Terms of Service

Last updated: August 19, 2026

1. Who we are and what these terms cover

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) are an agreement between you and [COMPANY LEGAL NAME] (“SLIM GHOST”, “we”, “us”), and they govern your use of this website, the Vault subscription library, and The Gulag tournaments (together, the “Services”). By creating an account, buying a subscription, or entering a tournament, you agree to these Terms, our Privacy Policy, Refund Policy, the Official Gulag Rules, and our Code of Conduct — all of which are part of this agreement.

SLIM GHOST is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Electronic Arts Inc., the NFL, or Twitch. “Madden NFL” and related marks belong to their owners.

2. Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction, whichever is greater) to enter paid tournaments or receive prizes.
• Paid tournament play is void where prohibited. Any competition or offer is of no effect in any state, country, or jurisdiction that prohibits, restricts, or requires a license for such activities. It is your responsibility to confirm, in good faith, that entering a skill-based, paid-entry competition is lawful where you live before you buy in. We may restrict entries from specific jurisdictions at any time.
• Sharing your account with a teammate is allowed — but you are responsible for everything done on your account, and prizes are always paid to the account, not to whoever held the sticks. One person may not enter the same tournament through multiple accounts.
• We may require identity, age, or location verification before paying a prize, and may withhold prizes where eligibility cannot be confirmed.

3. Skill-based competition — not gambling

The Gulag is a head-to-head video game competition in which outcomes are determined by player skill: execution, strategy, and knowledge of the game. It is not a game of chance, a lottery, or sports betting. Entry fees are consideration to compete; prizes are awarded solely on competitive results under the posted rules.

4. Accounts

You sign in with your email address. Keep your credentials secret and your account details (gamertag, EA ID, payout method) accurate — prizes are paid to the payout details on file at the time the payout ledger is generated. You are responsible for all activity on your account — including anyone you allow to play on it. Tell us immediately at [CONTACT EMAIL] if you suspect unauthorized use.

5. The Vault (subscriptions)

• Vault tiers (currently Recruit, Starter, and Franchise) grant access to digital playbooks and film for 30 days per purchase. Access is personal, non-transferable, and for your own competitive use.
• All Vault content is our intellectual property (or licensed to us). No copying, sharing, reselling, screen-capturing for redistribution, or posting elsewhere. We may revoke access for violations without refund.
• Prices are shown at checkout and may change for future purchases. See the Refund Policy for refund terms.

6. The Gulag (paid tournaments)

• Buy-ins: each tournament posts its entry fee, field size, schedule, house rake, and prize table before you enter. Your entry is confirmed when payment completes and a seat is available.
• Prize pool: the pool is built from buy-ins. SLIM GHOST retains the posted house rake; the remainder is distributed to the posted paying places. If a prize table totals less than 100% of the post-rake pool, the remainder is retained by the house — the money math for every tournament is displayed before entry.
• Field not filled / cancellation: if a tournament doesn’t reach the minimum field or is cancelled before the bracket starts, buy-ins are refunded per the Refund Policy.
• Match play: matches follow the Official Gulag Rules, including ready-up windows, score-reporting deadlines, forfeits, and the evidence-based dispute process. Moderator rulings on disputes are final.
• Payouts: after a tournament completes, a payout ledger is generated for the winning places. Prizes are sent to the payout method on your account. We may withhold or reclaim prizes obtained through cheating, ineligibility, or fraud.
• Taxes: prizes may be taxable income. You are responsible for your taxes; we may require tax information (e.g., a W-9 for U.S. players) before paying prizes and may issue tax forms where required by law.

7. Fair play

The Code of Conduct applies everywhere on the platform. Cheating, glitch abuse, collusion, match-fixing, harassment, or falsifying match evidence can result in forfeits, disqualification, prize forfeiture, and permanent bans, at our discretion.

8. Streams and third-party services

Watch pages embed Twitch streams; Twitch’s own terms and privacy policy apply to that content. Payments are processed by Stripe — we never store full card numbers. We are not responsible for third-party services.

9. Termination

You can close your account at any time. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, break the law, or harm the platform or other players. If we terminate for violations, unexpired subscriptions and pending entries may be forfeited except where a refund is required by law.

10. Disclaimers

The Services are provided “as is” and “as available.” To the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied. We don’t promise uninterrupted or error-free service, and playbook content is provided for competitive education without any guarantee of results.

11. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, SLIM GHOST’s total liability for any claim arising out of the Services is limited to the greater of (a) the amount you paid us in the six months before the claim, or (b) $100. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages. Some jurisdictions don’t allow these limits, so they may not fully apply to you.

12. Disputes with us, governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of [STATE], without regard to conflict-of-law rules. Before filing any claim, contact us at [CONTACT EMAIL] — most issues get resolved fast. [OPTIONAL: arbitration / class-action-waiver clause to be inserted on advice of counsel.]

13. Changes

We may update these Terms as the platform evolves. Material changes will be posted here with a new “Last updated” date, and continued use after changes means you accept them. Tournament-specific rules posted with a tournament apply to that tournament.

14. Contact

[COMPANY LEGAL NAME] · [MAILING ADDRESS] · [CONTACT EMAIL]

This page is a working draft prepared for SLIM GHOST and is not legal advice. Have it reviewed by a licensed attorney — especially the skill-gaming, tax, and dispute sections — before accepting real money.