Fliff is a “social sportsbook” app that makes bets with virtual currency, marketing to under-18 users.Currently the 12th most popular sports app in the Apple App Store, and with over 100K downloads on Google Play, Fliff has reached a total of over 1.4M downloads. But as its marketing to users ages 13-and-up, the app’s virtual currency betting system has drawn concerns over grooming underage users to gamble and potential for addiction, like any regular sports betting app. The app is a legal sweepstakes contest and users can exchange their virtual winnings for real cash prizes, unlike a traditional sportsbook—which is why it’s able to attract under-18s. YPulse’s Sports and Athletics Report shows more than one in five young people have used a sports betting app, and recent headlines have indicated it becoming an issue among college students. (Washington Post)
