Terms and Conditions

1. About these terms

These terms govern your use of Armchair Pro (“the app”), available at armchairpro.com and any subdomains. By creating an account or otherwise using the app, you agree to these terms.

Armchair Pro is operated by Validate and Innovate Pty Ltd (“we”, “us”, “our”), an Australian private company.

If you don’t agree with these terms, please don’t use the app.

2. What Armchair Pro is

Armchair Pro is a free-to-play prediction app built initially around the FIFA World Cup 2026, with a view to expand into other sports and events moving forward on the back of this initial pilot. You can:

• Make predictions about tournament outcomes (champions, top scorers, group results, knockout brackets, etc.)
• Join or create private leagues with friends, colleagues, or community groups
• See how your predictions stack up against other members of your leagues
• Take part in sponsored leagues offered by pubs, workplaces, and community organisations

Armchair Pro is not a gambling product. No real money changes hands through the app. You don’t pay to predict, and the app doesn’t award cash prizes. Any prizes offered by sponsored leagues or within private leagues are arranged directly between the sponsor and/or league members — we facilitate the leaderboard, not the prize.

3. Your account

To use most features you’ll need an account. To create one:

• You must be at least 16 years old
• You must use a valid email address that you control
• You must use the account yourself (no creating accounts on behalf of others, no shared accounts)
• You agree to provide accurate information when prompted (display name, etc.)

We use magic-link authentication, which means you receive a sign-in link by email rather than using a password. You’re responsible for keeping access to your email account secure.

You can have one account per person. Creating multiple accounts to gain an advantage (for example, submitting multiple sets of predictions under different identities) is a breach of these terms and we may suspend all related accounts and void their entries. We may suspend or terminate accounts that breach these terms.

4. Acceptable use

When using the app, you agree not to:

• Use the app for any illegal purpose
• Create or join leagues for the purpose of facilitating real-money gambling, betting pools, or any activity requiring an Australian gambling licence
• Harass, threaten, or abuse other users through league names, display names, descriptions, or any other content you submit
• Submit content that’s obscene, hateful, defamatory, or violates someone else’s rights
• Attempt to access accounts, data, or features you’re not authorised to access
• Use automated tools to access the app, scrape data, or submit predictions in bulk
• Probe, scan, or test the app’s security
• Interfere with the app’s normal operation
• Reverse-engineer or copy the app’s code or design for competing products
• Create multiple accounts or otherwise attempt to gain an unfair advantage

We may remove content or suspend accounts that breach this clause, with or without notice depending on severity.

5. Leagues

You can create private leagues and invite others to join. As a league creator:

• You’re responsible for the content you put in your league (name, description, etc.)
• You can rename your league or change its description after creation, but you can’t change member memberships once a league has started
• You can’t currently delete a league or remove members through the app — contact us if you need to

Anyone joining a league agrees to behave according to clause 4. League creators can’t moderate league members directly through the app at this stage; if a member breaches these terms, contact us at michael@validateinnovate.com.au.

6. Sponsored leagues

Some leagues are sponsored by third parties (pubs, workplaces, community organisations). Sponsored leagues are visually branded with the sponsor’s logo and brand colour.

When you join a sponsored league:

• The sponsor can see your display name and how your predictions are performing within their league
• The sponsor cannot see your email address, your predictions in other leagues, or any other personal information
• The sponsor is responsible for any prize they offer to league members. We do not administer, guarantee, or insure sponsored league prizes. If a sponsor fails to deliver a promised prize, that’s a dispute between you and the sponsor, not us.
• We may end our relationship with any sponsor at any time

If you have concerns about a sponsored league, contact us at michael@validateinnovate.com.au.

7. League buy-ins and prizes

Private (non-sponsored) leagues may include a buy-in (entry fee) and a prize structure set by the league creator.

When you join a league that includes a buy-in or prize:

• Armchair Pro does not process payments. All buy-in collection and prize distribution is arranged directly between the league creator and members. We have no visibility into whether anyone has paid or been paid, and we don’t hold funds in escrow at any stage.
• Payment details displayed in a league (for example, EFT instructions, PayID, or other payment methods) are entered by the creator at their own discretion and shown to all league members. We don’t verify them, secure them beyond the standard protections in our Privacy Policy, or guarantee they’re correct.
• The financial relationship is between members. If a member fails to pay a buy-in, if a creator fails to distribute promised prizes, or if any other dispute arises about money in a league, this is a dispute between members and not something we can resolve. We don’t mediate, refund, or compensate for any such dispute.
• Comply with applicable law. Members and creators are responsible for ensuring buy-in and prize arrangements comply with applicable Australian laws, including taxation and gambling regulations. We’re a prediction platform; we don’t authorise leagues to operate as paid gambling pools, and you must not use the buy-in feature to run unlicensed gambling.

