Last Updated: December 16, 2024
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Vivid Picks Review 2024 – Everything You Need To Know

Vivid Picks is the latest entry in the emerging Fantasy Pick’em industry, offering players another quick and painless option to bet player props.

The app is the first to merge daily fantasy sports with an online ticket marketplace. It also ranks among the most DFS beginner-friendly platforms, accessible to those with little or no fantasy experience.

Yet, overcoming Vivid’s pricing model may require a more veteran mindset.

In this Vivid Picks review, learn more about what makes the app tick, including an in-depth analysis of how Vivid works, its promotional schedule, app performance, betting markets, payments, comparisons to like-minded apps, and security features.

Vivid Picks Promo Code

Quick review

Vivid Picks will appeal to daily fantasy players who favor simplicity over the cutthroat nature of peer-to-peer contests. Nearly every facet of the app is tailored toward beginners, from the easy-to-navigate user interface to the two straightforward game modes and fixed payout structure.

That doesn’t mean Vivid Picks is without nuance. For instance, in addition to traditional “More or Less” contests, players can enter “Versus” mode contests. Vivid isn’t the first to employ head-to-head predictions, but it’s still rare.

We admit that the house edge is exceptionally high, but it can be trimmed through the app’s frequent stat and payout boosts, respectable deposit bonus, and innovative experience (XP) system. Crafty players may find even more ways to create value.

However, Vivid will prove too simple for some, especially those who enjoy draft-style contests and deep betting markets. The tie-in to Vivid Seats is a nice touch, but there isn’t much synergy between a DFS platform and an online ticketer.

Vivid Picks is available in 22 states and territories, including large markets like California, Florida, and Texas.

Pros

  • Easy-to-navigate user interface
  • Two ways to play, including a head-to-head mode
  • Earn XP for each correct selection
  • Frequent promotional boosts
  • Integrated with Vivid Seats

Cons

  • Somewhat limited payment options
  • Significant house edge
  • Not especially deep

Vivid picks general overview

FeatureDetails
Daily Fantasy Sports App NameVivid Picks
Parent CompanyVivid Seats
Year Founded2022
Minimum Age18 (19 in NE)
Types Of GamesMore/Less, Versus
VIP ProgramNo
Payment MethodsTrustly ACH, Credit/Debit Cards, PayPal, Apple Pay
Mobile App?Yes, but no desktop platform
Bonus Turnover Requirement1x
Customer ServiceLive chat, email
Available StatesAK, AR, CA, DC, FL, GA, IL, KY, MN, NE, NM, NC, ND, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VT, or WI

Vivid Picks launched in August 2022 as the brainchild of online ticket marketplace Vivid Seats Inc. The app is a rebrand of Betcha Sports, which Vivid Seats acquired in December 2021 for $25 million in company equity.

The company’s strong reputation stems from its commitment to lower ticket fees and its exceptional customer service team. Given this, it’s unsurprising that its DFS app has already earned high marks on Trustpilot (4.2 out of 5.0).

Vivid Picks seamlessly integrates a Fantasy Pick’em platform with Vivid’s existing e-commerce business, enabling users to place real-money wagers on their favorite players and purchase game tickets under one roof.

It also innovates through numerous social and gamification features that reward camaraderie with tangible kickbacks, like special payout boosts.

Vivid picks ratings summary

Prop Betting
8/10
Promotions Rating
8/10
Mobile App Rating
8/10
Sports Selection Rating
6/10
Lines, Odds & Juice Rating
7/10
Cashier Options Rating
8/10
Customer Service Rating
7/10
Fun, user-friendly platform
Wide availability across the US
Attractive bonus offers

What is Vivid Picks, and how does it work?

Vivid Picks tries to be many things, but its core function is a real-money Fantasy Pick’em platform. Users predict the outcome of two or more player props. Get them right, and you’ll get paid along a mostly fixed payout table.

