RESPONSIBLE GAMING
1.Our Commitment
Deku Studios is committed to providing a safe, fair, and enjoyable gaming experience. While our contests are skill-based and do not constitute gambling under applicable law, we recognize that any activity involving real money warrants strong player-protection measures. This Responsible Gaming Policy ("RGP") describes the tools and resources we provide to help you stay in control of your play. We encourage all Players to set personal limits before they begin playing and to use the tools described below at any time. This RGP is incorporated into and forms part of the Terms of Service. Capitalized terms not defined here have the meanings given in the Terms of Service.
2.Eligibility and Age Restrictions
All Players must be at least eighteen (18) years of age (or twenty-one (21) in jurisdictions where required for cash-entry play). We enforce this requirement through:
- An age-acknowledgment consent during account onboarding.
- Identity verification (KYC) via government-issued ID before first withdrawal, with date-of-birth confirmation through our verification provider.
- App Store age rating set to 18+ with appropriate content descriptors.
Players found to be underage will have their accounts immediately suspended, pending contests cancelled, and any deposited funds returned. See our COPPA Compliance Statement for additional details concerning the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 6501–6506.
3.Player-Protection Tools
3.1Deposit Limits
You may set personal deposit limits to control how much money you add to your account. Limits are available on three timeframes:
- Daily limit — Maximum amount you may deposit in a 24-hour period
- Weekly limit — Maximum amount you may deposit in a rolling 7-day period
- Monthly limit — Maximum amount you may deposit in a rolling 30-day period
You may lower your deposit limits at any time, and the change takes effect immediately. Increasing your deposit limits requires a mandatory twenty-four (24)-hour cooldown period (see Section 3.2) to prevent impulsive decisions.
To set or adjust your deposit limits: Profile > Settings > Responsible Gaming > Deposit Limits.
3.2Cooldown Periods
Whenever you request to increase a deposit limit or remove a self-exclusion, a mandatory cooldown period applies before the change takes effect. This waiting period is designed to prevent impulsive decisions made in the heat of the moment.
- Deposit-limit increase: 24-hour cooldown before the new limit takes effect
- Self-exclusion removal: 24-hour cooldown after requesting removal (see Section 3.3)
During a cooldown period, the more restrictive limit remains in effect.
3.3Self-Exclusion
If you need a break from the Platform, you may self-exclude for a period of your choosing, from one (1) day to three hundred sixty-five (365) days. During a self-exclusion period:
- You cannot enter any cash-entry contests
- You cannot make any deposits
- You may still access your account to view balances, transaction history, and withdraw available funds
- You may still participate in free (Acorn) contests
Self-exclusion takes effect immediately upon activation. You may request early removal of a self-exclusion, but a twenty-four (24)-hour cooling-off period applies before the removal takes effect.
To activate self-exclusion: Profile > Settings > Responsible Gaming > Self-Exclusion.
3.4Additional Tools
We are continuously expanding our responsible-gaming toolkit. Upcoming features include session-time reminders that notify you of your play duration, activity statements summarizing your contest history and spending, and loss-limit notifications that alert you when net losses reach certain thresholds. These tools will be announced as they become available.
4.Account Controls
4.1Account Deletion
You may permanently delete your account at any time from within the app by navigating to Profile > Settings > Privacy & Security > Delete Account, or by contacting support@deku.net. Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.
When you submit a deletion request:
- If your wallet balance is greater than $0: Your request enters a seven (7)-day grace period during which you may withdraw your remaining funds. Any remaining available cash balance will be returned in accordance with the Payment Terms & Limitations and Privacy Policy, subject to identity verification and applicable processing times.
- If your wallet balance is $0: Your request proceeds directly to review.
- Acorns and Bonus Cash: Permanently forfeited upon deletion.
- Cancellation: You may cancel your deletion request at any time during the grace period.
- Re-registration restriction: After your account is deleted, you will not be able to create a new account for thirty (30) days.
Upon completion of the deletion process, your account will be permanently deactivated, personal identifying information will be anonymized, and financial records will be retained in anonymized form in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable legal obligations.
4.2Voluntary Spending Limits
Our deposit-limit system (Section 3.1) allows you to set a maximum spending pace that is comfortable for you. We encourage all Players to set deposit limits that reflect their personal budget for entertainment.
5.Fair Play and Transparency
Responsible gaming also means fair gaming. We maintain the following practices to ensure every Player has a fair experience:
Identical starting conditions. All Players in a contest receive the same seeded content (grid, level, configuration, or puzzle) generated from a shared seed. Outcomes are determined by skill, not luck.
Transparent pricing. Entry fees and prize-pool amounts are clearly displayed before you enter any contest.
No hidden costs. Deku Studios does not charge fees for deposits or withdrawals. Third-party payment processors may charge their own fees, which are disclosed separately.
Server-authoritative scoring. All scores are validated server-side. The client cannot fabricate or alter results.
6.Recognizing Problem Behavior
While skill-based contests are not gambling, we encourage you to be mindful of your relationship with real-money play. Consider seeking support if you:
- Spend more money on contests than you can afford
- Chase losses by entering higher-tier contests to try to win back previous losses
- Feel anxious or irritable when not playing
- Neglect personal, professional, or family responsibilities due to time spent on the Platform
- Borrow money to fund contest entries
- Lie to others about how much time or money you spend on the Platform
If any of these apply to you, we encourage you to use the tools in Section 3 and to reach out to the resources listed in Section 7.
7.Support Resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulty with gaming behavior, the following organizations provide free, confidential support. We are not affiliated with any of these organizations.
| Organization | Contact | Details |
|---|---|---|
| National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) | 1-800-522-4700 (24/7) | Call, text, or chat. Free, confidential. |
| NCPG Online Chat | https://www.ncpgambling.org/chat | Live chat available 24/7. |
| NCPG Text Line | Text "NCPG" to 233733 | Free text-based support. |
| SAMHSA National Helpline | 1-800-662-4357 (24/7) | Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Free referrals and information. |
| Gamblers Anonymous | www.gamblersanonymous.org | Peer-support meetings (in-person and virtual). |
The National Council on Problem Gambling also offers a free, confidential self-assessment tool at https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/screening-tools/ to help you evaluate your gaming habits.
8.Our Internal Practices
8.1Staff Awareness
All Deku Studios team members with player-facing responsibilities receive training on responsible-gaming principles, including how to recognize signs of problematic behavior and how to direct Players to appropriate resources.
8.2Marketing Standards
We commit to marketing practices that do not target minors or vulnerable populations, misrepresent the likelihood of winning, encourage excessive play or spending, use language that trivializes the financial risks of contest participation, or pressure Players to deposit or increase deposits.
8.3Continuous Improvement
We regularly review and update our responsible-gaming tools and practices. Player feedback on our responsible-gaming features is welcome at support@deku.net.
9.Changes to This Policy
We may update this RGP from time to time. Material changes will be communicated through in-app notifications and posted at docs.deku.net. Your continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.
10.Contact Us
If you have questions about our responsible gaming practices, need help using any of the tools described in this policy, or would like to provide feedback, please contact us:
Email: support@deku.net
Mail: Deku Studios LLC, 418 Broadway #11209, Albany, NY 12207
Website: https://deku.net