Video games and Compulsive gambling

I think you’re on to something, tornsoldier.

I remember playing Championship Manager when I was about 13 years old and I remembered that I couldn’t ever save and leave the game on a losing note. I had to end on a high. A win or creditable draw. I had many an argument with parents as they shouted me to come downstairs but I wouldn’t leave my game until I won.

I’d never really thought of it like that until you mentioned it.

What Xbox / Fifa are you on? I might be up for a match!

The gambling industry invests very, very heavily in IT experts who deliberately design in features to ping the brain and get the addictive chemicals flowing. Very often there's a biggish win right at the start of an addict's career. Too often for coincidence in my view. It would be interesting if someone was inclined to research your theory but I can't say Mr L was ever a video gamer. He managed to all but ruin us without any previous encouragement from fake footie.

I do not think there is a direct connection between gambling industry and video games but I believe they follow the same fundamental idea i.e. to make a person compulsive. As a teenager I got hooked onto Call of Duty, FIFA, p*s. And, if you think about it, in most of these games you have online modes where quite often your progress varies just like it does in a game of roulette. And, similarly to roulette, you can spend more credits/money to advance further. As a young person one is naturally inclined to want to win and boast about it. When that does not happen, you try to play more.

I guess what I am trying to say is there are lot of other products that start s******g our brains up to become compulsive and we do not even realise it. Later, we only need to end up in front of roulette wheel or something similar to suffer actual loss, which frankly hurts real deep.

Heya,

The term for spending money on a loot crate which may contain an item or player you want is “skin gambling” and it is becoming all too common in video games. It capitalises on the competitive nature of some players which is sadly affecting young people. There are several “pay to win” games and the developers are coming under some pretty serious flack for it. Sadly as video games are popular among young people it’s creating problem gamblers in a different way.

Google the terms and read some stories. I came across it when researching gambling addiction and even though I didn’t play video games myself I found it pretty horrifying. Another area of gambling than needs to be regulated but currently it is not seen as severe.

Great thread, interesting topic.

All the best, Abet

http://www.who.int/features/qa/gaming-disorder/en/

WHO recognises it. If you have gaming disorder, you should not go near gambling. That is my opinion.

well hang on because Im heavily into video games and I will first say that paying a few pounds for 10 hours entertainment is excellent value for money and an escape which is not gambling related.

Paying £2 for an older game and really enjoying it is a world away from gambling

However I dont agree with loot purchases or pay to progress phone games but I dont buy those. I am against them and I dont buy them.

Good video games can be highly compulsive buy you dont end up blowing all your wages while playing a AAA title. As a gamer I am very sensible and I really enjoy myself.

I wont have the bad press about them which is usually written by people who dont know anything about video games and stuggled to play one.

The games I play serve my expectation and adrenaline levels in a healthy way and a good game does excite me. Of course its escape but so is watching a film. I am fully in control when playing a console game and find it excellent value for money

So I wont have video games brought into it other than any attempt to introduce gambling into video games.

Best wishes to everyone on the forum

Hi all,

I completely agree with Joydivider........video games (although have changed a lot since my day) represent good value for money. I think people can make their own decision to play “pay to win” games but even then, they are nowhere near as destructive as habitual gambling. Like you cannot spend £3000 down the pub drinking, I doubt many pay that sort of money in an evening buying loot boxes. But then I suppose there can be extremes in some case or over time.

I have to admit I used to play one highly addictive game, cost me the cost of the game and provided me a large amount of entertainment and value for money. Many cite escapism as a reason to gamble. Well playing a video game provides escapism and if you are gaming, you aren’t gambling. Time, money, location triangle broken right there in a healthy way.

I don’t agree with “pay to win” games but spending £20 on hours of entertainment sounds good to me.

Cheers

Abet

Some concerns have been raised about certain gaming mechanics resembling elements of gambling. For example, loot boxes or similar systems offer randomized rewards in exchange for real money or in-game currency.