Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy describes how Ty Garvin (“we,” “us,” “our“) collects, uses, and shares information when you use the mobile application The Dollar Bet (the “App“) and related services (collectively, the “Service“). By using the Service, you agree to the practices described here.

The Dollar Bet is a social score-keeping app for friendly wagers between consenting adults. We do not process payments, hold funds, or facilitate real-money gambling. Any actual exchange of money or goods between users happens entirely outside the App and outside of our knowledge.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of information.

1.1 Information you provide

Account credentials. Your email address and password (stored in hashed form), or a third-party authentication identifier from Apple or Google. Collected when you create an account or sign in.

Profile information. Your display name, optional profile photo, optional phone number, and optional bio. Collected when you complete onboarding or update your profile.

User content. Bets you create, room and league names, room chat messages, direct messages, votes on bet outcomes, and settlement confirmations. Collected whenever you interact with the Service.

Communications with us. Reports, support messages, and bug reports submitted through the in-app Report Issue screen or by email. Collected when you contact us.

1.2 Information collected automatically

Device identifiers. A Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) push notification token and an internal user ID, used to deliver push notifications and authenticate your API requests.

Authentication tokens. JSON Web Tokens (JWT) issued after sign-in and stored securely on your device, used to keep you signed in between sessions.

Operational logs. Timestamps, IP address, and basic device and OS version associated with API requests, used to operate, secure, and debug the Service.

Crash and diagnostic info. If a crash occurs, basic stack trace data may be transmitted to Apple via standard iOS crash reporting (only if you have opted in via iOS Settings).

We do not use Firebase Analytics, Firebase Crashlytics, Sentry, Mixpanel, Amplitude, PostHog, AdMob, or any other third-party advertising or product-analytics SDK in the App.

1.3 Information from optional permissions

Contacts. When you grant the contacts permission and tap “Find Friends from Contacts,” we read phone numbers from your device’s address book. Only normalized phone numbers (E.164 format) are sent to our server to match against existing accounts. We do not transmit names, emails, or other contact details. Submitted phone numbers are used in-memory to compute matches and are not retained as part of your account record.

Photo library and camera. When you set or change your profile photo, we access the single image you select. The selected image is uploaded to our backend and stored as your avatar. It is replaced or deleted when you change or remove it.

Microphone. When you dictate a bet description, your voice is processed locally by your device’s speech-recognition framework and converted to text. The raw audio recording never leaves your device. Only the final text is saved as part of the bet description.

Notifications. When you grant notification permission, we send notifications about challenges, bet outcomes, friend requests, and room activity. You can disable notifications at any time in iOS Settings.

1.4 Information from third-party sign-in providers

If you sign in with Apple or Google, that provider shares limited profile data with us:

  • Sign in with Apple: a unique Apple identifier, your email (which may be a private relay address you control), and your name (if you choose to share it).
  • Sign in with Google: a unique Google identifier, your email address, and your name.

We do not receive your password or access any other information from these providers.

3. How We Use Information

We use the information described above only to operate the Service. Specifically:

  • To create and authenticate your account.
  • To display your profile, bets, and messages to other users you interact with.
  • To deliver push notifications you have opted into.
  • To match phone numbers from your contacts against existing users so you can find friends on the App (only when you initiate this).
  • To track bet outcomes, room standings, leaderboards, badges, and level progression.
  • To respond to your support requests, reports, and bug submissions.
  • To detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, abuse, and violations of our terms.
  • To comply with legal obligations.

We do not use your data for advertising, do not sell your data to third parties, and do not share your data with data brokers.

4. How We Share Information

3.1 With other users

The following information is visible to other users you interact with on the Service:

  • Your display name, profile photo, and level/badges.
  • Bets you create or accept, including your position and your settlement record.
  • Messages you post in shared rooms (visible to other room members) and direct messages (visible to the recipient).
  • Win/loss records and other public statistics related to your activity in shared rooms or leagues.

Your email address, phone number, and contact list are never shown to other users.

3.2 With service providers

We share data with vendors who process information on our behalf, only to the extent needed to run the Service:

  • Google (Firebase): authentication, real-time database (Cloud Firestore), and push notifications (Firebase Cloud Messaging).
  • Apple: Sign in with Apple, push notification delivery, and TestFlight beta distribution.
  • Our hosting provider for the WordPress backend that stores user accounts, bets, and rooms.

