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DietBet

DietBet

Overall Rating

2.3

23 Customer Reviews

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Summary

DietBet is a betting platform focused around weight loss. Pay to enter, meet your weight loss goal, and share the money with others who succeed with you.

Pros

  • The company guarantees you won’t lose money if you make your bid
  • 96% of users lose some weight
  • A broad variety of games to choose from with different risk levels
  • Community-focused weight loss might keep you more accountable

Cons

  • You might be disqualified for losing too much weight or losing it at the wrong speed
  • Most users earn less than double their money or receive the same amount back

DietBet Review: A Detailed Look

By Lydia Noyes

Updated on: Feb 24, 2020

DietBet is a weight-loss betting website designed to help you shed excess pounds through financial incentives. Depending on the challenge you choose, you will commit to losing a percentage of your body weight within a set timeframe.

If you make your goal, you’ll get your money back and share the rest of the winnings with everyone else who succeeded.

The company claims to have helped almost one million players lose weight and paid out more than $85 million to winners. In this analysis, we take a detailed look at how this service works to help you understand if it is a good option for you.

How Does DietBet Work?

To start using Dietbet, you’ll first choose a game or create your own. These games fall into three categories:

  • Kickstarter: Lose 4% of your body weight in four weeks. Winners split the total pot at the end.

  • Transformer: Lose 10% of your body weight in six months. Weight loss goals are set for each month, and winning participants split each month’s pot.

  • Maintainer: Maintain your bodyweight for 12 months, prize value increases the longer you stay in the game.

Each game will vary by start date, the number of players, and the cost to enter. These variables will affect the final payout for those who meet their goals. Some examples of open game options included the following.

Challenge Name Game Type Dates Bonus Incentives Bet Size Number of Participants Total Pot Size Average Payout for Winners* Winnings Over Bet Size
Resolution Recharge Transformer Transformer Jan 27–Jul 26 One winner receives $500 workout wardrobe $35 per month ($175 upfront) 256 $47, 670 $325 1.8x
New Year, New Beginnings with Fighting2GetFit Kickstarter Jan 27–Feb 23 NA $35 42 $1,470 $61 1.74x
Big Bet in January Kickstarter Jan 18–Feb 14 Random winners will have their prize doubled $100 144 $14,400 $185 1.85x
King Fatty Cakes ShameGames35 Kickstarter Feb 1–28 NA $10 90 $900 $17 1.7x
Fearless February with Ilana Kickstarter Feb 3–March 1 $1000 extra in winning pot $35 80 $2800 $62 1.8x

*Averages as reported by DietBet and independent research. The amount DietBot takes per pot depends on the size of the monthly bet:

  • $0–$99: 25%
  • $100–$249: 20%
  • $250–$500:15%
  • $500+: 10%

As this chart shows, most games on DietBet seem to give you the average odds of winning between 1.7 and 1.8 times your initial investment.

However, as we’ll dive into later, this doesn’t seem to match the experience for many users. Many ended up earning significantly less or only had their initial investment returned to them.

You will need to join at least one DietBet challenge to start using the site. To begin, you’ll pay the set bet amount and submit your official starting weight. This must be done two days before the official start date.

DietBet lets you try any game risk-free for seven days. If you cancel within this timeframe, you can request a full refund.

To submit your weight, you will need to share two pictures. One will be you standing on a scale in lightweight clothing, and another will show the scale’s readout with your designated weigh-in word written on a piece of paper.

DietBet assigns users these weigh-in words to act as timestamps for the images to ensure you aren’t fudging your current weight.

These pictures remain private, and it’s entirely up to you if you want to share them with the greater DietBet community through your account.

Upon submission, a DietBet referee will approve your photos and officially enter you in the game. At this point, you can use the DietBet app to track your progress, communicate with other users, and get weight loss tips.

You can update your weight in the app as often as you like, but these self-reported weigh-ins are unofficial until the game ends.

