CHIP IN, a real-money golf pools app operating under a UK Gambling Commission Remote Pool Betting Licence, has launched ahead of this week’s U.S. Open. The app is available on iOS and Android for UK users aged 18 and over.

Built around the four men’s major championships and selected flagship events on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, the app lets users create private leagues with friends, colleagues or club members, join public competitions and follow live leaderboards as tournaments unfold.

How the CHIP IN betting Format Works

The game combines elements of a traditional golf sweepstake and a fantasy contest. Users select one golfer from each of eight ranked pots, with their team’s position on a major-themed leaderboard determined by the combined score of their best four performers from the eight. Teams move up and down as live scores come in.

CHIP IN says the pot system differentiates it from conventional fixed-odds golf betting by pushing users to engage with golfers across the full field, not just headline names. Because selections span eight ranking tiers, players track lower-ranked competitors alongside in-form favourites throughout tournament week.

From Spreadsheet to App

CHIP IN was founded in 2024 by Patch Fordham and two friends, who originally ran the format on a spreadsheet for their friendship group ahead of the year’s first major. The concept spread by word of mouth, and Fordham developed it into a dedicated app.

For the first major of 2026, the company says many users participated in a pool with a prize pot exceeding £45,000.

“Golfers are competitive, and especially love competing against friends. Whether that’s a fourball on a Saturday morning, a golf trip abroad or a debate in the clubhouse after a round. We created CHIP IN to bring that same friendly, yet competitive spirit to the way fans watch professional golf.”

The platform is designed for existing groups. Users can share a league link via messaging apps, golf tour WhatsApp groups or wider club memberships, with the app handling scoring and leaderboard tracking in real time.

Licence and Safety

The app operates under a UK Gambling Commission Remote Pool Betting Licence, which covers online pool betting across sports including fantasy-type competitions. Under that model, stakes are pooled and winnings are calculated by dividing the total pool, minus commission, by the number of winners.

CHIP IN says the app incorporates age verification, responsible gambling tools, deposit controls and secure payment processing.

Fordham said the company plans to expand into other sports beyond golf. For now, the U.S. Open this week provides the first major-week test since the app’s official launch.

The app is available at www.chipin.bet.