These providers are bound by contract to use your data only for the purpose of providing services to us.

3.3 For legal and safety reasons

We may disclose information when we reasonably believe it is necessary to:

  • Comply with a valid legal request, subpoena, or court order.
  • Enforce our Terms of Service.
  • Protect the rights, property, or safety of our users, the public, or us.
  • Investigate fraud, abuse, or violations of law.

 

3.4 Business transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you and provide options before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

5. Third-Party Services

The Service uses the following third-party platforms. Each is governed by its own privacy policy:

6. Data Rentention

  • Account data (email, profile, preferences) is retained while your account is active.
  • User content (bets, messages, room data) is retained for as long as the room or league exists, and may persist after your account is deleted in shared records (for example, a chat message you sent to a still-active room).
  • Phone numbers submitted via the contacts friend-finder are processed in memory and not retained as part of your account record.
  • Operational logs are retained for up to 90 days for security and debugging.
  • Backups may retain deleted data for up to 30 additional days before they are overwritten.

7. Your Rights and Choices

You have the right to:

  • Access the personal data we hold about you.
  • Correct inaccurate information through the in-app profile screen, or by contacting us.
  • Delete your account and associated personal data (see Section 7 below).
  • Export a copy of your account data in a portable format. Request this by emailing us.
  • Withdraw consent for optional permissions (Contacts, Photos, Microphone, Notifications) at any time in iOS Settings → The Dollar Bet.
  • Object to or restrict processing in certain circumstances under applicable law.
  • Lodge a complaint with a data protection authority if you are in the EU, UK, or another jurisdiction with such an authority.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at [email protected]. We respond within 30 days.

8. Account Deletion

You can delete your account directly in the App at any time:

  1. Open the App and go to Profile.
  2. Tap Settings.
  3. Tap Delete Account and confirm.

When you delete your account:

  • Your profile, email, phone number, and avatar are deleted from our active systems.
  • Your authentication tokens are revoked.
  • Your push notification token is deleted.
  • Bets and messages you posted in rooms with other users may be retained in those shared records, attributed to a deleted user, so the room’s history remains intact for other participants.
  • Backup copies of your data are overwritten within 30 days.

You may also email [email protected] to request deletion if you are unable to access the App

9. Security

We use industry-standard practices to protect your data, including:

  • HTTPS/TLS encryption for all data in transit between your device and our servers.
  • Secure password hashing (bcrypt or equivalent) for stored credentials.
  • Secure storage of authentication tokens on your device using the iOS Keychain.
  • Restricted backend access on a need-to-know basis.

No system is completely secure. If you become aware of a vulnerability or believe your account has been compromised, please contact us immediately at [email protected].

10. Children's Privacy

The Dollar Bet is rated 18+ and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13. If we learn that we have collected such information, we will delete it promptly. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us at [email protected].

If you are between 13 and 18, you may use the Service only with the involvement and permission of a parent or legal guardian.

11. International Users

The Dollar Bet is operated from the United States. If you access the Service from outside the United States, your information will be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States. By using the Service, you consent to this transfer.

If you are in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, the legal bases on which we process your personal data are: (a) performance of a contract when we provide the Service; (b) your consent when you grant optional permissions; (c) our legitimate interests in operating, securing, and improving the Service; and (d) compliance with legal obligations.

12. California Privacy Rights (CCPA / CPRA)

If you are a California resident, you have the right to:

  • Know what categories of personal information we collect, use, and disclose.
  • Request access to and deletion of your personal information.
  • Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information.
  • Not be discriminated against for exercising any of these rights.

We do not sell or share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising, as those terms are defined under California law.

To exercise California rights, email [email protected] with the subject line “California Privacy Request.”

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. If the changes are material, we will notify you in the App or by email before the changes take effect. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of any update constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions, requests, or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please contact us:

The Dollar Bet
Ty Garvin
Email: [email protected]

This Privacy Policy applies only to the App and Service described above. It does not apply to any third-party website, application, or service that may be linked from the App.