Skillz Files Lawsuit Against Competitor Voodoo Over False Advertising

Mobile gaming platform Skillz has filed a lawsuit against competitor Voodoo, accusing the company of false advertising to promote its products — specifically Blitz—Win Cash.

Skillz claims that while Voodoo markets its games as offering player-versus-player experiences, players are allegedly being matched against bots instead.

Skillz’s model revolves around social and competitive gaming through:

• tournaments and competitions in games like bingo and yatzy;

• in-platform currencies and real-money prizes;

• a player-driven, skill-based environment.

Its success has inspired competitors to replicate its model, but Skillz argues Voodoo’s tactics cross the line into deception.

Voodoo Allegedly Maximizes Revenues Through Computer Bots

According to Skillz, Voodoo falsely advertises its games as “skill-based” and “fair,” while allegedly deploying computer bots to compete against real players. This setup, the lawsuit claims, maximizes Voodoo’s profits while reducing players’ chances of winning.

Key allegations include:

• the use of algorithms to determine tournament outcomes;

• manipulation of results when real cash is at stake;

• transforming legal skill-based games into illegal gambling.

Skillz asserts that Voodoo’s misleading practices harmed its own business through:

• lost revenue and profits;

• reduced market share;

• a damaged reputation among players.

Voodoo has denied all claims, emphasizing its “no bots allowed” policy and asserting that all matches involve real human opponents.

Not the First Legal Rodeo for Skillz

This isn’t Skillz’s first legal battle with a competitor. Earlier this year, Skillz won a $42.9 million lawsuit against AviaGames over patent infringement.

That case included accusations that AviaGames:

• copied Skillz’s platform with its Pocket7Games app;

• used bots to manipulate game outcomes;

• profited from stolen technology originally shared during a 2016 partnership.

AviaGames is also facing class-action and copyright infringement suits in California. Like Voodoo, it has denied the allegations, describing Skillz as a rival threatened by its success.

The ongoing lawsuit underscores Skillz’s determination to defend its intellectual property and its vision of fair, skill-based gaming — while casting a spotlight on ethical concerns surrounding bot use and transparency in the competitive mobile gaming industry.