Fliff, as well as a number of other “non-sports-betting-apps,” resides in a legally gray area that allows fans to wager on sporting events using virtual money instead of real dollars.

The contests on Fliff feature betting lines that are in accordance with most other true sports books-- players can bet on point totals, winners, the spread, individual player performance, and numerous other lines. The one key difference is that players aren’t wagering using real dollars-- instead, they play with “Fliff cash”, which can then be redeemed at a 1-for-1 exchange rate with real USD. That being said, this Fliff cash can’t be directly purchased-- it is only awarded as a promotional bonus for buying Fliff coins, referring friends, or other promotions.

Thus, it isn’t the case that Fliff just adds an extra step to avoid legal trouble-- perhaps more accurately, it adds 2 or 3 steps, which courts have determined is a legal practice. Notably, the age requirement in most states to play at all is still 18 years old in most states, decidedly lower than the 21-year requirement for traditional sports-betting.

In recent years, a new wave of these legally gray apps have emerged, with the label “DFS 2.0” being applied to apps like PrizePicks and Underdog. These apps use similar workarounds to avoid the true title of “sports book” while also avoiding regulation, a cause for concern as more people have access to wagering on events. 

Fliff (and others)

Legal in 45 of 50 States

# 11 App in "Sports" Chart on Apple App Store

Not technically a sports-book