> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://theluckyducks.gitbook.io/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://theluckyducks.gitbook.io/docs/getting-started/what-is-lucky-ducks.md).

# What is The Lucky Ducks

A duck racing platform where the math is the product. What that means, what it costs, and who runs it.

A stylized pond, a flock of ducks at the line, and a 30-second sprint to the finish. Every race is a real Solana transaction, every prize is paid by a verified smart contract, and every random number that decides the outcome comes from an oracle rather than from the website.

{% columns %}
{% column width="70%" %}

<figure><img src="https://3421471796-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F7dtEnU4lv7j0vOpw19z4%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1ebb16dd71c09afbdc1f35ba200dff6c54da4743%2Fapp-race-canvas-midrace-desktop.png?alt=media" alt="Ducks part way through a race, with the leader board overlay showing current positions"><figcaption><p>Positions come from the on-chain seed, not from the server.</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endcolumn %}

{% column width="30%" %}

<figure><img src="https://3421471796-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F7dtEnU4lv7j0vOpw19z4%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-3c24f9a6ed49deac72103770cc45a1f24c2dcfe3%2Fapp-race-canvas-midrace-mobile.png?alt=media" alt="Ducks part way through a race, with the leader board overlay showing current positions, on a phone"><figcaption><p>On a phone</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endcolumn %}
{% endcolumns %}

## The pitch

Most online racing games hide the math: the server picks a winner, plays the animation, and trusts you not to ask. Here the math is the product. The contract takes your entry fee, locks it in a per race vault, asks an on chain oracle for randomness, and pays the winners on a table it enforces itself.

Three things follow:

* **Anyone can verify a race.** Once the randomness is published the outcome is fixed. Re-run the math on the same seed and the finishing order comes out the same, every time.
* **The platform cannot pick a winner.** The team writes the contract and deploys it, and from then on has no special power over outcomes.
* **Refunds are automatic.** If a race never starts, whether from too few players, a failed oracle or a stuck transaction, every player can claim their fee back, and anyone at all can trigger the refund. No support ticket.

## The catch

It runs on Solana, so you need a wallet, a little SOL for fees, and the willingness to sign transactions.

{% hint style="info" %}
Your first race also creates a small on chain player account. Its rent is a small deposit, refundable in full if you close the account later. See [Refunds and rent](/docs/economy/refunds-and-rent.md#your-player-account-rent).
{% endhint %}

Past that, an entry fee is whatever the creator set, in SOL or a supported SPL token.

## Who runs it

The Lucky Ducks team writes the contract, the backend, the frontend and the art. The platform takes a small treasury fee from every prize pool, which covers hosting, oracle costs and development. The rest of your money goes to other players.

{% content-ref url="/pages/ItpGIXllX2uKpBO0DJxk" %}
[How a race works](/docs/getting-started/how-it-works.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}