01
Entry
$40 per qualifier night, per player. Pay via Venmo @nationalarcadechampionship before play. Your spot is locked once payment is received.
Season One · Qualifier Nights
Player Rules
Read this before you sign up. Checking the box on the sign-up form means you agree to every rule below.
The rules
What every player agrees to
02
Prize pool
Every qualifier night pays $200 in guaranteed prizes: $100 for 1st, $60 for 2nd, $40 for 3rd — paid out no matter how many players show up. A qualifier night needs a minimum of 12 players to run. The National Arcade Championship pays the winners directly, by Venmo, the same night. Tied for a paid place? One tie breaker game settles it — no splits.
03
Points
Placement points: 15 / 12 / 10 / 9 / 8, plus 5 points just for playing. Your best 4 of 6 nights count toward your season total.
04
Advancement
The top 8 players per season advance to regionals, then the national final, where a $25,000 prize pool is on the line. All ages welcome.
05
Score reporting
After each 1v1 match, the winner reports the result and attaches a photo of the final screen — no photo, no result. The loser confirms the report.
If the loser doesn’t confirm within 15 minutes, the photo-backed report stands on its own. The photo is the evidence.
If both players report and the reports disagree, the photos decide. If the photos can’t settle it, the system schedules one rematch. If the rematch still produces no clean result, the higher seed advances, and the match is flagged in the night’s record.
No person settles a match — not staff, not the host. The system rules on the evidence, the same way for everyone. For high-score games, a photo of the final screen is required — no photo, no score.
06
Conduct
Good sportsmanship is required. No cheating, no harassment, no trash that crosses the line. Violations mean disqualification, no refund.
07
Equipment
Do not unplug, move, or tamper with the Contender box, controllers, or TVs. Report any issue to venue staff right away.
08
Reporting your scores
Scores are reported right here on nationalarcadechampionship.com — no outside account needed. Head to the Play page and use Log Your Result. Be ready before your first night so you’re set when the bracket goes live.