Effective 2026-11-03 · Version 2026-11-03.1

Gamenook User Agreement

Version 2026-11-03.1. Effective 2026-11-03.

The short version

This summary is here to help you read the agreement. It is not a replacement for it, and the full text below is what you agree to.

  1. Gamenook is for fun. The games are for entertainment only and must not be used for gambling.
  2. We never offer real-money play, prizes or payouts, and we are not responsible for any bet anyone makes outside Gamenook.
  3. Gamenook is not a regulated gaming service. We don't promise that any game, dice roll, shuffle, bot or result is fair or random.
  4. You must be at least 18 to use Gamenook. Guests can join a table without an account; hosting needs one.
  5. Play fair. No cheating, and no bots or outside help when you play against other people.
  6. Pick a decent display name. We check names and may refuse or change one.
  7. In turn-based games, the host's table setting decides whether an expired turn means a forfeit or a bot playing the turn. Turn lengths are the options shown at table setup.
  8. Free accounts have one live game at a time. Paid plans (when we offer them) renew automatically until you cancel where you bought. Store refunds follow store policies and mandatory rights; web refunds are at our discretion except where law requires.
  9. You can delete your account in the web app or, once launched, in the iPhone, iPad and Android apps (Profile, Delete my account). The privacy policy explains what happens to your data.
  10. Sections 17 and 19 cover a liability waiver, mandatory individual arbitration and class-action and jury-trial waivers. You can opt out of arbitration and the class-action and jury-trial waivers by postal mail within the 30-day window in section 19. Starting or joining a game after a prominent agreement link and acceptance notice means acceptance until the read-and-accept flow ships; see sections 2 and 18.

1. Who we are

Gamenook is operated by Spindlecode LLC ("we", "us"). For legal notices, write to Spindlecode LLC, c/o Northwest Registered Agent LLC, 5900 Balcones Drive Suite 100, Austin TX 78731. This is our postal address for legal notices.

"Gamenook" in this agreement means our website, the web app, our iPhone, iPad and Android apps, and the services behind them.

2. Accepting this agreement

Until the read-and-accept flow is available, you accept this agreement when you start or join a game after we have shown you a prominent link to it and told you that continuing means acceptance. Reviewing terms, deleting your account or, when paid plans are available, managing subscriptions does not constitute acceptance. We email account holders at least 14 days before changes take effect; guests receive advance notice in Gamenook (for example when they open the app or visit the site). For accounts created before we publish this version, it takes effect 14 days after we email you. Once the flow ships, new versions require explicit acceptance. If you do not agree, stop using Gamenook. You can still delete your account or contact us through the Support page (non-legal).

Gamenook is for individuals using it for their own entertainment. Organization accounts are not supported.

3. Age

You must be at least 18 years old to use Gamenook.

4. Accounts, guests and signing in

Accounts. You can create an account by signing in with Apple, with Google, or with a sign-in link we email you. We don't store a password for you. You are responsible for keeping your Apple, Google or email account secure, and for what happens under your Gamenook account. An account is for one person; please don't share it.

Guests. If someone invites you to a table, you can join that table as a guest with no account. A guest picks a display name, plays at one table at a time and can't host tables, add friends, buy anything or keep stats. A guest identity lives on the device you used. If you clear the app's data or reinstall it, a guest seat may be lost. We plan to let you link a guest session to an account and keep your guest game history.

Accuracy. Keep the email address on your account current so we can reach you about your account, your games and changes to this agreement.

5. Display names and moderation

Your display name is shown to other players. It must not be offensive, hateful, sexual, threatening, misleading, the name of someone you are pretending to be, or contain personal information such as a phone number or address. We check names automatically when you set them and may also review them later. We may refuse a name, replace it with a neutral one, or suspend an account that keeps choosing names that break this rule. Automatic checks make mistakes in both directions; if we refused a name you think is fine, contact us through the Support page (non-legal).