After the final day of your game, you will have 48 hours to do your final weigh-out. You only need to submit verification photos (similar to how you entered the challenge) if you met the program’s goal.

Within 24 hours of the final weigh-out period, DietBet will release the official results, and the prize pot (minus DietBet’s fee) will be divided between the winners.

You’ll get an email notification about your winnings and can cash them out through PayPal or put them towards another game.

No Loss-Guarantee

The DietBet no loss guarantee ensures that you won’t lose money on the site, so long as you win your game.

This means that in games where an unusually high percentage of winners cuts down on the profits, the company will forfeit its cut so that everyone who won receives their money back.

Charity games are the exception to this guarantee.

Membership Benefits

Beyond signing up for individual games, you can also choose to enroll in a DietBet membership. This entitles you to more game variety, bonus challenges, weekly accountability weigh-ins with prize opportunities, and other bonuses.

Membership costs $50 per year and is risk-free for seven days. Signing up automatically enrolls you in a reoccurring subscription. You can cancel your subscription or request a refund by contacting support.

Is There Evidence That DietBet Works for Weight Loss?

As with all weight loss programs, DietBet works better for some users than others. Your success will depend on how much you are motivated by gaining or losing money, but the results might be subtle even for those who are successful.

We couldn’t track down any verified research from the company about how effective the program is for the average user beyond a 2013 social media post that shared that 96% of DietBet players lose weight over the course of a four-week game, for an average of six pounds.

This amounts to about 1.5 pounds a week, which matches the Center for Disease Control’s recommendation for longterm weight loss.

Beyond this report, there is anecdotal evidence from DietBet users on personal blogs, Quora, and other review websites that share the program worked to help them shed weight.

Most of the people in these success stories reported that the program worked in part because they felt financially invested and didn’t want to face the embarrassment of losing money by not meeting their goals.

How Does DietBet Prevent Unsafe Weight Loss?

Losing weight for cash prizes may incentivize unhealthy habits for some DietBet users. The company claims to keep users within healthy ranges be preventing anyone from joining with a BMI below 18.5, which is considered underweight.

It also caps the maximum acceptable weight loss for Kickstarter participants at 12% of their initial weight and between 12–30% for Transformer participants. Any player that hits these limits will be disqualified from the game and forfeit any winnings.

Analysis of Customer Reviews

20 Dietbet customers have left reviews on our site, and together they average 2.4 stars. We’ve highlighted some of the most common comments below:

Useful for Losing Weight
Many DietBet users love the service and found it motivating for losing weight. These customers shared that the community aspect was helpful because they shared messages and pictures with other app users.

Some stated that they were entering three or more contests per month and walking away with an extra $40-50 each time. They praised the company for helping them commit to healthier habits when other attempts had failed.

Payouts Aren’t Impressive
By far, the most common complaint from DietBet users concerned low payout rates for winners. Some wrote that they made only a few dollars after focusing on weight loss for months and that the company took too large of a cut of each game.

Some of the reported winnings included the following:

  • $35 bet, $48.40 payout
  • $35 bet, $38.18 payout
  • $100 bet, $100.44 payout
  • $35 bet, $50 payout

Those who have the most success recommending joining games that cost between $30–$35, as people are more motivated to win the ones with higher entry fees and the payouts will be smaller.

Company Pulled Customers Out of Competitions
Some DietBet users were upset because the company didn’t honor their weight loss attempts. A few wrote that they procrastinated for weeks in their Transformer challenge but met their goals in the last month, only to have Dietbet disqualify them from the prize money for losing too much weight at once.

Didn’t Get Support from Hosts
Many DietBet customers joined specific games because of who was hosting them, with the expectation that the host would offer advice and motivation throughout the challenge. A few were disappointed by the lack of interaction they had with these hosts, stating that they messaged the whole group once or twice a month at best, or didn’t deliver on the promised giveaways.

Customer Service Concerns
A few DietBet users ran into problems when they tried to cancel their accounts within the 7-day refund window and shared that they never were issued their refund. Others reported that they were upset that they didn’t receive the same amount in winnings as they paid to enter the contest when they entered charity games.

