Gaming & Gambling Mechanics
Understanding the crossover between video games, gambling aspects, and player well-being.
When Gaming Meets Gambling
Gaming has become a staple in many households, whether it be through console play, computers, tablets or phones.
Gaming has many positives: it is a form of entertainment, we can play with friends, we can learn new skills and even create our very own worlds.
However, some gaming platforms have started including more gambling aspects which can blur the lines. It is important that we are aware of what gambling can look like in video games and how these activities can cause harm.
Key Risk Factors:
Loot boxes, skins and player packs are some examples of gambling mechanics that can be found within our gaming. Ultimately, you can be paying for these chance items using real money or in-game currency… this is very similar to gambling.
Impact on Our Well-being
We also need to be aware of how our gaming can have an impact on our well-being.
- If gaming sessions are becoming longer and more frequent, we may start to notice that we are not participating in activities like we used to.
- Maybe we don’t want to do our homework, hang out with friends or attend our usual extra-curriculars.
It’s important to set healthy boundaries and balance gaming with other activities throughout our daily routine.
Young Brains & Video Games
Check out this video from Brain Connections about Young Brains & Video Games. It highlights how too much time on video games can cause problems.
What keeps us gaming, when we should stop?
Like we saw in the video above, our developing brains have a lot to do with what keeps us gaming, even when we should be taking a break to enjoy other important and healthy things that we love.
Gaming companies know this, and they use elements in their games, similar to gambling, that keep our brains engaged and wanting to play more and more. And spending more money on the game too!
PACING
Some games make it hard to level up unless you pay money, or make us wait a certain amount of time for a new update. This "pacing" can build excitement and anticipation in our brains, making us play longer.
RANDOM REWARDS
Games encourage you to buy "random rewards" and add-ons, like Skins, to make your character unique and more powerful.
MICRO-TRANSACTIONS
Games are full of promotions for micro-transactions like Loot Boxes and Player Packs so that you can unlock skills, weapons, characters, or equipment. These types of in-game purchases are linked to the development of gaming problems, and later in life gambling problems.
EARLY BIG WIN
Some games might give us a "big win" early on which makes our brain want to keep going, looking for that next big win.
NEAR MISSES
Some games will use a "near miss" to trick us into feeling a win is right around the corner, so we just got to keep playing.
SIMULATED GAMBLING
Some games even use "simulated gambling" but with no real money and no real consequences for losing. This makes our brain think it must be easy to win when gambling in the real world, which is not true at all.
Need Help or Have Questions?
Reach out to the PEI Gambling Support Line anytime for free, confidential assistance and support across PEI.