For too long, we have ignored the fact that gambling mechanics – spending money for an uncertain reward – have infested some of our favourite childhood pastimes. Whoever the new prime minister will be, if they want to meaningfully address the issue of problem gambling in this country, they must tackle the spread of gambling mechanics in digital space.
Arguably, when we look back to our childhood, we can find these mechanics everywhere: opening a Kinder Surprise egg, collecting “Match Attax” or “Panini” football stickers, or battling with Pokémon cards. For years, we spent our pocket money buying these things in the hope of receiving that rare or special reward that would help us win that next game, or make us the envy of the playground.
Although they might seem harmless in this form, technological development has given these mechanics a far more menacing and accessible shape. Playground card games have been replaced by their virtual equivalents through “loot boxes” – digital boxes that reward players with random items in exchange for money or in-game currency. We see this in online games such as FIFA, a football emulator that has over 9 million unique players every year.
At best, these forms of gambling mechanics offer a cruel and exploitative outlet of addicts; at worst, they act as a gateway“ to future gambling addictions.
This trend is even more alarming in the context of the UK’s gambling epidemic. – people whose gambling addiction has become harmful to themselves or other. The gambling commission suspects 50,000 of these are children.
Arguably, when we look back to our childhood, we can find these mechanics everywhere: opening a Kinder Surprise egg, collecting “Match Attax” or “Panini” football stickers, or battling with Pokémon cards. For years, we spent our pocket money buying these things in the hope of receiving that rare or special reward that would help us win that next game, or make us the envy of the playground.
Although they might seem harmless in this form, technological development has given these mechanics a far more menacing and accessible shape. Playground card games have been replaced by their virtual equivalents through “loot boxes” – digital boxes that reward players with random items in exchange for money or in-game currency. We see this in online games such as FIFA, a football emulator that has over 9 million unique players every year.
At best, these forms of gambling mechanics offer a cruel and exploitative outlet of addicts; at worst, they act as a gateway“ to future gambling addictions.
This trend is even more alarming in the context of the UK’s gambling epidemic. – people whose gambling addiction has become harmful to themselves or other. The gambling commission suspects 50,000 of these are children.
