Registration
Is membership and creating or joining a pool on PoolHost.com really FREE?
Can I join more than one pool?
Can I create more than one pool?
How many pools can I create?
I registered but didn't get my password via email like the registration page said I would. When will I get it?
I forgot my password or username and now I can't login. What can I do?
When I type my username and password in on the login page, I get a message that my username or password is invalid or deos not exist. Why?
I got the password email but my password does not work. Why?
Can I hide my email address from other users?
Can I hide my last name from other users?
Why am I required to have an email address to register at PoolHost.com?
Can I sign people up who don't have internet access?
Why can't I use my Username for display instead of my real name?
How do I change my username, email address, location of residence, password, etc.?
Joining Pools
How do I join a public pool?
How do I join a private pool?
How do I find the pool(s) I joined the last time I logged on?
Creating/Changing Pool Settings and Rules
Can the pool rules, Pool ID or Pool Password be changed during the season?
How do I put a message on my pool's home page?
Can I put extra info that appears on my pool's Pool Rules page such as how I'll handle late picks or info on prize distribution?
How many people can join a pool?
Can I use weights to run a confidence pool?
Can I use spreads in my pool?
Can I have a survival pool where players drop off when they pick a team that loses?
How do I put a Pool Poll on my pool's home page?
I created a Pool Poll but it doesn't show up on my pool's home page. Why?
How do I upload a pool logo for my pool?
Can a pool use custom spreads?
Making Picks/Deadlines
The last time I logged in, I joined a pool and there were menu options for making picks and viewing standings and now they are gone. Where did they go?
When I pick in one pool will my picks be automatically made in the other pools I belong to?
Can picks be entered after the pick deadline?
When is the picking deadline each week?
Can I have a custom pick deadline?
When is the deadline in a week with a Thursday game?
What if I'm out of town or can't get to a computer to make picks in one week?
What happens if I don't make my picks before the deadline?
After I make my picks, can I go back and change them?
I made my picks and I can see them on the My Picks page, but I don't seem them on the All Picks Page. Why?
Can I see the picks that other member in my pool have made?
Why do I see X's under the games on the All Picks page instead of the teams that users have picked?
What if a pool member forgets to make his picks in the pool that I run?
Can the pool admin enter or correct picks for users for previous weeks?
When does the site update to the next week?
Can I see picks and standings for previous weeks?
Scoring
How does scoring work?
Why do the All Picks and Standings pages show that I got 2 points for each game where I picked a winner?
I'm in a pool that does not use the spreads. Why do we still get 2 points for a win instead of just 1 since there will never be a tie?
Why does one of the games show up yellow instead of red or green?
Does PoolHost.com have live scoring?
Why do the All Picks and Standings pages show a loss (or a win or a tie) in a game that is still underway?
When is scoring updated?
How is the win % calculated if I have a game that was a tie?
How does the Monday Night Football game total points tie-break work?
What are weights?
What are spreads?
Can I use the Monday Night Football game total points as a weekly tie-break?
What if two people have the same score and have chosen the same Monday Night Football game total point value?
Misc.
I bookmarked my pool's home page but when I try to use the bookmark, I get an Access Denied page. Why?
When I print the all picks page, some of the game get cut off. What can I do about this?
Where do the PoolHost.com spreads come from?
I'm currently using another site. Can I transfer my pool to PoolHost.com?
I missed the start of the season. Can I still sign up and transfer my pool info into a pool I create on your site?
Why do I have to log back in after I don't use the site for a while?
Why don't I get the email that PoolHost.com sends to everyone else?
Answers:
Is membership and creating or joining a pool on PoolHost.com really FREE?
Yes.
Can I join more than one pool?
Yes.
Can I create more than one pool?
Yes. Users can create up to 4 pools.
How many pools can I create?
Users can create up to 4 pools.
I registered but didn't get my password via email like the registration page said I would. When will I get it?
Usually, you should receive your password within a few minutes. If you don't, there are other possibilities. Make sure you and/or your ISP is not filtering or blocking email for SPAM protection. If they are, there is probably a way to add PoolHost.com to a list of accepted senders. You'll have to check with your ISP about how to do this. Once you've gottent his corrected, you can got to our Forgotten Password page to reset your password. If you are using a work email you'd have to verify with your company's policy if you can receive email from us. If not, you'll have to use a personal email address. Sometimes delivery of our automated email can be very slow at times when the site is very busy, so you may have to be a bit patient. Another possibility is that you may have mis-typed your email address. If this is the case you can try to re-register. You'll need to use a different username because the original one would still be in our system. If the registration process does not tell you that the email address is already used, then you must have typed it incorrectly originally. In this case, you should receive your password info shortly at the correct address. If you are told that the email address you entered is already in our system, your password email should be on its way. You can go to the Forgotten Password page to have your info re-sent to you if you'd like, but you should check one of the above possibilities first.
I forgot my password or username and now I can't login. What can I do?
You can go to the forgotten password link, type in the email address you registered with and a password reset link will be emailed to you within a few minutes. Click HERE to go to the forgotten password page.
