Help - Frequently Asked Questions

Is SkillGround considered gambling?

No. Since the SkillGround games are based on skill and not chance, winners are determined by their level of skill and performance in a particular game. All the games offered on SkillGround are skill games. No RNG (random number generator) is involved to define the outcome of any SkillGround game. SkillGround operates within the legal gaming framework in the jurisdictions offered. Although some jurisdictions also prohibit skill games such as those offered by SkillGround, Premium Accounts are not available in those jurisdictions and the full SkillGround service is only available where permitted by law.

What happens if I am disconnected during a match?

In Team Play mode, if all members of a team disconnect within the first 15 seconds of a match and no score was achieved prior to the disconnect, the match is canceled and entry fees are refunded to all participants. If this happens when a score is achieved, the disconnected team forfeits their match. If, however, one or more members are left in the match after a disconnect occurred in the first 15 seconds, the match will continue and the remaining team members will have to play shorthanded.
In Quick Play games and Tournaments, if a player disconnects within the first 15 seconds of a match and no score was achieved prior to the disconnect, the entry is canceled and entry fees are refunded to that participant. By way of example, players will be considered to have achieved a score in WarPath or CQC if they commit suicide, or kill or damage another player or bot, if they are defeated or defeat a computer-controlled opponent in and Kung Fu:  Deadly Arts, or if they take a stroke in UTour Golf.
In all other play modes, if a player disconnects within the first 15 seconds of a match and no score was achieved prior to the disconnect, the match is canceled and entry fees are refunded to all participants. By way of example, players will be considered to have achieved a score if they commit suicide, or kill another player in WarPath or CQC, if they are defeated or defeat an opponent in and Kung Fu:  Deadly Arts, or if they take a stroke in UTour Golf.

How do I install the games?

Once you have registered an account, SkillGround Game Manager will allow you to select the games and maps you would like to install.  It will also list any new games or maps as they become available on SkillGround. New games added to SkillGround that you have not yet downloaded will also have a download button below them on the front page of the site in place of a "play now" button.  Clicking the download button will initiate the Game Manager and allow you to check and install new games. You can also install SkillGround games from “My Profile”, located in the “My Account” section of SkillGround.

Important: You must have Power User or Administrator privileges on your computer in order to install the SkillGround games

What should I do if I'm using a firewall?

A firewall is a device or software that limits network connections to and from a computer.

If you are using a firewall, you must configure the firewall software or device to allow the games to connect to SkillGround game servers. SkillGround games use UDP ports between 9,998 and 30,000. Consult the documentation that came with your firewall to determine how to make this change. Many firewalls, however, will allow these connections by default.

Why am I not receiving emails from SkillGround?

Make sure you add skillground.com to your ‘Safe Senders’ list in your email application.  For Outlook users, you should go to ‘Tools/Options’, select ‘Preferences’ and click on the ‘Junk Email’ button.  From there select the ‘Safe Senders’ tab, click ‘Add’ then type “skillground.com” and click OK three times.

For Gmail and Hotmail users, make sure that SkillGround emails are not being automatically filtered into your junk or spam email folders.  If it is, then you must add 'skillground.com' to your ‘Safe Senders’ list.

How do I change video/audio settings for my games?

Go to the “My Profile” section located in “My Account”, then click on 'Configure' beside the game you wish to change the settings for. The game will be launched in the Settings mode, allowing you to configure audio, video, and other applicable settings to your satisfaction.

Can I set up more than one account?

No. As stated in the SkillGround Terms of Service, only one account per person is allowed. Please note that SkillGround reserves the right to monitor all active accounts in order to prevent fraud. If evidence of fraud is detected, the player(s) in question will be immediately banned from the service and account balances will be assumed by SkillGround.

Does SkillGround require my personal information?

Yes, however, please note that all personal information collected by SkillGround is used in accordance with the terms of our Privacy Policy. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for more information.

What is a Skill Rating?