To submit a ticket, you’ll first select a betting market and then pick a game within that market. Vivid Picks currently spans 12 markets but strongly emphasizes major leagues like the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB.

Within each market, you’ll find a composite of all available bets for the upcoming slate called the Big Board. Or you can filter by individual games, like New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills, to only see player props for those teams.

Vivid picks game modes

Vivid Picks offers two unique Pick’em modes:

  1. More/Less: Select whether a player will go over or under a predesignated score. I.e. Jalen Hurts o/u 231.5 passing yards.
  2. Versus: Pick which player will achieve more of a selected stat, with the underdog getting a handicap akin to a point spread. I.e. Will Dalton(+13.5) or Daniel to have more passing yards.

Having an extra betting option is great, but we couldn’t help but notice some limitations. For instance, you can’t mix and match bets from the More/Less and Versus tabs. You also can’t build a ticket entirely out of players from one team, but in fairness, that’s standard practice.

However, unlike other Pickem apps like Prize Picks and Underdog Fantasy, you can combine predictions across multiple sports.

Users can select between 2 – 10 bets per ticket, with payouts scaling from 3x for two correct picks up to 250x if you nail ten predictions. The payouts will adjust if your picks are correlated, so just be prepared.

Bet types

Like other Pick’em apps, Vivid Picks offers a type of insurance. Risk takers can bet “Max Multiples,” an all-or-nothing format that only pays for 100% accuracy.

Or you can opt for “Progressive” bets that pay less if you score 100% but reward you for getting all but one pick correct.

Thanks to the smartly crafted user interface, tickets can be created in seconds. This will resonate with DFS users who’d rather not spend hours researching players, desperately trying to outpoint their peers.

Prop Betting Selection Rating: 8.0 / 10

Vivid Picks doesn’t necessarily break new ground, but it offers enough game modes and bet types to keep players engaged. 

How to get started with vivid picks

Getting started with Vivid Picks is a breezy and intuitive process that should only take a few minutes.

Before getting started, we should emphasize that you must be 18+ to register an account and 19+ in Nebraska.

  1. Download the Vivid Picks app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. This is a requirement since Vivid Picks is mobile-only.
  2. Sign up with either your email address or your authenticated Vivid Seats accounts.
  3. Email users must also provide their full name and date of birth.
  4. Upload an avatar (optional).
  5. Download any app updates, if necessary.
  6. To fully unlock the app, you must also provide a full address, but feel free to do that when you make your first deposit.

You’ll want to ensure that location services are enabled on your mobile device, as Vivid Picks requires that you be physically located in an eligible state before writing tickets. However, you can browse the app and make deposits from virtually anywhere.

Vivid Picks offers an optional promo code field, which you should use when there’s a limited-time new player promo running

What promotions and bonuses are available at vivid picks?

Vivid Picks focuses most of its promotional efforts on payout and stat boosts but mixes in the occasional bonus.

New player bonuses

New players receive a 100% deposit match up to $100, which functions somewhat differently than other deposit bonuses. Instead of dishing out the entire bonus upfront, Vivid awards 1 Vivid Buck per $1 wagered.

Vivid Bucks are an on-site currency used to enter contests, and winnings are paid in cash.

You only have to play through Vivid Bucks once to convert them. This is a welcome change from bonuses with steep wagering requirements. Just be aware that Vivid Bucks expire after 30 days, so use them quickly.

Sometimes, Vivid Picks will flip the switch and offer an augmented welcome bonus that requires a bonus code. These are usually significantly better than the standard offer.

For instance, it’s recently rolled out a 100% match up to 250 Vivid Bucks + $25 Secured Cash.

