No idea.

I do not participate in contests.

Tom, it probably has to go through the chain of command where the host/judges have to certify the participants and then that is passed along to AR.

My guess is that it depends on the number of participants.  The more, the longer.

Having scored and tallied many contests I can tell you for me, the more entries there are the longer it takes. Especially if I have to read each and every post to see if they completed the tasks and 25% come in at the very end. Then I put them together on a spreadsheet with names and user names and points for Kerrie to add the points. Then I go back through and double check my numbers. Kerrie usually gets them posted within a couple of days of me turning them in to her. 

I think it's because they have to stick them in manually; one by one with a small funnel. (oh darn there go my points for a couple of months)

Good question.  IN fact, I didn't even check to see if I got points from the last survey.

I think it's because they are short staffed.  Plus, they are always trying to fix all the glitches.

My participation in contests has been lower, so I don't always notice.

Excellent question, Tom. I suspect it may have to do with how many people participate in a particular contest. Sometimes I get points quickly and something not so much.

Takes time to process.

I don't know.

Sometimes it takes time tabulating it.