Care To Swamble On That?
Michael Arrington
16 comments »
Las Vegas based (where else?) Swamble is a new mobile-focused website that lets users place and accept wagers on just about anything they can think of. It’s a bit like UK-based Gottabet. But U.S. residents can’t legally use Gottabet because it allows cash wagers. Swamble, for now, allows bets to be settled only with things other than cash.
The site is optimized for mobile use. Click “Create,” add a title and description of the wager, and tags. Other users then jump in and accept, and leave (generally) taunting comments. One of the early beta testers set up a wager that Transformers would have a bigger opening weekend than SpiderMan 3. The wager required the loser or losers (which turned out in this case to be the creator) write a blog post linking to the winner(s).
These kinds of non-cash wagers won’t lead to a lot of success for the company, but the founders say that they will soon add a private wagering feature (where the government’s prying eyes can’t see what’s being bet on).
And there are currently two bills before Congress that might ease the restrictions on Internet gambling enough for Swamble to take cash bets (HR 2607 and HR 2046). If that happens, they may be in a good place to capitalize quickly on the changes in the law.
The company is in private beta but is giving out invitations pretty quickly. Sign up on the home page.
Cool idea. I like it already. The us government has to change the laws on
interntet gamable they are losing out alot in job creation.
It’ll be great as soon as someone wagers sex on a bet and a bunch of Attorneys Generals’ heads simultaneously explode.
i have a better idea. restrict the action to propositions on u.s. soccer. that’s something i can get behind. that will build interest in the game (more so than beckham and his hottie wife) and thus create real jobs.
Swingers + Gamblers = Swamblers!
You can even get the t-shirt here:
Actually, Swamble should team up with the talented folks at breakaleg.tv (featured at NewTeeVee’s Pier Screening in May) producers of the ever-so-famous (but fictionally defunct) “Swamblers” TV series. Just thought I’d make a cross-promo connection…
It’s interesting, but without real monetary value at stake it is nothing more than just a game. Let’s see how the private wagering feature goes.
Once private wagering is established it should help NBA officials to place bets on games more efficiently.
Buxr - nice.
Jen - As a Break a Leg fan, I nearly died laughing. This is so awesome.
Well, I was the guy who lost my first Swamble bet. I paid up though. I wrote my post about Scott and his blog. Swamble is amusing and could be a fun social networking thing, might even win one of the Swambles eventually too.
Michael – I just wanted to make a correction regarding Gottabet.com.
US residents can use Gottabet totally legally. To avoid any misunderstanding, we have taken the strongest stance possible on blocking all cash transaction in the US (I’d even bet you a beer that you wouldn’t be able to upload funds on your Gottabet account with your card ;).
US users can play for fun prizes (eg: a drink, the loser washes the dishes) and peanuts (our free point system driving league tables), which is largely where we want to drive the site. We want the site to be all about fun and community, and not a gambling machine (one might argue that we haven’t picked the best name for that – I’d agree). In some specific countries, we allow bets for pennies, but even there, as you can see on the site, it’s largely as a way to let our users raise funds for the charities of their choice (eg: betting your friends that you will run a marathon, with the winnings going to Amnesty International – we partner with 16 charities).
To give a sense of the fun dimension of the site, recent bets include: a woman betting she will be fired from the bank she works for and giving crispy details about what’s happening inside; a French guy (!) betting on how long he will last fishing on a dingy in one of London’s main fountain before the police kicks him out; or some of the celebrities that have joined us (eg: 50 Cent, Mandy Moore, OTEP) challenging their fans to register and vote, or do something against global warming. Some of the video evidences are quite funny.
If you are interested, I’d be more than happy to tell you more about our future plans. Lot has changed since you covered us, and lot of exciting things coming up shortly.
Bertrand
Co-founder of Gottabet.com
(sorry for the long note)
Am I the only person thinking of Orinoco, Tobermory and Great Uncle Bulgaria?
“Remember you’re a Swamble…”
“The Swambles of Swimbledon Common are we…”
just a heads up on some fairly blatant theft of your work:
http://www.gambling911.com/Int.....81507.html
Knowing this exists makes my life happy and complete.
To see the true meaning of Swamblers and Swamblering and Swamblerhood, please check out our show at: breakaleg.tv — Swambling was born there. I thought.
Enjoy.
-Yuri, the, well, Swambler. And co-creator of Break a Leg.
Yuri B. - I really like the show! I’m glad to make your life happy and complete