When I type my username and password in on the login page, I get a message that my username or password is invalid or deos not exist. Why?
If you don't remember your username or password, you can go to the password reset link (click HERE) to reset your password with your registered email. The most common reason for get the message that your password is invalid is typing your password incorrectly or not using the correct CASE. Passwords are CASE sensitive. If you need to change your password to something easier to type or remember, after you login, go to Edit User Info.
I got the password email but my password does not work. Why?
The most common reason for get the message that your password is invalid is typing your password incorrectly or not using the correct CASE. Passwords are CASE sensitive. If you need to change your password to something easier to type or remember, after you login, go to Edit User Info.
Can I hide my email address from other users?
When registering there is a check box that allows you to hide your email address from view from other users. You can change this setting later by going to Edit User Info.
Can I hide my last name from other users?
When registering there is a check box that allows you to hide your last name from view from other users. You can change this setting later by going to Edit User Info.
Why am I required to have an email address to register at PoolHost.com?
We use email addresses to uniquely identify other users. Our registration processes allows us to verify that the email addresses users sign up with are valid. On our site, users are able to send each other email using our mail system. Invalid email causes problems for our us, so we use this method of registration to validate all email addresses.
Can I sign people up who don't have internet access?
We use email addresses to uniquely identify other users. Our registration processes allows us to verify that the email addresses users sign up with are valid. On our site, users are able to send each other email using our mail system. Invalid email causes problems for our us, so we use this method of registration to validate all email addresses. Because of this, users without internet access can't register at this time. We will be changing this policy sometime in the future. For now, the best way to get these people registered is to create an email account on another service such as Yahoo or Hotmail for the purpose of registration. Once registration is completed, this email address will not be needed anymore.
Why can't I use my Username for display instead of my real name?
This is a system limitation that we will be changing some time soon.
How do I change my username, email address, location of residence, password, etc.?
After logging in, go to Edit User Info.
How do I join a public pool?
Go to Join a Public Pool. Click on the pool name you'd like to join. You'll be asked to confirm your choice. If you decide to "un-join" the pool, go to Resign from a Pool. Exit Current Pool does not make you un-join. It just takes you to the PoolHost.com home page and changes your menus back to the menus when you first login to PoolHost.com
How do I join a private pool?
Got to Join a Private Pool. You must have the pool's Pool ID and Pool Password to join the pool. You must get this info from the pool's admin. The admin can send this info automatically by clicking on Invite a Player and entering an email address. An automatic email will be sent to that email address with the Pool ID and Pool Password and instructions included. The admin can also send this info manually.
How do I find the pool(s) I joined the last time I logged on?
When you login in, to see the pool menus, you can go to a pool that you've joined by clicking onMy Pools. You will see a list of the pools that you've joined. Click on one to go to it. You will now be able to see the menu options for that pool. You can switch between pools by going to My Pools and choosing a different one.
Can the pool rules, Pool ID or Pool Password be changed during the season?
Yes. If you are the pool admin, go to Pool Settings to make changes.
How do I put a message on my pool's home page?
Go to Manager's Message. There is a box for entering the pool's home page message. This message will appear once you add this message and save it.
Can I put extra info that appears on my pool's Pool Rules page such as how I'll handle late picks or info on prize distribution?
Yes. Go to Pool Settings and add the extra information in the text box. The message will appear on the Pool Rules page after you save the Pool Settings.
How many people can join a pool?
You can set the number of people allowed in a pool on the Pool Settings page. You can have up to 200 people in a pool. This can be increased on a case by case basis.
Can I use weights to run a confidence pool?
Yes. Set this on the Pool Settings page. Changing this after picks have already been made by your users will delete their picks for the current week since they need to add weight values. Without weights, their picks are not valid.
Can I use spreads in my pool?
Yes. Set this on the Pool Settings page. Changing this after picks have already been made by your users will delete their picks for the current week since the spreads will likely affect which teams they want to pick.
Can I have a survival pool where players drop off when they pick a team that loses?
Yes. You can run a survival pool just like any other pool. When you want to drop a player off after a loss, you can 'lock' them out of making picks by going to Lock a Player, checking the box next to their name and saving. This allows them to still view pool results but disallows them from making more picks.
How do I put a Pool Poll on my pool's home page?
Go to Pool Poll and enter the poll information. After you enter the info and save it, the poll is now Inactive. You still need to activate the poll to make it show up on your pool's home page.
I created a Pool Poll but it doesn't show up on my pool's home page. Why?
After you create a poll, you still need to activate it. Got to Pool Poll and check to see if the pool is not activated. If not, click on Activate to activate it. It will now appear on your pool's home page.
How do I upload a pool logo for my pool?
Go to Upload Pool Logo.
Can a pool use custom spreads?
Yes. You can set this by going to Pool Settings and checking this box and then saving the settings. Changing this setting will delete all player picks for the current week. The reason for this is that users may not want the same picks if different spreads are entered.
The last time I logged in, I joined a pool and there were menu options for making picks and viewing standings and now they are gone. Where did they go?
