What's your opinion on gambling in video games?

[Perkilator]

It's no secret that gambling is pretty controversial with video games (especially in the age of loot boxes). Opinions on the matter are usually negative once real life money gets involved. What's your opinion on this?

In my honest opinion, gambling should be reduced to in-game currency, and ONLY in-game currency (and even then, it'd be best to avoid displaying it as a real-life slot machine).

 

[StrangeKitten]

I'm fine with it as long as in-game currency is involved. I think getting rid of the Game Corner entirely in Pokemon wasn't a great move, because there's a lot they could have done in its stead, like making the Game Corner less slot machines and more of an arcade.

I hate loot boxes and gacha stuff in general, but especially if it costs real money. That's a predatory practice that I hope gets phased out someday

 

[Deleted member]

I personally think at it’s core it’s fine.(coming from a card game nerd who is familiar with how lootboxes work)

It’s when companies try to extract the most amount of money possible(either by making gambling part of the gameplay or locking items in $60 games behind massive paywalls or grinding) that’s when I start to take offense.

 

[Lenidem]

I have no problem with in-game currency gambling. Take the slot machine from Smash Bros. Melee : I see this as totally harmless.

It's a bit different with lootboxes and when it becomes time-consuming, like in Hyrule Warriors, when you have to kill a bunch of foes in hope that they will drop the rare item you need to upgrade a character. I don't like that because it takes long, it's repetitive, and unpredictable. But I see no real harm in it, and that's not exactly "gambling".

 

[Noncommunistuser]

RNG sucks and if you're taking people's money (CS:GO keys) you need to stop.

 

[Etheus Rook]

With ingame currency only, it's really fun. Xenoblade Chronicles 2's blades are great fun to draw. Randomized rewards are inherently exciting and they provide a motivation to keep playing. Paid lootboxes exploit that.

Paid for gambling in games is unacceptable. Period.

 

[DrCoeloCephalo]

Yo-Kai Watch and Disc Creatures have gambling elements in them and they also are only restricted to ingame items and money. It helps shake up the experience and playthrough a bit more.

Team Fortress 2 is more or less gambling every time you use a purchased key on a box no different from ingame gashapon machines in mobile games and I hate how money grubbing it is.

 

[Oracle Link]

I think its Ridicouls that pokemon censour fake Gambling (that isnt even luck based) in the Mainline
But has multiple Gacha Games like the TCG and the Handy Games

 

[Janx_uwu]

I mean, if people want to get rid of loot boxes and gacha games, we should get rid of lotteries and casinos, too. It's only fair.
You're not being forced to spend money or anything. If you spend upwards of hundreds of dollars on a video game gambling system, that's YOUR problem, YOUR addiction.
I will admit that it can be scummy at times-Battlefront 2 (the most recent one) is a great example. But honestly, the only reason I got mad at that is because it's a fully priced video game, one that made no announcement of microtransactions before its release. If this was a free-to-play mobile game I would have no problem with it.

 

[Deleted member]

There are some games like Overwatch where it's just cosmetic stuff which IMO is fine. Need to pay server costs and fees anyway and it's not really a big deal if you can't afford to buy the cool and hip new skin.


Now games which have p2w lootboxes? yeah no gtfo here. most MMORPG's fall into this category, along with most tcg digital games like Duel Links(and is arguably the worst offender)

 

[Doc Monocle]

Personally, I think in-game gambling with game currency is equivalent to in-game gambling or real gambling with real currency.

For me, it is not the risky exchange of money that makes them harmful, but the practice of staking one's financial well-being, responsibilities, and health on the outcome of a game, especially when the outcome is predominantly against you, as it exploits your determination to 'get something' out of it by forcing you to expend more resources for a positive outcome that you may not be satisfied with than will likely be compensated by playing the game for an extended period. In general, to know if something is good or bad, we must ask whether it is helpful or harmful in the long term.

