How Online Event Payments Work
Last updated: October 6, 2026
A guide for game stores, tournament organizers, league organizers and other event hosts, to read before turning on paid online registration in Ruloo.
1. Introduction
Ruloo Payments lets players pay their entry fee online when they sign up for your event. Payments are processed securely by Stripe. Players enter their card details on Stripe's secure checkout page, and the money goes to your own Stripe account.
Before you can accept online payments, you connect a Stripe account to Ruloo. It takes a few minutes, and you only do it once.
2. Before you start
- You need a Stripe account. If you don't have one, you'll create one during setup.
- Stripe may ask for some details to verify you and set up payouts, such as identity, business, tax and bank details. You give these to Stripe directly.
- Online payments stay off until your Stripe account is ready. Ruloo shows your account's status so you know when you can turn them on.
- Ruloo never collects or stores card or bank details. Stripe handles all of that.
3. Where the money goes
- The player signs up for your event in Ruloo and sees the total before paying.
- The player pays on Stripe's secure checkout page.
- The payment goes into your Stripe account.
- Ruloo's 5% service fee is taken from that payment automatically, and Stripe takes its own processing fee from your Stripe account.
- Stripe pays out the rest to your bank account on your Stripe payout schedule.
| Event ticket money | You, the organizer |
|---|---|
| Ruloo service fee (5%) | Ruloo |
| Stripe processing fee | Stripe, from your Stripe account |
Ruloo's service fee and Stripe's processing fee are separate. Stripe's processing fee is charged to your Stripe account. Ruloo does not pay or reimburse Stripe's fees.
Free events, pay-at-venue registrations and payments you collect outside Ruloo (for example, through your own payment link) aren't Ruloo online payments. Ruloo doesn't charge its service fee on them.
4. Choose your fee option
Ruloo charges a 5% service fee on paid online registrations. For each event, you choose who pays it.
Option 1: Add the Ruloo fee to player checkout
- The player sees the $1.00 Ruloo service fee before paying, and pays $21.00 in total.
- Ruloo receives the $1.00 service fee. You receive the $20.00 ticket money before Stripe's processing fee.
| Event ticket | $20.00 |
|---|---|
| Ruloo service fee | $1.00 |
| Player pays | $21.00 |
| Ruloo receives | $1.00 |
| Your proceeds before Stripe processing cost | $20.00 |
| Estimated Stripe processing cost* | −$0.91 |
| Estimated balance increase | $19.09 |
*This is only an example. Stripe processing costs can vary based on payment method, Stripe pricing, card type, country, currency, and other Stripe rules. Ruloo labels any processing-cost figure as an estimate.
Option 2: Absorb the Ruloo fee
- The player sees and pays $20.00.
- Ruloo keeps $1.00 from the event proceeds. You receive $19.00 before Stripe's processing fee.
| Player pays | $20.00 |
|---|---|
| Ruloo service fee | −$1.00 |
| Your proceeds before Stripe processing cost | $19.00 |
| Estimated Stripe processing cost* | −$0.88 |
| Estimated balance increase | $18.12 |
*Stripe processing costs are estimates, not a promised payout. Stripe sets the final cost.
Which should I choose?
- Add the Ruloo fee to player checkout if you want your advertised ticket price to remain your event revenue before Stripe's processing cost.
- Absorb the Ruloo fee if you prefer players to see one all-in ticket price.
5. Understanding your Stripe payout
- When a player pays, the money appears in your Stripe account, and Stripe pays it out to your bank on your Stripe payout schedule.
- Stripe controls payout timing and final processing fees. Timing can depend on your Stripe account, verification status and payout settings.
- Ruloo shows Stripe's exact fee for each payment once Stripe reports it, and an estimate (2.9% + 30¢) until then.
Where to see your money in Ruloo
- On the event page: a money tile shows your estimated net for the event and flags open disputes or refund requests. Tap it for the breakdown; tap ⓘ on any line for what it means.
- Event menu → Payments: every payment with the player's name, confirmation number (for example RUL-7KQ2-M9XA) and status, plus anything that needs you. Download it as a CSV.
- My account → Payments → Payouts: money on its way, money ready to pay out, your payout schedule and your recent payouts to your bank, straight from Stripe. Payouts combine all your events.
- My account → Payments → Payment history: every event you've taken payments for, even after the event is deleted, with a Download button for each year to help with taxes. Stripe may send you a 1099-K for your card sales.
6. Refunds and cancellations
Ruloo service fees are non-refundable after a successful online payment.
Stripe also generally does not return its original processing fee when a payment is refunded. That processing fee remains your cost. Event-entry refunds follow your published cancellation and refund policy, subject to applicable law.
Refund example: the player paid the Ruloo fee
| Original player payment | $21.00 |
|---|---|
| Refund sent to player | $20.00 |
| Ruloo service fee retained | $1.00 |
| Stripe processing cost | Not returned by Stripe |
This is an event-entry refund, not a full refund, because the player does not get the separately shown Ruloo service fee back.
Refund example: you absorbed the Ruloo fee
| Original player payment | $20.00 |
|---|---|
| Ruloo fee retained from your proceeds | $1.00 |
| Player refund | Up to $20.00, per your policy |
| Stripe processing cost | Not returned by Stripe; your cost |
If you return the full $20.00 the player paid, the player receives a full refund. Ruloo's service fee and Stripe's original processing cost still remain costs of the original payment.
