Terms & Conditions

1. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS

1.1 These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User", "Participant", "Punter", or "you") and Punters Republic ("we", "us", "our", or "the Platform") regarding your use of the Punters Republic website and services located at www.puntersrepublic.com.

1.2 By creating an account, accessing, or using any part of the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, including our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated by reference.

1.3 If you do not agree to these Terms, you must immediately cease using the Platform and may not participate in the Competition.

1.4 We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be notified to registered users via email. Continued use of the Platform following notification constitutes acceptance of modified Terms.

2. DEFINITIONS

2.1 "Competition" means the Punters Republic annual sports tipping competition consisting of 52 sporting events.

2.2 "Double Down" means a special selection where a Participant designates one event for which they will receive double points (20 points) if their selection wins first place, but zero points if their selection does not win first place.

2.3 "Gimme" means a special selection where a Participant designates one event for which they will automatically receive the full first-place points (10 points) regardless of the actual outcome.

2.4 "Substitution" means the ability to change a previously submitted selection for an event that has not yet commenced, subject to the limitations set out in these Terms.

2.5 "Private League" means a sub-competition created by a Participant where invited users compete against each other using the same selections from the main Competition.

2.6 "Entry Deadline" means 11:59 PM Singapore Standard Time (SGT) on the day before the first event of the Competition (Hahnenkamm Downhill).

2.7 "SGT" means Singapore Standard Time (UTC+8).

3. ELIGIBILITY AND REGISTRATION

3.1 Age and Capacity

• You must be at least 18 years of age to register and participate
• You must have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts under the laws of your jurisdiction
• You represent and warrant that all information provided during registration is accurate, current, and complete

3.2 Account Requirements

• Each Participant may maintain only one (1) account
• Creating multiple accounts is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate disqualification and account termination
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• You must immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your account at legal@puntersrepublic.com

3.3 Verification

• We reserve the right to verify your identity and eligibility at any time
• Failure to provide requested verification may result in account suspension or termination
• Providing false information is grounds for immediate disqualification

4. THE COMPETITION

4.1 Competition Structure

The Competition consists of 52 sporting events throughout the calendar year, including but not limited to:

• Downhill skiing events (including Hahnenkamm)
• Tennis Grand Slams
• Golf Majors
• Olympic events
• FIFA World Cup (where applicable)
• NFL Championship
• Cricket Test Matches
• AFL Premiership
• Rugby tournaments
• Motorsport championships
• Other major international sporting events

4.2 Entry Requirements

• All Participants must submit their selections for all 52 events before the Entry Deadline
• Participants must designate exactly one (1) event as their Double Down
• Participants must designate exactly one (1) event as their Gimme
• Double Down and Gimme must be different events
• Incomplete entries (missing selections) will not be accepted and may result in disqualification

4.3 No Entry Fee

• Participation in the Competition is completely free
• No purchase, payment, or consideration of any kind is required to enter or participate
• There are no hidden fees, premium tiers, or paid advantages

5. SCORING SYSTEM

5.1 Standard Scoring

Points are awarded based on the finishing position of your selected competitor/team:

• 1st Place (Winner): 10 points
• 2nd Place: 5 points
• 3rd Place: 1 point
• All other positions: 0 points

5.2 Special Event Scoring Rules

Events Without Third Place (e.g., Tennis Grand Slams, NFL):

• Winner: 10 points
• Runner-up: 5 points
• Semi-final losers (both): 1 point each
• All others: 0 points

Cricket Test Matches:

• Winning team selection: 10 points
• Losing team selection: 5 points
• Draw or Tie:
  • If you selected "Draw" or "Tie" and this occurs: 10 points
  • If you selected a participating team and the match ends in a draw/tie: 0 points

5.3 Double Down Scoring

• If your Double Down selection finishes 1st: 20 points
• If your Double Down selection finishes 2nd or 3rd: 0 points
• If your Double Down selection finishes any other position: 0 points
• No points are awarded for non-winning Double Down selections
• Double Down designation cannot be changed after the Entry Deadline

