Terms of Service

Last updated: April 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Chain Hold'em ("the Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction) to use Chain Hold'em. It is your sole responsibility to determine whether your use of the Platform complies with applicable laws in your jurisdiction.

3. Nature of the Service

Chain Hold'em is a peer-to-peer, skill-based poker platform. We provide the software infrastructure for players to compete against each other in heads-up No Limit Texas Hold'em. We are not a casino, sportsbook, or gambling operator. All games are between players; the Platform merely facilitates matchmaking and hand resolution.

4. Non-Custodial Design

Chain Hold'em operates on a non-custodial model. Your funds are held in a publicly auditable smart contract on the Base L2 blockchain, not by us. You deposit USDC from your own wallet, play, and withdraw directly. We never take custody of your assets. The smart contract is verified and readable on BaseScan.

5. Fees

The Platform charges a rake of 3% per contested hand, capped at $5 USDC per hand. There are no deposit fees, withdrawal fees, or subscription fees. Network gas fees on Base L2 are paid by the player and are typically under $0.01.

6. Provably Fair

Every hand is shuffled using a provably fair algorithm based on commit-reveal cryptography. After each hand, the server seed is revealed and you can independently verify the shuffle. See our Provably Fair page for technical details.

7. Account and Wallet Security

You are solely responsible for the security of your wallet and private keys. We cannot recover lost funds, reverse transactions, or reset wallet access. Use a hardware wallet or secure key management practices.

8. Limitation of Liability

The Platform is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. To the maximum extent permitted by law, we shall not be liable for any losses arising from smart contract bugs, blockchain network issues, wallet compromises, or any other cause beyond our reasonable control. The smart contract is the authoritative source of truth for all game outcomes and financial settlements.

9. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

  • Use bots, scripts, or automated tools to play on your behalf
  • Collude with other players
  • Attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in the Platform or smart contract
  • Use the Platform for money laundering or other illegal purposes
  • Interfere with other players' experience

10. Intellectual Property

The Chain Hold'em name, logo, and design are our intellectual property. The smart contract source code is publicly viewable on BaseScan. The provably fair algorithm is open for inspection and verification.

11. Modifications

We may update these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via the Platform. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

12. Contact

Questions about these terms? Reach us at our contact page.