Over the last 5 years, there has been a nationwide uptick in sports gambling due to more states allowing legal betting to occur using the various sportsbook apps. FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM are some of the more popular apps, while other apps like ESPNbet and PrizePicks are rebranding and/or offering alternative solutions to betting.
But it seems like one particular app is starting to get a lot more buzz because of its unique system for bettors in the new age of sports gambling. The “social” sportsbook app is called Fliff.
So, what is Fliff? Established back in 2019 by founders Mario Dodev and Matt Ricci in Pennsylvania, the newest no sweat virtual currency betting app allows you to bet virtual dollars and coins for a chance to win real cash and gift cards. In short, you can bet on sports without depositing actual money.
“I have been using Fliff for about a year now, and I really would recommend it to just about anyone,” says SUNY Cortland senior Christian Nightingale. “You can’t lose even if you don’t win.”
Fliff’s title as a social sportsbook rather than a gambling platform allows it to bypass legislation that makes betting illegal in many states. The US does not view social sportsbooks as gambling platforms due to their use of virtual currency.
This however does not stop people from making actual cash from the virtual currency, as Fliff offers users 1$ in Fliff cash every 24 hours and 10 cents every two hours. This goes along with the other aspect that makes Fliff unique, which is the virtual coins that are given to users along with the Fliff cash. These coins can be used to gain XP, which in turn can be used to purchase gift cards such as Uber Eats and Spotify Premium.
The catch with Fliff cash and coins? For cash, you need to win at least $50 worth of Fliff bucks to “cash out” your winnings through various options such as instant bank transfer and Skrill (similar to CashApp, Venmo, etc.) For coins, this is where the social aspect comes into play, as you can compete against other Fliff users to climb the leaderboards to see who can get the most coins. Coins and XP go hand in hand, and 100 XP is equivalent to 1 “dollar”, which in turn depending on the company for gift cards (most have a 10-15 dollar minimum) that’s how you can get gift cards.
“I’ve had a pretty successful run with Fliff so far,” says SUNY Cortland senior Tyler Ryan, “Off of a 1.40$ parlayed bet, I won 127$ and was able to get the money within 48 hours.”
Not all users have had the same type of luck, including myself. Just last week for the first round of the NCAA tournament, I was one leg short of winning 83$ after placing a 1.20$ bet. I had Michigan State, North Carolina State, Duquesne (all underdogs or even odds) and the last leg that messed it all up in Samford, who were defeated by the 4 seeded Kansas Jayhawks in the Midwest region of the bracket.
All sportsbooks always advertise to “bet responsibly,” and I would argue that Fliff is the most responsible way to bet, as you aren’t losing any of your actual money but still have a chance to win actual money and gift cards. So, if you are thinking about trying your luck in the growing world of sports gambling or want to stop potentially wasting your own money, then Fliff might be the best option out there for you.