Returning player promotions

Recurring players generate value from frequent boosts, and these come in four flavors:

  • Stat boosts: These lower the requirements for player stats. If the O/U is Mahomes 255.5 passing yards, Vivid may reduce it to 220.
  • Payout boosts: Selecting promoted players will amplify your potential payout by 1.2x, 2.0x, 3.0x, or more. You can stack more than one promoted player for even larger payouts.
  • Pre-packaged boosts: Sometimes, Vivid Picks will do the work for you, offering a preselected contest with an enhanced payout.
  • Square boosts: These are stat boosts that are almost guaranteed to hit. For instance, Daniel Jones may be listed at 0.5 passing yards.

There are a couple of limitations worth knowing about. The boosted odds usually only apply to one stat, like Anytime TD, Rushing Yards, or Passing Yards.

Also, only bets on the “More” option are eligible for better payouts, limiting you to one side of a two-way prop. The exception to this is pre-packaged boosts.

Other promos include:

  • Whammy Wednesday: Each Wednesday during MLB, players will get 5 Vivid Bucks per home run hit by a player in their entry, up to 25 Vivid Bucks.
  • Ownership Challenges: Pick an NBA or NFL team, rise the ownership ranks by making accurate predictions (and making money), and be awarded up to 200 Vivid Bucks + $100 in Vivid Seats credit.
  • Social Boost: Making friends on Vivid Picks pays. Friends who follow one another and submit an entry on the same game are entitled to a special payout boost. The downside is that social boosts only apply to larger tickets (minimum 6 players).

Beyond that, Vivid Picks offers a refer-a-friend program that pays you 50 Vivid Bucks for each friend that uses your link, deposits $10+, and enters one real-money contest.

Does Vivid Picks have a loyalty rewards program?

Vivid Picks does not have a traditional loyalty program but offers some incentives through its XP system.

XP is earned by making correct predictions, scaling from 100 XP for one correct pick up to 2,000 XP for five right predictions.

By earning XP, you’ll ascend the app’s Weekly Wall of Fame, which awards up to 100 Vivid Bucks to the top 10 performers. Just be warned that climbing this mountain will take a lot of effort, as winners typically earn 250,000+ XP.

Promotions Rating: 8 / 10

A solid welcome bonus, frequent promotional boosts, and other promos add significant value to Vivid Picks. Yet, the lack of a true loyalty program stings. 

How does the Vivid Picks app perform?

Overall, Vivid Picks is a refreshingly simple and engaging app with splashes of visual flair. Yet, we found that parts of the app could use more fleshing out.

The app is free to download from either the Apple App Store (3.7 rating) or Google Play (3.5 rating). This is a required step since Vivid doesn’t offer a desktop platform or mobile-optimized version of its software.

The grey-on-black color scheme isn’t exactly “vivid,” but strategic hints of turquoise give it just enough life. Vivid Picks uses a card-style layout that lets players quickly navigate markets and drill down to games, players, bets, and predictions screen-by-screen.

While the process is well-designed and functions smoothly, it could be streamlined further. The same goes for the site’s account management features, which are tucked behind one too many taps.

Other parts of the app also score points for easy navigation, with users able to quickly access their social feeds, entries, and Vivid Seats portal. Yet, some areas feel sparse. For instance, the social feed is extremely basic, and some betting markets rarely display contests. The absence of a dedicated promotions tab is particularly jarring.

Luckily, Vivid Picks makes up for its minor deficiencies by being ultrafast and responsive. The main software glitch we encountered was the occasional geolocation failure.

Mobile App Rating: 8 / 10

The Vivid Picks app needs minor tweaks and fleshing out, but it earns points for useability and speed.

What sports markets can you play on Vivid Picks?

Vivid Picks currently offers contests for 12 different sports markets, including:

  • NFL
  • MLB
  • CFB
  • NBA
  • WNBA
  • NHL
  • Soccer
  • MMA
  • Nascar
  • Counter-Strike 2
  • League of Legends

Most contests are pregame, but Vivid Picks does offer a limited number of live 2nd half contests.

Sports Selection Rating: 6 / 10

Competitors offer more and deeper sports betting markets. A lack of deep Live betting options will deter some users. 

