For those unfamiliar: Backgammon is a 5,000-year-old game that sits in an interesting space between pure skill (like chess) and pure chance (like poker). The dice introduce enough variance that a novice can occasionally beat a grandmaster, but over sufficient iterations, skill dominates completely. It's why backgammon has always been played for money – the doubling cube is literally built into the game's rules.
Despite this, there's never been a legitimate peer-to-peer platform for real-money backgammon in the US. You either play on sketchy offshore sites or meet strangers with cash at clubs. With skill-based gaming laws evolving (prediction markets, DFS, etc.), we saw an obvious gap.
What we built:
Backgammon Cash is an iOS app for head-to-head real-money matches. Key technical challenges we solved:
- Skill-based matchmaking using Elo-style ratings to keep games competitive (paired with analyzing users' skill level by checking performance)
- Verifiable random number generation for dice (with player-accessible stats)
- Anti-cheat detection for move timing and pattern analysis
- Integration with regulated payment processors (GIDX) and banking partners for deposits/withdrawals
- State synchronization for real-time gameplay without exploitable lag
We launched in December 25 and are live in most US states where skill-gaming is permitted. The game is free to download, and we take a small rake on entry fees (similar to DFS platforms).
Technically, this required navigating a complex regulatory landscape – we're working with gaming attorneys and have partnerships with institutional-grade payment infrastructure to ensure everything is compliant and secure.
Would love feedback from the HN community, especially around:
- Feedback on the game itself - everything from gameplay & general UX/UI to deposits & withdrawals
matthakimi•1mo ago
For those unfamiliar: Backgammon is a 5,000-year-old game that sits in an interesting space between pure skill (like chess) and pure chance (like poker). The dice introduce enough variance that a novice can occasionally beat a grandmaster, but over sufficient iterations, skill dominates completely. It's why backgammon has always been played for money – the doubling cube is literally built into the game's rules.
Despite this, there's never been a legitimate peer-to-peer platform for real-money backgammon in the US. You either play on sketchy offshore sites or meet strangers with cash at clubs. With skill-based gaming laws evolving (prediction markets, DFS, etc.), we saw an obvious gap.
What we built: Backgammon Cash is an iOS app for head-to-head real-money matches. Key technical challenges we solved:
- Skill-based matchmaking using Elo-style ratings to keep games competitive (paired with analyzing users' skill level by checking performance) - Verifiable random number generation for dice (with player-accessible stats) - Anti-cheat detection for move timing and pattern analysis - Integration with regulated payment processors (GIDX) and banking partners for deposits/withdrawals - State synchronization for real-time gameplay without exploitable lag
We launched in December 25 and are live in most US states where skill-gaming is permitted. The game is free to download, and we take a small rake on entry fees (similar to DFS platforms).
Technically, this required navigating a complex regulatory landscape – we're working with gaming attorneys and have partnerships with institutional-grade payment infrastructure to ensure everything is compliant and secure.
Would love feedback from the HN community, especially around:
- Feedback on the game itself - everything from gameplay & general UX/UI to deposits & withdrawals
Download (iOS only due to Google Play's stubborness): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/backgammon-cash-win-money/id67...