Frequently asked questions
Is any real money involved?
No. Every contest runs on simulated demo funds. There is nothing to deposit, nothing to withdraw, and no way to win or lose real money on the platform.
What does it cost?
Playing is free, and creating a contest with the standard settings is free. Organisers can buy credits to unlock extras such as putting their own name or a sponsor on a contest. Nobody ever has to pay to take part.
Do I need to know how to trade?
No. The trading screen is built for first-timers: pick a market, choose buy or sell, choose a size. The contest builder explains every rule in plain English, and plenty of contests are won by beginners who kept it simple.
What can we bet on the result?
That is entirely between you and your group, exactly as it would be for a footy tipping comp. Awarnda does not collect entry fees, hold stakes or administer prizes.
Where do the prices come from?
Contests run on demo trading infrastructure with realistic pricing, spreads, leverage and margin - the same mechanics as a real account, without real money.
Can I run a private contest?
Yes. Private contests are visible only to people with the invite link. Public contests are listed on the Discover page for anyone to join.
What stops someone betting the lot on one trade?
The organiser. Contests can cap leverage, position sizes and daily losses, and the win condition itself can punish recklessness - risk-adjusted scoring subtracts drawdown from returns. A pure highest-return contest with no limits is possible too, if that is the game you want.
What happens if I hit the daily loss limit?
The contest rules decide: locked out until the next day, locked out for the rest of the contest, or disqualified. The contest builder shows which consequence applies before anyone joins.
Someone in our contest stopped trading. Do they stay on the leaderboard?
Yes. Standings include everyone who joined, whatever they did or did not do.
Is this financial advice?
No. Nothing on Awarnda is financial advice or a recommendation to trade, and simulated performance says very little about real trading, which involves real losses and real emotions.
Anything else? Ask us directly.