This is an indicator of the relative skill of a player.  Typically, the higher the Skill Rating of a player, the higher the level of ability of that player. While playing on SkillGround, by comparing your rating to other players, you will be able to determine your relative skill level for a particular game at that particular time. The more you play, the faster you will progress. Outplay your opponents, and watch your rating rise.

Ratings are maintained independently for each game on SkillGround. For example, you can have a rating of 900 for WarPath.  Cash players also have separate Skill Ratings for Cash Games (“Cash Rating”) and Free Games (“Free Rating”).

What are Reward Points?

Reward Points are redeemable for Game Credits at the SkillGround Marketplace.

Reward Points are given to SkillGround players for their participation in matches. For playing a cash game, players are given 15 points for every dollar they pay in entry fees. For example, if the entry fee for a cash game was $2.00, each player would receive 30 points. Players are also given 2 points for every free game they play.

What are Experience Points?

Experience Points are granted based on a player's match result. This serves as a measure of a gamer’s skill and experience, and allows players to reach higher player levels on SkillGround. The better your game, the faster you will scale the ranks and reach higher player levels.

Experience points are awarded based on the following table.

When receiving Experience Points, the remaining points needed to elevate to the next player level is decreased.

What are Player Levels?

Player Levels indicate the experience level of each player and are based on the total number of Experience Points that a player has earned while a member of SkillGround.  As you gain more and more experience, you will achieve higher and  higher player levels. Unlike “Top Player” ratings, which rank the best players in each game by their Skill Rating in that game, a player level indicates the gamer’s overall skill and experience on SkillGround. For every new level reached, a player is rewarded with a level badge for other SkillGround members to recognize.

Level badges are awarded based on the following table.
What is Ping?

The Ping Time (or Ping), measured in milliseconds, can be thought of as the time that your computer takes to send a message to SkillGround and back again. The lower this number is, the better the game performance will be. High ping times translate to reduced responsiveness or ‘laggy’ games. Try to play opponents with ping times within 50-100 milliseconds of yours, thereby ensuring that you will not be at a disadvantage due to poor game performance.

Is there protection against cheats?

The SkillGround site employs sophisticated technology to prevent cheats and cheating. A list of some of the measures is available here. If you think that you have encountered unfair play, please contact Customer Care by clicking the link on the home page, or email customercare@skillground.com.

What should I do if I encounter profanity, harassment, or other abuse in the chat room?

SkillGround players are bound by the Code of Conduct to treat other players with respect. Individuals who choose to ignore the Code of Conduct may be suspended. To report profanity, racism, harassment, or other abuse, please contact Customer Care by using the link on the SkillGround site or via email to customercare@skillground.com.

What are Game Credits?

Game Credits are funds that can be used only on SkillGround, and are given as part of a promotion, prize, or gift to players. Although Game Credits are not redeemable for money and cannot be withdrawn, they are used to help pay your entry fees in Cash Games. When paying an Entry Fee, 25% of the fee will be taken from Game Credits, and the remaining 75% will come from your cash balance until your Game Credits are exhausted. When you win a game, however, 100% of your winnings will be returned to you in cash. Game Credits have no cash value.

So in effect, once you have paid entry fees equal to 4 times the amount of your Game Credits, you will have used them up completely and any balance in your account at that point shall be entirely Real Money and as such, can be withdrawn at any time.

You can check your Game Credit balance in the “Withdraw Funds” section of “My Account”.



How do you break ties?

In UTour Golf, if there is a tied score at the end of the match, the winner will be the player who has achieved the highest Bonus Score.  A player’s Bonus score is determined by a formula which emphasizes consistency.  Your Bonus Score is an average calculated over all holes played in the match.  The maximum Bonus Score possible is 1,000 points, broken down as follows:  500 points available for accuracy in reaching Greens In Regulation, and accuracy in doing so, 250 points available for putting accuracy (if your average number of putts per hole is 1 or less, you get 250 points, if it is 3 putts or more, you get no Bonus points), 150 points available for accuracy in landing on fairways (or greens) off of first shots on par 4 and par 5 holes, and up to 100 points for average driving distance (although you need to average 400 yards per drive to get all 100 points!)