6. Fair play and acceptable use

Gamenook works only if everyone plays fair. You agree not to:

  • cheat, or use any bug, exploit or modified app to change a game;
  • use a bot, a game engine, analysis software, another person or any other outside help to choose your moves in a game against other people (help tools that Gamenook itself offers, such as the Backgammon coach in games against bots, are fine where we offer them);
  • collude with other players, play several seats at one table, or throw games;
  • stall a game on purpose, or harass, threaten or abuse other players;
  • try to see another player's hidden cards or information, or access another person's account or data;
  • interfere with Gamenook, overload it, probe it for weaknesses, or get around limits such as the live-game limit (for example with throwaway accounts made only for that purpose);
  • copy, scrape, resell or commercially exploit Gamenook or access to it; or
  • use Gamenook for anything illegal, or for gambling (section 9).

Our servers check every online move. A move the server refuses doesn't count. If we believe you broke these rules, we may cancel a game result, remove you from a table, or limit, suspend or close your account (section 15).

7. Playing with friends and with people you don't know

You can play with friends you invite, with guests who have your table's invite link or join code, and with computer players ("bots"). Bots are always labeled as bots. Anyone who has your invite link or join code can take an open seat, so share them only with people you want at your table. While a table is still in the lobby, the host can remove a player from that table.

If we offer tables with people you don't know, the same rules apply, and those tables always have a turn time limit (section 8).

Other players are not our employees or agents, and we aren't responsible for what they say or do. When player reporting is available in the app, you can use it; until then use the Support page (non-legal) to report a player.

8. Turn timers, forfeits and leaving a game

Turn-based games can last days or weeks. The host chooses a turn length from the options shown when the table is set up. At expiry, the host's table setting decides between a forfeit and a bot playing the turn.

We plan to make expired turns in turn-based games a forfeit with no bot taking over, to offer shorter limits and a no-limit option for tables with invited friends, and to offer longer limits on paid plans.

  • Leaving. If you leave a game in progress or are removed for breaking this agreement, you forfeit your seat. Deleting your account deletes games played only against bots, cancels lobbies you host, removes you from other lobbies, and forfeits your seat in games already in progress with other people. Shared game records remain with your identity replaced by Deleted player.
  • Real-time games follow the timing shown at the table.

We may send you reminders when it's your turn (for example by email or push, when those channels are enabled). If we offer reminder controls, you will be able to change them in your settings; until then use the Support page (non-legal) for help with notifications.

9. Entertainment only. No gambling.

This section covers every game in Gamenook, online and offline.

  • For fun only. Gamenook and every game in it are for fun and entertainment only. They are not to be used for gambling.
  • No real money. Gamenook doesn't offer real-money play, wagers, prizes or payouts of any kind. Points, scores, stakes shown on a doubling cube, game results and statistics have no cash value and can't be exchanged for money or anything of value.
  • Bets outside Gamenook are not our business and not our responsibility. If you or anyone else chooses to bet on a Gamenook game outside the game ("out of band"), for example by agreeing a stake with another player, you do so at your own risk. We aren't a party to that bet, we don't know about it, we don't settle or enforce it, and we aren't responsible for it or for any loss that comes from it.
  • Not a regulated gaming service. Gamenook is not a licensed or regulated gambling or gaming service, and it is not tested or certified by any gaming regulator.
  • No guarantee of fairness or randomness. Dice rolls, card shuffles, deals, bot play and game results are produced by software for entertainment. We don't guarantee that any game, dice roll, shuffle, bot or result is fair, random, unbiased or free of errors, and you should not rely on them for anything where money or something else of value is at stake.

10. Free and paid plans

Free. Gamenook is free to play, with limits. A free account can have one live game at a time. A live game is any game in its lobby or in progress, real-time or turn-based, with bots or with people. We may show ads on the free plan in the future; if we do, never during your turn or a live game.

Paid plans. We plan to offer subscriptions. Purchases will be available only through the purchase options shown in Gamenook. The following subscription terms apply when paid plans are available. Paid plans ("subscriptions") remove ads and unlock extras such as more live games at once and longer turn time limits. What each plan includes and its price are shown before you buy. Any trial and its conditions are shown before you enroll.

Where you buy. When paid plans are available, you can buy a subscription in the iPhone and iPad app through Apple's App Store, in the Android app through Google Play, or on the web through our payment processor, Stripe. Your purchase is also governed by the terms of the store or processor you used. We never see or store your full card number.

Automatic renewal. Subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each billing period, at the then-current price, until you cancel. The store or checkout page shows the period and the price before you confirm.

