How to run a draft lottery
- List every team or manager, one per line.
- Choose Snake or Same order every round, and how many rounds to show on the draft board.
- Press Run the draft lottery, then Reveal next pick to announce the order from the last pick to the first.
- Share your screen on the league call so everyone sees the reveal. Copy the final order for the league chat.
A draft lottery everyone can watch
Picking the order out of a hat over a video call never feels quite fair. Run the lottery here with the whole league watching, and reveal the picks one at a time from the bottom up, so the suspense builds to the first overall pick.
Snake versus linear drafts
Most fantasy football and basketball leagues use a snake draft, which keeps teams balanced by reversing the order every round. A linear draft keeps the same order every round, as in most real professional drafts. The draft board shows exactly who picks when, numbered from the first pick to the last.
Running a tournament after the draft? Use the Bracket Generator or the Round Robin Generator.
Frequently asked questions
What is a snake draft?
In a snake draft, the order reverses every round. The team that picks first in round 1 picks last in round 2, which balances the advantage of the first pick.
Is the lottery fair?
Yes. The order is shuffled with your browser’s cryptographically secure random number generator, and every possible order is equally likely. It’s decided the moment you press the button. The reveal is just for drama.
How many teams can I enter?
From 2 to 32.
Can I use it for things other than fantasy sports?
Yes. It works for any draft: picking order for a gift exchange, choosing teams in a pickup game, or selecting projects.