At PoolHost.com, you can join multiple pools. When you login in, to see the pool menus, you must go to a pool that you joined by clicking on My Pools. You will see a list of the pools that you've joined. Click on one to go to it. You will now be able to see the menu options for that pool. You can switch between pools by going to My Pools and choosing a different one.
When I pick in one pool will my picks be automatically made in the other pools I belong to?
No. We support multiple pool types with multiple pools. Because of this, picks in one pool may not be compatible with picks in another pool. You will need to go to each pool you belong to and enter picks for each.
Can picks be entered after the pick deadline?
If you are not the pool admin, you can not enter picks after the deadline. If you are the pool admin, you can enter picks at any time, after the deadline or for previous weeks. You can do this by going to the Make Picks page. The admin's Make Picks page looks different from other users. There is a pull down menu with each user's name. To make picks for another user, you should choose the player name and the week for which you want to make changes and then click Select BEFORE you try to make changes. That players current picks will now be shown. You can now make or change this user's picks. Now click Save Picks to save the user's picks. With this feature, the admin can decide how to handle late or missed picks.
When is the picking deadline each week?
The pick deadline is kickoff time of the first game of the week. If there is a Thursday game, then the deadline is kickoff time of the start of the game on Thursday. ALL picks must be in before the deadline.
Can I have a custom pick deadline?
Yes. We now support custom pool deadlines. They can be set up once you create a pool by going to the Pool Settings page..
When is the deadline in a week with a Thursday game?
The deadline would be kickoff time of the start time of the Thursday game. ALL picks must be in by that time.
What if I'm out of town or can't get to a computer to make picks in one week?
This is up to your pool admin. The pool admin can make picks for you, so if you email your picks to the admin, your picks can be entered by the admin at any time.
What happens if I don't make my picks before the deadline?
This is up to the pool admin. The admin can let you submit late picks or assign picks to give you points in any fashion that he/she likes.
After I make my picks, can I go back and change them?
You can change your picks as many times as you like before the pick deadline. Once the deadline passes, you won't be able to make any more changes.
I made my picks and I can see them on the My Picks page, but I don't seem them on the All Picks Page. Why?
Picks only show up on the All Picks page after the pick deadline. In your pool, the All Picks page may show X's for each players picks until the deadine passes at which time the teams will be shown. The X's can be disabled or enbable by the pool admin in the Pool Settings page.
Can I see the picks that other member in my pool have made?
Yes. All picks show up on the All Picks page after the pick deadline. In your pool, the All Picks page may show X's for each players picks until the deadine passes at which time the teams will be shown. The X's can be disabled or enbable by the pool admin in the Pool Settings page.
Why do I see X's under the games on the All Picks page instead of the teams that users have picked?
Picks only show up on the All Picks page after the pick deadline. In your pool, the All Picks page may show X's for each players picks until the deadine passes at which time the teams will be shown. The X's can be disabled or enbable by the pool admin in the Pool Settings page.
What if a pool member forgets to make his picks in the pool that I run?
As the pool admin, you can decide to do whatever you want to handle this situation. You can leave the picks as is for a score of 0 or if the user emails the picks to you before the deadline, you can enter the picks for him/her by going to the Make PIcks page and selecting that user.
Can the pool admin enter or correct picks for users for previous weeks?
Yes. The pool admin can enter or correct picks for any user by going to the Make Picks page, selecting the username and week, clicking Select and then making the necessary changes. Make sure you click Select before you make changes or you may change the wrong user's picks!
When does the site update to the next week?
The site updates to the next week on Tuesday morninngs after the MNF game.
Can I see picks and standings for previous weeks?
Yes. Go to the All Picks or Standings pages and then choose a week from the pull down menu. Click select and you will be able to see the results for that week.
How does scoring work?
This scoring allows pools with different rules to compete against each other.
Why do the All Picks and Standings pages show that I got 2 points for each game where I picked a winner?
Your pool probably is set to use 2,1,0 scoring, 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 for a loss. This allows you to be rewarded even if you picked a tie. If your pool uses weights, then the weight value multiplies the point value. Your pool admin can set either type of scoring, (2,1,0) or (1,0,0). YES, you can have a tie in a game that does not use spreads!
I'm in a pool that does not use the spreads. Why do we still get 2 points for a win instead of just 1 since there will never be a tie?
Your pool admin has set 2,1,0 scoring where 2 points is given for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 for loss. If your pool uses weights, then the weight value multiplies the point value. YES, there CAN be a tie in a regular season game even without point spreads! If neither team scores in over time, the game ends in a tie.
Why does one of the games show up yellow instead of red or green?
Red is a loss, Greem is a Win and Yellow is a tie.
Does PoolHost.com have live scoring?
PoolHost.com scores are updated regularly during the games. They may not be 'play by play' live but they are updated regularly so that you will be able to see game scores and pool scores update on a regular basis as the games progress.
Why do the All Picks and Standings pages show a loss (or a win or a tie) in a game that is still underway?
The All Picks and Standings pages reflect the current game status. When the game score becomes final, the All Picks and Standing page become final for that game.