Cancelling. When paid plans are available, cancel where you bought:

  • App Store purchases: in your Apple Account's subscription settings on your device.
  • Google Play purchases: in the Google Play app's subscription settings.
  • Web purchases: from the "Manage subscription" link in your Gamenook account settings.

Cancelling stops the next renewal. You keep your paid features until the end of the period you already paid for.

Refunds. Refunds for App Store and Google Play purchases follow the applicable store policies and mandatory legal rights. Request a refund through the store; where its procedures permit, we may also process a refund. For web purchases, refunds are at our discretion except where law requires. Any cancellation, withdrawal or refund rights that applicable law gives you remain in effect.

Price changes. We may change the price of a plan. We will tell you before a new price applies to your subscription, in the way your store or the law requires, and you can cancel before it does.

Moving down to the free plan. When paid plans are available, if your paid plan ends while you have more live games than the free plan allows, a real-time game already in progress finishes normally. In your turn-based games you can still open and read every game, but you can't make moves until you choose the one game to keep (or subscribe again). The others end for you as if you left them (section 8). If you don't choose within the time the app shows you, we keep the game you played most recently.

Two subscriptions. If you subscribe through two stores at once, you pay for both until you cancel one. We can't cancel an App Store or Google Play subscription for you.

11. Offline play

When available, offline play in the iPhone, iPad and Android apps lets you play some games on your device with no network: alone against bots, or pass-and-play with people next to you. Offline games stay on your device and aren't backed up by us. If you delete the app or its data, they are gone. This agreement, including section 9, applies to offline play too.

12. Availability and changes to Gamenook

We work to keep Gamenook running, but it may be unavailable at times, for example for maintenance, updates or outages, and an online game may be interrupted. We may add, change or remove games, features and plan contents. Sometimes you must update the app to keep playing online. If we materially remove a paid feature during a period you have already paid for, you may request a proportionate refund for the unused affected portion of a web purchase; App Store and Google Play refunds follow their policies and applicable law. If we decide to shut Gamenook down, we will give at least 30 days of notice in the app and by email, unless an urgent legal or security requirement prevents that notice. Mandatory consumer rights still apply.

13. Deleting your account, and your data

You can delete your account in the web app or, once launched, in the iPhone, iPad and Android apps (Profile, Delete my account). When you do:

  • your profile, friends, presets, stats and personal game history are deleted;
  • deleting your account deletes games played only against bots, cancels lobbies you host, removes you from other lobbies, and forfeits your seat in games already in progress with other people. Shared game records remain with your identity replaced by Deleted player; and
  • deleting your account does not cancel a subscription. Cancel it through the store or payment service where you bought it before deleting your account.

When you accept through the in-app flow, once it ships, we will keep proof of your acceptance after account deletion: the agreement version, content hash and acceptance date, stored under a protected code derived from your account identifier. We will retain that proof only as long as reasonably necessary to resolve disputes, enforce this agreement or meet legal obligations, then delete it. Some other records are kept after deletion for a limited time or where the law requires it (for example sales records for tax purposes, a deletion record and handle hold, and backups and operational copies), as the privacy policy describes. Our privacy policy at https://gamenook.ai/privacy.html explains what we collect, why, how long we keep it and your rights.

14. Our content and yours

Ours. Gamenook, its software, artwork, card designs, boards, sounds, rules screens, names and logos belong to us or to our licensors. We give you a personal, non-transferable, revocable permission to use Gamenook for your own entertainment, under this agreement. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell or reverse engineer Gamenook except where the law allows it.

Some games in Gamenook are traditional games whose rules nobody owns. Our versions of them, and our original games, are ours.

Yours. The content you give us is your display name, handle, avatar, preset names and game moves. You allow us to use them to run Gamenook, for example to show your name to other players at your table and to replay and check games. This permission continues for moves in games shared with other players after you delete your account.

App stores. If you use our iPhone or iPad app, Apple is not a party to this agreement and is not responsible for the app or its support; Apple's standard terms for apps also apply. Apple has no obligation to provide maintenance or support for the app. Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of this agreement and may enforce it against you. Apple's Standard EULA governs the app license; this agreement governs the service and supplements that EULA. If they conflict regarding the app license, Apple's Standard EULA controls. If you use our Android app, Google is not a party to this agreement and is not responsible for the app or its support; Google Play's terms also apply. This agreement supplements mandatory store terms.