The Bottom Line

Placing bets through DietBet can be a motivating way to lose weight. The company reports that 96% of users end up losing some weight through the platform after they sign up and that an average of 43% of users meets their goals for each challenge.

However, don’t expect to win any meaningful money. Only a few program winners end up doubling their initial fees, and there’s a good chance you might only come out even.

The platform has strict policies for enforcing healthy weight loss rates, so you might hit your final target and still end up disqualified from the prize money.

Beyond the cash incentives, DietBet will give you a community of other people striving to accomplish the same goals as you. If that kind of accountability will keep you on track for weight loss, then DietBet may be worth the investment.

Customer Reviews

2.3 Stars out of 23 Reviews
5 Star:21% 4 Star:8% 3 Star:0% 2 Star:17% 1 Star:52%
30% Recommend This Company
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Posted on Feb 18, 2017

Great motivation to lose weight, won a good bit of money

By Kat, New York, Verified Reviewer

I have played about four 6-month games and a couple of one-month games. I have won some, and I have lost some. I have seen some people complain that they were taken for their money, but I think it boils down to understanding the rules.

There are verified weigh-ins and you can also submit unverified weigh-ins. In order to win, you HAVE to have verified (including two pictures) weigh-in submitted to them AND verified by them within a 48-hour window. It's up to the players to make sure they are done properly within the allotted time frame (which is announce an entire month ahead of time). The percentage of winners is usually around 50% in the games I've played, so I win back 1.5 times the money I put in after DietBet's cut.

My player number 408843 if anyone wants to verify that I am a legit player.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 13 People Have Voted

Posted on Sep 8, 2017

Excellent game to lose weight!

By Laureen DeShay, Chino Hills, CA, Verified Reviewer

I am playing my 10th DietBet and won my previous money back and profit! I am not playing to win money; I am playing to get healthy and lose weight! I lost 35 lbs in three months, and have 15 to go! The players on the site all have a common goal and encourage everyone to lose weight and be a winner!

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 8 People Have Voted

Posted on Apr 24, 2018

Great for losing weight

By Liz M, Detroit, MI, Verified Reviewer

I've done several DietBets over the last few years and have everything found them hugely motivating. You don't have to pay the $5 for a membership fee, just remove it from your cart. If you want the highest payout, stick to games in the $30-35 range with the most players. Games that cost a lot to bet ($100+) have lots of winners because no one wants to lose that money, and the more people who win, the less money there is to split. Join the larger games that have over 1000 participants, and you'll lose some weight and make some money. You're not going to be making hundreds of dollars though...be realistic. The goal here is motivating yourself to be healthy, not making money. On average I've made an extra $20 or so in addition to my initial bet. If you're just looking for a way to make cash, this isn't it. It's about weight loss and health.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 41 People Have Voted

Posted on Oct 8, 2018

Great motivator

By Elle P., California, Verified Reviewer

This program has really worked for me. I've lost about 35 lbs so far from a few months of doing diet bets. It isn't a lot of money, but you can usually profit about $10-15 on a $35 bet. So you can make about $40 per month if you place the maximum of 3 bets at a time. I found that the higher stake bets aren't worth it, most everyone wins and there's no profit. Anyway, DietBet made me focus on my weight loss goals and pays me a bit, so two thumbs up!

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 14 People Have Voted

Posted on Nov 14, 2018

Great motivation

By Nicole H., Germany, Verified Reviewer

I just finished my first game and it was really motivating. I met the goal I needed to meet.

During the 28 days of dieting, it was easy to keep motivated because the community in my game was really great, the messages helped a lot to stay on track.

Submitting my weight has been no problem at all.

I registered for my second game to help me stay "less of me" during the holidays.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 12 People Have Voted

Posted on Mar 31, 2018

Motivating and make some pocket change

By Dan C, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Verified Reviewer

Hi. I tried DietBet a few times and won a few and lost the recent ones. I had a good experience with them. As for admin fee, you don’t need to pay the $5 membership fee, it’s not mandatory and you can just pay the game fee. You can deselect the $5 fee, and it doesn’t go toward the bet. The main thing is that even if you lose the money, you’ve tried and should have also lost some weight. Win-win.

