Supporting StackChips is entirely optional and never required to play. Your Gold balance, odds, matchmaking, and everything else about how you play are identical whether or not you support us.
A support payment -- one-time or monthly -- does not purchase or unlock Gold, and does not grant any competitive or economic advantage in any game. It is a gift to help cover running costs (hosting, and yes, dog treats for Loki and Finn), not a purchase of anything in-game.
Monthly support is offered in a few tiers (currently $2.99, $5.99, and $9.99 per month, in the currency Stripe charges you) and renews automatically each month until you cancel. You can cancel at any time from your account; canceling stops future renewals and does not affect a charge already made.
Support payments are processed by Stripe, our payment processor. We never see or store your card details. Payments are final and non-refundable except where required by law, including the current month of a subscription you cancel partway through.