Quick Play games have their own scoring and tie-breaking rules, described in each game’s rules (click on the link “Game Rules” under “Help Topics” on the left-hand side of each game’s lobbies.  Scores in Tournaments are calculated the same way, although you can compete in a Tournament more than once in an effort to improve your score.

Help - Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I am disconnected during a match?

In Team Play mode, if all members of a team disconnect within the first 15 seconds of a match and no score was achieved prior to the disconnect, the match is canceled and entry fees are refunded to all participants. If this happens when a score is achieved, the disconnected team forfeits their match. If, however, one or more members are left in the match after a disconnect occurred in the first 15 seconds, the match will continue and the remaining team members will have to play shorthanded.
In Quick Play games and Tournaments, if a player disconnects within the first 15 seconds of a match and no score was achieved prior to the disconnect, the entry is canceled and entry fees are refunded to that participant. By way of example, players will be considered to have achieved a score in WarPath or CQC if they commit suicide, or kill or damage another player or bot, if they are defeated or defeat a computer-controlled opponent in and Kung Fu:  Deadly Arts, or if they take a stroke in UTour Golf.
In all other play modes, if a player disconnects within the first 15 seconds of a match and no score was achieved prior to the disconnect, the match is canceled and entry fees are refunded to all participants. By way of example, players will be considered to have achieved a score if they commit suicide, or kill another player in WarPath or CQC, if they are defeated or defeat an opponent in and Kung Fu:  Deadly Arts, or if they take a stroke in UTour Golf.

How do I install the games?

Once you have registered an account, SkillGround Game Manager will allow you to select the games and maps you would like to install.  It will also list any new games or maps as they become available on SkillGround. New games added to SkillGround that you have not yet downloaded will also have a download button below them on the front page of the site in place of a "play now" button.  Clicking the download button will initiate the Game Manager and allow you to check and install new games. You can also install SkillGround games from “My Profile”, located in the “My Account” section of SkillGround.

Important: You must have Power User or Administrator privileges on your computer in order to install the SkillGround games

What should I do if I'm using a firewall?

A firewall is a device or software that limits network connections to and from a computer.

If you are using a firewall, you must configure the firewall software or device to allow the games to connect to SkillGround game servers. SkillGround games use UDP ports between 9,998 and 30,000. Consult the documentation that came with your firewall to determine how to make this change. Many firewalls, however, will allow these connections by default.

Why am I not receiving emails from SkillGround?

Make sure you add skillground.com to your ‘Safe Senders’ list in your email application.  For Outlook users, you should go to ‘Tools/Options’, select ‘Preferences’ and click on the ‘Junk Email’ button.  From there select the ‘Safe Senders’ tab, click ‘Add’ then type “skillground.com” and click OK three times.

For Gmail and Hotmail users, make sure that SkillGround emails are not being automatically filtered into your junk or spam email folders.  If it is, then you must add 'skillground.com' to your ‘Safe Senders’ list.

How do I change video/audio settings for my games?

Go to the “My Profile” section located in “My Account”, then click on 'Configure' beside the game you wish to change the settings for. The game will be launched in the Settings mode, allowing you to configure audio, video, and other applicable settings to your satisfaction.

Can I set up more than one account?

No. As stated in the SkillGround Terms of Service, only one account per person is allowed. Please note that SkillGround reserves the right to monitor all active accounts in order to prevent fraud. If evidence of fraud is detected, the player(s) in question will be immediately banned from the service and account balances will be assumed by SkillGround.

Does SkillGround require my personal information?

Yes, however, please note that all personal information collected by SkillGround is used in accordance with the terms of our Privacy Policy. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for more information.

What is a Skill Rating?

