Video games are fun, no doubt, and they may seem harmless, but studies have shown a link with gambling. For example, video games can quickly progress to online gaming for money and, consequently, gambling. Studies show that about 40% of young people play video games with gambling components. However, while these games are mostly targeted at young people since they play them more, anybody can fall victim.
India has a great gaming boom, with cultural narratives, technical prowess, and creativity merging to develop exciting video games. Local talents even make these video games, and they’ve gotten global recognition – and been linked with gambling.
What Gambling in Video Games Looks Like
The majority of the most popular video games in recent years have a feature embedded in them that promotes gambling. To many game enthusiasts, video games are less fun when there is no prize to the game than when there is no competition to keep it going.
Below are representations of gambling-simulated video games:
● Loot Boxes
Loot boxes are virtual boxes that players can buy within a game with a computer or real money. These boxes have the potential for getting digital weapons and other aids to increase the chances of winning. The connection between these and making predictions is that it requires no skills; players only get the luck of the draw.
The cost is more significant and can increase when you use real money. So, while some use the bonuses they provide to test, others put real money, hoping that they get things right and win more from it.
● Andar Bahar
The andar bahar online cash game is one of the most loved card games in India. That is why it is not surprising that you will find it on every online gaming platform. It allows you to win cash by understanding how cards work, and you can play with an opponent or with the computer.
● Virtual Goods like Character Upgrades or Weapons
These video games let you buy or earn digital goods or trade them in the game. They also provide opportunities to trade them online for real money. The advantage of this game is that it improves your economic and management abilities. Before choosing a good character upgrade, or weapon, you would have to scan through the many options available and choose the best for your game.
● Social Casino Games
Social Casino Games work like the games in a casino, except that you don’t play for money. These are slightly different from games in a casino because you win points or in-game currencies like jewels or coins instead of earning money.
However, if you add real money, you can get more points or unlock special features. While this may not present itself as a direct gamble, it is similar in several ways. You are hoping that if you get things right, it will earn you something far better than what you put into it.
What Studies Are Saying About Video Games and Gamblers
Researchers carried out thirteen different studies on the behavior of gamers who play on loot boxes with money. Loot boxes let players spend money on randomized in-game rewards; these rewards can enhance characters’ appearance or aid players’ progress. Many studies show a clear correlation between these games and problem gambling behavior. Loot boxes generate at least half the amount video games industries make from their creations yearly, with most from gamblers.
Loot boxes are still unregulated in India, but that hasn’t affected their popularity or the growing interest in their characteristics. The lure of loot boxes provides a route to gambling problems for some players; young people are particularly at risk. There is pressure on video game companies to use loot boxes and other means to maximize revenue. Thus, developers have begun creating entertainment with life-like graphics and action.
The Connection between Video Games and Gambling
We can see the link between gambling and video games in the way young people behave;
- Young gamers who play simulated demo games, gambling apps, simulated betting within in-game items, or social networking sites will likely gamble on all monetary forms.
- Young people who played video games or purchased loot boxes with gambling components are more likely to gamble on certain monetary forms.
- The interest in video games has made many platforms create competition around it. To further the interest people have in them, incentives are provided for the winners ensuring every player puts their best to go for the eventual price.
- Gamers struggling with an addiction are more susceptible to gambling hazards. The increase in simulated gambling products coupled with how gaming and gambling come together and their popularity among young people is responsible for this. This combination highlights an increased potential for gambling hazards.
Conclusion
Video games keep evolving as technology increases, which is mostly good. However, many video games today feature simulated gambling, which can be a problem if not supervised. Video games provide opportunities to make in-game purchases or trades with real money, making them a potential avenue for gambling problems. However, you have to play on the right platform; Parimatch is one such platform. It is a licensed platform in India that provides you with amazing bonuses and promotional offers to enjoy the game.