Gambling with fake currency only encourages the habit, and expends one's time, which, when you think about it, amounts to REAL money, though you are not cognizant of that while playing.

 

[shinhed-echi]

I don't have a problem with gambling in games, as long as they don't make them addicting for free. If they have some sort of danger to them, it's all good.

There's always an in-game consequence. For example in DQ, if you lose it all, grinding the money back is going to be long and painful. Your whole journey halts to a stop since you'll have to grind for money to buy equipment, or levels to make up for the lack of equipment.

In Sonic 2's Casino Night you could hit the 10 minute time limit and die, or run out of rings nearby if you lose them.


Just to name the only examples I know of.

 

[Oracle Link]

Personally, I think in-game gambling with game currency is equivalent to in-game gambling or real gambling with real currency.

For me, it is not the risky exchange of money that makes them harmful, but the practice of staking one's financial well-being, responsibilities, and health on the outcome of a game, especially when the outcome is predominantly against you, as it exploits your determination to 'get something' out of it by forcing you to expend more resources for a positive outcome that you may not be satisfied with than will likely be compensated by playing the game for an extended period. In general, to know if something is good or bad, we must ask whether it is helpful or harmful in the long term.

Gambling with fake currency only encourages the habit, and expends one's time, which, when you think about it, amounts to REAL money, though you are not cognizant of that while playing.

Problem is that you gamble in basicly every Rpg having Luck based things in a Game is just Neccesary and there arent really any Ways to regulate it

For example Replacing the Gamble Houses in Pokemon with Arcades can still be Regarded as Gambling

But i hope we all atleast agree that every Real Money Gambling in a Game and Microtansactions should make a Game Adults only or 18+ to be more specific

 

[Doc Monocle]

Problem is that you gamble in basicly every Rpg having Luck based things in a Game is just Neccesary and there arent really any Ways to regulate it

For example Replacing the Gamble Houses in Pokemon with Arcades can still be Regarded as Gambling

But i hope we all atleast agree that every Real Money Gambling in a Game and Microtansactions should make a Game Adults only or 18+ to be more specific

If someone exercises restraint and discernment, then I am not admonishing them for playing a game featuring gambling. I am only concerned for those who do not exercise restraint. Such games can be very absorbing, and if the player has difficulty controlling themselves; if they are given to fixation with gambling, the games can be dangerous, as they promote a lifestyle that is detrimental to those prone to compulsive gambling. It is all about the individual and their safety, which is never invulnerable to the temptations of life, regardless of age.

Since game companies are only concerned with the marketability of their product, they are not going to filter content to accommodate the susceptibility of specific persons, and so the vulnerable consumer is always under attack. Also, if they lack will power, they can be inextricably tangled up in an addiction to gambling (though a video game is not needed for this to happen), at which point, they must have outside or institutional help, and they are further caught up in a system that has them branded for life.

There are so many ways a person can have a sad end, and I believe the merchant selling any media should at least consider this. However, that would be too much to hope for in an imperfect world, so we can only help each other on the personal level. That said, enough emphasis cannot be made on the power of visual, and especially interactive media.

 

[francisbaud]

I think gambling in games is closely related to RNG loots and loot boxes. They all rely on randomness to decide whether a player will receive a benefit or not. If the goal is to prevent addiction, I think it would be beneficial that randomness would be reduced to a minimum in games. I'm aware however that some games are fundamentally based on RNG (e.g. D&D).

 

[Etheus Rook]

I've heard ridiculous arguments that if paid-for lootboxes are gambling, then violence in games should also be censored.

Here's the thing. Video game violence is simulated violence. Paid lootboxes are not simulated gambling - they just are gambling. Simulated gambling would be the ingame free casinos in Pokemon and Dragon Quest. Actual non-simulated violence in video games would be if I could physically punch my actual real world opponent in the face through their television screen during a round of Smash Bros.; I don't think VR technology has quite gotten to that point yet.

 

[Legibokin]

A video game with gambling inside is just an incredible donation dump.