This is an indicator of the relative skill of a player.  Typically, the higher the Skill Rating of a player, the higher the level of ability of that player. While playing on SkillGround, by comparing your rating to other players, you will be able to determine your relative skill level for a particular game at that particular time. The more you play, the faster you will progress. Outplay your opponents, and watch your rating rise.

Ratings are maintained independently for each game on SkillGround. For example, you can have a rating of 900 for WarPath.  Cash players also have separate Skill Ratings for Cash Games (“Cash Rating”) and Free Games (“Free Rating”).

What are Experience Points?

Experience Points are granted based on a player's match result. This serves as a measure of a gamer’s skill and experience, and allows players to reach higher player levels on SkillGround. The better your game, the faster you will scale the ranks and reach higher player levels.

Experience points are awarded based on the following table.

When receiving Experience Points, the remaining points needed to elevate to the next player level is decreased.

What are Player Levels?

Player Levels indicate the experience level of each player and are based on the total number of Experience Points that a player has earned while a member of SkillGround.  As you gain more and more experience, you will achieve higher and  higher player levels. Unlike “Top Player” ratings, which rank the best players in each game by their Skill Rating in that game, a player level indicates the gamer’s overall skill and experience on SkillGround. For every new level reached, a player is rewarded with a level badge for other SkillGround members to recognize.

Level badges are awarded based on the following table.
What is Ping?

The Ping Time (or Ping), measured in milliseconds, can be thought of as the time that your computer takes to send a message to SkillGround and back again. The lower this number is, the better the game performance will be. High ping times translate to reduced responsiveness or ‘laggy’ games. Try to play opponents with ping times within 50-100 milliseconds of yours, thereby ensuring that you will not be at a disadvantage due to poor game performance.

Is there protection against cheats?

The SkillGround site employs sophisticated technology to prevent cheats and cheating. A list of some of the measures is available here. If you think that you have encountered unfair play, please contact Customer Care by clicking the link on the home page, or email customercare@skillground.com.

What should I do if I encounter profanity, harassment, or other abuse in the chat room?

SkillGround players are bound by the Code of Conduct to treat other players with respect. Individuals who choose to ignore the Code of Conduct may be suspended. To report profanity, racism, harassment, or other abuse, please contact Customer Care by using the link on the SkillGround site or via email to customercare@skillground.com.

What are Game Credits?

Game Credits are funds that can be used only on SkillGround, and are given as part of a promotion, prize, or gift to players. Although Game Credits are not redeemable for money and cannot be withdrawn, they are used to help pay your entry fees in Cash Games. When paying an Entry Fee, 25% of the fee will be taken from Game Credits, and the remaining 75% will come from your cash balance until your Game Credits are exhausted. When you win a game, however, 100% of your winnings will be returned to you in cash. Game Credits have no cash value.

So in effect, once you have paid entry fees equal to 4 times the amount of your Game Credits, you will have used them up completely and any balance in your account at that point shall be entirely Real Money and as such, can be withdrawn at any time.

You can check your Game Credit balance in the “Withdraw Funds” section of “My Account”.



How do you break ties?

In UTour Golf, if there is a tied score at the end of the match, the winner will be the player who has achieved the highest Bonus Score.  A player’s Bonus score is determined by a formula which emphasizes consistency.  Your Bonus Score is an average calculated over all holes played in the match.  The maximum Bonus Score possible is 1,000 points, broken down as follows:  500 points available for accuracy in reaching Greens In Regulation, and accuracy in doing so, 250 points available for putting accuracy (if your average number of putts per hole is 1 or less, you get 250 points, if it is 3 putts or more, you get no Bonus points), 150 points available for accuracy in landing on fairways (or greens) off of first shots on par 4 and par 5 holes, and up to 100 points for average driving distance (although you need to average 400 yards per drive to get all 100 points!)

Quick Play games have their own scoring and tie-breaking rules, described in each game’s rules (click on the link “Game Rules” under “Help Topics” on the left-hand side of each game’s lobbies.  Scores in Tournaments are calculated the same way, although you can compete in a Tournament more than once in an effort to improve your score.