Welcome toLUCILLA

Step Match Official Rules

Effective Date: February 2026

1. Competition Overview

Nature of Competition

Lucilla Step Matches are SKILL-BASED fitness competitions where participants compete based on their physical activity (step counts). Winners are determined entirely by participant performance, with NO element of chance.

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:

2. Eligibility

Age Requirement

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.

Geographic Restrictions

Paid Step Matches are NOT available in certain locations due to local gambling/gaming regulations. See the complete geographic availability section below.

2A. Geographic Availability

Where Lucilla Paid Matches ARE Available

Lucilla operates paid Step Matches in 38 US states + Washington DC and all Canadian provinces.

United States - Allowed States (38 + DC)

AlabamaAlaskaCaliforniaColorado
DelawareGeorgiaIllinoisIndiana
IowaKansasKentuckyMaine
MarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesota
MississippiMissouriNebraskaNew Hampshire
New JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth Carolina
North DakotaOhioOklahomaOregon
PennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaTennessee
TexasVermontVirginiaWest Virginia
WisconsinWyomingWashington DC

United States - Blocked States (12)

The following states have laws that prohibit or restrict skill-based competitions with monetary prizes:

State Status Reason
Hawaii (HI) Fully Blocked Constitutional gambling ban - no exceptions
Utah (UT) Fully Blocked Constitutional gambling ban
Washington (WA) Fully Blocked Classifies skill games as gambling
Idaho (ID) Fully Blocked Complete DFS/skill gaming ban
Montana (MT) Fully Blocked Complete DFS/skill gaming ban
Florida (FL) Fully Blocked Prohibits wagering on games of skill
Nevada (NV) Blocked (License Required) Requires state gaming license
Arizona (AZ) Blocked (Registration Required) Requires DFS operator registration
Arkansas (AR) Blocked Regulatory uncertainty
Connecticut (CT) Blocked (License Required) Skill gaming restrictions
Louisiana (LA) Blocked Parish-by-parish restrictions
South Dakota (SD) Blocked (Registration Required) Skill gaming restrictions

Canada - All Provinces Allowed

AlbertaBritish ColumbiaManitobaNew Brunswick
Newfoundland & LabradorNorthwest TerritoriesNova ScotiaNunavut
OntarioPrince Edward IslandQuebecSaskatchewan
Yukon

International Availability - Worldwide

Lucilla paid Step Matches are AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE as skill-based commitment contracts, including:

  • Europe: UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Portugal, and all EU countries
  • Asia-Pacific: Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia
  • Latin America: Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Costa Rica
  • Middle East & Africa: UAE, Israel, South Africa, Egypt (where not prohibited by local law)
  • Other: All countries worldwide where not explicitly prohibited by local law

Legal Framework: Step Matches operate as commitment contracts (similar to StepBet, HealthyWage, DietBet) where outcomes depend entirely on skill and personal effort, not chance. This model:

  • Is legal in most jurisdictions worldwide without gambling licenses
  • Does not constitute gambling under UK Gambling Act 2005 (skill-based, not chance)
  • Complies with EU consumer protection and fair competition laws
  • Meets international standards for skill-based competitions

User Responsibility: While Lucilla operates globally, users are responsible for ensuring compliance with their local laws. If your country prohibits skill-based commitment contracts, do not participate in paid matches.

What Users in Blocked Locations CAN Do

  • Join FREE step matches with friends
  • Use all fitness tracking features
  • Participate in social features
  • Claim geo-based and QR rewards (non-gambling)
  • Use the USDC wallet for non-match transactions
  • Cannot commit USDC on paid Step Matches

Account Requirements

Health Disclaimer

By participating, you confirm you are physically able to walk/exercise safely. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any exercise program.

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)

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

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:

How to Sync Your Steps

Different devices have different sync requirements:

  • Auto-Sync (no action needed): Fitbit syncs automatically at midnight via server-side cloud API. You do not need to open the app
  • Apple Watch: Open the Lucilla app — HealthKit syncs steps from the watch every few seconds automatically. No additional action needed
  • Samsung Galaxy Watch: Open Samsung Health first (to trigger write to Health Connect), then open Lucilla. Samsung Health writes to Health Connect when the app is opened or reconnected
  • Google Pixel Watch: Open the Fitbit app first (to trigger Bluetooth sync from watch to phone), then open Lucilla. Wear OS may write basic step data to Health Connect automatically, but full data requires the Fitbit app
  • Bridge-Sync Devices (two steps): Garmin, Amazfit, Polar, COROS, Xiaomi, and Suunto require you to: (1) open the companion app (Garmin Connect, Zepp, Polar Flow, etc.) to sync your watch to Health Connect, then (2) open Lucilla to read the data
  • Huawei Watch (three steps): Open Huawei Health, then open the Health Sync app (third-party, required), then open Lucilla. Huawei Health does not write to Health Connect natively

You will receive a push notification at midnight reminding you to sync if you have an active daily/weekly/monthly match.

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

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

Important: Android Battery Optimization

Some Android phones (especially Xiaomi, Samsung, Huawei non-system apps) aggressively kill background apps to save battery. If you use a bridge-sync wearable (Garmin, Amazfit, Polar, COROS, Huawei on non-Huawei phones), we recommend:

  • Disabling battery optimization for the companion app (Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Battery > Unrestricted)
  • Keeping the companion app in your recent apps (don't swipe it away)
  • Opening the companion app after finishing your match to force a sync

If your steps fail to sync after a paid match, you may forfeit the match to your opponent. See the Forfeit Win Rule in Section 7.

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

8% MAPE Threshold

Any device with a MAPE at or above 8% is ineligible for paid matches. This threshold is based on peer-reviewed step-count accuracy studies and ensures fair competition when money is at stake. Lucilla reserves the right to update device tiers as new accuracy research becomes available. The current approved device list is always available at lucilla.ca.

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:

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:

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

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:

Disqualification

Participants may be disqualified for using step-generating devices/apps, manipulating device sensors, creating multiple accounts, or any form of cheating. Disqualified participants forfeit their commitments.

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:

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

5% Variance Draw Rule

If the leader's margin is less than 5% of their verified step count, the match is declared a DRAW. This prevents disputes over marginal victories and ensures fairness when the result is too close to call.

Example: Player A has 10,000 verified steps, Player B has 9,600 verified steps. The lead is 400 steps (4% of 10,000). Since 4% < 5%, this is a draw — both players are refunded (minus 1% draw fee).

Forfeit Win Rule

If one participant's wearable device syncs step data but the opponent's device fails to sync within the validation window, the participant who synced wins by forfeit. The non-syncing participant forfeits their entry commitment.

If neither participant's data syncs, both players receive a full refund (no fee).

Payout Timing

8. Platform Fees

Fee Breakdown Examples

Win Scenario

Draw Scenario

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

Tax Withholding

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

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. Contact

Questions about competition rules:

By entering a Step Match, you confirm you have read, understood, and agree to these Official Rules.