RexBets

Inspiration

Traditional sports betting apps like PrizePicks lack genuine social interaction - users place bets in isolation without the excitement of competing directly with friends. We were inspired by the energy of watching games together and wanted to recreate that communal experience digitally. The idea sparked when we realized we could combine the fast-paced excitement of Kahoot with the strategic depth of sports betting, creating a social gaming experience that brings friends together around live sports.

What it does

Rex Bets transforms sports betting into a social party game. Users create or join lobbies with up to 5 friends, where they compete in real-time during live games. As games unfold, our system generates dynamic questions with 2-4 multiple-choice answers about upcoming plays or game outcomes. Players wager their points (starting with 200) on their chosen answers, with a multiplier algorithm that rewards confident, accurate predictions. The app features persistent point systems across sessions, real-time leaderboards, varied and interesting questions, and an engaging user experience that keeps players coming back for more competitive action.

How we built it

Frontend: React Native with Expo Router for cross-platform mobile development, featuring NativeWind for Tailwind CSS styling, TypeScript for type safety, and custom UI components built with @rn-primitives for native feel. Real-time updates handled via API polling with planned WebSocket integration.

Backend: FastAPI with automatic OpenAPI documentation, SQLModel for database ORM with Pydantic integration, PostgreSQL for persistent data storage, and Uvicorn ASGI server for production deployment running on Python 3.12.

Infrastructure: Docker containerization for both frontend and backend services, Ubuntu 22.04 base images for consistent environments, and Honcho for local development process management.

Database Architecture: Comprehensive SQLModel schemas supporting Users, Rooms, Players, Questions, Bets, Friend Requests, and Games with proper relational data modeling.

Challenges we ran into

The biggest technical hurdle was orchestrating real-time synchronization across multiple users in a lobby - ensuring everyone receives questions simultaneously while handling varying network conditions. We also grappled with designing a fair and engaging point system that maintains long-term user engagement without becoming exploitative. Creating a seamless question timing system that feels natural with game flow required multiple iterations. Finally, finding realistic sports data that maintains the authentic feel of live games while staying within hackathon time constraints proved more complex than expected.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

• Successfully implemented real-time multiplayer functionality with sub-second latency using API polling
• Created an engaging point multiplier system that rewards strategic thinking
• Built a responsive, intuitive mobile interface that works seamlessly across devices using React Native + Expo
• Developed a robust question generation system with multiple choice mechanics and French language support
• Achieved stable cloud deployment with containerized architecture using Docker
• Designed comprehensive SQLModel database schemas that support complex betting scenarios
• Implemented complete user management, friend systems, and room-based multiplayer architecture
• Created file-based routing with Expo Router for smooth navigation and deep linking support

What we learned

This project deepened our understanding of multiplayer systems architecture and the complexity of game state management. We also discovered that sourcing comprehensive, usable data requires a significant amount of effort..

What's next for Rex Bets

First Priority: Developing more minigames for users to play, so that they can make predictions and place bets in a fun, engaging way.

Immediate Technical Enhancements: Smart Question Timing: Implement an AI-driven system that triggers questions based on game momentum and natural breaks, rather than fixed intervals Reconnection Handling: Develop seamless mid-game recovery for disconnected users, allowing them to rejoin active betting rounds with appropriate point adjustments Anti-Cheat Measures: Deploy behavioral analysis algorithms to detect unusual betting patterns and implement rate limiting to prevent point manipulation Point Economy Balance: Introduce daily point bonuses (50-100 points) and achievement-based rewards to keep users engaged when points run low

Product Evolution: Live Sports Data Integration: Partner with sports data providers for real game integration Expanded Game Types: Add support for different sports and betting formats Tournament Mode: Seasonal competitions with special rewards and rankings Social Features: Friend challenges, group tournaments, and social sharing Advanced Analytics: Detailed player statistics and betting trend analysis

Partnership Goals: Explore integration opportunities with existing sports platforms Develop white-label solutions for sports media companies Create API partnerships with sports content creators

Built With

• css
• docker
• expo.io
• fast-api
• html
• react-native
• render
• supabase
• typescript