Terms

Terms & Conditions
Duelmasters — Terms of Service (Staking & Sponsorship Model)

Important Notice: Arbitration and Class Action Waiver
These Terms include a binding arbitration clause and a class action waiver (see §11). By registering or using our Services, You agree to resolve any disputes through final, binding, individual arbitration.
“Duelmasters” refers to Duelmasters LLC, a legally incorporated company under U.S. law.
Duelmasters is not affiliated with or endorsed by Electronic Arts, Activision Blizzard, Epic Games, Microsoft, Sony, PlayStation, Valve, or any other game developer or publisher. All referenced trademarks belong to their respective owners.

Part 1 — General Information1. Contractual Relationship
These Terms of Service (“Terms”) form a legally binding agreement between Duelmasters LLC (“Duelmasters”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) and the individual user (“you”, “your”).
They govern access to and use of our applications, websites, and all associated tools, software, and services (collectively, the “Services”).
By clicking “I Agree”, creating an account, or otherwise using the Services, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms, and that you are legally permitted to enter into this contract.
We reserve the right to revise these Terms at any time. Continued use of the Services after updates means you accept the new version.

2. Nature of the Services
Duelmasters provides a technology platform that enables users to sponsor or stake eligible players in skill-based video game competitions (the “Staked Events”).
We do not operate or host any games ourselves and do not offer gambling, betting, or bookmaking. All activities are for entertainment purposes only.
Streams and gameplay occur on external platforms (e.g., Twitch, Kick, YouTube). Users must comply with all applicable third-party terms and rules.

3. Key Definitions

Player: An eligible participant competing in a skill-based event.
Sponsor: A user providing funds to cover part or all of a Player’s entry fee in exchange for a conditional right to receive a share of the Player’s winnings (a “Sponsor Commission”).
Stake: The specific contribution from a Sponsor toward a Player’s entry fee.
Restricted Jurisdictions: Locations where real-money Staked Events are prohibited under §7.

Part 2 — Eligibility and Access1. Eligibility
To access real-money features, you must:

Be at least 21 years old,
Be physically located in a jurisdiction where participation is lawful,
Allow location verification (geolocation),
Provide accurate information for compliance with KYC/AML laws.

Users outside the U.S. must meet similar conditions under their local laws. Duelmasters reserves the right to limit or deny access at its discretion.
Each user may hold only one account. Multiple accounts, shared access, or proxy usage is strictly forbidden and may lead to permanent termination.

2. Age and Verification
You agree to submit identification and verification documents when requested.
Failure to pass KYC or to verify age/location may result in account suspension or closure.
Certain functions require continuous location tracking; disabling it may block the Services.

Part 3 — Nature of Staked Events1. Skill-Based Structure
All Staked Events are designed so that skill is the predominant factor in determining the result. Duelmasters does not influence or guarantee outcomes.
Sponsors support players by contributing toward entry fees; they do not bet against the platform. Sponsor Commissions are paid only if the sponsored Player wins a qualifying prize.
No spectator betting or wagering between non-participants is allowed.
We oversee event integrity, rules enforcement, match validation, and fair-play compliance.

Part 4 — Accounts and User Conduct1. Registration and Communication
Users must provide truthful, complete information when creating an account.
By registering, you consent to receive both service and marketing communications by email, SMS, or push notification (marketing messages may be disabled anytime).
2. Code of Conduct
Harassment, hate speech, or abusive behavior is not tolerated.
Prohibited activities include cheating, collusion, manipulation of results, unauthorized tool usage, data scraping, DDoS, chargeback fraud, and money laundering.
Violations may result in suspension, termination, and confiscation of funds.

Part 5 — Sponsorship Mechanics

Sponsorship as Entry Fee Support:
A Sponsor contributes to a Player’s entry fee for a specific event. Duelmasters may cap contributions, label events as full, or reject sponsorships at its discretion.
Fees:
Platform or administrative fees (typically up to 10%) may apply and will be disclosed before payment. Once an event is locked, fees are non-refundable.
Variable Payouts:
Payouts are proportional to the Sponsor’s share of the total entry fee, after fees and according to Event Rules. Values may fluctuate until the event locks.
Risk Notice:
Sponsorships involve risk; you may lose your full contribution. These are not investments or financial instruments.
Payouts:
Sponsor Commissions are credited only after the Player earns a prize and integrity reviews are complete. Disqualified players may invalidate payouts.
Contractual Relationship:
All relationships exist solely between the Sponsor and Duelmasters. Sponsors have no direct claims against Players.
Cancellations and Disqualifications:
If a Player fails to appear or is disqualified, Duelmasters may refund or resolve contributions in accordance with internal integrity rules.