5.4 Gimme Scoring

• Your Gimme selection automatically awards 10 points regardless of the actual event outcome
• This is a guaranteed points mechanism
• Gimme designation cannot be changed after the Entry Deadline

5.5 Scoring Disputes

• All scoring decisions are final once published by Competition administrators
• Any disputes must be raised within 7 days of results publication
• We will review disputes in good faith but reserve final discretion on all scoring matters
• Our decision on scoring matters is final and binding

6. SUBSTITUTIONS

6.1 Substitution Allowance

• Each Participant is entitled to make up to three (3) substitutions during the Competition
• Substitutions allow you to change your selection for an event that has not yet commenced
• Once all three substitutions are used, no further changes can be made

6.2 Substitution Deadlines

• Each substitution must be made by 11:59 PM SGT on the day before the relevant event begins
• Example: To substitute for an event starting on March 15, the substitution must be made by 11:59 PM SGT on March 14
• No substitutions will be accepted after this deadline for any reason
• It is your responsibility to be aware of event start times and deadlines

6.3 Substitution Restrictions

• Substitutions can only change the competitor/team selection for an event
• Substitutions cannot be used to change your Double Down or Gimme designations
• Substitutions cannot be transferred between events
• Once a substitution is confirmed, it cannot be reversed (this counts as using one substitution)

6.4 Technical Failures

While we make reasonable efforts to ensure Platform availability, we are not responsible for your inability to make substitutions due to:

• Internet connectivity issues
• User error or late submission
• Force majeure events

Plan substitutions well in advance of deadlines.

7. LEADERBOARDS

7.1 Global Leaderboard

The main Competition leaderboard displays:

• Participant ranking by total points
• Total points accumulated
• Number of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishes
• Double Down status (played/not played, points earned)
• Gimme status (played/not played)
• Number of substitutions used (X/3)

7.2 Special Designation - Last Place

• The Participant in last place on the global leaderboard will have a teddy bear icon displayed next to their name
• This is a lighthearted tradition and carries no penalty beyond friendly recognition
• Historically, the last-placed participant would take a giant teddy bear to dinner at a fine restaurant as a humorous forfeit

7.3 Tie-Breaking

In the event of tied total points, the following tiebreakers apply in order:

1. Participant with most 1st place finishes
2. Participant with most 2nd place finishes
3. Participant with most 3rd place finishes
4. Participant who successfully completed their Double Down (if applicable)
5. Participant who submitted their entry earliest
6. Administrative decision in good faith

7.4 Leaderboard Updates

• Leaderboards are updated after each event's official results are confirmed
• We aim to update within 48 hours of event completion
• Updates may be delayed for events requiring official verification or in case of protests/appeals

8. PRIVATE LEAGUES

8.1 Creation and Management

• Any registered Participant may create Private Leagues at no cost
• Private League creators become administrators of their leagues
• Administrators can invite other Participants via unique invitation codes
• Participants may join multiple Private Leagues simultaneously

8.2 Private League Mechanics

• Private Leagues use the same selections and scoring as the main Competition
• Private Leagues have separate leaderboards showing only invited Participants
• Private Leagues do not affect or replace participation in the main Competition
• All main Competition rules and scoring apply equally to Private Leagues

8.3 Private League Administration

• League administrators may remove Participants from their Private Leagues
• We may intervene in Private League disputes at our discretion
• Inappropriate league names or conduct may result in league termination

9. USER CONDUCT AND PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

9.1 You agree NOT to:

• Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose or in violation of these Terms
• Create multiple accounts or share account access with others
• Attempt to manipulate, cheat, or gain unfair advantage in the Competition
• Use automated bots, scripts, or any automated means to interact with the Platform
• Harass, abuse, threaten, or discriminate against other users
• Post, share, or transmit offensive, defamatory, or inappropriate content
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Platform, other accounts, or computer systems
• Interfere with or disrupt the Platform's operation or servers
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to derive source code from the Platform
• Remove, circumvent, or disable any security or technological features
• Scrape, data mine, or extract data from the Platform
• Impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your affiliation
• Violate any applicable local, state, national, or international law
• Infringe upon intellectual property rights of Punters Republic or third parties

