Jackpot Challenge Rules

These rules are incorporated into and incorporate the Services Agreement, to which all participants must agree in order to register and participate.

Sign up on the HealthyWage website

It only takes a few minutes to register and start having a blast! Each Jackpot is organized by a particular company- don't forget to select which one in which you are competing.  The Sonic Jackpot is ONLY available for employees and their dependents.

Great cash prizes for all teams that reach 6%

Every single team that reaches or exceeds a 6% average weight loss in their Verified weigh-out at the end of each challenge period wins! The prize pot, which is the money collected at the start of the Jackpot Challenge from participants less any applicable admin fees, will be split among these winners. Your employer may also be putting in extra prizes—keep an eye out for promotional emails and posters for more details!

Must have a team of five

Each team competing in the Jackpot must have exactly five members. If you don’t, we’ll try to find other participants to compete with you. Drop us an email.

Get your weight verified 3 times

To keep things fair we ask everyone to get their weight verified either by uploading a video or by confirming their weight with someone we can trust. We only ask you to do this three times:

- Once on or after the Start Date, and

- Once for the First Pot: Aug 1- Aug 8

You can read more about how to have your weight verified below.

Weigh-in unofficially once a week

To keep you on track and to be sure everyone knows where they stand, we ask you to weigh yourself once a week. Step on your own scale and enter it on the HealthyWage website (there's a big green 'add weight' button on your page when you're signed in to the website).

These weigh-ins do not need to be verified. All the other participants need to know where they stand in the challenge, so it's important for everyone to keep up with weigh-ins.

Rankings based on team’s average percentage weight lost

Prizes are awarded based on a ranking of the teams according to team mean proportionate weight loss. Team mean proportionate weight loss is the average of each team member’s proportionate weight loss, which is measured by finding the difference between a participant’s verified starting weight and verified ending weight, and dividing that difference by the participant’s verified starting weight. When we tabulate the results, we do not count weight loss beyond 16.59% for any team member.  If someone on your team doesn't get a weigh-out, that's okay -- and we will count their weight loss as 0% for purposes of computing your team's average weight loss.

Weight loss beyond 16.59% doesn't count

Yes, you can lose more than 16.59% (you will NOT be disqualified), but the extra weight loss won’t count toward your team’s average.  The goal is to get your entire team to lose a healthy amount of weight!

Winning

The team members of each winning team will receive a check for one-fifth of the prize money won as part of that team.

Mini-Challenges

Several team challenge mini-challenges may be held during the course of the Jackpot Challenge. Each team may be eligible for mini-challenge prizes, if they are available. Your team can only win one mini-challenge prize per challenge (if you win more than one mini-challenge, your prize will be awarded to the next highest-ranking or fastest team, as appropriate).

Teams will receive instructions in advance of each mini-challenge and, in order to win a mini-challenge prize, your team must submit the team's entry according to the instructions provided. No one is permitted to cast more than one vote in any one mini-challenge.

In order to make the team challenge fair, it is important that the voting be objective. Please carefully consider the entries and then vote for the one entry that you determine is the most likely to inspire the most people to lose weight and be healthy.

Eligibility

Unless otherwise stated, the Jackpot Challenge is available only to healthy people in the United States, Canada, Australia and the UK. Void where prohibited.  People under age 18 must have doctor AND parental permission.

Verified Weigh-in Options

• Start.  You may get your weight verified for the start of your challenge beginning on the first day of your challenge, not before (unless otherwise specified). You have 3 weeks from the start of your challenge to submit your initial weight verification.
• End.  At the end of the challenge, you may have your weight verified beginning two weeks prior to the end of the challenge up to and including the final day. Final weights verified outside of this window will not be accepted.  If you submit a second verified weigh-out during the weigh-out window, you must delete your first submission.

Do I have to weigh-in with the same method and/or at the same location for both verifications

No, you are not required to use the same method nor return to the same location for both of your verified weigh-ins, however, it is at your discretion. Remember there can be differences in scales that may or may not impact your final standing.

Does my scale have to be digital?

No, you have two choices: if it is a personal, bathroom scale, it must be digital. If it is an upright, public scale (like one in a Dr's office) the display must be visible during all shots. The scale must measure weight in either pounds or kilograms, and must be zeroed out or balanced prior to the participant's weigh-in. The scale must be on a flat, hard surface (not on a carpet or rug). See here for more details about approved scales.

What is required in the video?

We try to keep it simple (but fair!) and we're certainly not perfectionists, so do the best you can to incorporate the following shots into your video. The most important thing is that the video is uncut, clearly shows the date, the scale zeroed out, and your weight while on the scale (up close so we can read it, and with full-body so we know it's you!).  Here is a list of the shots:

• View this page to see a list of the shots required for the video, screen by screen, if you are NOT using the HealthyWage app to shoot your video.
• View this page to see a list of the shots required for the video if you ARE using the HealthyWage app to shoot your video.
• If the scale cannot be zeroed out, the scale must reset (turn off and then back on) between weighing.

How can I film the video if I'm by myself?

• Please note that demonstrating the date in your video is only required in your video if you are NOT using the HealthyWage Mobile App to film your video.
• Verify the date of your weigh-in by including a clear shot of the day's newspaper with a date.
• If you don't have a physical copy of a newspaper, pull up a news website on your computer or tablet. Hint: acceptable sites such as the New York Times or The Washington Post have date stamps in the header, underneath their logos. 

