Gambling in video games

[StaceyPowers]

How do you feel about gambling in video games? Not loot boxes specifically (we have threads on that), but like casino games and such like in GTA Online.

[Withywarlock]

I very much like to gamble, but it's far more fun and safer with fake video game money. I'd rather have that as a safe outlet for my habit than suffer withdrawal symptoms and possibly relapse into going into real money gambling, a problem I've spoken about in threads you mention regarding loot boxes.

If I had to choose my favourite games, farkle from Kingdom Come: Deliverance is an unusual but incredibly fun dice game especially because you can cheat with all manner of collectable die. However for a more conventional game, I can't go wrong with any game's version of Texas Hold 'Em, or bog standard Poker.

[StaceyPowers]

10 minutes ago, Withywarlock said:

I can't go wrong with any game's version of Texas Hold 'Em, or bog standard Poker.

I logged soooo many hours of Texas Hold'Em in Red Dead Redemption 🙂

[Shagger]

I'm not sure I like the idea of discussing this without considering lootboxes in the discussion. Yes, several videogames include simulations of real world gambling that don't involve real money, but that kind of discussion the impact of predatory practices. With some exceptions, like the poker minigame in RDR, Gun, the slots in Fallout New Vegas, there is there's really no reason to include them. Some games include them for thematic reasons, and that's fine, but I just don't trust random chance mechanics in videogames, even when there's no real money involved. Like I said, the possible negative effects should not be desensitizied. That's one way they have roping people in.

[Kane99]

4 minutes ago, Shagger said:

I'm not sure I like the idea of discussing this without considering lootboxes in the discussion. Yes, several videogames include simulations of real world gambling that don't involve real money, but that kind of discussion the impact of predatory practices. With some exceptions, like the poker minigame in RDR, Gun, the slots in Fallout New Vegas, there is there's really no reason to include them. Some games include them for thematic reasons, and that's fine, but I just don't trust random chance mechanics in videogames, even when there's no real money involved. Like I said, the possible negative effects should not be desensitizied. That's one way they have roping people in.

I think the OP is referring to fake gambling in games. Like casinos in open world games. For example GTA V, or even back as far as Vice City and San Andreas had gambling in casinos and stuff. At least I think that's what she is getting at with the topic.

[The Blackangel]

I actually have been learning to play dominoes thanks to RDR2. You can also play blackjack and poker in the game. The poker version is Texas Hole ‘Em I think. I’m not 100% on that though. Granted, the pot is a lot smaller than it would be today, but that’s due to the value of the dollar 120 years ago being higher. Five cents then was like five dollars now.

[Shagger]

1 hour ago, Kane99 said:

I think the OP is referring to fake gambling in games. Like casinos in open world games. For example GTA V, or even back as far as Vice City and San Andreas had gambling in casinos and stuff. At least I think that's what she is getting at with the topic.

 

I don't think you understood my post. Gambling as a form of mini game in larger games may seem harmless in that they don't involve real money, but they achieve legislation and warnings from the the ESRB, PEGI and other such organisations for reasons, reasons such organisations themselves tend to acknowledge, yet strangely and conveniently ignore. Implementing such mechanics can be considered "harmless" by not involving real money, but still imitating the deliberately harmfull and addictive mechanics is rightfully considered dangerous by these ratings boards. However, the same mechanics disguised as random loot drops are currently not taken as seriously by the very same legislative boards. That's why, as gamers, we should not be as comfortable with such policy as we are. Not unless lootboxes and other such mechanics are taken as seriously.

 

So no, with all due respect to @StaceyPowers, I will not engage in this conversation without bringing up monotisation of random loot and item's in video games. It's not right to separate the two topics. That's exactly what ass hole game publishers want.

Edited January 1, 2021 by Shagger

[skyfire]

Lootboxes are also spinned in a way that you can't notice the gambling. Like say they ask you to collect some fragment with daily login, then they open some box on some specific day by taking money from you. They have a lot of such complicated theories.

[Peterlight]

I don't think I will every try anything that deals with gambling not even on video games.

I can't explain how much gamble have destroyed my dreams, I guess it not my way.

[Patrik]

I never liked to take the risk on them to be honest, there used to be in some games i used to play such as sleeping dogs and GTA SA, there also used to be a betting system ( on chickens lol )

[Heatman]

When it comes to gambling with or in video games, it's only football games (soccer) that I try such out with my playing buddies. Other than that, I'm not open to gambling for any reason whatsoever.