A groundbreaking sports predictions game based in Mansfield has officially launched in the UK with a mission of providing a safe way for players to have a small flutter on football while raising money for good causes.

Prophet League, built by a group of friends from the East Midlands, hopes to pioneer a new era of gaming by prioritising positive social impact and player safety ahead of profits.

By imposing low entry fees and weekly game limits, it said players would never spend more than they could afford.

Contrary to traditional odds-based gambling platforms, Prophet League operates a pooled prize pot system, where the top 10 per cent players with the most accurate predictions share the weekly prize pot.

This means that players are competing against the community, not a bookmaker — and they can also opt to donate 50p to a designated charity of the week.

The more people who play, the bigger the prize pot, and the bigger the donation to good causes.

Co-founder Amy Perkins, of Mansfield, said: “We believe Prophet League is the future of sports social gaming. We exist to provide a true alternative and to provide players with all the fun and excitement of a flutter on football, while doing good and staying safe.”

As part of its Gaming For Good model, Prophet League also aims to provide greater exposure for under-represented football in the UK. Most football prediction games focus exclusively on the Premier League, but Prophet League offers specific games for the Women’s Super League and Scottish football, as well as lower league EFL fixtures.

It said the new initiative’s social impact included offering additional features, such as the chance to create a Friends League, making it a platform for players to use football as a way to raise funds for their own good causes via a JustGiving page.

This would give amateur clubs, community enterprises, or corporate businesses an easy-to-administer, recurring revenue stream for their fundraising.

Amy, who has launched Prophet League with her husband, Simon Perkins, and Rob Johnston, added: “I’m a football mum with two girls who love football.

“I know how hard it is to raise money for the teams my girls play for and it felt like rather than just keep asking people for donations, we could combine people’s love for football and giving at the same time.”

Last year the government announced reforms intended to address concerns over player safety and gambling industry practices.

Prophet League said many people feel the changes have not gone far enough to protect players and affect positive change within the industry, but it hopes to stand as a beacon of progress, demonstrating that entertainment and social responsibility can go hand in hand, and create a community where everyone wins.

Amy said: “Gambling companies seemingly just want shareholders to win. Instead, we want to offer something that is safe and kind, but still fun and exciting.

“Unlike online prizedraws and even the National Lottery, we have deliberately designed Prophet League to be socially responsible.

“When we designed the game we led with the principle that no-one should be able to spend more than the cost of two cups of coffee per week and that when players win, they win — and can withdraw their winnings immediately. with no gimmicks to get them to play more or things to confuse players.

“Prophet League is simple, easy, and accessible.”

Prophet League’s first game will be dedicated to the UEFA European Football Championship and raise money for East Midlands-based Rainbows Hospice.

Gary Farnfield, of the charity, said: “We are grateful to Prophet League for choosing us to be their first charity beneficiary.

“The money raised will go towards providing care and support to young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.”

For more information and to join the game, visit www.prophetleague.com