April 25, 2014 | Read Time: 2 minutes
A new website created by the co-author of Freakonomics allows donors to combine support for their favorite charities with online gambling.
For a small fee (say, $1 or $5), Spin for Good allows people to enter online slots or blackjack tournaments. The winner’s take then goes to a charity the player chooses from a list of more than two dozen organizations that have struck partnerships with the site. (Participation for nonprofits is free.)
Current partners include the Against Malaria Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, and Barks of Love Animal Rescue & Placement Services. Although the numbers so far, are relatively small—about 1,000 players have donated some $3,000 to charities on the site—the founders see potential for rapid growth.
“What we’re really trying to do is create a gaming experience that’s really fun and engaging and just can be a rival to other social games that are out there—except on our site you’re playing for real money,” says Amee Kamdar, who launched Spin for Good in December with Steven Levitt, co-author of the best-selling Freakonomics.
While online gambling for personal gain is illegal in most states, many companies make money running social games by charging for access to higher levels of the game or other benefits. The idea for Spin for Good was born when Mr. Levitt argued that this money would be better spent on charity.
Ms. Kamdar, who has worked as a fundraising consultant with the Greatest Good, also notes that traditional fundraising methods are often costly, and Spin for Good might help drive down those costs for participating charities.
“Our hope is that this can supplement and help grow the pie of charitable fundraising but do it in a much more cost-effective way than direct mail,” she says.
Ms. Kamdar says that in the next two months, she and her staff will further develop the site so it is accessible on mobile devices. Shortly thereafter, Spin for Good should be available through social networks like Facebook. More games will be added, she says.
