iOS Friends Tournament Betting App

I have an idea for a “shnarps” style app that lets groups of friends create small, private tournaments where everyone puts real money into the pot and competes for the top spot. The entire experience will live on iOS only, and I picture a clean, modern-minimal interface that feels as intuitive as Apple Wallet: light backgrounds, clear typography, zero clutter.

Here’s the core flow I’m after: a user downloads the paid app, signs up, invites friends to a tournament, each player stakes an agreed amount through an in-app wallet, play proceeds, and the winner (or top three, depending on settings we define) receives automated payout. Because we’re handling peer-funded prize pools, I need advice on the legal framework—what licences or jurisdictional restrictions apply, how Apple’s real-money gaming rules affect us, and whether we need third-party payment processors with KYC/AML checks. Your guidance on compliance is just as important to me as the coding itself.

On the tech side I’m comfortable with Swift and a Firebase or Supabase backend if that fits, but I’m open to alternatives you recommend for secure wallet management and real-time leaderboards. Push notifications for tournament updates, Sign in with Apple, and TestFlight distribution are expected.

Deliverables I’d like to see:
• A clickable Figma prototype in the modern-minimal style for approval.
• Full Xcode project with Swift/SwiftUI code, unit tests, and simple CI setup.
• Backend (REST or GraphQL) that records stakes, tracks standings, and triggers payouts.
• A short memo outlining the legal pathway (licensing, payment compliance, Apple review strategy).
• App Store-ready build and deployment instructions.

Acceptance will be based on passing all unit tests, clean App Store build, and the legal memo satisfactorily addressing risk areas.

If this sounds like a challenge you can run with, let’s discuss timeline and milestones.