You can legally use the Vivid Picks mobile app for fun in all US states and territories, but you can only use it to bet real money in 24 states and the District of Columbia. The Vivid Picks app continues to work to add states, but each state determines its bookmaking laws and decides where the Vivid Picks app falls within that.
What states is Vivid Picks legal?
Using the Vivid Picks iOS or Android app for fun remains legal in every state and territory. Using the Vivid Picks app for cash money betting remains legal only in the following states:
- Alaska,
- Arkansas,
- California,
- Florida,
- Georgia,
- Illinois,
- Kansas,
- Kentucky,
- Massachusetts,
- Minnesota,
- Nebraska,
- New Mexico,
- North Carolina,
- North Dakota,
- Oklahoma,
- Oregon,
- Rhode Island,
- South Carolina,
- South Dakota,
- Texas, Utah,
- Vermont,
- Wisconsin,
- Wyoming,
- Washington D.C.
Read on to learn why your state might not allow cash betting yet with the Vivid Picks app.
What Is Vivid Picks?
The secondary events ticket retailer Vivid Seats launched the app on August 22, 2022, to combine the ticketing business, pick’em Gaming, and Betcha Fantasy Sports into a single app. In its effort to create a single app, Vivid Seats created the question of where users can legally use its new app.
While the app remains legal, any portion that involves betting with real fiat currency remains legal only in the states listed above and the District of Columbia. The single app bundles its sports betting experience, game predictions, fantasy sports, social media, eSports, and sports event ticket purchasing. Due to this amalgamation of features, Vivid Picks has yet to earn its license for bookmaking.
See a complete guide to how Vivid Picks works here.
Vivid Picks Licensed Sportsbook
Your state or territory may not allow cash bets on the Vivid Picks app because the company, formerly Betcha Fantasy, has yet to earn its licensing as a sportsbook. Currently, it functions as a daily fantasy sports (DFS) app touted as a cross between Twitter, eSports, and fantasy sports.
Although the company continues to expand its gaming options, it has yet to fulfill each state’s requirements that allow legalized gambling. These vary by state because gambling legalization remains a state’s rights issue in the US.
The app runs contests and promotions for fun, as well as those that extend to winning its native currency, Vivid Bucks, and cash. Every area of the US can legally use the fantasy sports non-gambling area, read the picks from various experts and Vegas line information, and use the social media section. The app currently covers the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and NASCAR.
Some States Only Allow Some Games
In some US states, the only legal options in the app include the DFS and Best Ball contests. In other states, pick’em games remain legal, too. This varies by state, and you can only learn which games your state makes open to you by installing the Vivid Picks mobile app.
In eight states, all of the app’s promotions remain void. These states include:
- Connecticut,
- Hawaii,
- Idaho,
- Michigan,
- Montana,
- Nevada,
- New York,
- Washington.
In these eight states, you can only use the app for fun. Any entry you attempt to make in any cash game contest or bets or qualify for a matching promotion, Vivid Picks must automatically consider null and void if you reside in one of these states.
The Legal Age For Betting And Promotions
While everyone in the US can use the app for entertainment and play for free, to enter contests with cash prizes or bets, you must have reached the legal age set by your state.
In most states, the minimum age of 18 years old applies, but in Nebraska, only those 19 years of age or older can play money games. The state of Massachusetts raises that age to 21 years of age and older.
Getting Paid Requires Confirmation of all State-Related Information
Sometimes people try to flout these rules by visiting another state to make the bets. That works with some websites but not with the Vivid Picks app because the sportsbook section remains so new that it only makes payout by paper check.
Since you have no electronic payment option, even if you bet while on vacation, you’d need a mailing address in that state, too, plus you would need to prove your age using identification relevant to that state.
Essentially, that means a state ID or driver’s license that confirms your mailing address in that state. Unlike the apps that pay out electronically, your VPN won’t help you.
Features Of Vivid Picks
To an extent, the Vivid Picks app helps you. For example, if you try to add real money for betting after signup, but you list your home address as Connecticut, the app will tell you that you cannot deposit it.
Betting apps don’t want to get in trouble, so they lock out banned locations from certain parts of their website or app. Vivid Picks doesn’t differ in this aspect.
Regardless of your location in the US, the app should let you access the fantasy sports section, link your social media, read predictions and Las Vegas line information, follow your friends who use the app and your favorite experts, earn badges, make picks and participate in “for fun” challenges, and rank on the leaderboards.
The states that have made at least limited online gaming legal may allow one or more of the over/under betting, matchup style games, or other promotions. When you reside in one of these states, the app lets you make deposits, earn payouts, and make withdrawals of your winnings.