def closest_wins_odds(p1, p2, p3, p4, p5, given_range):
    list_of_inputs = [p1, p2, p3, p4, p5]
    difference_list = []
    player_list = ['Player 1', 'Player 2', 'Player 3', 'Player 4', 'Player 5']

    #this should go somewhere to skip unused spots
    for item in list_of_inputs:
        if item == '':
            list_of_inputs.remove(item)

    #random choice

    import random
    list_to_pick_from = range(given_range + 1)
    random_choice = random.choice(list_to_pick_from)

    #does it have to be indiviual in order to identify which of them won?

    for item in list_of_inputs:
        if item == random_choice:
            winning_message = 'Great job %s, you win!' % (player_list[list_of_inputs.index(item)])

    # adds the difference between the values to a new, easily accessable list

    for item in list_of_inputs:
        difference_list.append(abs(int(random_choice) - int(item)))

    #takes the minimum and assigns its related index in the accessable string player list into the personalized winning_message

    for thing in difference_list:
        if thing == min(difference_list):
            winning_message = 'Great job %s, you win!' % (player_list[difference_list.index(thing)])

    return winning_message

p1 = 1

p2 = 2

p3 = 3

p4 = 4

p5 = 5

given_range = 6

def player_input(p1, p2, p3, p4, p5, given_range):
    input_list = [p1, p2, p3, p4, p5, given_range]

    #loops through the items to make sure they meet the criteria in order for it to work and if its nto met asks for a review of the inputs

    def is_whole(n):
        if n % 1 == 0:
            return True

    for item in input_list:
        if (item > given_range) or (0 > item) or not is_whole(item):
            raise ValueError('Please Retry. Make sure the rules and/or requirements are met.')

    print(closest_wins_odds(p1, p2, p3, p4, p5, given_range))

player_input(p1, p2, p3, p4, p5, given_range)