Backyard Bets – Terms of Use

Last Updated: March 15, 2025

These Terms of Use (“TOU” or “Terms”) form a binding legal agreement between you (“User,” “you,” or “Participant”) and Backyard Leagues, LLC (“Backyard Bets,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). Backyard Bets is a brand and service (“Service”) offered by Backyard Leagues, LLC through the website backyardleagues.com/bets (“Site”).

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Backyard Bets is not an online gambling platform under Ohio law or any other applicable laws. No real money is required to play our social sports prediction games, as you may choose to participate without making the $1 payment. If you opt not to submit the $1 payment, you will not receive any real-money payout, even if your prediction is correct. All users must be 21 years of age or older to access or use the Service.

1. Acceptance of Terms

1.1 By visiting, accessing, or using the Site or Service (collectively, the “Platform”), or by clicking to accept or agree where that option is made available, you confirm that:

You have read, understand, and agree to be bound by these Terms;
You are at least 21 years of age;
You meet all other eligibility requirements stated in these Terms; and
You will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in connection with your access and use of the Service.

1.2 If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not access or use the Service or Platform.

1.3 We reserve the right to update or modify these Terms in our sole discretion at any time. Any changes will be posted on this page with a new “Last Updated” date. Continued use of the Service following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.

2. The Service: Backyard Bets

2.1 Social Sports Predictions.
Backyard Bets provides a social platform for sports predictions—it is not an online gambling site. Users can make picks on the outcomes of pickleball matches organized under the Backyard Leagues brand. No real money is required to participate in these predictions, but an optional $1 payment is permitted under the rules set forth below.

2.2 No Real Money Required.
If you choose not to submit the $1 payment, you may still place a pick but will not receive any real-money payout even if your pick is correct.

2.3 Sole Venue.
Backyard Bets is provided exclusively through the website backyardleagues.com/bets. It is operated solely in the State of Ohio by Backyard Leagues, LLC, which is registered in Ohio.

3. Eligibility & Membership

3.1 Age Requirement.
You must be at least 21 years of age to access, register for, or use any feature of Backyard Bets.

3.2 Invite-Only Membership.

Participation is limited to verified and approved members of BackyardLeagues.com.
Membership in BackyardLeagues.com is by invitation only. You must be explicitly invited, and membership requests are subject to our review and approval.
We may keep the exact referral or invitation process confidential, at our discretion.

3.3 Geographic Restrictions.

Backyard Bets is offered to Users within the United States only.
We reserve the right to restrict usage from states or jurisdictions where social sports predictions may be questionable or prohibited by local law.
By participating, you represent and warrant that your activity is lawful in your location.

3.4 No Prohibition on Future Changes.
We may update eligibility criteria at any time in our sole discretion.

3.5 Communication & Email Consent.

By creating an account on BackyardLeagues.com and/or participating in Backyard Bets, you agree to receive emails from Backyard Leagues, LLC, including but not limited to:
- Account-related notifications, such as confirmation emails, account updates, and security alerts.
- Service announcements regarding Backyard Bets, including rule changes, payout updates, and new features.
- Marketing or promotional emails related to Backyard Leagues and Backyard Bets.
You can opt out of marketing or promotional emails at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in an email. However, we may still send essential account-related or service emails even if you opt out of promotional messages.

4. Rules for Picks & Predictions

4.1 Permissible Picks & $1 Payment.

Each User may make one (1) prediction per week, optionally accompanied by a $1 payment.
From time to time, we may adjust these limits (“as updated by us”), and any changes will appear on the Site.
You acknowledge that any attempts to circumvent this rule—such as using multiple accounts or encouraging others to make picks on your behalf—constitutes a violation of these Terms.

4.2 No Self-Picking / Conflicts of Interest.

Absolute Prohibition: A User may not make a prediction on a game or match in which they are actively playing.
Users must refrain from making picks when they have “insider” knowledge or other potential conflicts of interest that would compromise fair play.