Vivid Picks payouts

Vivid Picks uses a fixed payout system, similar to that of other pick-em fantasy sports operators. Users who incur more risk can receive greater rewards.

The app’s odds are fairly competitive stacked against Prize Picks and Underdog Fantasy, as illustrated by the table below:

# of PredictionsVivid Picks PayoutPrize Picks PayoutUnderdog PayoutAvg. Sportsbook Payout (-115)
23x3x3x3.5x
35.5x5x6x6.5x
410x10x10x12.2x
520xN/A20x22.8x
630xN/A25x42.7x
750xN/A40x79.8x
8100xN/A80x149.3x
9150xN/AN/A279x
10200xN/AN/A520.7x

Note that the payout includes the initial buy-in. Therefore a three-prediction winner returns $15 on a $5 wager, not $20.

From the table, it’s clear that Vivid Picks has slightly better odds than Prize Picks and Underdog overall, with Underdog having a slight edge for tickets with exactly three predictions. However, all Pick’em Fantasy apps offer inferior odds compared to regulated U.S. sportsbooks.

On the plus side, Vivid Picks is generally slower to move lines than licensed sportsbooks, opening up opportunities for savvy bettors to generate value.

Also, Vivid Picks’ stat boosts can have a massive impact on payouts, especially if they’re Square Boosts.

To illustrate, imagine Patrick Mahomes’ Passing Yards stat is lowered from 255.5 to 0.5. A three-prediction ticket including Mahomes would still pay 5.5x, but since one leg is nearly guaranteed to hit, the true odds are more like 4.0x, giving you a 1.5x unit edge.

Vivid Picks also offers an insurance option called Progressive that pays when you get all but one of your predictions right. The downside is that you’ll get paid less for running the table.

Progressive payouts straddle the middle line among Fantasy Pick’em apps. They’re slightly better than Prize Picks’, and marginally worse than Underdog’s.

The impact of correlation

It’s worth noting that Vivid Picks’ odds are only mostly fixed. They do vary a bit by market and are heavily impacted by correlation.

Correlation occurs only when two or more predictions are tied together within the same game. Bets are said to be positively correlated when a specific outcome increases the likelihood of another outcome.

For example, if Jalen Hurts is predicted to pass for 220 yards and throws for 400, his top wide receiver, A.J. Brown, would likely smash his receiving yards prediction. Positively correlated bets decrease payouts.

Likewise, a betting combination of Hurts “More” and Brown “Less” are negatively correlated, as one outcome makes the other less likely. Vivid Picks increases payouts on negatively correlated predictions.

All other Pick’em Fantasy and sports betting apps account for correlation, although Vivid Picks appears to weigh its impact less than others.

Lines, Odds & Juice Rating: 7 / 10

You’ll find better odds on regulated sportsbooks. Yet, Vivid Picks’ lines hold up well compared to other Pick’em sites.

How to make payments and withdraw winnings

Vivid Picks offers a fairly limited number of depositing options, especially compared to major DFS providers like FanDuel and DraftKings, but the ones it does support are popular and trusted.

Accessing the app’s cashier is easy. Simply tap the little “+” icon at the top of your Home or Profile tab. Enter the amount you’d like to deposit and a payment source from there. Your available options are:

  • Credit/Debit Card: MasterCard, Visa, or American Express
  • ACH payments via Trustly
  • PayPal
  • Apple Pay: iOS devices only

Casual players will appreciate the low minimum deposit threshold of $5. Likewise, the minimum withdrawal amount is $5 for electronic methods and $15 for physical checks. This is refreshingly lenient.

However, high-rollers may be disappointed, as the most they can deposit on the app is $1,000 per day, $5,000 per week, and $10,000 every 30 days.

We recommend Trustly as a frontline payment option. It’s the only method with instant payout support and can reliably be used for deposits and withdrawals.

With Trustly, you must provide additional information, like your home address, but the banking transactions are done behind a secure portal, invisible to Vivid Picks.