I have won between $5-15 per a game on top of what I put in. If you wanted the great bang for the buck, I would bet on ones that are between $30-35 as they have winner and losers. The ones with a higher entry can attract a lot of people but tend to have more winners as no one wants to lose $100.

I have organized a game that starts April 3. It’s called the Easter classic. In addition to the winning, there are additional prizes to be won. The more player there are the more prizes there will be. So come join me.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 8 People Have Voted

Posted on Jun 4, 2022

For the right person this works well

By Stephen D., Suffolk, United Kingdom, Verified Reviewer

I've lost weight - sometimes quite a lot - every time I've used DietBet. I've also made a profit each time. If you can apply discipline to losing weight, you need to apply the same discipline to weighing in during defined 48-hour windows - which means some advance planning including on some occasions taking bathroom scales away in my suitcase.

If you meet the weight loss goals, and get your weigh-ins on time, you will at least get your money back, and in my experience can make a profit too - but it's the additional focus the process brings that helps keep me on the straight and narrow. (I've regained the weight afterwards, but that's my fault, not theirs.)

As time has gone by, the amount of social interaction in the chat seems to have decreased.

Length of Use: 2+ years

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Pros and Cons

Supports weight loss

Short and long term approaches

Supports planning

Relies on failure (of weight loss or planning) in others

Quite US-focussed

No links to other services

Helpful Review? 1 Person Has Voted

Posted on Aug 29, 2016

Pyramid scheme

By Daev Brown, Colorado, Verified Reviewer

This site is a pyramid scheme. Stakes are different for every game, but one of the ones I joined for example has a $30 buy in and they say that everyone who hits their weight goal splits the pot. What they only mention in the fine print is that they take a 25% cut! So theres $127,170 in the pot from 4,239 players and 50% hit their goal. So each of us players in the winning 50% wins $15. Awesome. What is the websites cut? $31,792! I could see maybe a 5% cut for administering the website, but 25%? These guys are making a KILLING.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 41 People Have Voted

Posted on Aug 24, 2017

Great concept in theory

By Linda Lange, Columbus, GA, Verified Reviewer

Too much of the money is going towards the fees. I placed a $100 bet and the payout was $100.44, I came up 44 cents. I did manage to lose my weight, but after I finish my next diet bet, I will definitely not be joining another one. I played in a previous game where the fee was $35, and I won an extra $15. The concept is good, just not crazy about the execution.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 26 People Have Voted

Posted on Feb 5, 2018

I won, but lost money.

By Michelle Sommers, Florida, Verified Reviewer

I had to pay a $35.00 bet plus a $5.00 administrative fee to start playing. I lost my required weight and won back a whopping $38.18. I PAID THEM to play!

This is a money making scam. I guess it's an okay system for those that want to pay for accountability and access to a support group, but they market the system as if you actually have a chance to make some money from your efforts and that is NOT the case. The only ones really making any money is DietBet and the game sponsors. On top of the $5 they get from the hundreds of thousands of players, they also get like 25% of each pot, which is a ridiculous amount of money for what the game offers.

I signed up for a second game a week after my first. At this point, I just hope I break even and get back every dollar I paid so I can be done with them. There are plenty of support systems out there that are free and offer plenty more. Look for one that doesn't want to make money off of you.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 25 People Have Voted

Posted on Sep 7, 2018

Not worth it

By Shannon A., New Hampshire, Verified Reviewer

I was very excited to join DietBet, especially because it says you will win 1.5-2 times the fee that you pay to join. I did a $35 bet and was super excited when I won! Today I got my payout and it was for $48.40. I feel jipped to say the least. I won a measly $13.40. I do not believe this is worth it, don't waste your money.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 17 People Have Voted
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