Rob McCall has never been the corporate type.
McCall previously worked in the cannabis industry, played high-stakes blackjack tournaments, and most recently launched “The Sharps” app to deliver peer-to-peer sports prediction tournaments. He also created the “Sharp Score” after wondering why no metric existed to measure sports-betting skill.
McCall’s app is unique in that it can be considered a game of skill, a daily fantasy sports game, sweepstakes, or free play.
“We’re probably the first platform that’s completely run and automated by AI, which affords me the ability to be a chameleon no matter where we’re at,” he said.
The Sharps is available on the App Store and Google Play Store in 173 countries and 47 states (free play is the only option in Washington, Nevada, and Kansas). SBC Summit America named McCall as one of its five finalists for startup founders in June.
“I have a free weekly league,” McCall said. “Anybody can come play for free, and I want you to come practice. I want you to try it out. It’s also good for somebody who might not have money to gamble, but still wants to have something in the game to watch and compete. I feel like you should give that to everybody.”
Get to Know Your ‘Sharp Score’
McCall, who currently resides in Phoenix, plans to relocate his operation to Las Vegas. As an avid golfer, he was curious why there was no “handicap” to rate a gambler’s ability.
“The thing about this industry, with the legalization and how it’s just exploded, there’s no way to really check who’s actually good, right?” McCall said. “So, I started to look at what makes a good gambler, sports bettor, or handicapper.”
McCall started working on an algorithm for the “Sharp Score” and has a patent pending on it. He’s contacted the Sports Betting Hall of Fame and major industry players to help get it accredited.
“When people go play and they’re like, ‘Hey, I wanna buy this guy’s picks,’ you can look at his profile and see his performance,” he said. “You can see what he does well, where he’s good, and where he’s not so good. It’s like a credit score. I want to make it universally known and signed off on by the people who matter, not just some random guy who created it.”
How Do Contests Work on The Sharps?
The Sharps offers peer-to-peer sports prediction tournaments over a predetermined time period: daily, 3-day, weekly, and monthlong. The app currently offers contests for MLB, WNBA, NFL, soccer, and international baseball leagues, including the Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. McCall is also preparing to launch private leagues for DFS enthusiasts.
With the NFL season upon us, McCall discussed the specifics of his app’s flagship football tournament.
“Every week, it’s $100 to get in, $10 goes to us to play, and I anticipate somewhat like a lottery effect, right?” he said. “The second that we guarantee $100,000 for a $100 buy-in, I would expect we’re going to have a crazy amount of people the following week.”
For a weekly tournament, here’s the breakdown on bet sizes:
- Days 1, 2 & 3: 25% of your bankroll on any given play is the max
- Days 4 & 5: 50%
- Days 6 & 7: 100%
“I’ve eliminated the ability for one play to win a tournament,” McCall said. “You have to perform over a period of time. I wanted you to prove that you’re good, not just lucky with a parlay.”
Each year, there will also be a bracketed tournament across four majors featuring those with the top-64 sharp scores. In addition to prize money, the winner will be awarded the SMF Belt, a nod to the UFC’s BMF Belt.
An Alternative to Traditional Sportsbooks
McCall said he wants his platform to serve as an alternative to traditional sportsbooks, with a focus on responsible gambling.
“I really think there’s a lot of predatory behavior going on with these bonuses and just milking every dollar they can,” he said. “I’m a player, and I love the sportsbooks, and they’ve done a good job. But the problem for me is I just feel like there’s a lane for people to come in for $10 and get all that week’s worth of action.
“They don’t have to worry about the company they’re going up against or rooting for them to lose. You have an alternative now.”
McCall noted that he also has 10 years of data for every sport offered, which is free to all users.
“I wanted to create an ecosystem where people come to compete, but they also come to get better,” he said.
Lastly, McCall plans to support a non-profit organization in a different state each week. Gamblers Anonymous is a natural fit, but he cited Autism New Jersey as another option after their representatives attended BetBash in Las Vegas earlier this month.
“If they have a cause that they believe in, I’d like to believe in it with them and help who I can,” McCall said. “You know, I came from nothing. I’ve created this life myself, and it’s been a rollercoaster, and I’ve made a lot of mistakes. I know that I wouldn’t be here today if there weren’t people who reached out and helped me. So, I kind of want to return the favor.”