Part 6 — Legal Compliance and Jurisdictional Rules

U.S. Restrictions:
Duelmasters prohibits real-money participation from users located in Arizona, Louisiana, Montana, South Carolina, and South Dakota.
Certifications:
Users are responsible for confirming the legality of participation in their region. Attempting to bypass location restrictions is a material breach.
Age and Academic Events:
Minors and college or youth competitions are excluded from Staked Events.
KYC & AML:
Duelmasters enforces strict identity verification and anti-money laundering controls. Failure to cooperate may suspend access or delay withdrawals.
Prohibited Regions:
No participation or transactions are allowed from countries under U.S. sanctions, including Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, and others listed in §7G.

Part 7 — Wallets, Deposits, and Withdrawals

Wallet funds are for event participation only.
Deposits may incur processing fees and are handled by third-party providers.
Withdrawals require full KYC verification and may be delayed for compliance reviews.
Accounts inactive for 18 months may be charged an inactivity fee of up to $4 per month after notice.
Chargebacks lead to permanent account closure and potential legal action.
Transactions occur in USD; you are responsible for conversion or bank fees.
Users are solely liable for their tax obligations; IRS reporting may apply for U.S. residents.

Part 8 — Event Integrity and Intellectual Property

Fair-Play Monitoring:
Duelmasters employs automated and manual review systems to detect unfair behavior. Events may be suspended or voided to preserve integrity.
Media Rights:
By joining any event, you grant Duelmasters a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use event streams or recordings for operational or promotional purposes.
User Content:
You are solely responsible for any content submitted or shared.
Do not upload or distribute illegal or infringing material.
Intellectual Property:
All software, branding, and materials belong to Duelmasters LLC or its licensors. No rights are transferred except those explicitly stated.
DMCA Compliance:
Copyright claims must be sent to founder@duelmasters.network with subject “DMCA Takedown”.

Part 9 — Enforcement and Termination

Duelmasters may suspend, restrict, or terminate accounts violating these Terms or applicable law.
Multi-accounting, unauthorized access, or manipulation results in forfeiture of related funds.
Users must cooperate in any integrity investigations.
After lawful termination, remaining balances (if any) may be withdrawn according to standard procedures.

Part 10 — Dispute Resolution1. Informal Resolution
Before arbitration, users must contact founder@duelmasters.network with a written description of the issue and participate in a good-faith resolution call within 30 days.
2. Arbitration
Except as otherwise provided, disputes shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by JAMS under applicable rules.
The Federal Arbitration Act governs these proceedings. Duelmasters may cover reasonable filing fees for non-frivolous claims.
3. No Class Actions
Claims may not be aggregated, classed, or consolidated. All proceedings must occur on an individual basis. You waive the right to a jury trial.
4. Opt-Out
You may opt out of arbitration within 30 days by emailing founder@duelmasters.network with the subject line “Arbitration Opt-Out”.
5. Exceptions and Venue
Claims regarding intellectual property or injunctive relief may be filed in courts of Delaware, USA.
All other disputes follow arbitration procedures above.

Part 11 — Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

The Services are provided “as is” and “as available.” Duelmasters disclaims all warranties, express or implied.
Participation in Staked Events carries risk; Duelmasters does not guarantee outcomes or data accuracy.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Duelmasters’ total liability for any claim shall not exceed USD 250.
We are not responsible for indirect, incidental, consequential, or lost-profit damages.
By using the Services, you release Duelmasters and affiliates from claims arising between users or Players.

Part 12 — Privacy and Data
All data collection, processing, and storage follow our Privacy Policy.
You consent to the use of personal and geolocation data for operational and compliance purposes.

Part 13 — Miscellaneous

These Terms, together with any referenced policies, constitute the entire agreement.
If any clause is deemed invalid, the remainder remains enforceable.
Duelmasters may assign these Terms without prior notice; users may not assign their rights without consent.
Governing law: Delaware, United States.
Duelmasters may modify or suspend Services at any time.
Upon closure of the platform, users will have 90 days to withdraw available balances (subject to legal holds).
For all inquiries: founder@duelmasters.network

Event Examples

Pro-Rata Commission Example:
If a Player’s total entry fee is $100, you contributed $10, and the Player wins $1,000, less a 10% admin fee, your payout = $1,000 × (10/100) × (1 − 0.10) = $90.
Disqualification Example:
If the Player is disqualified, Duelmasters may cancel or refund per integrity policies.

Prohibited Conduct (Illustrative List)

Access from restricted or sanctioned regions, or VPN circumvention
Multi-accounting, account sharing, or impersonation
Match-fixing, cheating, collusion, or exploit use
Harassment, doxxing, hate speech, or abusive language
Fraud, chargebacks, identity theft, or money laundering
Unauthorized scraping or reverse engineering

Violations may lead to permanent suspension, loss of funds, and notification of authorities.

Acknowledgements
By using Duelmasters, you acknowledge that:

All Staked Events are skill-based,
Sponsors are not wagering against the house,
Any Sponsor payout derives solely from a Player’s actual winnings,
You are personally responsible for ensuring local legal compliance.