DietBet launched this feature with a $1,950 game for Hurricane Sandy relief. Half the pot will be donated to the American Red Cross; the rest will be split up among the winners. The game ends on December 12.
"We thought it was appropriate to use our new charity platform to help our neighbors who are still hurting from Sandy," said Jamie Rosen, founder of DietBet, which is based in downtown New York. "Normally players lose weight just for themselves. This is bigger. It's extra motivation for anyone looking to get in shape."
"I saw the devastation on TV," said Colin Baker, one of the players in the inaugural charity dietbet, who lives in Hong Kong. "Seeing a game that was raising money to help tipped me in favor of doing it. This has been a much more personally meaningful way to help with relief efforts than just writing a check."
"It's a new twist on walkathons," said Rosen. "We think charities of all sizes will see DietBet as a new way to engage their advocates and raise funds. With two-thirds of the American population overweight, it's not just helping the organization; it's also helping the organization's supporters."
Organizations can set up dietbets quickly and for free at: https://www.dietbet.com/
