About
About Locked
Locked is a peer-to-peer platform for 1v1 console money matches: two players stake the same amount, the stakes sit in escrow, and the winner takes the pot minus a flat 10% fee. Below is how that works, how we make money, and — the part most About pages skip — what we cannot claim yet.
What does Locked actually do?
Locked matches two players who want to stake the same amount on a 1v1 game of EA FC, Madden or NBA 2K. The minimum stake is $2.50per player. When both players accept, each stake moves out of their wallet into a locked escrow balance tied to that match — neither player can spend or withdraw it while the game is running. They play on their own console, both submit the result, and the winner's wallet is credited the full pot minus a flat 10% fee.
There is no bookmaker anywhere in that loop. Nobody sets odds and nobody takes the other side of the bet. How it works walks the full sequence, including what happens when the two players disagree about who won.
How does Locked make money?
One way, and it is checkable arithmetic: 10% of the total pot of each settled match. Nothing on deposits, nothing on withdrawals, no rake on top and no subscription.
| Each player stakes | Total pot | Winner receives | Locked keeps |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2.50 | $5.00 | $4.50 | $0.50 |
| $10.00 | $20.00 | $18.00 | $2.00 |
| $25.00 | $50.00 | $45.00 | $5.00 |
The fee is identical whoever wins, which is the structural reason Locked has no incentive in the result. On a reported draw both players are refunded in full. See pricing and fees.
What can't Locked claim?
Every item below is a real limit, published because a trust page that only lists strengths is an advertisement. If any of these changes, it changes here first.
No gambling licence, and none is claimed
Locked is structured as a skill-based contest, not as gambling, and does not hold a gambling licence in any jurisdiction. Any platform in this category advertising a licence it cannot link to is telling you something about the rest of its copy.
No third-party audit of the escrow ledger
Stakes move into a locked escrow balance for each match, but no outside firm has audited that ledger. You have our description of the mechanism and the behaviour of the product, not an auditor's signature.
No published payout statistics
Competitors quote lifetime payout totals. We have not published one, because we will not invent a number we cannot substantiate. When there is an auditable figure, it will appear here with its method.
A small and young player base
Locked is early. That affects how quickly you find an opponent at a given stake and game, and it is a fair reason to start at the $2.50 minimum rather than a large stake.
Withdrawals pass a security review
Wallet credit is immediate once both players confirm a result. Withdrawals are approved by hand after a security check: over the last 90 days, half were approved within about 6 hours and 9 in 10 within 24 hours (33 approved withdrawals to September 12, 2026), and identity verification can add time. Deposits are instant; withdrawals are reviewed, not instant, and the measured figures are on the how-it-works page.
No named public team yet
This page carries no founder bio, because we will not publish one that has not been verified. It is a real gap in the trust signals a reader is entitled to, and stating it is better than filling it with a stock photo.
Where should you go next?
If you are deciding whether to trust the platform, is Locked legit? goes deeper on escrow, disputes and payouts, and carries a seven-question checklist for vetting any money-match site — ours included. If the question is whether any of this is permitted where you live, is playing video games for money legal? explains the framework and deliberately refuses to hand you a verdict for your state. To reach a human, see contact. Everything else is indexed on the guides hub.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to play for real money?
Creating an account is free. Both entries sit in escrow until the match is over, and the pot goes to the winner. No bookmaker, no house edge.