By joining or creating a league that includes a buy-in, you acknowledge and accept these terms.

8. Competitions, predictions, and scoring

Armchair Pro currently offers two scored competitions that contribute to your league standings:

1. The Crystal ball (the tournament prediction game) — a one-off prediction sheet covering tournament-wide outcomes (champions, top scorers, group winners, dark horses, etc.), submitted before the tournament begins and resolved at or near the end of the tournament.
2. Tipping — a match-by-match competition where you tip the result of each match across the tournament.

A third feature, Match Mode — a per-match pick sheet covering scoreline, captain pick, and “chaos question” predictions — is in preview at launch. You can explore Match Mode at any time via the app’s home page, but Match Mode results do not contribute to league standings in this release. We may enable Match Mode as a scored competition in a future update; if and when that happens, the scoring rules described below in clause 8.7 will apply, and we’ll let you know.

Points are awarded automatically based on match data sourced from API-Football, scored against the rules described in these terms and the point values, question subtitles, and scoring notes displayed alongside each question in the app.

8.1 Match data and corrections

• Match data may be delayed, incorrect, or unavailable from time to time
• We may correct scores retroactively (for example, after a VAR review, an official ruling, or other correction by the governing body)
• We don’t guarantee that the app will be available 100% of the time, that scores will appear in real time, or that points will be calculated without error

8.2 Crystal ball scoring

The Crystal ball is a separate competition resolved at or near the end of the tournament. Each question has a stated point value visible at the time you submit your prediction. Points are awarded as follows:

• Single correct answer questions — full points awarded if your prediction matches the correct answer
• Questions with graduated scoring — partial points may be awarded for partially correct predictions, where stated in the question subtitle (for example, predicting the right matchup but the wrong stage)
• Questions where multiple options can be equally correct — for some questions (for example, “Which country will score the most goals?”), more than one nation may finish tied for the answer. In these cases, predicting any one of the tied options awards full points. You only need to select one tied option to score.

The specific scoring rule for each question is shown in the question subtitle in the app. If you’re unclear about how a question will be scored, the rule shown in the app at the time of submission is authoritative.

8.3 Tipping scoring

Tipping awards points per match based on whether your selected result (home win, draw, or away win) matches the actual result of the match. Specific point values and any bonus structures (for example, margin bonuses) are described alongside the tipping interface in the app.

8.4 Tiebreakers

Within the Crystal ball competition

If two or more users finish on the same total points across the same league for the Crystal ball, the tiebreaker is the user with the earliest submitted set of picks. If still tied after that, the tie stands and both users are recorded equally.

For individual Crystal ball questions that ask you to identify a single outcome (for example, Golden Boot winner), the official FIFA tiebreaker system will be applied where applicable. The single official winner under FIFA’s rules is the correct answer for scoring purposes.

Within the Tipping competition

If two or more users finish on the same total points across the same league for Tipping, tiebreakers are resolved against the user’s tiebreaker predictions submitted alongside their tips (for example, total goals in nominated matches, first-goal minute). The specific tiebreaker mechanism is described in the Tipping interface.

If users remain tied after all available tiebreakers, the tie stands and users are recorded equally.

8.5 Postponed, abandoned, or rescheduled events

• If a match is postponed and rescheduled within the tournament window, it remains part of the competition and is scored as normal once played
• If a match is abandoned and cannot be rescheduled within the tournament window, no points will be awarded to anyone for that match
• In exceptional circumstances at the concluding stages of the tournament (the Final or Third-Place Playoff) where a match cannot be completed — for example due to severe weather, unsafe conditions, terrorist attack, pandemic, or other force majeure — we reserve the right to declare the match a tie and award equal points to all relevant predictions, after first taking into account any official ruling by FIFA
• In the event of disqualification or other official ruling by FIFA, we may, at our discretion, amend point allocations to reflect the official results, provided that these adjustments are made before the conclusion of the tournament

8.6 Global leaderboards

Where the app displays global leaderboards (ranking all users across the platform, rather than within a specific league), these are provided for engagement and bragging rights only. No prize, payment, or reward is associated with placement on a global leaderboard. We may add, modify, or remove global leaderboards at any time without notice. Any prize-related leaderboards within Armchair Pro are limited to private and sponsored leagues, on the terms described in clauses 5–7.

8.7 Match Mode scoring (preview feature; not currently scored in leagues)

Match Mode is available to explore at launch but is not currently a scored league competition. The following describes how Match Mode would be scored if and when it is enabled as a scored competition in a future update. We’re including these rules here so the framework is documented; the rules may be refined before Match Mode goes live as a competition.