When is scoring updated?
Game scores are updated as the games progress. Pool Scoring updates as the game scores update.
How is the win % calculated if I have a game that was a tie?
Win percentage is calculated in such a way so that credit is given for ties. Wins are 1 and Ties are half. These are added together and divided by the total number of picks to get the winning percentage.
How does the Monday Night Football game total points tie-break work?
The person who gets the closest to the total point value regardless of going over is the winner. If two people have the same pick points for the week and have the same MNF total point value, then the person who made their picks first wins. The tie break only decides between people whose pick points are tied. The tie-break has nothing to do with Game ties for the week and does not add to the points for the week. The Standings page and All Picks page are automatically sorted by who made their picks first.
What are weights?
Weights are values that you assign to each of your picks, the higher the value, the more confidence you have in the pick. If your pool requires picking 8 games, then you must assign each pick a value from 1 to 8, 8 being most confident. When the points for the week are calculated, the weight is multiplied by the game result. A win is 2 points times the weight value, a tie is 1 point times the weight value, and a loss is 0 points.
What are spreads?
Sometimes, a game may be an uneven matchup between two teams. In order to even a game out so that picking a team is more difficult, point spreads are used. A point spread is the number of points by which the experts expect the Favorite Team to win. If you pick the Favorite Team, you win if the Favorite wins the game by MORE than the point spread. If you pick the Underdog Team, you win the game if the Underdog wins outright OR if the Underdog loses, but not by more than the point spread. On our web site, point spreads always apply to the HOME team. If the point spread is negative, this means the Home Team is the Favorite and the Away Team is the Underdog. If the point spread is positive, then the Home Team is the Underdog and the Away Team is the Favorite. Example:
San Francisco -4.5 Dallas
Assuming San Francisco is the Home Team, then San Francisco is the Favorite and Dallas is the Underdog. If you pick San Francisco, San Fran must win by MORE than 4.5 points for you to win with that pick. If you pick Dallas, Dallas has to win the game or lose by less than 4.5 points for you to win picking Dallas.
Anther way to look at it is to add the point spread to the Home Team's score at the end of the game to find out who won using the point spread.
Point spread are occasionally made with 1/2 point increments. This guarantees that there will not be a tie for that game when using point spreads.
Can I use the Monday Night Football game total points as a weekly tie-break?
Yes. The MNF total is used to break ties between players who are tied for their weekly total points. If players tied for their weekly total points AND they've picked the same MNF total point value, then the player who picked first wins.
What if two people have the same score and have chosen the same Monday Night Football game total point value?
If players tied for their weekly total points AND they've picked the same MNF total point value, then the player who picked first wins.
I bookmarked my pool's home page but when I try to use the bookmark, I get an Access Denied page. Why?
Our pages require you to be logged in. If you bookmark a page that requires you to be logged in, you will not be allowed access to that page until you log in. Instead of bookmarking that page, you should book mark https://www.poolhost.com instead.
When I print the all picks page, some of the game get cut off. What can I do about this?
Try printing the page in Landscape mode. The results should be much better. We're going to make a more printer friendly version of this page soon.
Where do the PoolHost.com spreads come from?
PoolHost.com spread some from Harrah's casino, but they may come from other casinos such as Caesars, Hilton, MGM, or Mirage to get the most commonly used spread at the time we post them.
I'm currently using another site. Can I transfer my pool to PoolHost.com?
Yes. This is relatively easy to do. When you create a pool you become the pool admin for that pool. You now have the ability to enter picks for all players for the current week and previous weeks. You just need to create the pool using the rules that best suit you and then transfer all the pick information into your pool on our site.
I missed the start of the season. Can I still sign up and transfer my pool info into a pool I create on your site?
Yes. This is relatively easy to do. When you create a pool you become the pool admin for that pool. You now have the ability to enter picks for all players for the current week and previous weeks. You just need to create the pool using the rules that best suit you and then transfer all the pick information into your pool on our site.
Why do I have to log back in after I don't use the site for a while?
Our site has a default 20 minute timeout for inactivity. Users who are inactive for 20 minutes are automatically logged out and must login back in to access again. This allows us to free up server resources allowing other users to use the site trouble free. 20 minutes is a standard timeout used by many site for the same reason.
Why don't I get the email that PoolHost.com sends to everyone else?
Our group email goes out with everyone's email address on the blind copy (BCC) line with a generic PoolHost.com email address on the TO line. Some email services such as Yahoo send email that you receive without your address being in the TO line directo to the Bulk Email Folder. They do this to keep you from being SPAMMED. Unfortunately this prevents our group email from reaching you unless you check your Bulk Email Folder regularly. Other services and mail clients have similar options. Check to see if these options are changeable. If not, it will be diffcult for you to receive PoolHost.com email or mail from your pool admin.
You may also want to visit the Help page.
If you have further questions please contact us by submitting your support requests HERE.
Is membership and creating or joining a pool on PoolHost.com really FREE?
Can I join more than one pool?
Can I create more than one pool?
How many pools can I create?
