Step Match Official Rules

Last Updated: April 17, 2026

1. Competition Overview

Legal Classification

Step Matches are structured as "commitment contracts" - a legally recognized model used by fitness competition apps including StepBet, HealthyWage, and DietBet. This model:

• Eliminates the "chance" element required for gambling classification
• Makes outcomes 100% dependent on participant behavior
• Is legal in 40+ US states

2. Eligibility

Age Requirement

• Must be 13 years or older to create a Lucilla account and participate in free competitions
• Must be 18 years or older for paid competitions (USDC entry commitment required). 19+ in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and PEI.
• Age is verified in two stages: (1) at point of entry against the user's stored date of birth, and (2) at identity verification when cumulative annual winnings reach USD 600, where our automated system reads the real date of birth off a government ID

Why 18+ for paid competitions? While step matches are simply walking competitions, paid matches involve USDC financial commitments which are legally classified as contracts. Minors cannot enter binding financial contracts under most jurisdictions. KYC/AML regulations (Bank Secrecy Act, FinCEN) also require adult identity verification for financial transactions. This is consistent with other skill-based competition platforms (StepBet, HealthyWage, DietBet). The restriction is about the financial component, not the physical activity — all users 13+ can compete freely without money at stake.

2.1 Minor Detection & Compliance Hold

If identity verification reveals a user is under 18:

• New paid-match entry is immediately blocked. Free matches, rewards, and social features remain available.
• Matches already in progress complete normally. Cancelling mid-play would be unfair to opponents who entered in good faith. Whoever wins is paid the prize per the standard rules.
• USDC already credited to the user's wallet remains with the user. Lucilla cannot reverse on-chain transactions that have already settled.
• New earnings are blocked until the user re-verifies showing age 18+.
• Re-verification is always available via Account Settings → Identity Verification. A successful re-verification showing 18+ immediately restores full access. This is a compliance hold, not a permanent ban.
• Appeals for mis-identification: social@lucilla.ca.

2A. Geographic Availability

United States - Allowed States for Peer Competitions (38 + DC)

Alabama	Alaska	California	Colorado
Georgia	Illinois	Indiana	Iowa
Kansas	Kentucky	Maine	Maryland
Massachusetts	Michigan	Minnesota	Mississippi
Missouri	Nebraska	New Hampshire	New Jersey
New Mexico	New York	North Carolina	North Dakota
Ohio	Oklahoma	Oregon	Pennsylvania
Rhode Island	South Carolina	Tennessee	Texas
Vermont	Virginia	West Virginia	Wisconsin
Wyoming	Washington DC

State	Reason
Hawaii (HI)	Complete gambling prohibition, no exceptions
Utah (UT)	Constitutional gambling ban
Washington (WA)	Treats most skill-based games as gambling
Idaho (ID)	Full ban on paid fantasy/skill contests
Montana (MT)	Full ban on paid fantasy/skill contests
Florida (FL)	Wagering on any game of skill prohibited
Nevada (NV)	Gaming license required (not yet held)
Arizona (AZ)	Registration required (not yet held)
Arkansas (AR)	Active enforcement against similar apps
Connecticut (CT)	Skill-gaming restrictions
Louisiana (LA)	Parish-by-parish restrictions; full block by default
South Dakota (SD)	Skill-gaming restrictions

Sub-national restrictions in available countries

Beyond US state-level restrictions, certain regions within otherwise-available countries have additional rules. Lucilla applies the most conservative interpretation at the device-location level:

• Canada — minimum age: 19+ in BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia, PEI; 18+ elsewhere. Paid Step Matches operate normally in all Canadian provinces under the commitment-contract framework — same as HealthyWage and StepBet.
• Australia — Northern Territory and ACT: Paid matches are blocked pending a published RGB/gambling-regulator opinion on commitment-contract fitness contests.
• Germany — Schleswig-Holstein: Different licensing regime from the rest of Germany under the Glücksspielstaatsvertrag; paid matches operate normally, regional advertising rules may apply.
• US Tribal lands: Some federally-recognized tribal lands have their own gaming compacts. Lucilla treats users on tribal lands the same as the surrounding state for geofencing.
• US territories: Puerto Rico, USVI, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands are treated under US federal rules. American Samoa is excluded due to restrictive local law.
• India (when re-enabled): Paid matches will be blocked in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Assam, Odisha, Nagaland, and Sikkim.
• Brazil (when re-enabled): Will require local tax-residency registration; paid features may be restricted to specific states.

