Euro 2024. A Montpellier resident launches a money-free prediction application, to “put the supporter back at the center”

Julien Lopez a lancé son application il y a quelques mois. Midi Libre – DORIAN CAYUELA

Fondée par le Montpelliérain Julien Lopez, l’application Golden Cup permet à tous les supporters d’un bar de parier sur le match regardé, sans mettre de l’argent en jeu.

Since the start of the Euro, Julien Lopez's application has caused a sensation, with more than 1,800 players located in the south of France. Established in Toulouse, Castres and Montpellier, the project allows supporters to bet on matches, without putting money at stake, but with a specificity. Unlike the competition, Golden Cup is intended for supporters present in a bar or stadium thanks to its geolocation tool. After downloading the application, you just need to be installed at a partner establishment… hellip; and to predict!

In Montpellier, the game has five bars involved in the project, including O’Sullyvans and The Palace. Two bars which immediately understood the principle, according to the founder of the application Julien Lopez.

Three winners per bar

At each meeting, three winners in each bar. The first to predict the correct score at half-time, the one who bets the correct final score and finally the last one is drawn during a raffle. For rewards, it depends on the participating bar. Some decide to offer pitchers of beer, others charcuterie boards.

The idea appeared before Covid. Julien Lopez, then at the Montpellier Business School, embarked on this project with his friend Hugo Moulet as part of the Sport Business Challenge competition. "The goal was to improve the’ rsquo;fan experience to put the supporter at the center of the game" explains the 27-year-old young man. The two students at the time were then joined by Léo Satgé, Hugo's roommate, specialized in digital marketing.

A project still in progress

The three friends now wish to expand beyond football and rugby. "We are going to try to touch basketball and volleyball for the Olympics", explains Julien Lopez, who works in parallel at the handball club de Frontignan (FTHB). Golden Cup really wants to establish itself in the region before why not becoming the hit of the summer… hellip; Next opportunity to test the application, starting this Monday, during the France-Belgium round of 16 match.