I registered but didn't get my password via email like the registration page said I would. When will I get it?
I forgot my password or username and now I can't login. What can I do?
When I type my username and password in on the login page, I get a message that my username or password is invalid or deos not exist. Why?
I got the password email but my password does not work. Why?
Can I hide my email address from other users?
Can I hide my last name from other users?
Why am I required to have an email address to register at PoolHost.com?
Can I sign people up who don't have internet access?
Why can't I use my Username for display instead of my real name?
How do I change my username, email address, location of residence, password, etc.?
Joining Pools
How do I join a public pool?
How do I join a private pool?
How do I find the pool(s) I joined the last time I logged on?
Creating/Changing Pool Settings and Rules
Can the pool rules, Pool ID or Pool Password be changed during the season?
How do I put a message on my pool's home page?
Can I put extra info that appears on my pool's Pool Rules page such as how I'll handle late picks or info on prize distribution?
How many people can join a pool?
Can I use weights to run a confidence pool?
Can I use spreads in my pool?
Can I have a survival pool where players drop off when they pick a team that loses?
How do I put a Pool Poll on my pool's home page?
I created a Pool Poll but it doesn't show up on my pool's home page. Why?
How do I upload a pool logo for my pool?
Can a pool use custom spreads?
Making Picks/Deadlines
The last time I logged in, I joined a pool and there were menu options for making picks and viewing standings and now they are gone. Where did they go?
When I pick in one pool will my picks be automatically made in the other pools I belong to?
Can picks be entered after the pick deadline?
When is the picking deadline each week?
Can I have a custom pick deadline?
When is the deadline in a week with a Thursday game?
What if I'm out of town or can't get to a computer to make picks in one week?
What happens if I don't make my picks before the deadline?
After I make my picks, can I go back and change them?
I made my picks and I can see them on the My Picks page, but I don't seem them on the All Picks Page. Why?
Can I see the picks that other member in my pool have made?
Why do I see X's under the games on the All Picks page instead of the teams that users have picked?
What if a pool member forgets to make his picks in the pool that I run?
Can the pool admin enter or correct picks for users for previous weeks?
When does the site update to the next week?
Can I see picks and standings for previous weeks?
Scoring
How does scoring work?
Why do the All Picks and Standings pages show that I got 2 points for each game where I picked a winner?
I'm in a pool that does not use the spreads. Why do we still get 2 points for a win instead of just 1 since there will never be a tie?
Why does one of the games show up yellow instead of red or green?
Does PoolHost.com have live scoring?
Why do the All Picks and Standings pages show a loss (or a win or a tie) in a game that is still underway?
When is scoring updated?
How is the win % calculated if I have a game that was a tie?
How does the Monday Night Football game total points tie-break work?
What are weights?
What are spreads?
Can I use the Monday Night Football game total points as a weekly tie-break?
What if two people have the same score and have chosen the same Monday Night Football game total point value?
Misc.
I bookmarked my pool's home page but when I try to use the bookmark, I get an Access Denied page. Why?
When I print the all picks page, some of the game get cut off. What can I do about this?
Where do the PoolHost.com spreads come from?
I'm currently using another site. Can I transfer my pool to PoolHost.com?
I missed the start of the season. Can I still sign up and transfer my pool info into a pool I create on your site?
Why do I have to log back in after I don't use the site for a while?
Why don't I get the email that PoolHost.com sends to everyone else?
Answers:
Is membership and creating or joining a pool on PoolHost.com really FREE?
Yes.
Can I join more than one pool?
Yes.
Can I create more than one pool?
Yes. Users can create up to 4 pools.
How many pools can I create?
Users can create up to 4 pools.
I registered but didn't get my password via email like the registration page said I would. When will I get it?
Usually, you should receive your password within a few minutes. If you don't, there are other possibilities. Make sure you and/or your ISP is not filtering or blocking email for SPAM protection. If they are, there is probably a way to add PoolHost.com to a list of accepted senders. You'll have to check with your ISP about how to do this. Once you've gottent his corrected, you can got to our Forgotten Password page to reset your password. If you are using a work email you'd have to verify with your company's policy if you can receive email from us. If not, you'll have to use a personal email address. Sometimes delivery of our automated email can be very slow at times when the site is very busy, so you may have to be a bit patient. Another possibility is that you may have mis-typed your email address. If this is the case you can try to re-register. You'll need to use a different username because the original one would still be in our system. If the registration process does not tell you that the email address is already used, then you must have typed it incorrectly originally. In this case, you should receive your password info shortly at the correct address. If you are told that the email address you entered is already in our system, your password email should be on its way. You can go to the Forgotten Password page to have your info re-sent to you if you'd like, but you should check one of the above possibilities first.
I forgot my password or username and now I can't login. What can I do?
You can go to the forgotten password link, type in the email address you registered with and a password reset link will be emailed to you within a few minutes. Click HERE to go to the forgotten password page.
When I type my username and password in on the login page, I get a message that my username or password is invalid or deos not exist. Why?