Canada - All Provinces Allowed

Alberta	British Columbia	Manitoba	New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador	Northwest Territories	Nova Scotia	Nunavut
Ontario	Prince Edward Island	Quebec	Saskatchewan
Yukon

Account Requirements

• Valid Lucilla account with verified phone number
• USDC wallet with sufficient balance for commitment amount
• Compliance with KYC requirements based on commitment amount

3. Competition Types

Type	Description	Prize Distribution
1v1 Matches	Two participants compete head-to-head	Winner takes entire pool (minus 5% fee)
Free-for-All	3-10 participants ranked by step count	Prize varies by match settings
Team Matches	2v2 or larger teams, aggregated steps	Winning team splits prize pool
Goal-Based	All who meet personal goals win	Goal achievers split pool equally

4. How to Enter

Entry Process

1. Select a match to join
2. Review match rules and commitment amount
3. Confirm commitment from your USDC wallet
4. Competition begins at scheduled start time

Entry Fees (Commitments)

• Minimum commitment: $1 USDC
• Agent Wallet defaults: $100 per transaction, $100 daily (customizable in settings)
• Both wallets subject to KYC verification limits (see Terms of Service Section 22)

No Purchase Necessary Alternative

Free competitions are available for users who prefer not to commit USDC. Free competitions offer achievement badges, leaderboard rankings, and social competition features.

5. Competition Period

• Start Time: Competitions begin at the scheduled start time
• Duration: Intraday matches: 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, or 2 hours. Standard matches: 24 hours (daily), 7 days (weekly), or 30 days (monthly)
• End Time: For daily matches, your steps stop counting at midnight in your local timezone. For intraday matches, steps stop counting at the match end time

Step Sync & Validation Window

After a daily, weekly, or monthly match ends (at midnight), there is a 12-hour validation window for your wearable to sync step data to Lucilla. This means:

• Midnight Cutoff: Your steps stop counting at midnight in your local timezone
• 12-Hour Window: You have until noon the next day to ensure your steps are synced
• 30-Minute Grace Period: After the 12-hour window, the system checks every 5 minutes for up to 30 more minutes
• Forfeit: If your steps are not synced within 12.5 hours, the match may be forfeited or refunded

6. Step Counting & Verification

Approved Devices & Accuracy Tiers

Lucilla classifies wearable devices into accuracy tiers based on peer-reviewed MAPE (Mean Absolute Percentage Error) studies. Paid match eligibility requires a device with less than 8% MAPE. Device accuracy determines which match types you may enter.

TIER 1 — EXCELLENT (Under 4% Error Rate)

Approved for all match types including intraday paid matches.

Device	MAPE	Platform	Sync Type
Fitbit Charge 6	3.0%	iOS & Android	Native (Fitbit API)
Fitbit Inspire 3	3.2%	iOS & Android	Native (Fitbit API)
Apple Watch Series 8-10 / Ultra 2	3.0-3.5%	iOS only	Native (HealthKit)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 / 7	3.5%	Android only	Native (Health Connect)
Google Pixel Watch 2 / 3	3.5%	Android only	Native (Health Connect)
Garmin Forerunner 265 / 965	3.0%	Android only	Bridge (Garmin Connect → Health Connect). Daily+ matches only
Garmin Fenix 8	3.0%	Android only	Bridge (Garmin Connect → Health Connect). Daily+ matches only

TIER 2 — GOOD (4-8% Error Rate)

Approved for paid matches (intraday matches require native sync only; bridge-sync devices are limited to daily/weekly/monthly matches).

