Unique bid auction

A unique bid auction is a type of strategy game related to traditional auctions where the winner is usually the individual with the lowest unique bid, although less commonly the auction rules may specify that the highest unique bid is the winner. Unique bid auctions are often used as a form of competition and strategy game where bidders pay a fee to make a bid, or may have to pay a subscription fee in order to be able to participate.

In practice, such auctions function like lotteries, but the small amount of "skill" involved makes them legal in jurisdictions where lotteries are otherwise illegal.[1]

  1. ^ "Reverse price auctions". ask.metafilter.com.