4.3 Timing & Submission.

All predictions must be submitted at least 5 minutes before the scheduled start of the relevant session.
Upon submitting a pick on the website, a Pick ID will be generated and displayed. If no Pick ID appears, the pick is not considered submitted.

4.4 Venmo Payment.

Venmo is the only acceptable form of payment for the optional $1.
A pick is not valid for real-money payouts unless we receive your $1 via Venmo with the correct Pick ID in the description.
If multiple picks or multiple Venmo payments are submitted in one week, we will only honor the first valid pick/payment and may retain any excess payments at our sole discretion.
We may suspend or ban your account for any bounced or reversed Venmo payments.

4.5 No Cancellation After Payment.
Once you have submitted your pick along with the $1 payment, you cannot cancel or change that pick.

4.6 Acceptance of Picks.
We may, in our sole discretion, refuse, limit, or void any pick or associated payment for any reason, including suspicious activity, errors in posted lines, or violations of these Terms.

4.7 Additional Pickleball Match Rules

Canceled or Postponed Matches: If a match is canceled or not played on its scheduled date, your pick (and any associated $1 payment) will be voided or returned as applicable.
Match Not Completed: If a match begins but does not finish (due to injury, abandonment, or weather), the pick is void.
Final Outcome: If the match is completed, we accept the result as officially recognized by Backyard Bets for grading the pick; all decisions are final.
Obvious Error: If there is an obvious or glaring error in posted lines, schedules, or payouts, we reserve the right to void or correct the pick and refund or adjust any associated $1 payment.

5. Payouts & Settlements

5.1 Payout Calculation.

Odds and potential payout amounts are displayed on the Site at the time you submit a pick.
If your prediction is correct (and you paid the $1), you will receive the listed payout, unless we discover an obvious error in our posted odds, lines, or payout amounts.

5.2 Payment of Winnings.

Payouts are processed manually via Venmo once the weekly games have concluded.
If you did not submit the $1 payment, you are not eligible for a real-money payout, even if your prediction was correct.

5.3 Future Picks.

Any long-term or future predictions (e.g., for a seasonal championship) will be settled once the outcome is officially determined.

5.4 Delay & Disclaimer.

Although we strive to pay out quickly, all payouts are subject to operational delays.
We are not liable for any delayed or lost payments beyond the amount of the original $1 payment.

6. Voided or Canceled Picks

Backyard Bets may void, cancel, or otherwise invalidate any pick, at any time, including but not limited to:

Prohibited Prediction: The User made a pick on a game in which they are participating or have insider knowledge.
Roster or Schedule Changes: Unexpected changes in players, cancellations, or session rescheduling.
Timing Violations: Submitting a pick less than 5 minutes before the session, submitting multiple picks, missing Pick ID, or no $1 payment.
Suspicious Activity: Collusion, manipulation, fraudulent conduct, or attempts to gain unfair advantage.
Excessive Action: Overwhelmingly lopsided entries on a particular outcome.
Line/Odds Error: Mistakes or errors in posted lines or payouts.
Any Other Reason: At our discretion, to preserve integrity and compliance with these Terms.

All decisions regarding voided or canceled picks are final and not subject to appeal.

7. User Conduct

7.1 Prohibited Behavior.
Users agree not to:

Abuse, harass, threaten, or defame other members or any staff/volunteers.
Collect or store personal information of other Users without authorization.
Post or transmit content that is hateful, abusive, obscene, or otherwise objectionable.
Promote fraudulent schemes or unauthorized commercial content.
Engage in collusion or any tactic to manipulate or exploit the Service.

7.2 Account Suspension or Termination.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate any User account at any time, for any reason, including but not limited to violations of these Terms or suspicious activity.
Such termination may be immediate, with or without notice.

8. Responsible Social Gaming

8.1 Backyard Bets is a low-stakes, social entertainment platform. If you choose to make the $1 payment, please do so responsibly and within your personal budget. Any concerns about problem behavior or excessive focus on predictions should be addressed immediately.

8.2 If you or someone you know is experiencing problematic behaviors related to any form of gambling or wagering, please contact a professional helpline, such as 1-800-GAMBLER.

