From Android Police
Everyone knows that adding a bit of money to a game makes it more interesting. Ubiquitous developer Glu Mobile is putting a lot of faith in that idea, and they plan to roll out a real-world gambling system to their games very soon, starting with Deer Hunter Reloaded. Glu will be using the Skillz platform, allowing players to bet small amounts of real money on the outcome of skill-based games, usually in some kind of tournament or winner-take-all round.
Note the term “skill-based” – that’s very important to how this all works. Gambling is an incredibly complex legal issue in the United States, but 37 states allow at least some form of skill-based gambling; that is, the determination of the winner is not primarily based on chance, like roulette. But there are still states that outlaw any form of gambling, and still others that allow skill-based gambling, but disallow Internet gambling, then there’s rules on social gaming and specific amounts, casino states, municipal laws… it’s a mess.
Skillz has engineered a solution that they think is effective and legal. Before you start a game, it will poll your GPS position, sending it in to Skillz’s servers and determining whether gambling is legal in your specific location or not. If you’re in the clear, you can bet small amounts on the game. If you can’t, you’re out, though most developers will probably let you play a no-stakes version.
