How to Spend Gems
Once you have a gem balance, here's where it can go.
1. Contest entry fees
The main use of gems is joining Contests. Each Contest has an entry fee set by the host. When you click Join, the fee is deducted from your wallet and added to the prize pool.
Entry fees range from free to thousands of gems depending on the Contest.
If the Contest gets cancelled before starting, your entry fee is refunded.
If you win, you take the whole prize pool (your fee + everyone else's + donations).
See Joining a Contest.
2. Donations to other players' Contests
You can donate gems to any Contest's prize pool — even one you're not playing in. Donations:
Sweeten the pot for other players (and for the winner).
Show your username and donation amount publicly on the Contest page.
Can include an optional message.
Are non-refundable to the donor if the Contest runs to completion (they go to the winner).
Are refunded if the Contest gets cancelled.
To donate: open any Contest page → click Donate → enter amount → confirm.
See Entry Fees, Prize Pools & Donations for details.
3. The Shop
The Shop sells real-world rewards purchasable with gems:
Gift cards — Steam, PSN, Xbox, and other platform store credit.
Cosmetics — RivalRyze profile customization (skins, badges, theme flairs).
Game codes — digital keys for full games.
Shop access is exclusive to Supporter and Pro subscription tiers. On Free, gems can only be spent on Contest entry fees and donations. See Subscription Tiers.
4. Hosting bonuses (optional)
When you host a Contest, you can boost the prize pool from your wallet to attract joiners. This isn't spending in the strict sense — it pays out to the eventual winner. If that's you, you get it back; if it's someone else, they get it.
Use it strategically to make your Contest more attractive when you're confident in winning it.
What you can't spend gems on
Subscription tier upgrades — Supporter and Pro require real money, not gems.
Cash-out — gems can't be converted back to cash or transferred to bank accounts.
Other players directly — you can donate to Contest prize pools or tip in supported channels, but you can't send gems person-to-person freely.
A note on balances
Your wallet balance updates in real time. If you don't see a transaction reflected:
Refresh the page.
Check the transaction history — every gem movement is logged there.
If something looks wrong, contact support with the transaction details.
Spend smart
A few rules of thumb:
Don't enter Contests you can't realistically win. Filter by platform and objective mode before joining.
Watch the prize-pool-to-entry-fee ratio. A Contest with 8 players at 50 gems each = 400 gem prize pool, but a 1-in-8 win rate. Compare against your odds of actually winning.
Keep a buffer. Don't spend your entire balance on one Contest — the daily claim and reward programs assume you stay active.
The Shop is a long-term goal. Even a low-priced gift card takes a serious gem reserve. Treat winning gems as the journey, not just the means.
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