If you don't remember your username or password, you can go to the password reset link (click HERE) to reset your password with your registered email. The most common reason for get the message that your password is invalid is typing your password incorrectly or not using the correct CASE. Passwords are CASE sensitive. If you need to change your password to something easier to type or remember, after you login, go to Edit User Info.
I got the password email but my password does not work. Why?
The most common reason for get the message that your password is invalid is typing your password incorrectly or not using the correct CASE. Passwords are CASE sensitive. If you need to change your password to something easier to type or remember, after you login, go to Edit User Info.
Can I hide my email address from other users?
When registering there is a check box that allows you to hide your email address from view from other users. You can change this setting later by going to Edit User Info.
Can I hide my last name from other users?
When registering there is a check box that allows you to hide your last name from view from other users. You can change this setting later by going to Edit User Info.
Why am I required to have an email address to register at PoolHost.com?
We use email addresses to uniquely identify other users. Our registration processes allows us to verify that the email addresses users sign up with are valid. On our site, users are able to send each other email using our mail system. Invalid email causes problems for our us, so we use this method of registration to validate all email addresses.
Can I sign people up who don't have internet access?
We use email addresses to uniquely identify other users. Our registration processes allows us to verify that the email addresses users sign up with are valid. On our site, users are able to send each other email using our mail system. Invalid email causes problems for our us, so we use this method of registration to validate all email addresses. Because of this, users without internet access can't register at this time. We will be changing this policy sometime in the future. For now, the best way to get these people registered is to create an email account on another service such as Yahoo or Hotmail for the purpose of registration. Once registration is completed, this email address will not be needed anymore.
Why can't I use my Username for display instead of my real name?
This is a system limitation that we will be changing some time soon.
How do I change my username, email address, location of residence, password, etc.?
After logging in, go to Edit User Info.
How do I join a public pool?
Go to Join a Public Pool. Click on the pool name you'd like to join. You'll be asked to confirm your choice. If you decide to "un-join" the pool, go to Resign from a Pool. Exit Current Pool does not make you un-join. It just takes you to the PoolHost.com home page and changes your menus back to the menus when you first login to PoolHost.com
How do I join a private pool?
Got to Join a Private Pool. You must have the pool's Pool ID and Pool Password to join the pool. You must get this info from the pool's admin. The admin can send this info automatically by clicking on Invite a Player and entering an email address. An automatic email will be sent to that email address with the Pool ID and Pool Password and instructions included. The admin can also send this info manually.
How do I find the pool(s) I joined the last time I logged on?
When you login in, to see the pool menus, you can go to a pool that you've joined by clicking onMy Pools. You will see a list of the pools that you've joined. Click on one to go to it. You will now be able to see the menu options for that pool. You can switch between pools by going to My Pools and choosing a different one.
Can the pool rules, Pool ID or Pool Password be changed during the season?
Yes. If you are the pool admin, go to Pool Settings to make changes.
How do I put a message on my pool's home page?
Go to Manager's Message. There is a box for entering the pool's home page message. This message will appear once you add this message and save it.
Can I put extra info that appears on my pool's Pool Rules page such as how I'll handle late picks or info on prize distribution?
Yes. Go to Pool Settings and add the extra information in the text box. The message will appear on the Pool Rules page after you save the Pool Settings.
How many people can join a pool?
You can set the number of people allowed in a pool on the Pool Settings page. You can have up to 200 people in a pool. This can be increased on a case by case basis.
Can I use weights to run a confidence pool?
Yes. Set this on the Pool Settings page. Changing this after picks have already been made by your users will delete their picks for the current week since they need to add weight values. Without weights, their picks are not valid.
Can I use spreads in my pool?
Yes. Set this on the Pool Settings page. Changing this after picks have already been made by your users will delete their picks for the current week since the spreads will likely affect which teams they want to pick.
Can I have a survival pool where players drop off when they pick a team that loses?
Yes. You can run a survival pool just like any other pool. When you want to drop a player off after a loss, you can 'lock' them out of making picks by going to Lock a Player, checking the box next to their name and saving. This allows them to still view pool results but disallows them from making more picks.
How do I put a Pool Poll on my pool's home page?
Go to Pool Poll and enter the poll information. After you enter the info and save it, the poll is now Inactive. You still need to activate the poll to make it show up on your pool's home page.
I created a Pool Poll but it doesn't show up on my pool's home page. Why?
After you create a poll, you still need to activate it. Got to Pool Poll and check to see if the pool is not activated. If not, click on Activate to activate it. It will now appear on your pool's home page.
How do I upload a pool logo for my pool?
Go to Upload Pool Logo.
Can a pool use custom spreads?
Yes. You can set this by going to Pool Settings and checking this box and then saving the settings. Changing this setting will delete all player picks for the current week. The reason for this is that users may not want the same picks if different spreads are entered.
The last time I logged in, I joined a pool and there were menu options for making picks and viewing standings and now they are gone. Where did they go?
At PoolHost.com, you can join multiple pools. When you login in, to see the pool menus, you must go to a pool that you joined by clicking on My Pools. You will see a list of the pools that you've joined. Click on one to go to it. You will now be able to see the menu options for that pool. You can switch between pools by going to My Pools and choosing a different one.