15. Suspension and termination

You can stop using Gamenook at any time and delete your account (section 13).

We may limit, suspend or close your account, or remove you from a game, if you break this agreement, if the law requires it, or to protect other players or Gamenook. Where it is reasonable and safe, we will tell you why and give you a chance to respond. Refunds are handled under section 10, including any rights the law requires. Sections 9, 13 (record retention), 14, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 keep applying after your account ends.

16. Disclaimers

Gamenook is provided "as is" and "as available". To the extent the law allows, we make no promises about Gamenook beyond those written in this agreement, including any promise that it will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or that game outcomes are fair or random (section 9). Nothing in this agreement limits rights you have under consumer law that can't be limited by contract.

17. Waiver of liability claims

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree to waive all liability claims against Spindlecode LLC arising from your use of Gamenook, including claims for direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special or punitive damages, lost data, lost games or lost profits, whether based on contract, negligence or another legal theory. THIS INCLUDES CLAIMS CAUSED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY SPINDLECODE LLC'S OWN ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE.

This waiver does not apply to fraud, gross negligence, willful misconduct, or any liability or right that a statute or other applicable law does not allow to be waived. This waiver does not affect the refunds and rights in sections 10 and 12. Some places do not allow some limits; where that is so, those limits apply only as far as the law allows. Each part of this waiver is separate: if any part is invalid or unenforceable, the remaining parts continue to apply to the fullest extent permitted by law.

18. Changes to this agreement

This agreement has a version number, shown at the top. When we change it, we publish a new version with a new number and tell you what changed in plain words.

  • Once the in-app read-and-accept flow ships, you must read and explicitly accept each new version before you can start or join another game, or make online moves after signing in. Games already in progress are not interrupted: real-time games can finish, and turn-based games can continue for 30 days after the new version takes effect before acceptance is needed for further moves. Your turn deadline still applies.
  • Typo fixes (spelling, punctuation, formatting or broken links that don't change what the agreement means) keep the version number and get a new revision number. You don't need to accept them again.
  • Every version stays available. Past versions and a list of what changed in each are published at https://gamenook.ai/terms.html#changes.
  • If you don't agree to a new version, stop using Gamenook; you can sign out, delete your account or contact us through the Support page (non-legal). Once the flow ships, use alone does not replace explicit acceptance of a new version.

Until the flow is available, acceptance follows section 2. Every change other than a typo fix gets a new version, including before the flow ships. Sign-in is never refused for missing acceptance; you can sign in to review terms, delete your account or, when paid plans are available, manage subscriptions.

19. Disputes and governing law

Texas law governs this agreement, without its conflict-of-laws rules, except that the Federal Arbitration Act governs this arbitration agreement. Mandatory consumer protections that apply where you live remain in effect.

Binding individual arbitration. Except for the exceptions below, you and Spindlecode LLC agree to resolve disputes arising from Gamenook or this agreement through mandatory binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules. The rules and filing information are available at adr.org. The arbitration is legally based in Austin, Texas, but hearings follow the consumer rules. As an individual, you may choose a hearing by video or a decision based on documents where the rules allow; any in-person hearing location must comply with the consumer rules and applicable law. We pay the fees those rules require the company to pay. The arbitrator may award the individual remedies available under applicable law. If AAA declines to administer a dispute, either party may bring it in a court with jurisdiction.

Court exceptions. Either side may bring an individual claim in small-claims court if it qualifies and stays there. Either side may seek injunctive relief in court to protect intellectual property or stop misuse of Gamenook. Nothing here prevents seeking public injunctive relief or another remedy that applicable law does not allow to be restricted to individual arbitration.

Class-action and jury-trial waiver. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, YOU AND WE AGREE TO BRING CLAIMS ONLY INDIVIDUALLY, AND WAIVE PARTICIPATION IN CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTIONS AND A JURY TRIAL. If the class-action waiver is held unenforceable for a claim, that claim proceeds in court and not in arbitration. We do not agree to class arbitration. Any claim or remedy that cannot lawfully be arbitrated individually may proceed in court; remaining claims remain subject to individual arbitration where enforceable. If mandatory arbitration or the class waiver is not allowed where you live, those limits apply only as far as your local law requires. If any other part of this section is unenforceable, the rest remains effective to the fullest extent permitted by law. These rules control over section 20.

