StepBet: Walk, Get Active, Win

I joined a couple months ago and love it! I have a desk job and sometimes work 10-12 hours a day. I used to notice the rings on my Apple Watch would show if only stood up 3 or 4 times a day during my busy periods at work. I’m not a big fan of working out but I’m trying to get healthier habits mixed into my routine. Since joining StepBet I find myself getting up just to speed walk through the halls at work every hour or so. When I get home exhausted from the day at the office I used to plop on the couch and turn on the tv. Now I find myself pacing the floor and moving as much as I can while going about my evening. This isn’t an app to make a ton of money or anything; it’s meant to motivate you to get moving more. It works for me. I’m just competitive enough to not want to kiss my goals! I feel happier and accomplished when I hit them. The goals are going up and up with every game. I may do a recovery game or two to get them back to a number I can do or I may keep going until I hit my limit. Either way, I’m winning because I’m healthier and having fun!

This program feels like such a scam because of the little amount that you can win and the huge amount that they take from the pot. In my game they took 45% of the amount that all players lost. If they were to take 15% of the remaining pot, players would have gotten about $15 in additional winnings as opposed to $9.44 which is around what I got. The first week was a trial with no elimination, the second week until the six week was the real game. For the last five weeks of the game I took time from driving Uber to be able to meet my step goals. Yet on multiple days, I would end an hour early to meet my goals with StepBet. In an hour I averaged $20-$40 with Uber. In the time it takes me to do one or two rides I earn more than what I earn over the six week period. this should be like a step fitness membership not a bet. Realistically you get back less than two dollars for every week you complete. This app is better designed for those who have wanted to spare hours of time 5 to 6 days a week keeping in mind, they will likely make less than two dollars per week unless they pay for a nearly hundred dollar subscription to remove fees. I estimate you would have to play between 3 to 6 games to recoup your hundred dollars from the Subscription. Each game takes 4 to 6 weeks. To complete and you can do up to three at a time with the subscription.

I joined my first StepBet 6 weeks ago and have really enjoyed using the app! It’s easy to use and navigate, syncs well with my FitBit, and overall is visually appealing. The reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because of an email they sent out a few days ago that I feel like had an unhealthy and potentially triggering message. The email subject line was “Earn That Extra Stuffing” and the message implied that food (specifically food during the holidays, a time of celebration) should be earned by participating in physical activity. It was off-putting after I had just enjoyed 6 weeks of using the app and successfully completing my first bet. I know not everyone shares the same opinion but I hope the developers understand how this mindset can be dangerous to those who have experienced disordered eating. I won’t detail my opinion on why this is harmful, just wanted to make the developers aware. I think the email (which was advertising the membership plan...totally fair and understandable) could have been effective without pairing the idea of earning food with it. Maybe something along the lines of motivation to move and be active during a time that we tend to do a lot of sitting and stay indoors a lot because of weather? After all, it seems like one of the overall themes of the app in general is motivation.