layer multiple contest types to keep members engaged all season.
Running a Pick'Em club sounds simple — but the difference between a club that dies after two weeks and one that becomes a weekly ritual for your crew is almost entirely in how you set it up and manage it. Here's what the most successful hosts on ValueBet actually do.
1. Set Stakes Your Members Actually Care About
The biggest mistake new hosts make is starting with stakes that are either too low to matter or too high to commit to. Find the sweet spot — enough entry fee that winning feels meaningful, but not so high that people are stressed about it. Most successful clubs start with a moderate entry and scale up once the group is hooked.
2. Communicate Before Every Game Week
Your job as a host isn't just to set up contests — it's to keep energy high. Send a message through the club channel before the week starts. Call out the standings. Trash talk the leader. Clubs with active hosts retain 3x more members than quiet ones.
3. Use the Leaderboard as Your Marketing Tool
Screenshot leaderboard standings and post them in your group chat, Discord, or Instagram story. Nothing recruits new members faster than seeing real competition happening.
→ See how Degens-R-Us used this exact playbook to grow to 40+ members in 3 weeks.4. Layer Contest Types
Don't just run Pick'Em. Run a Survivor pool at the same time. Add a Squares game during big matchups. The more ways to compete, the more people stay engaged.
→ Running a Survivor pool alongside Pick'Em? Read our March Madness Survivor strategy guide.5. Reward More Than Just First Place
Consider structuring your club so the top 3 finishers are recognized on the leaderboard. A club where only one person ever wins eventually loses everyone else.
→ Just want the tool? See the free pick'em pool app — set one up for your crew in two minutes.Ready to apply this? Open your club settings and review your contest structure.
Create your free club →FAQ
Is there a free pick'em pool app?
Yes. ValueBet runs private pick'em pools for free — no entry fees, no rake, no subscription. It auto-grades every pick and updates the leaderboard live, and it's chip-based so no real money changes hands.
How does a pick'em pool work?
Each week everyone picks the games — straight up or against the spread, depending on your rules. Correct picks earn points, points build a season-long leaderboard, and whoever finishes on top wins.
How many members should a Pick'Em club have?
Most active clubs run best between 8–30 members. Enough for real competition, small enough that everyone knows each other.
Can I run multiple contest types in one club?
Yes — ValueBet lets you run Pick'Em, Survivor, and Squares simultaneously inside the same club.
What happens if someone doesn't make their picks?
You can configure default picks or zero-point entries in your club settings.
How do I grow my club beyond my existing friends?
Share your leaderboard screenshots publicly, use your club's referral code, and consider running a free entry week.
Is ValueBet free to use for club hosts?
Yes — creating and hosting a club is free. Premium features are available through club upgrades using ValueBet Coins.