It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
According to an article in the May 2013 issue of Gameinformer "... it appears inevitable that online gambling in video games is the next revenue frontier." Right now this form of gambling is banned in the United States. Lobbying groups, ie the American Gaming Association (the devil), are lobbying to legalize this form of gambling. Believe it or not, they are lobbying to legalize all forms of gambling including sports betting. In 2004 the US video game industry was worth 10.4 Billion. In 2012 the US gambling industry raked in AT LEAST 30 Billion from just its top , the actual figure is probably closer to 100 Billion.
Fifty years ago gambling was illegal everywhere except Nevada. Now it's only illegal in Hawaii and Utah. Almost every single state has more gambling being added (casinos, lotteries, etc). Their purpose is to generate revenue for the state and federal government. The industry and the government then makes lots of money. They say this money will go to schools and social programs. This is almost never the case. Every state that has added casinos to help their local economies have not increased funding for their schools.
What DOES happen is people lose everything they have. It's not isolated. There are 8 million Americans who at least can not keep up with their bills due to gambling. Some of them are MILLIONS in debt. Many of them turn to robbery, bankruptcy, suicide, murder, divorce, etc. Expanding gambling does nothing except create more of these people who are a liability to society.
Would you be OK with playing a game online that takes your money of pays you based on whether you score or get a kill? Maybe it's $10 for a single thing you do. Maybe you bet $100 on the game. Maybe you bet $1000 on winning and the enemy getting 0 kills or 0 points. There will be no end to how much you can lose once you start.
I am interested to see if the gaming industry and its players will allow and want for this to happen.
Edit: search youtube for "Stop Predatory Gambling"
Comments
Everyone think their in control of their betting until they've lost everything. No one started gambling saying "I'm going to lose everything."
So you are for more than 8 Million Americans losing everything?
False.
Some people do have problems with gambling. aka addiction.
TSW - AoC - Aion - WOW - EVE - Fallen Earth - Co - Rift - || XNA C# Java Development
The magazine article was about video game gambling in America. Like you said, it's already legal elsewhere.
How can you compare a mass murderer to a gambler?
Freedom has NOTHING to do with gambling. Being exploited economically has nothing to do with freedom. Freedom is being responsible to ourselves. I don't know where you live but where I live I can't open a newspaper or drive down the highway without looking at gambling. Each place I look tells me I will be a winner. I know the reality is that EVERYONE who gamblers long term is a loser. The gambling industry lies, cheats, and steals. Cigarette manufacturers have to label their products as deadly. Alcohol containers have warnings and you always see "drink responsibly." The gambling industry preys on people and has no remorse. It's exploitation, not freedom.
But it is not just addiction we are talking about. It's exploitation of these people by federally regulated programs. The government, sworn to serve the people, is exploiting these people will gambling.
Going to a shady place and gambling is a whole different story.
I'm not one for gambling with RL cash, but I wouldn't stand in the way of someone else's right to take part in it if they enjoy it.
"Expanding gambling does nothing except create more of these people who are a liability to society."
"There will be no end to how much you can lose once you start."
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
Gambling implies the chance to lose. I have no remorse for people who fall prey to it. Some obese people have food addictions, but I still hold them accountable for actually putting the food in their mouth in the first place.
I can ask and argue with it...
Again, no one is getting it. You're GUARANTEED to lose if you play long term. THERE IS NO CHANCE! It's also state sponsored. The fast food industry has to label their product with nutritional information. The gambling industry LIES and is not transparent at all with their product.
Why?
In my OP I meant to say "stop predatory gambling", not "stop problem gambling."
Most people know that gambling vast sums of money is... a gamble. The saying, "The house always wins" exists for a reason, and most people understand why. So, basically, you'll be fine with gambling if they say something like...
WARNING: Compulsive gambling can lead to losing everything you have ever owned.
I'm fine with that, but it's not going to stop people from gambling away everything they own just like nutrition information isn't going to stop a food addict from eating awful food.
If advertising for everything else is regulated, what makes you think that advertising for gambling wouldn't be?
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
Because it destroys lives. Because it provides nothing in return. Because it is disproportionately affects the poor. Because it breeds social disorder. Because it ruins families.
It has nothing to do with morals. It has to do with not allowing more lives to be ruined.
Look at their ads..... Everyone of them says the same thing. "You'll be a winner!" But NO ONE is.
Most people who start gambling start small. They win and think they are good. They bet more money to win more. They win. They bet even more. Eventually they lose and keep betting big and keep losing. No one starts out with vast sums from the start.
I would like a warning like that. It will stop more people from ruining their lives, although it wont help those already affected.
Bullshit. People are ultimately responsible for their actions. Gambling, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, tobacco use, obesity, etc. aren't afflictions or diseases. They're personal decisions, or the consequences thereof.
Just because some people have problems with gambling doesn't mean it should be banned for everyone who chooses to enjoy it responsibly as well. Same goes for fast food, alcohol, soda, lawn darts, etc.
It's ridiculous how many people worldwide are blaming their mistakes on everyone BUT themselves, then calling for Big Brother to protect them from their own stupidity and poor judgment. It's very much a, "If I can't have it, no one will!", attitude.
It's a sad day indeed when a family is too afraid of reprisals to publicly thank somebody for saving their lives.
What video game gambling ads or US gambling ads are you referring to that say this?
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
In Hawaii there are lots of underground gambling places. Bad things happen in them. But that's a whole different story than state sponsored robbery.
The positives are a small amount of money captured by the state and some petty jobs.
There are no ads for video game gambling yet. I'm talking about ads for any other form of gambling.
Even with a small sum of money the risk of losing it all is pretty much implied. I don't think a warning like that would do much at all. Warnings haven't really done much to slow down the sale of cigarettes. Nutrition information on McDonalds hasn't really slowed down business. Education is the best prevention. Not some arbitrary warning that the majority of people will outright ignore.
That's the problem I have with the OP's stance here, however I think I've come to the end of my interest in this thread as it seems he is only here to warn us and not to actually discuss the topic.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
Which is why the question asked "or US gambling ads", and with that you've proven you're either extremely obtuse or just plain trolling. Have a great night. o/
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
A child's life being destroyed from having gambling addicts for parents is balanced?
Fast food, alcohol, etc, are all labeled and advertised more appropriately. Also, obesity on the scale we are seeing it is only a recent development. It didn't exist on this scale before because society couldn't provide for that many people to be obese. It's a societal problem as well as a personal one.