# Timing and limits

> StreamArena times every answer from when the viewer saw the round, so a slow platform never loses. Plus the per-player limits every game gets.

StreamArena times every answer from when the viewer saw the round: the moment the message was sent, minus that platform's stream delay. A slow YouTube read changes when an answer appears on screen, never who was first.

## Stream delay allowance

Each platform gets a default delay allowance, because viewers on some platforms watch further behind than others.

| Platform | Default allowance |
|---|---|
| YouTube | 5 seconds |
| Rumble | 4 seconds |
| Twitch | 2 seconds |
| Kick | 2 seconds |
| Phone | 0 |
| House player | 0 |

These are the defaults today. In your round, `meta.at` is already the corrected time: seconds since that viewer saw the round start.

## Closing a round

`close()` stops taking answers, but first waits for the slowest platform: its stream delay plus its read interval. `reveal()` calls `close()` for you if you haven't. Always close before you score a vote, so late votes count.

## Limits every game gets

- One guess per player every 2 seconds.
- Team words count once per player every half second.
- At most 50 messages a second per stream.
- Phone answers never show on stream before the reveal.
- Names and free text pass the safety filter before they reach the screen.