A change to the arbitration terms does not apply to a dispute that arose, or that we had written notice of, before the change takes effect.

30-day opt-out. You may opt out of arbitration and the class-action and jury-trial waivers by sending a written notice to Spindlecode LLC, c/o Northwest Registered Agent LLC, 5900 Balcones Drive Suite 100, Austin TX 78731. Send your notice within 30 days after the later of (a) the date this agreement first applies to you (including after any 14-day advance email period for existing accounts) and (b) the first time we clearly notify you of this agreement in Gamenook. Creating an account does not shorten an existing opt-out period. A prior valid opt-out remains effective. Include your name, the email address or other identifier for your Gamenook account (or guest identity), and a clear statement that you opt out. A notice postmarked within the 30 days is timely. Opting out does not affect your use of Gamenook or the rest of this agreement.

For matters not arbitrated, the state or federal courts in Travis County, Texas have exclusive venue, except where applicable law requires otherwise or an eligible small-claims case is brought in another court with jurisdiction. You and we consent to those courts’ jurisdiction. Before starting a formal dispute, please write to our legal-notice address so we can try to resolve it; this request does not delay your opt-out deadline or any filing deadline.

20. General

If a court finds part of this agreement unenforceable, the rest stays in force. Severability does not require a court to rewrite an invalid provision. If section 17 is unenforceable for a claim, that claim remains subject to section 19 where enforceable. If we don't enforce a part of it right away, we can still enforce it later. You can't transfer your account or this agreement to someone else. We may transfer it to a company that takes over Gamenook, and we will tell you if that happens. This agreement and the terms of the store or processor you buy through are the whole agreement; the privacy policy explains how we handle data.

21. Contact

For legal questions or notices, write to Spindlecode LLC, c/o Northwest Registered Agent LLC, 5900 Balcones Drive Suite 100, Austin TX 78731. This is our postal address for legal notices.

For non-legal support, including a refused name or player report, visit the Support page.

Permanent page for version 2026-11-03.1 · What changed

Agreement source and content hash

Pinned Markdown source

SHA-256: 49173044fd75cc055a6653553cd3678d44042fa0534148b7280137e738282c66

What changed: 2026-11-03.1

Published. Effective 2026-11-03. This is the first published agreement, replacing the interim terms. Earlier working drafts were never in force.

  • Players must be at least 18; Gamenook is for individual entertainment only, with no gambling, real-money play, prizes or payouts.
  • Identifies Spindlecode LLC and its registered-agent postal address for legal notices.
  • Uses Texas law and individual AAA consumer arbitration, with a 30-day written opt-out, small-claims and injunction exceptions, and severable class-action and jury-trial waivers.
  • Waives liability claims to the fullest extent permitted by law, preserving claims and consumer rights the law does not allow to be waived.
  • Store refunds follow store policies and mandatory rights; web refunds are discretionary except where law requires. Explains subscription cancellation, feature removal and shutdown notice.
  • Until the in-app read-and-accept flow ships, starting or joining a game after a prominent agreement link and acceptance notice constitutes acceptance. Account holders receive email notice at least 14 days ahead; guests receive notice in Gamenook. Once the flow ships, new versions require explicit acceptance and existing turn-based games have a 30-day grace period.
  • Describes future acceptance-proof retention after account deletion, without claiming that the planned flow already exists.
  • Clarifies the express ordinary-negligence waiver, gross-negligence exception and preserved refund rights; makes waiver and jury-trial language prominent.
  • Protects preexisting disputes from arbitration changes, clarifies local-law limits and court fallback, and starts the postal opt-out window from the later of applicability and clear in-app notice, preserves existing opt-outs and prevents account creation from shortening the window.

  • Matches current timeout and deletion behavior; identifies guest linking, offline play, paid plans and ads as planned or available later. Adds Google and Apple acknowledgments.

  • Clarifies lobby-only removal, conditional reminder controls, deletion outcomes, shared-move permissions and the effective date for existing accounts. Publication gates cover guest change notices, store licensing and future subscription disclosures.

  • Clarifies limited record retention, native deletion availability and the privacy policy’s explanatory role. Publication gates cover native acceptance notices and gameplay privacy declarations.