Sweepmate, a real-money, pool-based prediction app, has launched in the UK with the ambition of filling the void created by the departure of daily fantasy sports specialist DraftKings, which closed its UK operation in October 2024.
After being awarded its UK Gambling Commission license in March of this year, Sweepmate is making its big match debut by offering Premier League predictions, with more sports and events planned down the line.
The app describes itself as a “sweepstake with a twist” and is available to download on both iOS and Android.
DraftKings launched in the UK in 2016 with its US-style daily fantasy sports offering, but exited eight years later to “optimise its business”.
It is one of the leading sportsbooks in the US and in the company’s recent Q3 2025 earnings call, co-founder Jason Robins confirmed its sports prediction markets offering was launching soon.
How Does Sweepmate Work?
Sweepmate is a pool-based game which combines the elements of a traditional sweepstake, with fantasy sports and trading.
Players pick three teams with the aim of predicting who will finish a gameweek in first, fourth and last place.
The total prize pool is divided among successful players on the following basis:
- 50% of the prize pool is awarded to the team finishing first.
- 20% of the prize pool goes to the team who finished fourth.
- 30% is allocated to the team which finishes in last place.
The table resets at the end of every matchweek/’Sprint’ and players can trade teams which is known as ‘Sweeping’.
Because of the table reset each week, the Sweepmate model does not reflect the official FA Premier League table.
The game’s unique ranking method incorporates goal difference, goals scored, shots on and off target, and red and yellow cards.
Match data is supplied by SportRadar and Sweepmate is not a bookmaker and does not take positions on outcomes.
The Sweepmate Story So Far
From the first 11 gameweeks in the 2025-26 Premier League season there have been nine different leaders in Sweepmate’s weekly tables, plus nine different teams finishing fourth and eight occupying last place.
Both West Ham and Leeds have managed to secure a top-place weekly finish so far, as well as finding themselves adrift at the bottom during different Sprints.
Late goals have become a feature in determining the money-winning positions.
In gameweek eight, which ran from October 18 to 20, fourth place was only confirmed in the 90th-minute of the Monday night game when Mathias Jensen secured Brentford’s 2-0 win at West Ham.
Applying Sweepmate’s mechanic to each gameweek last season, Tottenham would have had the joint-most top of the table finishes in Streetmate while underperforming spectacularly in the real-world Premier League, eventually finishing in 17th place.
Sweepmate’s Founders
Sweepmate is the brainchild of Lloyd Bidder, an art director at one of the Big Four accountancy firms, and Johnny Barnes, the founder of soft drinks company Soho Juice Co.
Barnes said: “The ambition is to fill the void that Draftkings have left with a novel, original game.
“The format can apply across almost any sports and entertainment event, from the Euros to Eurovision.
“Sweepmate is simple: pick three teams and if they finish first, fourth or last then you win. No new teams are minted 90 minutes before kick-off so there’s a great scarcity value and you can buy or sell teams during the gameweek.
“Sweepmate is not a bookie as we don’t set odds or take a position.
“Because we’re a pool-based game, we want people to win and we try to provide as much information as possible to players.
“We pride ourselves on customer service and offer free weekly preview and review shows as well as a complimentary concierge service.
“Our goal is to create a product that keeps fans engaged right across the weekend, whether their favourite club is winning or not.
“It’s about adding an extra layer of excitement to the Premier League and giving players a reason to stay invested in every result.”