Device	MAPE	Platform	Sync Type
Apple Watch SE	5.0%	iOS only	Native (HealthKit)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5	5.5%	Android only	Native (Health Connect)
Google Pixel Watch	6.0%	Android only	Native (Health Connect)
Amazfit GTR 4 / T-Rex 3	5.5%	Android only	Bridge (Zepp → Health Connect). Daily+ matches only
Polar Vantage V3	5.5%	Android only	Bridge (Polar Flow → Health Connect). Daily+ matches only
COROS APEX 2 Pro	5.5%	Android only	Bridge (COROS → Health Connect). Daily+ matches only
Huawei Watch Fit 3	6.0%	Android only	Bridge (Huawei Health → Health Sync app → Health Connect). Requires third-party Health Sync app. Daily+ matches only

TIER 3 — MODERATE (8-15% Error Rate)

Approved for free matches only. Not eligible for any paid matches.

Source	Approximate MAPE	Platform
Apple Health (iPhone pedometer)	~13%	iOS
Samsung Health (phone pedometer)	~10%	Android
Google Fit (phone pedometer)	~14%	Android

Sync Types

• Native Sync: Device syncs directly to HealthKit (iOS), Health Connect (Android), or via Fitbit API. Provides real-time data. All match durations eligible.
• Bridge Sync: Device syncs to a companion app (Garmin Connect, Zepp, Polar Flow, COROS, Mi Fitness, Suunto) which then syncs to Health Connect. Typical delay varies: Garmin 15–30 min, Polar 30 min, others 30–60 min. Opening the companion app triggers an immediate sync. NOT eligible for any intraday matches (10 min, 30 min, 1 hr, 2 hr), whether free or paid — only daily, weekly, and monthly matches.
• Huawei Bridge Sync (special): Huawei Health does not write to Health Connect natively. Requires the third-party Health Sync app (approximately €3.49 on Google Play) to bridge data. Health Sync syncs every 15 minutes automatically. Battery optimization must be disabled for both Huawei Health and Health Sync.

Wearable Auto-Sync Reliability

For paid matches, your wearable must automatically sync step data without manual intervention. Below is a reliability guide for each supported device:

Device	Auto-Syncs Without Opening App?	Risk Level	Notes
Apple Watch	Always yes	None	HealthKit is a system service — always running, no app needed
Samsung Galaxy Watch	Always yes	None	Health Connect is a system service on Samsung phones
Google Pixel Watch	Always yes	None	Fitbit app is a system app on Pixel phones; Health Connect is built in
Fitbit	Usually yes	Low	Syncs via Fitbit API. If your OAuth token expires (rare), you may need to re-authenticate in the Lucilla app
Garmin	Usually yes	Low	Garmin Connect syncs in the background every 5-15 min. Aggressive Android battery optimization may occasionally delay sync
Amazfit	Usually yes	Low	Zepp app syncs in the background every 5-15 min. Same Android battery optimization caveat as Garmin
COROS	Mostly yes	Low-Medium	COROS app background sync every 10-20 min. Sync is reliable on most phones
Huawei Watch	Yes (Huawei phones); Usually yes (other phones)	Low	On Huawei phones, Huawei Health is a system app — always running. On non-Huawei Android phones, it syncs like other bridge devices
Polar	Not reliably	Medium-High	Polar Flow has weak background sync on Android. You may need to open the Polar Flow app manually after your match to ensure data syncs to Health Connect

Match Duration Device Rules

Match Duration	Eligible Devices
Intraday paid (10 min - 2 hr)	Native-sync wearables only, Tier 1 or Tier 2 (< 8% MAPE). Bridge-sync devices blocked.
Intraday free (10 min - 2 hr)	Native-sync wearables and health apps (Fitbit, Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch 4+, Pixel Watch, phone pedometer). Bridge-sync devices blocked.
Daily / Weekly / Monthly paid	All approved wearables — native and bridge sync — Tier 1 or Tier 2 (< 8% MAPE)
Daily / Weekly / Monthly free	All devices including bridge-sync and Tier 3 phone-based step sources

Intraday Workout Tracking

Intraday matches (10 min, 30 min, 1 hr, 2 hr) require an active workout session on your wearable. Here's how it works:

• Workout required: You must start a Walk or Workout on your wearable before the match begins. Only steps taken during active workout sessions count toward the match.
• Live polling: Lucilla polls your step data every 5 minutes from HealthKit (iOS) or Health Connect (Android) and updates the live leaderboard.
• Workout details: For Apple Watch, Pixel Watch, and Galaxy Watch 4+, Lucilla also tracks heart rate (avg/max), calories burned, and distance during your workout — displayed live in the match details.
• Fitbit: Fitbit syncs steps via server-side API. Heart rate, calories, and distance are not available in real time for Fitbit (only daily summaries). You will see steps only during Fitbit intraday matches.
• Stop your workout: When the match ends, you will receive a notification reminding you to stop your workout on your wearable.
• Multiple workouts: If you stop and restart your workout, all workout sessions during the match period are combined.