 

[RileyXY1]

For me, it's fine as long as it does not impact the player in the real world. So something like Pokemon's Game Corner is fine because it only affects the game world, but things like loot boxes are not because they use real money and actually give people benefits for spending real money. Mobile games are especially infamous for this.

 

[MarcusCollins]

Actually, I love betting and gambling, especially in games. It brings me so much joy you know!

 

[Oracle Link]

I think we have 2 bots here? Only 1 Post that is advertesing normal GAmbling o hell no!

 

[Zakyyn]

tbh it depends on who the game is intended for like if its for kids then it aint ok and if its for an older audience its acceptable if its free because its just time wasted but in general gambling in games is just another cheap way of getting rich quick at the cost of reeal life lives who are at stake and can carry over those habits to the real world

tldr:its okay in small amounts for older audiences but not for kids

 

[Diddy Kong]

With in game currency? Great. I do a lot of stupid **** in games I don't do in real life anyway. So why not?

 

[custisr992]

You've got a point! Gambling in games can be fun when it's limited to in-game currency and not tied to real money. It keeps the gaming experience pure and doesn't exploit players. Let's keep the games about skill and enjoyment, not chance and risk. Moreover, I prefer betting on SFTC WNBA picks. What about you?

 

[FazDude]

In-game currency is fine (my coin count in NSMBDS’s casino minigames is absurd), but once you start tying it to real money it becomes just as harmful and addictive as real-life gambling IMO.

 

[KneeOfJustice99]

I think I'm inclined to agree with the general consensus here. Gambling in the "real world" is harmful mostly because of the stakes involved and the financial consequences of addiction, and I do think this becomes more problematic when the in-game currency is purchased with real-world currency... but when it's purely in-game currency divorced from real-world currency, it can become a pretty fun gameplay experience. That being said, I think it's important to consider the audience you're marketing to - Luigi's casino minigames in New Super Mario Bros. is pretty fair for younger kids, for instance.

Though, whilst not related to ethics, I will say that gambling can really easily become a pretty grating game mechanic, especially when it's required as a method of progression (such as through gathering a certain amount of in-game currency, like in Shenmue III.) If you're going to put it in your game, actually make it fun, and keep things ethical - avoiding real-world currency like the plague.

 

[SirroMinus1]

As long as it does not interfere with you Real Life funds. I think it's fine. But when people trying to dig into your actual pocket. The least you can do is not market it towards children

 

[Deleted member]

I personally never really cared for the Game Corner in the Pokémon games, at it feels like I have nothing but bad luck when trying those slot machines and/or Voltorb Flip.

 

[nirvanafan]

Im a weird case, my experience with loosing all my in-game money gambling in older games with no ties to real world money taught me i should really stay away from real world gambling.

I do play Fire Emblem Heroes though now which does have gatcha & purchasable in-game currency (orbs). Currently i think the way the handle getting new units now is fine. It costs 160-200 orbs to get the unit you want & with gatcha you can maybe get lucky & spend less or get extra units. You also get enough free orbs to pretty much always guarantee you can get your most wanted each month. My only complaint is that this should be the case for re-runs & nothing like this should be locked behind their subscription pass. Thats just my personal opinion though & i do understand, especially if you try to play competitively, some people may still have a hard time even with this system. Though i guess i just fear the alternative would be something like overwatch 2 skins.

 

[Venus of the Desert Bloom]

This thread seems to be a magnet for bots who are created to advertise gambling sites which makes sense considering "keywords". Usually, our filters are good at catching most bots (save for Chinese ones) but these not only slip through our filters but also post in a thread that isn't particularly active hence why one of the posts that was advertising a gambling site went overlooked for more than a month. Please do your part and report any possible advertising posts. I will keep a watch on this thread but, even so, my time is limited so please make sure to report.

 

[JamesCombs]

If only in-game currency is allowed, then why not? Sometimes, I play such games and don't see anything bad.
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