Backgammon & chess,for real stakes.
Get the Beta on TestFlightReal money, fully legal.
Deposit with Apple Pay. Cash out whenever you like.
Play your friends.
Challenge your friends to backgammon or chess, track your head-to-head records, and climb the leaderboard. Always free.
Learn from the best.
World-class AI coaching is one click away. Review all of your games, practice drills, and play against a coach.
Honest by design.
Dice are verified random. ID verification and advanced bot detection make sure you only play against humans.
You can trust that every game is fair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are you?
TableStakes is founded by Vishal and Jared. We’re both entrepreneurs who have founded and sold businesses. TableStakes is also backed by world-class investors.
We created TableStakes because we love games and competing with friends. We wanted to create an app that brings that experience to everyone.
We’re in the app every day — add us! Our usernames are vishal and jared. And tell us what you think, we read every piece of feedback.
How do you make money?
For now, we don’t. Our only goal is to give you the best experience possible.
We don’t charge any fees on deposits or withdrawals, or make any money on your games. We do, however, pass along fees from our payment providers, like credit card fees.
Have fun! Our only ask is that you give us feedback on how to make the app more fun for you.
Do I have to play for money?
Not at all! The vast majority of the app doesn’t involve playing for money. Play against your friends, improve with the AI, and have fun.
How do I deposit and withdraw money?
You can deposit with a debit card over Apple Pay, or a Coinbase account. You can withdraw to your bank account or Coinbase.
You will have to do a quick ID verification before depositing. It should take under a minute.
Payment with credit cards, Venmo, CashApp, etc. is coming soon.
How does the ELO calculation work?
For chess, we use the standard Glicko rating system. This is the same ELO logic that is used in other popular chess apps.
For backgammon, we use a slightly different formula, to take into account randomness. We use ELO and also take into account how well you played. As you play better, your ELO should go up regardless of your luck.
Why chess and backgammon?
Those are the two games that we love, and we play everyday.
They also have large communities and have long been played for money. We both have fond memories of playing chess and backgammon for money in Washington Square Park.
Will other games be added later?
Yes! We have plans to add Mahjong, Rummy, and many more games soon. If you would like to request a game, please reach out to us here.
How do referrals work? Can I invite my friends?
Yes, we would love for you to invite your friends!
In the “Friends” tab, you can send your referral link to your friends. For every friend that signs up, you both get $5.
Please note — your friend needs to be 18+ and in the US to qualify for the referral bonus. Also users are limited to 10 paid referrals each. If you’d like more, please reach out and we’ll give you more!
Where can I use TableStakes?
You can use TableStakes anywhere in the world.
For now, real money play is available in most US states. You must be 18 or older to use any real money features.
All non-money features are available to everyone.
Is this legal?
Yes! TableStakes operates under skill-based gaming laws in the United States. For more information, please contact us.
Why is the app only available on iOS?
We’re starting with iOS, but are working on releasing an Android and web app as soon as possible.