9.2 Consequences of Violations

Violations may result in:

• Warning or temporary suspension
• Permanent account termination and disqualification
• Removal from all leaderboards
• Legal action where appropriate
• Reporting to relevant authorities for illegal activities

10. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

10.1 Platform Ownership

• All content, features, functionality, software, designs, text, graphics, logos, interfaces, and trademarks on the Platform are owned by or licensed to Punters Republic
• The Punters Republic name, logo, and all related marks are our trademarks
• Nothing in these Terms grants you any right, title, or interest in our intellectual property

10.2 User-Generated Content

• You retain ownership of any content you submit (e.g., profile information, league names)
• By submitting content, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, reproduce, and distribute such content in connection with the Platform
• You represent that you have all necessary rights to grant this license
• We may remove any content that violates these Terms or is otherwise objectionable

10.3 Restrictions

• You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or create derivative works from any Platform content without our express written permission
• Limited personal use and sharing for non-commercial purposes is permitted

11. PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION

11.1 Data Collection

We collect and process personal information including:

• Registration details (name, email address, date of birth)
• Account credentials
• Competition selections and substitutions
• Platform usage and engagement data
• Communication history
• Payment information (if applicable for future features)

11.2 Data Use

Your data is used to:

• Operate and administer the Competition
• Calculate scores and maintain leaderboards
• Send Competition updates and communications
• Improve Platform functionality
• Comply with legal obligations

11.3 Privacy Policy

• Our complete Privacy Policy is available at www.puntersrepublic.com/privacy
• The Privacy Policy forms part of these Terms
• We comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and applicable Australian privacy laws

11.4 Communications

• By registering, you consent to receive Competition-related communications via email
• You may opt out of non-essential communications but cannot opt out of critical Competition updates
• We will never sell or share your personal information with third parties for marketing without your explicit consent

12. DISCLAIMERS AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

12.1 Platform "As Is"

• The Platform is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without warranties of any kind, express or implied
• We do not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or free from viruses
• We make no warranties regarding the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any content

12.2 No Warranty

We disclaim all warranties including but not limited to:

• Merchantability
• Fitness for a particular purpose
• Non-infringement
• Quality, accuracy, or completeness

12.3 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• We shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• We shall not be liable for loss of profits, revenue, data, or use
• Our total liability to you for all claims arising from or relating to the Platform shall not exceed AUD $100
• This limitation applies regardless of the legal theory (contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise)

12.4 Australian Consumer Law

• Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any consumer guarantee, right, or remedy conferred by the Australian Consumer Law or any other applicable law that cannot be lawfully excluded
• To the extent permitted by law, our liability for breach of any implied warranty or condition is limited to, at our option:
  • Re-supply of the services; or
  • Payment of the cost of having the services re-supplied

12.5 Exclusions

We are not liable for:

• Third-party websites or services linked from the Platform
• Actions or conduct of other users
• Technical failures, outages, or maintenance
• Your inability to access or use the Platform
• Loss or corruption of data
• Errors in scoring or leaderboard calculations (though we will correct genuine errors in good faith)
• Force majeure events (see Section 14)

13. INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Punters Republic, its officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, and service providers from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, expenses, or fees (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

• Your use or misuse of the Platform
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of another person or entity
• Your violation of any applicable laws or regulations
• Any content you submit to the Platform

14. FORCE MAJEURE

We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing obligations under these Terms due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including:

• Acts of God (natural disasters, severe weather)
• War, terrorism, or civil unrest
• Government actions or regulations
• Pandemics or epidemics
• Labor disputes or strikes
• Internet or telecommunications failures
• Power outages
• Cyber attacks or hacking
• Cancellation, postponement, or modification of sporting events

In such cases, we will make reasonable efforts to minimize disruption and may modify Competition rules as necessary.