1. Log into your challenge dashboard
2. Click the gear icon on the top right corner
3. Select "Profile" from the drop down menu
4. Change the unit of measurement from "pounds" to "kilos"
5. Click "Save" at the bottom of the page

General Rules

These rules apply to all our challenges.

You Can Participate in Multiple Challenges

Go for it! You can do all of our challenges at the same time!  A few specifics:

- You can sign up for as many Jackpots at one time as you wish

- You can only sign up for one team challenge at a time (but you can sign up for other challenges at the same time as your team challenge)

- You can only sign up for one HealthyWager at a time (but you can sign up for other challenges at the same time as your HealthyWager)

Get Your Weight Verified Twice

Once at the start and once at the end of each of your challenges, you must have your weight verified. Verification can be done from the privacy of your home by making a Video and uploading it to our website. Or, you can visit a health club or physician and have them verify you.

Don't Cheat or Commit Fraud

We use proprietary algorithms, weigh-in reviews and, if necessary, outside investigators and law enforcement to catch cheaters.  The legal consequences are not worth the benefit.  Rule-breakers don’t get refunds – don’t even ask.  The rule also applies to folks who are dishonest with the HealthyWage crew or a verifier or anyone else in connection with your challenge.

Don't Use Unhealthy Tricks to “Game” the Challenge

Doing unhealthy things in order to “game” the challenge is prohibited, including, but not limited to, deliberate weight gain (before, during, or after a HealthyWage challenge), starvation (defined as eating fewer calories each day than your doctor recommends), excessive exercise (defined as exercise that exceeds your doctor’s recommended amount of exercise, in terms of type, frequency and duration), water deprivation, unusual water consumption, self-induced vomiting, diuretics, laxatives, or any weight loss or weight gain plan that your doctor does or would advise against, or that, in HealthyWage’s sole and exclusive discretion, would be considered unhealthy or unfair by an ordinary person.

Don't Harass Other Players…or Anyone Else

Be nice, please!  Harassment of any kind, whether of your own teammates or other teams or non-participants is prohibited. You are encouraged to support your teammates, but you covenant and agree that unwelcome emotion, physical, or other abuse is absolutely forbidden. Harassment shall also include any words or actions that, in HealthyWage’s sole and exclusive discretion, would be likely to cause any of your teammates, or any other person, to feel pressured to do any of the unhealthy things defined above.

Don't Do Anything Illegal

Well, duh!

Don't Participate While Pregnant

If you become pregnant during your challenge, you are entitled to postpone the challenge until a future date. If you enter a challenge while pregnant, you will be disqualified.  Weight loss caused by giving birth to a baby (/-ies) does not count.  Sorry mom!

We Have a Strict No Refunds Policy

We believe strongly that an important part of the service we provide is a negative reinforcement that helps you avoid procrastinating and quitting, which would be undermined if you could simply change your mind or find an excuse to quit. Moreover, our pricing is based actuarial models that assume no refunds. There are no exceptions except in rare, evidence-documented medical situations – email us at accounting@healthywage.com if that applies.

Don't Have Surgery During Your Challenge(s)

You may not have liposuction, bariatric surgery, or any other weight-loss surgery during your challenge or within 1 year prior to your challenge start date.

The Anti-Yo-Yo Rule

When the rule applies:

This rule rarely applies.  It applies only if you (a) have previously won a HealthyWager or one of the top three prizes (not counting company prizes) in a Team Challenge and (b) have gained weight since your last verified weight, and (c) are starting a new Team Challenge.

What the rule says:

You can't start a Team Challenge with a weight that is more than a verified ending weight that you used to win a HealthyWager or one of the top three prizes (not counting company prizes) in a Team Challenge. If you do, your starting verified weight for the new challenge will be adjusted downward so that it is no higher than your lowest winning verified weight.

Example:

Marla's team won the $10,000 top prize in the Team Challenge on May 1, and Marla's final verified weight was 150 pounds. Then she gained weight in May. On June 1, she started a new Team Challenge with a starting weight of 175. That's a violation of the Anti-Yo-Yo Rule because Marla won one of the top three prizes in a team challenge with a final weight of 150 pounds, which is less than 175 pounds. HealthyWage will adjust her starting weight for the new Team Challenge down to 150 pounds.  Note:  the rule only applies if you won a HealthyWager or one of the top three prizes (not counting company prizes) in a Team Challenge.

Gaming the Verified Weigh-ins Not Allowed

When the rule applies:

This rule rarely applies.  It applies only when you are finishing a team challenge or HealthyWager and lost more than 2% per week since your last verification.

What it says:

You can't end a challenge with a weight that is less than 2% per week (rounding up) less than your last HealthyWage verification.  If you do, your ending verified weight will be adjusted upward so that it is no lower than 2% per week lower than your last HealthyWage verification.

Example:

Bob starts a HealthyWager at 201 pounds on May 1.  On May 5, he finishes the team challenge he started earlier in the year, and his ending weight is 178 pounds.  That's a violation of the rule because Bob would be claiming to have lost way more than 2% of his weight in less than a week.  2% of 201 is 5 pounds (rounding up), so Bob's May 5 weight can't be any lower than 196 pounds. HealthyWage will adjust his team challenge ending weight up to 196.