Credit/debit cards only work for deposits, and PayPal withdrawals are only available in certain states.

Vivid Picks also offers Prize Out withdrawals, which take 24-48 hours to process. Physical checks are another option, but you’ll probably wait a few weeks for them to arrive.  There are no known fees associated with deposits or withdrawals on Vivid Picks’ end, although some banks may charge cash advance fees on credit card purchases.

Cashier Options Rating: 8.0 / 10

We’d like to see more payment options, but the ones Vivid Picks has are popular and trusted. 

How does vivid picks compare to other fantasy platforms?

Vivid Picks may not have the depth of major daily fantasy providers like DraftKings, but in fairness, it isn’t trying to be deep.

A better comparison would be to other Pick’em Fantasy apps like Prize Picks, Underdog Fantasy, and Betr Picks. Each one of these apps offers something that Vivid Picks doesn’t. Prize Picks has peer-to-peer contests, Underdog has draft-style contests, and Betr has innovations like its no-push system. All three seem to offer more betting markets and prediction options.

Yet, Vivid Picks has the best overall payout table and arguably the most straightforward user interface. It also allows you to combine more predictions, appealing to users who love taking moonshots.

Vivid has at least as many cashiering options as the competition and is the only Pick’em app to add social media features and integrate an online ticketing marketplace.

We still default to betting props on regulated sportsbooks because the payouts are better. Yet, it’s always worth checking out Vivid Picks’ boosted payouts because they’re game-changing.

Overall, Vivid Picks will likely appeal more to entry-level players than the competition and is a worthy first download. It’ll then be up to you whether to graduate to something more complex.

Are there any hidden fees or terms?

There are no hidden fees on Vivid Picks. The app is extremely transparent regarding payouts, showing you exactly what you stand to gain from placing a wager before you make it.

You’ll never incur any payment transaction fees from Vivid when making deposits or withdrawals. You also won’t be subject to predatory playthrough requirements when claiming bonuses, regardless of whether or not you claim a promo code.

However, there are a few terms that you’ll want to know before diving in. The first deals with the app’s virtual currency, Vivid Bucks. It’s important to note that these have no cash value, cannot be immediately withdrawn, and expire within 30 days of issuance.

They’re only used to enter contests. In this respect, they’re equivalent to cash, and all winnings from contests entered using Vivid Bucks are paid in immediately withdrawable cash.

How does Vivid Picks handle ties and “Did Not Play?”

You should know what happens if a player doesn’t play or your prediction ends in a statistical tie. In either scenario, the player is removed from your ticket, and the number of contest entries and payouts are adjusted.

Vivid Picks defines a Did Not Play as follows:

  • Football: Accrues zero snaps
  • Basketball: Accrues zero minutes of official game time with no recorded stats
  • Baseball: Player does not start
  • Golf: No recorded stats
  • Hockey: Records no official ice time
  • Soccer: Player doesn’t start the match
  • eSports: Player does not play or record stats

If you only have one prediction left or if all remaining players are on the same team, your entry will be canceled, and your entry fee will be fully refunded.

Security and responsible gambling tools

Vivid Picks takes security seriously and only offers services in U.S. states where daily fantasy sports are legal and regulated. According to the app’s Privacy page, all personal and account information is secured via SSL encryption tech, and transactions are processed via encrypted channels.

Vigorous Know Your Customer checks protect patrons against fraud and ensure that minors cannot create accounts. Vivid collects and shares your information for personalized, legal, contractual, and safety purposes. Users can control how much access the app has to other apps on their mobile.

Vivid Picks has also introduced two-factor authentication for users who want to protect their sensitive login information.

Responsible gambling tools are surprisingly plentiful. Players can set the following:

  • Deposit Limits: Daily, weekly, and monthly deposits start at as low as $5. Customers can also set alerts when they reach a certain depositing threshold.
  • Entries Limits: You can set a maximum number of entries each week, from 5 to 100. Alerts are also available.
  • Entry Fee Limits: Users can cap the amount of money they spend per entry from $5 to $100. Alerts are also available.