Validation window: Intraday matches have a 30-minute validation window after the match ends. If your steps haven't synced within 30 minutes (+ 30-minute grace period), the match may be forfeited.

Anti-Cheating Measures — Fair Play System

Lucilla employs a multi-layered Fair Play validation system that automatically verifies step data integrity for all paid matches:

Heart Rate Validation (Fitbit Users)

For participants using Fitbit devices, Lucilla cross-references daily heart rate data with step counts to verify physical activity:

• Heart rate zone analysis: Your daily Fat Burn, Cardio, and Peak zone minutes are compared against your step count
• Baseline comparison: Your resting heart rate is tracked over a rolling 7-day average to establish your personal baseline
• Confidence scoring: Each participant receives a confidence score (0-100) based on how consistent their heart rate data is with their reported steps

Confidence Score Signals

Signal	Condition	Impact
No heart rate data	HR data missing for match date	Confidence reduced
High steps, no activity	10,000+ steps but less than 5 min in elevated HR zones	Significant confidence reduction
Very high steps, low activity	20,000+ steps but less than 15 min in elevated HR zones	Major confidence reduction
New user (no baseline)	Less than 7 days of HR history	Minor confidence reduction (lenient)

Smart Step Caps

• Soft cap: 50,000 steps per day (flagged if no supporting heart rate data)
• Hard cap: 100,000 steps per day (absolute maximum)
• HR-validated override: Users with 30+ minutes of active heart rate zones may exceed the soft cap

Verified Steps

In paid matches, your verified step count (not raw step count) determines the winner. Verified steps are calculated as:

Verified Steps = Raw Steps × (Confidence Score / 100)

The minimum confidence score is 50 — your steps are never fully zeroed out. Users with consistent heart rate data and normal activity patterns receive a confidence score of 100 (verified steps = raw steps).

We also monitor for:

• Abnormal step patterns and impossible step velocities
• Device manipulation and third-party cheating apps
• Multiple accounts and coordinated cheating

7. Prize Distribution

Deferred Fee Model

Lucilla uses a deferred fee model — no fees are taken when you join a match. Your full entry commitment is escrowed on-chain. Fees are only applied at settlement based on the match outcome:

Outcome	Fee	What Happens
Win	5% of total pot	Winner receives 95% of the total pot
Draw	1% of total pot	All tied players refunded equally (minus 1% total fee)

A match ends in a Draw when:

• Players (or teams/top FFA players) have the exact same verified step count, OR
• The leader's margin is less than 2% of their verified steps (too close to call given device error rates)

Once you join a match, the only outcomes are Win or Draw. Matches cannot be cancelled after all players have joined and the match has started.

Winner Determination

• 1v1: Participant with higher verified step count wins (see Anti-Cheating section above)
• FFA: Participants ranked by verified step count
• Goal-based: All goal achievers split pool equally

2% Variance Draw Rule

Forfeit Win Rule

Payout Timing

• Winners notified via push notification as soon as match is validated (typically within 12.5 hours of match end)
• USDC distributed to wallets automatically upon validation via smart contract
• Disputes must be filed within 72 hours

8. Platform Fees

• Deferred Fees: 0% at join time — your full commitment is escrowed on-chain
• Win Fee: 5% of total pot, deducted at settlement
• Draw Fee: 1% of total pot, deducted at settlement
• No fees on free competitions

Fee Breakdown Examples

Win Scenario

• 2 players stake $50 each = $100 total pot (fully escrowed)
• Player A wins with clear margin (> 2%)
• Platform fee: $5 (5% of $100)
• Winner receives: $95

Draw Scenario

• 2 players stake $50 each = $100 total pot
• Match is a draw (exact same steps or within 2% margin)
• Platform fee: $1 (1% of $100)
• Each player receives: $49.50

9. Responsible Competition

Spending Limits

Users may set daily, weekly, and monthly spending limits.

