Pooky, a fun sports prediction app, has announced the release of its Play-to-Earn sports betting game, which rewards players for accurately predicting football match outcomes. The game features enhanced mechanics designed by experienced professionals in the gaming industry, including Alfred Vesligaj (ex-Splinterlands) and Damian Volatino (former Head of Product and Design at The SandBox).
Pooky was founded in 2022 by two brothers and sports fans, Claudio and Stefano Riff, after one of them was banned from various online sportsbooks for apparently winning too much.
Pooky Play-to-Earn Model
Pooky’s beta program lasted four months and saw 7,000 users make 700,000 predictions while competing each week. Football influencers such as Fiago, RazzHD, and Sims2 have also promoted the game, contributing to its popularity.
Pookyball NFTs are required to access Play-to-Earn mode, and the first drop of 1,000 Genesis Pookyball NFTs is already depleted. However, a free-to-play mode is also available for those who wish to participate without purchasing NFTs.
NFT holders will have exclusive access to Play-to-Earn, which will offer minimum reward pools of 500 MATIC per match day shared among the top 50% of each leaderboard. Regular mints of new NFTs will also be available in their marketplace.
The rise of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in games
Many Play-to-Earn games use non-fungible tokens, which are unique digital assets that can represent anything from artwork and virtual goods to in-game items. NFTs have become increasingly popular in the gaming and gambling industry, providing players with a new way to own and trade in-game items.
The use of NFTs also adds value to Pooky’s in-game economy, creating an enduring tokenomic design. This model allows players to earn rewards for their achievements, while supporting the game ecosystem.
pooky balls are NFTs in the Pooky game that capture and accumulate value in the system through upgrade mechanics. They are used to increase the value of players’ Pookyballs, which are virtual balls in the game. Players can upgrade their Pookyballs using $POK tokens, which can be earned by playing the game, or after phase 2, $TPK tokens, which will also be redeemable.
Pooky’s in-game currency
The Pooky team started by introducing a soulbound $POK token, which will serve as the game token for the first version of Pooky, allowing players to experience the game’s basic mechanics and improve their Pookyballs while preparing for phase 2.
In Phase 2, Pooky will introduce a single capped supply utility token, $TPK, which is easier for players to understand and identify. The end goal is to create a seamless transition from an uncapped, soulbound token to a capped, tradable token, while providing players with the opportunity to earn tradable tokens and/or increase the value of their Pookyballs through gameplay.
Wrap
Pooky’s Play-to-Earn game offers a unique opportunity for players to predict football match outcomes while earning rewards based on their rank and skill level. With the use of NFTs and sustainable tokenomics, Pooky marks the start of a new era for Play-to-Earn games that combine immersive gameplay with blockchain technology.
David is a crypto enthusiast and personal finance expert. He has created numerous publications for different platforms. He loves exploring new things, and that’s how he discovered blockchain in the first place.