Source: Unsplash
Gambling is
incredibly accessible nowadays, and as a result, more people are giving this
hobby a shot. It’s also true that there is an increase in the number of young
adults playing casino games or betting on sports. As far as younger generations
go they are typically more interested in playing video games and aren’t usually
too interested in casino entertainment. However, they also have nothing to lose
when they come across free spins no deposit casino
Canada
website since the bonus allows them to gamble risk-free. In other words, they
are mostly indifferent to gambling unless it’s poker. Card games have always
been popular, and people of all ages enjoy them.
The reason
why poker is more appealing compared to other content is that it’s more
competitive and exciting. The most popular online video games are also regarded
as esports competitions. Players love that sense of progression and
improvement, and many view gaming as their desired career. That being said,
there are a lot of millennials who just love casual gaming. They only have a
few hours to spare and that’s why online casino Canada websites are perfect. Slots,
blackjack, baccarat, and roulette, are all fast-paced games, and even playing
for 30 minutes makes it a meaningful game session. However, let’s see whether
playing modern AAA titles can also nudge young people towards gambling.
Common
Game Features That Resemble Gambling
Although
most of the games don’t allow players to earn or win money, that doesn’t mean
they are devoid of features that resemble gambling. In fact, there are lots of
mechanics that rely on RNG. For starters, there are the infamous loot boxes
where you can get incredible items or other in-game assets, but you can also
get things that are useless.
It’s very
common for children to buy loot boxes, but sometimes they use their parent's
credit cards without their knowledge. knowing. This obviously creates serious
problems, as kids continue to buy these things until they pull what they want.
It’s a behavior eerily similar to gambling and for many parents a legitimate
reason for concern. Although children become more mature and have a better
understanding of their actions, it’s still possible for games to condition some
behavioral patterns.
The main
reason why loot boxes could pose a problem is that they adjust our expectations
when we are trying to get what we want. Basically, it becomes normal for people
to expect that they just need to keep playing until they get lucky. However,
just because someone is buying loot boxes doesn’t mean they are automatically
becoming a problem gambler. In many cases, this feature is frustrating and even
causes players to quit playing. Gambling problems go a bit deeper, and we are
going to discuss that next.
Problem
Gamblers
The reason
why many are worried about video games leading to gambling is that there is a
risk of developing an addiction or becoming a problem gambler. A small portion
of casino goers or sports betting fans are indeed having problems, and some of
them even struggle with addiction. Problem gambling is when you lack
self-control and often overspend on gambling, but they aren’t necessarily
addicts. Compulsive gambling can be a big issue, and it’s something everyone is
trying to avoid. Much like alcohol addiction, or any kind of addiction really,
it can ruin lives, and cause additional financial problems.
Addiction
has to do with body chemistry, and just because someone does something
excessively it doesn't necessarily mean they are an addict. Many parents think
that their kids have an addiction to gaming, which is rarely the case. More
often than not, excessive gaming could just be a coping mechanism or escapism
gone wrong. Someone is going through something or having a hard time
socializing so they turn to their hobby, or in this case gaming. There is
rarely something about video games that will keep players returning if the game
is no longer interesting. If this was the case, developers wouldn’t need to
constantly add new patches and DLCs.
Casino
games are different though, as they remain the same throughout the years. There
are no new rules to blackjack, roulette, or poker, there are just variations or
slightly different rules. Slots on the other hand have lots of themes and
unique interactions but the core principles are the same. These games have
incredibly high rewards, but they are also the fastest way to lose
money, which
can cause problems for those who are likely to develop an addiction.
With this
in mind, we can argue that it is really unlikely for someone to become a
problem gambler due to playing video games. Still, it’s entirely possible for
games to make the idea of gambling more appealing, or to in a way normalize it.
This is especially true if gambling is introduced as a side feature to a
popular game.
eSports and Skin Betting
Source:
Unsplash
Finally, we
need to go over skin betting. This is a legitimate argument for video games
being a gateway to gambling. People, including kids, who play Counter Strike
Global Offensive actually gambled using in-game assets or cosmetics. Since
these items could be traded, and you could technically get money for them, the
activity was labeled as gambling. The good thing about this activity is that it
allows players to utilize cosmetics or skins that they don’t want and don’t
have any use for them. However, this doesn’t mean these skins don’t have any
monetary value, after all, some of them were obtained through loot boxes that
cost money.
Of course,
the legal system acted on this and necessary steps were taken. So, it’s not
possible to argue that this is just an extension of a video game. It is labeled
as a separate activity and regulated as such; skins are viewed as a virtual
currency.
Another way
how games can lead to betting is through eSports. Many players are following
professional gamers on streaming platforms and other social media. They follow
teams and watch big tournaments. So, some of them feel confident enough that
they can tell who will win.
This is
pretty much why people bet in general, they feel really confident about their
knowledge and speculative accuracy. These things do improve your odds of
winning but at the end of the day, there are so many things that can go wrong
and change the outcome. That being said, this isn’t really a worrisome form of
gambling, as you are likely to limit yourself to the matches or events where
you have meaningful insight.
Conclusion
To sum up,
there are certain instances or certain games that are potentially normalizing
gambling. There were also incidents like skin betting, but these are so rare
that they cannot be used to set a precedent. The gaming industry is very big
and diverse, so it’s more likely to lead to excessive playing or spending too
much time on a PC or console. These are unhealthy habits and legitimate reasons
for concern. As far as gambling goes, it’s important to keep an eye out and pay
attention to problematic features, like loot boxes. They might not lead to
gambling directly, but they are still a form of irresponsible spending.