Self-Exclusion

Users may self-exclude from paid competitions for 7, 30, 90, or 365 days. Self-exclusion cannot be reversed early.

Resources

If you feel your competitive spending is becoming unhealthy, we encourage you to set spending limits in your Agent Wallet settings or contact social@lucilla.ca for support.

10. Disputes & Appeals

Filing a Dispute

Disputes must be filed within 72 hours of match end via in-app support or email: support@lucilla.app

Review Process

1. Support team reviews match data
2. Step verification logs examined
3. Decision made within 7 business days
4. Decision is final

11. Tax Information

US Residents

• Winnings are taxable income
• Users winning over $600/year receive IRS Form 1099-MISC
• You are responsible for reporting all winnings

Tax Withholding

• We may withhold 24% federal tax if you do not provide SSN/TIN
• State taxes are your responsibility

12. Limitation of Liability

Maximum Liability

Lucilla's maximum liability is limited to the amount of your commitment in the affected competition, or $100, whichever is greater.

No Liability For

• Technical issues beyond our control
• Third-party service outages
• Force majeure events
• Participant's own cheating or rule violations

13. Modifications

We reserve the right to modify these rules at any time. Changes will be posted in the app and effective for competitions starting after the change date. Not retroactively applied to ongoing competitions.

14. Governing Law

These rules are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. Any disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration.

15. Group Challenges & Sponsored Competitions

15.1 Group Challenges

In addition to 1v1 and free-for-all matches, Lucilla offers group step challenges:

• Groups of 3 or more participants compete toward step goals
• Group challenges can be free (no stakes) or paid (USDC entry fee)
• Winners are determined by individual step achievement within the group
• Group challenges follow the same fair play rules as individual matches

15.2 Sponsored Competitions

Anyone — businesses, friends, family members, or organizations — can sponsor step challenges on Lucilla:

• Who can sponsor: Any Lucilla user or enterprise customer can fund a challenge prize pool. You do not need a business account to sponsor a challenge for friends or family
• Sponsor-funded prizes: Sponsors contribute USDC to the prize pool. This can replace participant entry fees entirely (making the challenge free to enter) or supplement them
• Sponsor location: Sponsors are NOT subject to geographic restrictions because sponsoring is not gambling — it is a promotional contribution or gift. Sponsors can fund challenges from any location worldwide
• Participant location: Participants from any location can compete in sponsored challenges. However, USDC prize payouts are subject to geographic restrictions in Section 2A regardless of funding source. Users in restricted locations can play for free but cannot receive USDC winnings
• Legal classification: Sponsoring a skill-based step challenge is equivalent to sponsoring a marathon or fitness event — it is promotional spending, not wagering. The sponsor assumes no risk of loss based on outcomes
• Branding: Sponsored challenges display the sponsor's name. Enterprise sponsors get additional branding options
• Outcome independence: Sponsorship NEVER influences match outcomes — winners are determined solely by verified step performance

15.2a Fully Sponsored (Free-to-Enter) Challenges

When a sponsor fully funds the prize pool and participants do not stake any USDC:

• The challenge is classified as a promotional giveaway, not a paid competition
• Participants from any location can join and compete in fully sponsored challenges

• This is legally equivalent to a sweepstakes with a skill-based element
• Platform fees still apply to the sponsor's contribution

15.3 Prize Pool Structure for Sponsored Events

• Prize pools combine sponsor contributions and participant stakes (if applicable)
• Platform fees apply to the total prize pool (same rates as standard matches)
• Prize distribution follows the same rules outlined in Section 7
• Sponsors cannot withdraw contributions once a challenge has started

16. Daily Free Match Allowance

• Each user receives up to 7 free step matches per day
• Free matches reset at midnight (your local time)
• Unused free matches do not carry over to the next day
• Free matches include all match types: 1v1, Free-for-All, Team, Goal-Based, and Intraday
• There is no limit on paid matches (subject to USDC balance and geographic eligibility)

17. Contact

Questions about competition rules:

• Email: support@lucilla.app
• In-app support chat