When a player asks for a refund
Players with a paid entry can tap Request a refund on their registration page and add a reason. You get an email, and the player shows a Refund requested tag on your Sign-ups page. Nothing is refunded until you do it. Answer requests promptly: refunding costs you only Stripe's processing fee (about $0.91 on a $21 payment), while a player who goes to their bank instead can cost you $15 or more (see Section 7).
Refunding and dropping a player
When you refund a player on the Sign-ups page, you choose whether to drop them from the event or keep them registered. Ruloo shows the refund amount and what is retained before you confirm.
Tip: publish your cancellation and refund policy before you open sign-ups, so players know what to expect.
7. Disputes (chargebacks)
A dispute is when a player asks their bank to reverse a payment instead of asking you. Ruloo emails you as soon as Stripe reports one, with the amount and the deadline to respond, and refunds for that payment are locked until it closes. You respond in your Stripe dashboard.
| Stripe dispute fee (charged either way) | $15.00 |
|---|---|
| You win: the $21.00 comes back | You keep about $4.09 |
| You lose or don't respond: the player keeps the $21.00 | You're out about $16.91 |
Stripe sets dispute fees, and may also charge a fee for countering a dispute that it returns if you win. Ruloo keeps its service fee in every case. Check Stripe's current dispute pricing.
Answering a dispute
- Open the event's Payments screen and tap Dispute evidence for Stripe on the disputed payment.
- Tap Save as PDF. The record shows the payment, the player's Player ID, when they sent their deck list, and every round they played (table, opponent and result), from your event's records.
- In your Stripe dashboard, open the dispute, choose to counter it, and upload the PDF.
- Tap Copy explanation in Ruloo and paste it into Stripe's text box. Submit before the deadline.
Use a player's records only to answer their dispute.
Preventing disputes: players see a confirmation number, the charge shows on their card statement with a short form of your event's name, and they can ask you for a refund in two taps. Publishing a clear refund policy and answering refund requests quickly prevents most disputes.
8. Keeping your records
- Events that take online payment are kept for 120 days after the event date instead of 14, so you can still see the event if a dispute arrives late.
- Your payment records stay in Payment history after the event is deleted.
- Sign-ups that weren't paid online are deleted with the event.
9. How to turn on online payments
- Go to My account → Payments and select Connect Stripe.
- Complete Stripe's setup, then return to Ruloo and check that it shows Ready for online payments.
- Open your event's Settings → Sign-up and choose Online (Stripe).
- Set the ticket price for each division and choose who pays the Ruloo service fee.
- Add a clear refund and cancellation policy, and save.
- Share your Preregister link. Players pay first, then submit their deck list.
10. Your responsibilities as an organizer
- Set accurate ticket prices and event details.
- Publish a clear cancellation and refund policy, and handle refunds according to it.
- Review players' refund requests promptly, and respond to disputes before Stripe's deadline.
- Honor applicable consumer-protection obligations.
- Keep your Stripe payout and tax information accurate, including any sales tax that applies to your events.
- Get professional tax, legal and accounting advice where appropriate.
- Don't promise players a full refund unless they will receive the full amount they originally paid.
11. Frequently asked questions
- Does Ruloo store player card information?
- No. Players enter their card details on Stripe's secure checkout page. Ruloo never collects or stores card numbers, security codes or bank details.
- What's the difference between the Ruloo fee and the Stripe fee?
- The Ruloo service fee (5%) is what Ruloo charges for online registration. The Stripe processing fee is what Stripe charges to process the payment. They're separate, and they go to different companies.
- Who pays Stripe's processing fee?
- Stripe takes its processing fee from your Stripe account. Ruloo does not pay or reimburse it.
- Can I choose whether players see the Ruloo service fee?
- Yes. For each event, you can add the fee to the player's checkout (they see it as a separate line) or absorb it from your proceeds (players see one all-in price).
- How do I know how much I'll receive?
- When you set up an event, Ruloo shows an estimated payout per ticket. Once players pay, the event's money tile and Payments screen show your net, with Stripe's exact fee for each payment once Stripe reports it.
- What happens if I refund a player?
- The refund comes from your Stripe account. Ruloo's service fee is kept, and Stripe generally doesn't return its original processing fee. Ruloo shows the exact refund amount before you confirm.
- Does Ruloo return its service fee when I issue a refund?
- No. Ruloo service fees are non-refundable after a successful online payment.
- When will I receive my money?
- Stripe pays out to your bank account on your Stripe payout schedule. See My account → Payments → Payouts for what's on its way, what's ready, and your recent payouts.
- Will I know when a player wants a refund or disputes a payment?
- Yes. Ruloo emails you at your Ruloo account email, and both show on the event's Sign-ups and Payments screens.
- What does a dispute cost me?
- Stripe charges a $15 dispute fee whether you win or lose. If you lose, the player also keeps the payment. See Section 7.
- Can I still take cash or pay-at-venue registration?
- Yes. Free events, pay-at-venue registrations and payments you collect outside Ruloo aren't Ruloo online payments, and Ruloo doesn't charge its service fee on them.
12. Important notes
This guide provides general information about how Ruloo Payments works. It is not legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice. Stripe's services, pricing, verification requirements, payout timing, and availability are governed by Stripe's own terms and may vary. See also the Terms of Service and Refund & Cancellation Policy.