When I pick in one pool will my picks be automatically made in the other pools I belong to?
No. We support multiple pool types with multiple pools. Because of this, picks in one pool may not be compatible with picks in another pool. You will need to go to each pool you belong to and enter picks for each.
Can picks be entered after the pick deadline?
If you are not the pool admin, you can not enter picks after the deadline. If you are the pool admin, you can enter picks at any time, after the deadline or for previous weeks. You can do this by going to the Make Picks page. The admin's Make Picks page looks different from other users. There is a pull down menu with each user's name. To make picks for another user, you should choose the player name and the week for which you want to make changes and then click Select BEFORE you try to make changes. That players current picks will now be shown. You can now make or change this user's picks. Now click Save Picks to save the user's picks. With this feature, the admin can decide how to handle late or missed picks.
When is the picking deadline each week?
The pick deadline is kickoff time of the first game of the week. If there is a Thursday game, then the deadline is kickoff time of the start of the game on Thursday. ALL picks must be in before the deadline.
Can I have a custom pick deadline?
Yes. We now support custom pool deadlines. They can be set up once you create a pool by going to the Pool Settings page..
When is the deadline in a week with a Thursday game?
The deadline would be kickoff time of the start time of the Thursday game. ALL picks must be in by that time.
What if I'm out of town or can't get to a computer to make picks in one week?
This is up to your pool admin. The pool admin can make picks for you, so if you email your picks to the admin, your picks can be entered by the admin at any time.
What happens if I don't make my picks before the deadline?
This is up to the pool admin. The admin can let you submit late picks or assign picks to give you points in any fashion that he/she likes.
After I make my picks, can I go back and change them?
You can change your picks as many times as you like before the pick deadline. Once the deadline passes, you won't be able to make any more changes.
I made my picks and I can see them on the My Picks page, but I don't seem them on the All Picks Page. Why?
Picks only show up on the All Picks page after the pick deadline. In your pool, the All Picks page may show X's for each players picks until the deadine passes at which time the teams will be shown. The X's can be disabled or enbable by the pool admin in the Pool Settings page.
Can I see the picks that other member in my pool have made?
Yes. All picks show up on the All Picks page after the pick deadline. In your pool, the All Picks page may show X's for each players picks until the deadine passes at which time the teams will be shown. The X's can be disabled or enbable by the pool admin in the Pool Settings page.
Why do I see X's under the games on the All Picks page instead of the teams that users have picked?
Picks only show up on the All Picks page after the pick deadline. In your pool, the All Picks page may show X's for each players picks until the deadine passes at which time the teams will be shown. The X's can be disabled or enbable by the pool admin in the Pool Settings page.
What if a pool member forgets to make his picks in the pool that I run?
As the pool admin, you can decide to do whatever you want to handle this situation. You can leave the picks as is for a score of 0 or if the user emails the picks to you before the deadline, you can enter the picks for him/her by going to the Make PIcks page and selecting that user.
Can the pool admin enter or correct picks for users for previous weeks?
Yes. The pool admin can enter or correct picks for any user by going to the Make Picks page, selecting the username and week, clicking Select and then making the necessary changes. Make sure you click Select before you make changes or you may change the wrong user's picks!
When does the site update to the next week?
The site updates to the next week on Tuesday morninngs after the MNF game.
Can I see picks and standings for previous weeks?
Yes. Go to the All Picks or Standings pages and then choose a week from the pull down menu. Click select and you will be able to see the results for that week.
How does scoring work?
| Pool Type | Win | Tie | Loss |
| 2,1,0 Scoring | 2 points | 1 point | 0 points |
| 1,0,0 Scoring | 1 point | 0 points | 0 points |
| Weights w/2,1,0 Scoring | 2 X Weight | 1 X Weight | 0 points |
| Weights w/1,0,0 Scoring | 1 X Weight | 0 points | 0 points |
Why do the All Picks and Standings pages show that I got 2 points for each game where I picked a winner?
Your pool probably is set to use 2,1,0 scoring, 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 for a loss. This allows you to be rewarded even if you picked a tie. If your pool uses weights, then the weight value multiplies the point value. Your pool admin can set either type of scoring, (2,1,0) or (1,0,0). YES, you can have a tie in a game that does not use spreads!
I'm in a pool that does not use the spreads. Why do we still get 2 points for a win instead of just 1 since there will never be a tie?
Your pool admin has set 2,1,0 scoring where 2 points is given for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 for loss. If your pool uses weights, then the weight value multiplies the point value. YES, there CAN be a tie in a regular season game even without point spreads! If neither team scores in over time, the game ends in a tie.
Why does one of the games show up yellow instead of red or green?
Red is a loss, Greem is a Win and Yellow is a tie.
Does PoolHost.com have live scoring?
PoolHost.com scores are updated regularly during the games. They may not be 'play by play' live but they are updated regularly so that you will be able to see game scores and pool scores update on a regular basis as the games progress.
Why do the All Picks and Standings pages show a loss (or a win or a tie) in a game that is still underway?