For each match, points would be awarded for:

• Scoreline outcome — exact score, correct goal difference, or correct result (graduated points)
• Captain pick — a player nominated to earn bonus points based on their performance in that match
• Chaos questions — additional predictions about events that may occur in the match (e.g. cards, penalties, first goal method)

Points would be calculated automatically as match events are processed. Provisional points may appear during a match, with finalisation after full-time. Final scores would be subject to any retroactive corrections referenced in clause 8.1.

We’ll notify users by email or in-app notice before Match Mode is enabled as a scored competition.

8.8 Errors and our right to correct

If a clear scoring error occurs — whether caused by incorrect data from API-Football, a software bug, or a misapplied rule — we’ll correct it. Corrections may be made at any time before the conclusion of the tournament. After the final scheduled tournament match concludes, the standings recorded in the app are deemed official.

We don’t compensate for points temporarily lost, bragging rights forgone, or any other consequence of a scoring error that’s been corrected.

9. Disputes and decisions

9.1 Operator authority

Michael Di Natale, on behalf of Validate and Innovate Pty Ltd, acts as the sole judge for the purposes of these terms (“the Operator”). The Operator has final say on:

• Scoring disputes
• Application of these terms
• Interpretation of edge cases not explicitly covered by the published rules
• Whether to apply discretionary adjustments described in clauses 8.5 (postponed/abandoned events, FIFA disqualifications) and 8.7 (Match Mode enablement)
• Suspension or termination of accounts under clause 4

The Operator’s authority does NOT extend to league buy-ins, prize disputes, or any other money-related disputes between league members. Per clause 7, those are between members.

The Operator’s decisions are made in good faith and aim to be fair to all users.

9.2 Raising a dispute

If you believe a score has been incorrectly applied or that another user has breached these terms:

• For a per-match score (tipping or, if enabled, Match Mode): contact us within 48 hours of the match’s finalisation (i.e. within 48 hours of the match being marked as fully scored in the app)
• For a Crystal ball score or any tournament-wide issue: contact us within 48 hours of the tournament’s conclusion (defined as the end of the Final)

Disputes raised after these windows will generally not be considered. The Operator may, in exceptional cases at their sole discretion, consider a late dispute, but is not obliged to do so.

To raise a dispute, email michael@validateinnovate.com.au with:

• Your registered email address
• The specific score, match, or question being disputed
• The reason you believe an error occurred

We’ll respond within a reasonable time, typically 7 days. The Operator’s response is final.

9.3 Verification rights

The Operator reserves the right at any time to verify the validity of entries and the eligibility of users. The Operator may, in their absolute discretion, suspend or remove any user who is believed to have:

• Breached these terms
• Tampered with the entry or scoring process
• Engaged in unlawful, objectionable, or improper conduct related to the competition
• Otherwise interfered with or jeopardised the fair and proper running of the competition

10. Intellectual property

The app’s design, code, copy, logo, and brand are owned by Validate and Innovate Pty Ltd.

Tournament data (fixtures, results, statistics) comes from API-Football and is licensed for use within the app. Team names, country flags, player names, and other tournament references are used for identification only and remain the property of their respective owners (FIFA, national football associations, individual players, etc.).

You retain rights to content you submit (display name, league name, league description, predictions). By submitting that content, you give us a non-exclusive licence to display it within the app as needed to operate the service.

11. Privacy

How we handle your personal information is covered separately in our Privacy Policy. By using the app, you agree to that policy.

12. Liability

The app is provided “as is”. We don’t make any warranty that the app will:

• Be available continuously or without interruption
• Be free of errors, bugs, or security vulnerabilities
• Calculate predictions or points accurately in every case
• Be compatible with every device or browser

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

• We’re not liable for any loss arising from your use of the app (including loss of data, loss of opportunity, embarrassment, or anything else)
• We’re not liable for buy-in funds or prizes arranged between league members, whether collected or owed (per clause 7)
• Our total liability to you for anything related to the app is capped at AUD 100

Nothing in these terms excludes rights you have under the Australian Consumer Law or any other law that can’t be excluded by contract.

13. Termination

You can stop using the app at any time. To delete your account, email us at michael@validateinnovate.com.au and we’ll remove your data within a reasonable period (typically 30 days).

We may suspend or terminate your account if you breach these terms, if your conduct creates risk for other users, or if we discontinue the app. If we terminate your account, we’ll let you know by email (except where doing so would compromise an investigation or third party’s safety).

14. Changes to these terms

We may update these terms from time to time. When we do, we’ll:

• Update the “Last updated” date at the top
• For material changes, we may notify you by email at least 14 days before they take effect

If you continue using the app after changes take effect, you accept the updated terms. If you don’t accept them, you can stop using the app and request your data be deleted.

15. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia. Any dispute arising from these terms or your use of the app is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Victoria.

16. Contact

Operator: Validate and Innovate Pty Ltd (acting through Michael Di Natale)

Email: michael@validateinnovate.com.au

Address: Available on request

For any questions about these terms, email us using the address above.