Stakes, Pools, and the 2% Fee Model on Bluff Kingdom

The Whole Model in One Paragraph

Bluff Kingdom takes 2% on the played amount at settlement — split across whoever won what. Practically: 2% of what the creator wins, plus 2% of what players win. Withdrawals carry a flat 2% fee. Bluff Kingdom pays all gas costs, so the displayed amount on a withdrawal is the amount that arrives in your destination wallet. There are no other fees on gameplay, deposits, or pool returns.

That's it. Everything below is a closer look at why this model behaves the way it does and how to think about it when you're sizing a stake or funding a pool.

"Played Amount" Is the Key Term

The single most important phrase to internalise is played amount. The played amount is the portion of a creator's funded pool that players actually stake against. Not the total funded pool — only the part that drew an opposing stake.

Consequences:

• A creator who funds a 100 pool that only draws 25 of play has the 2% fee applied to that 25, not to 100.
• The unplayed 75 is returned to the creator in full, with no fee.
• The fee on the played amount is split across the two sides at settlement: 2% of the creator's winnings plus 2% of players' winnings.

This single rule is what keeps the fee model predictable even when games don't fill all the way.

Worked Example: A Partly-Filled Game

A creator funds a 100 USDC pool. Players stake against it, and by closing time 50 USDC of the pool has been matched. After settlement, the creator wins 40 USDC and the winning players collectively win 10 USDC.

• Creator funded pool: 100 USDC.
• Played amount: 50 USDC.
• Unplayed remainder: 50 USDC, returned to the creator with no fee.
• Creator's winnings: 40 USDC → fee = 2% of 40 = 0.80 USDC.
• Players' winnings: 10 USDC → fee = 2% of 10 = 0.20 USDC.
• Total platform fee: 1.00 USDC, which is 2% of the played amount (50).

The creator pays no fee on the 50 USDC that nobody staked against — that portion comes back unchanged. The 2% only ever applies to what each side actually won.

Worked Example: A Filled Game

Same creator, same 100 USDC pool, but this time the entire pool is matched by close. After settlement, the creator wins 70 USDC and players collectively win 30 USDC.

• Creator funded pool: 100 USDC.
• Played amount: 100 USDC (fully filled).
• Unplayed remainder: 0.
• Creator's winnings: 70 USDC → fee = 2% of 70 = 1.40 USDC.
• Players' winnings: 30 USDC → fee = 2% of 30 = 0.60 USDC.
• Total platform fee: 2.00 USDC, which is 2% of the played amount (100).

Each side pays 2% only on what they actually won. Losers don't pay a separate fee — losing players simply lose their stake.

Why This Model Matters

Plenty of betting platforms charge fees on only one side — usually the player side, with the house taking a vig built into the odds. Bluff Kingdom doesn't do that. The same 2% applies to both sides' winnings at settlement.

The practical effect:

• Creators pay only when their game actually gets played. Posting a game that nobody bets against costs nothing.
• Players only pay on what they win. A losing play just loses the stake — no extra fee on top.
• The total platform fee is exactly 2% of the played amount, no matter how the win is split between sides.

Withdrawals: 2%, Gas Included

Pulling funds out of Bluff Kingdom carries a flat 2% withdrawal fee.

• Open the withdraw page.
• Pick the token (USDC or USDT) and the supported network.
• Enter the destination address and the amount.
• The screen shows the 2% fee and the exact amount that will arrive — there are no gas charges added on top.

Bluff Kingdom covers all network gas costs. That matters because gas on some networks can be a significant fraction of small withdrawals. By absorbing it, the platform keeps the displayed-amount-equals-arrived-amount guarantee true at every withdrawal size.

What Isn't Charged

A few common assumptions that don't apply here:

• Deposits are free. Bluff Kingdom doesn't charge to receive USDC or USDT into your account.
• Pool returns are free. The unplayed portion of a creator's pool is returned without any deduction.
• There's no platform spread. The stake you place is the stake on record. No odds shading, no slippage.
• There's no inactivity fee. Holding a balance you don't play doesn't cost anything.

How to Think About Fees When Creating a Game

A few principles, in order of how often they matter:

How to Think About Fees When Playing

For players the rule is even simpler.

• Your fee is 2% of what you win. If you don't win, you don't pay a fee.
• The fee is taken from your winnings at settlement. Your stake is held in full while the game is live.
• A losing play loses the staked amount in full — and nothing extra. The 2% never applies to a losing stake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2% fee charged on my stake or my winnings? On winnings. The platform takes 2% of what each side actually wins at settlement. Losing stakes are never charged a fee.

What if no one stakes against my game at all? Your funded pool is returned in full with no fee when the game closes. You pay nothing.

Are there fees on deposits? No. Deposits are free.

Are fees different across networks? No. The platform's 2% fee is the same on every supported network. Bluff Kingdom absorbs the difference in gas costs across networks.

Can the fee change? The current fee is 2% on both sides for game stakes and 2% on withdrawals. Any change to that would be communicated in advance.

Where to Go Next

For the surrounding mechanics, How binary games work walks through the full game lifecycle. For pulling funds out, Deposits and withdrawals covers the operational side. And the help center has the canonical reference for the same fee facts in FAQ form.