The All Picks and Standings pages reflect the current game status. When the game score becomes final, the All Picks and Standing page become final for that game.
When is scoring updated?
Game scores are updated as the games progress. Pool Scoring updates as the game scores update.
How is the win % calculated if I have a game that was a tie?
Win percentage is calculated in such a way so that credit is given for ties. Wins are 1 and Ties are half. These are added together and divided by the total number of picks to get the winning percentage.
How does the Monday Night Football game total points tie-break work?
The person who gets the closest to the total point value regardless of going over is the winner. If two people have the same pick points for the week and have the same MNF total point value, then the person who made their picks first wins. The tie break only decides between people whose pick points are tied. The tie-break has nothing to do with Game ties for the week and does not add to the points for the week. The Standings page and All Picks page are automatically sorted by who made their picks first.
What are weights?
Weights are values that you assign to each of your picks, the higher the value, the more confidence you have in the pick. If your pool requires picking 8 games, then you must assign each pick a value from 1 to 8, 8 being most confident. When the points for the week are calculated, the weight is multiplied by the game result. A win is 2 points times the weight value, a tie is 1 point times the weight value, and a loss is 0 points.
What are spreads?
Sometimes, a game may be an uneven matchup between two teams. In order to even a game out so that picking a team is more difficult, point spreads are used. A point spread is the number of points by which the experts expect the Favorite Team to win. If you pick the Favorite Team, you win if the Favorite wins the game by MORE than the point spread. If you pick the Underdog Team, you win the game if the Underdog wins outright OR if the Underdog loses, but not by more than the point spread. On our web site, point spreads always apply to the HOME team. If the point spread is negative, this means the Home Team is the Favorite and the Away Team is the Underdog. If the point spread is positive, then the Home Team is the Underdog and the Away Team is the Favorite. Example:
San Francisco -4.5 Dallas
Assuming San Francisco is the Home Team, then San Francisco is the Favorite and Dallas is the Underdog. If you pick San Francisco, San Fran must win by MORE than 4.5 points for you to win with that pick. If you pick Dallas, Dallas has to win the game or lose by less than 4.5 points for you to win picking Dallas.
Anther way to look at it is to add the point spread to the Home Team's score at the end of the game to find out who won using the point spread.
Point spread are occasionally made with 1/2 point increments. This guarantees that there will not be a tie for that game when using point spreads.
Can I use the Monday Night Football game total points as a weekly tie-break?
Yes. The MNF total is used to break ties between players who are tied for their weekly total points. If players tied for their weekly total points AND they've picked the same MNF total point value, then the player who picked first wins.
What if two people have the same score and have chosen the same Monday Night Football game total point value?
If players tied for their weekly total points AND they've picked the same MNF total point value, then the player who picked first wins.
I bookmarked my pool's home page but when I try to use the bookmark, I get an Access Denied page. Why?
Our pages require you to be logged in. If you bookmark a page that requires you to be logged in, you will not be allowed access to that page until you log in. Instead of bookmarking that page, you should book mark https://www.poolhost.com instead.
When I print the all picks page, some of the game get cut off. What can I do about this?
Try printing the page in Landscape mode. The results should be much better. We're going to make a more printer friendly version of this page soon.
Where do the PoolHost.com spreads come from?
PoolHost.com spread some from Harrah's casino, but they may come from other casinos such as Caesars, Hilton, MGM, or Mirage to get the most commonly used spread at the time we post them.
I'm currently using another site. Can I transfer my pool to PoolHost.com?
Yes. This is relatively easy to do. When you create a pool you become the pool admin for that pool. You now have the ability to enter picks for all players for the current week and previous weeks. You just need to create the pool using the rules that best suit you and then transfer all the pick information into your pool on our site.
I missed the start of the season. Can I still sign up and transfer my pool info into a pool I create on your site?
Yes. This is relatively easy to do. When you create a pool you become the pool admin for that pool. You now have the ability to enter picks for all players for the current week and previous weeks. You just need to create the pool using the rules that best suit you and then transfer all the pick information into your pool on our site.
Why do I have to log back in after I don't use the site for a while?
Our site has a default 20 minute timeout for inactivity. Users who are inactive for 20 minutes are automatically logged out and must login back in to access again. This allows us to free up server resources allowing other users to use the site trouble free. 20 minutes is a standard timeout used by many site for the same reason.
Why don't I get the email that PoolHost.com sends to everyone else?
Our group email goes out with everyone's email address on the blind copy (BCC) line with a generic PoolHost.com email address on the TO line. Some email services such as Yahoo send email that you receive without your address being in the TO line directo to the Bulk Email Folder. They do this to keep you from being SPAMMED. Unfortunately this prevents our group email from reaching you unless you check your Bulk Email Folder regularly. Other services and mail clients have similar options. Check to see if these options are changeable. If not, it will be diffcult for you to receive PoolHost.com email or mail from your pool admin.
You may also want to visit the Help page.
If you have further questions please contact us by submitting your support requests HERE.
Alert Header
Alert Header