8.3 We maintain a separate, detailed Responsible Social Gaming Policy that provides guidance and options for self-exclusion, cool-off periods, and additional resources. By using the Service, you agree to review and abide by these guidelines.

9. Dispute Resolution & Account Closure

9.1 Internal Dispute Process.

For any disputes regarding picks, payouts, or related issues, you must email us at MediocreBackyardLeagues@gmail.com with “Dispute” in the subject.
We will review and respond as reasonably as possible.
Important: If you file a dispute, your account will be terminated and you will be banned from Backyard Bets, regardless of outcome.

9.2 All Decisions Final.
We retain sole discretion to settle or void predictions. Our decisions on such matters are final and binding.

9.3 Limitation of Liability.
In any valid claim arising from or relating to the Service, your sole and exclusive remedy is limited to the total amount of your $1 payment on the prediction in question. Backyard Bets will not be liable for any special, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

10.1 You acknowledge that the Service is provided “as is” and “as available.” We expressly disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

10.2 We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure. We may, at any time, suspend or remove features without notice.

10.3 While we strive to maintain accurate lines and payouts, we are not responsible for typographical errors, server issues, or other technical inaccuracies. Any such errors may lead to voided or corrected picks at our discretion.

11. Privacy Notice

11.1 Personal Data Collection.

You may be required to provide full name, date of birth, email address, phone number, address, and other personal information for membership verification.
We collect this data to confirm age, maintain an invite-only membership, and address compliance or disputes.

11.2 Use of Cookies.

Our Site may employ cookies or other tracking technologies to analyze usage and improve your experience.
By using the Site, you agree to our use of cookies as described in this Notice or a separately posted cookie policy.

11.3 Data Sharing.

We do not sell your personal data to third parties.
We may share data with trusted service providers for Site operations or to satisfy legal obligations.

11.4 Separate Privacy Policy.

A more comprehensive Backyard Leagues Privacy Policy may be posted on backyardleagues.com. By using Backyard Bets, you also agree to that policy to the extent it applies.

12. Intellectual Property & License

All content, trademarks, and data appearing on the Site, including lines, text, graphics, logos, and images, are owned by or licensed to Backyard Leagues, LLC. You are granted a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the Service solely for personal, non-commercial entertainment.

13. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Backyard Leagues, LLC, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and volunteers from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or in connection with:

Your use or misuse of the Service;
Your breach or alleged breach of these Terms; or
Your violation of any law or rights of a third party.

14. Termination & Survival

14.1 Termination by Us.
We may terminate or suspend your account or ability to use the Service at our sole discretion, for any reason, with or without notice.

14.2 Effects of Termination.

Your right to access the Service immediately ceases upon termination.
Any pending or future picks and associated payouts may be voided at our discretion, consistent with these Terms.

14.3 Survival.
Sections pertaining to Disclaimers, Limitation of Liability, Indemnification, Dispute Resolution, and Privacy shall survive any termination.

15. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

15.1 These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

15.2 Any disputes not resolved via the internal dispute process in Section 9 shall be litigated in the courts located in Ohio, and you consent to personal jurisdiction and venue in Ohio.

16. General Provisions

16.1 Entire Agreement.
These Terms, together with any policies referenced herein (Responsible Social Gaming Policy, Backyard Leagues Privacy Policy, etc.), constitute the entire agreement between you and us concerning Backyard Bets.

16.2 Severability.
If any portion of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, that portion shall be severed, and the remainder shall remain in full force and effect.

16.3 No Waiver.
Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that provision or any other provision.

16.4 Assignment.
We may assign or transfer our rights and obligations under these Terms at any time without notice. You may not assign these Terms without our prior written consent.

16.5 Headings.
Headings are for reference only and do not affect interpretation.

17. Contact Us

For any questions, comments, or concerns about these Terms, the Service, or to report violations, please contact us at:
MediocreBackyardLeagues@gmail.com

BY CLICKING “I AGREE,” OR BY ACCESSING OR USING THE SERVICE, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE TO THESE TERMS OF USE AND OUR ASSOCIATED POLICIES.