07
Programme Builder4 weeks

Specialist Competitions

Tipsters, card tournaments, fishing comps. Activates niche interest groups across the village.

Profit margin~70%
200-home village$2,100annual revenue
Time to launch4 weeks
The case for it

Skill-based competitions across a season. NRL and AFL tipsters in pre-season, card tournaments through winter, fishing or bowls comps in warmer months. Modest entry fees ($25–$50), prize pool funded from entries, trophy and bragging rights drive participation more than the cash. Skill-based and small-stakes, so they sit comfortably under Charitable Gaming Cat 1 — no licence required.

Average revenue by village size.

VillageAnnual revenueAnnual profitHours / week (team)
100 homes$1,050$7500.5 hr / week
200 homes$2,100$1,5001 hr / week
300 homes$3,150$2,2501–2 hrs / week

Figures assume 3–4 comps per year (NRL tipsters, AFL tipsters, card tournament, fishing or bowls comp) with ~30% prize-pool returned to winners.

Benefits to the village.

  1. Activates niche interest groups — sport followers, card players, fishers — who don't always engage with mainstream events.

  2. Year-round conversation starter. Monday morning ladder check-ins drive social connection.

  3. Prize giveaways at events tie comps into the broader event programme.

  4. Cross-pollinates membership. The bridge group meets the tipping group meets the bowls crew.

Setup actions.

  1. Survey residents for sporting interests

    NRL and AFL are anchors in QLD; add cricket Big Bash, cards, fishing or bowls based on what residents follow.

  2. Choose formats with clear scoring rules

    Tipping for sport, point-scored hands for cards, weight or length for fishing.

  3. Set entry fees ($25–$50) and define the prize split

    Typically 1st/2nd/3rd at ~60% of entries. The rest funds future events.

  4. Collect entries via the forms module

    Keeps entrants and payment records in one place.

  5. Confirm Charitable Gaming Cat 1 eligibility

    Skill-based, prize pool under $2,000 per comp. No licence required.

  6. Announce comps via notifications

    Post weekly ladder updates to maintain interest.

Operating model.

One coordinator per comp manages entries, scoring and the ladder. For tipsters, a spreadsheet or tipping app handles weekly tipping; the coordinator publishes the ladder each Monday. Card tournaments run in single-night brackets at the clubhouse. Fishing comps run over a defined window with photo-verified catches. Treasurer banks entry fees and pays prizes after the comp closes. Most coordinators rotate season-by-season so no one burns out.

Where BillabongLife fits.

The software side

Forms-based entry, ladder updates, calendar integration.

The forms module collects entries with payment via Square. Notifications announce each new round and ladder update. The activity calendar shows comps alongside events so residents can plan their year. The newsletter highlights the current leaders.

Gold tierForms moduleCollects entries with payment via Square.
Silver tierBulk SMS & notificationsAnnounces each new round and ladder update.
Silver tierActivities calendarShows comps alongside events so residents can plan their year.
Silver tierNewsletterHighlights the current leaders. Nothing drives engagement like seeing your name (or your neighbour's) on the ladder.
Tier recommendationGold-tier required for the forms-with-payment flow. Manual entry collection is Silver-feasible but adds treasurer overhead.
Want one of these?

A tailored playbook for your village.

Tell us your size and stage and we'll send a costed proposal with revenue projections specific to your village, plus a 30-minute call.