Users who are struggling with their gambling habits can opt for self-exclusion. Vivid Picks allows for exclusion periods ranging from 3 months to 5 years, and during this time, players will not be permitted to log into the Vivid Picks app.

What customer service options does Vivid Picks support?

For common queries, users can visit the app’s FAQ sections. More complex questions may require a personal touch, and Vivid Picks offers both email and live chat

Thankfully, the chat option isn’t overly reliant on AI. Instead, you’ll mostly speak with real agents, and they do a decent job of answering questions concisely and courteously.

On the other hand, email support lags. It could be up to 24 hours before you receive a response.

Customer Service Rating: 7 / 10

Email turnaround times could be faster, but Live Chat is generally efficient. 

Conclusion – should you use Vivid Picks for fantasy sports?

After a thorough assessment, we can wholeheartedly recommend Vivid Picks to users who enjoy prop betting and value their time. The app is refreshingly easy to navigate, supports numerous sports markets and predictions, and has a breezy, gamified feel.

Tickets can be created in mere seconds, and the app is devoid of the jargon and ultra-competitive peer-to-peer contests that detract beginners from daily fantasy sports.

However, the downside of casual-friendly fantasy apps is a higher cost of admission, and Vivid Picks is no exception. Pricing is consistent, if not better, than other Pick’em apps, but prop bettors on regulated sportsbooks get a better shake.

Vivid Picks does offer ways to subdue the house edge, mainly through stat boosts, but we’d like to see a wider diversity of promotions.

Other areas of the app feel underrealized. We’d like more betting markets, in-game predicting options, and live stats. Vivid could afford to liven up its social media aspects and cashier to ensure it stands out among the masses.

Overall, it’s a great start, but there’s more to do.

Overall Rating: 7.5 / 10

Vivid Picks Sportsbook FAQs

  • Does Vivid Picks operate legally? Vivid Picks is legal and licensed in each jurisdiction in which it operates, and is fully compliant with daily fantasy sports regulations and law. The app is owned and overseen by Vivid Seats, a highly reputable online ticketing marketer publicly listed on the Nasdaq since 2021.
  • Does Vivid Picks offer predictions on college sports? Yes. College football predictions are available, and users can bet on anything from anytime TDs, to receiving yards and rush yards.  This is one area where Vivid Picks has a distinct advantage over traditional online sportsbooks, which are strictly limited (in some states) in what college props they can offer. 
  • Does Vivid Picks have an online sportsbook? No. Vivid Seats acquired Betcha Sports in 2021 and rebranded it to Vivid Picks, a Fantasy Pick’em app. It is not a regulated online sportsbook, and Vivid Seats hasn’t announced a sports betting endeavor, at least not yet. 

State-By-State Analysis

Bonus Code

PROPS1

Available In

AK, AR, CA, DC, FL, GA, IL, KY, MN, NC, ND, NE, NM, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VT, WI

Alaska:Legal.
Arkansas:Legal.
California:Legal.
District of Columbia:Legal.
Florida:Legal.
Georgia:Legal.
Illinois:Legal.
Kentucky:Legal.
Minnesota:Legal.
Nebraska:Legal.
New Mexico:Legal.
North Carolina:Legal.
North Dakota:Legal.
Oklahoma:Legal.
Oregon:Legal.
Rhode Island:Legal.
South Carolina:Legal.
South Dakota:Legal.
Texas:Legal.
Utah:Legal.
Vermont:Legal.
Wisconsin:Legal.
Robert Dellafave
Robert DellaFave ran the Advantage Gambling circuit before settling in as an online poker and casino writer in 2008. In 2012 he scored a role with Online Poker Report, first as a writer, then as an editor, eventually graduating to the rank of Managing Editor in 2014.