15. EVENT CANCELLATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS

15.1 Event Changes

If a Competition event is cancelled, postponed, or significantly modified, we reserve the right to:

• Replace the event with an alternative event
• Award points based on interim standings
• Award no points for that event
• Extend deadlines or modify rules as appropriate

15.2 Notification

• We will notify Participants of material event changes via email and Platform announcements
• Decisions regarding event cancellations and scoring will be made in good faith and are final

15.3 No Refunds

• As the Competition is free to enter, no refunds or compensation are provided for event cancellations or modifications

16. TERMINATION

16.1 Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your account and access immediately, without notice, for:

• Violation of these Terms
• Fraudulent or illegal activity
• Creating multiple accounts
• Abuse of other users or staff
• Any conduct we deem inappropriate or harmful
• Extended period of inactivity

16.2 Termination by You

• You may terminate your account at any time by contacting legal@puntersrepublic.com
• Upon termination, you will lose access to all account data, selections, and leaderboard positions
• Termination does not relieve you of obligations incurred prior to termination

16.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your right to access and use the Platform immediately ceases
• We may delete your account and associated data
• You remain bound by provisions that survive termination (Sections 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18)
• You will be removed from all leaderboards and Private Leagues

17. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

17.1 Governing Law

These Terms and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Victoria, Australia, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

17.2 Jurisdiction

You irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Victoria, Australia, for the resolution of any disputes arising from or relating to these Terms or your use of the Platform.

17.3 Class Action Waiver

To the extent permitted by law, you agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated, or representative action.

18. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

18.1 Informal Resolution

Before initiating any formal legal proceedings, you agree to first contact us at legal@puntersrepublic.com to attempt to resolve the dispute informally.

18.2 Mediation

If informal resolution fails, the parties agree to participate in good faith mediation before commencing court proceedings.

18.3 Costs

Each party shall bear its own costs in any dispute resolution process unless otherwise ordered by a court or agreed upon.

19. GENERAL PROVISIONS

19.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Punters Republic regarding the Platform and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

19.2 Amendments

• We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time
• Material changes will be communicated via email to registered users at least 7 days before taking effect
• Continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance
• You should review these Terms periodically

19.3 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

19.4 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision. Any waiver must be in writing and signed by an authorized representative.

19.5 Assignment

• You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your account without our prior written consent
• We may assign these Terms or delegate our obligations without restriction
• Any attempted assignment by you in violation of this Section shall be null and void

19.6 No Third-Party Beneficiaries

These Terms are for the sole benefit of you and Punters Republic and do not create any third-party beneficiary rights.

19.7 Headings

Section and paragraph headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of these Terms.

19.8 Survival

Provisions that by their nature should survive termination shall survive, including but not limited to Sections 10 (Intellectual Property), 11 (Privacy), 12 (Disclaimers), 13 (Indemnification), 17 (Governing Law), and 18 (Dispute Resolution).

19.9 Language

These Terms are drafted in English. In the event of any conflict between an English version and a translation, the English version shall prevail.

19.10 Electronic Communications

You consent to receive communications from us electronically, and you agree that all agreements, notices, disclosures, and other communications that we provide to you electronically satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be in writing.

20. CONTACT INFORMATION

20.1 Questions and Concerns

For questions about these Terms, the Competition rules, or any other matter, please contact us at:

• Email: legal@puntersrepublic.com
• Website: www.puntersrepublic.com

20.2 Notice Requirements

Any notices to Punters Republic must be sent via email to legal@puntersrepublic.com and shall be deemed received when we acknowledge receipt.

20.3 Response Time

We aim to respond to all inquiries within 5 business days, though response times may vary during peak Competition periods.