Guild Wars 2

What is the plain definition of gambling when it comes to state regulation? Are “goods” and “services” and “monetary rewards” defined differently from state to state or does federal regulation take precedent?

Should the gambling aspect of this game be removed entirely in all aspects? I think it should. Still waiting on an answer from state and federal regulators as they had no clear answer for me. I will be curious as to what they reply with. This is dealing with real money being used to purchase “a chance”. This could further be expanded to cover other areas since the game itself is purchased.

The gambling portion of this games mechanics in all aspects should be removed completely is my suggestion.

Lemme get this straight, did you report ANet to the federal government for illegal gambling based on the fact we can purchase items/gold (gold in turn being used to purchase in game items of chance) with real money?

that is what I am getting also.

This can’t be the real fact that he actually or is thinking of reporting arena net for this.

Cause I am pretty sure that nothing will happen as real world money (regardless of the definition of gambling) is not the only way to gain items in the gem store.

The Australian Psychological Society defines gambling as

Gambling involves the staking of money or items of value on the outcome of an uncertain event that is determined by chance.

In the case of Guild Wars 2, the items of value are gems which are exchanged for chests/keys which then give you a chance of getting another item.

Professor Alex Blaszczynski suggests

Several core elements are necessary for an activity to be considered gambling. That there is an agreement between at least two parties to exchange items of value on the basis of the outcome of an uncertain event where participation is voluntary.

In the case of Guild Wars 2, the agreement is between ArenaNet and yourself, the items of value is Gems in exchange for an item of chance, and finally you do not have to participate at all.

In Japan they are attempting to tighten gambling regulation to include games that offer items of chance in exchange of real money, or offer items of chance in exchange of items purchased with real money, due to the large amounts of people burned by online games offering items of chance for real money.

So is it gambling, yes, is it regulated, mostly no. State and federal laws of different countries do not cover this type of gambling at this stage, but there is starting to be some movement in that direction in different countries, with the exception of the U.S where the Wire Act allows gambling within games with real cash, as long as the in game items can not be exchanged for real money.

On a final note, there is also some discussion around “deceptive practises” in different countries when games advertise themselves as free-to-play but offer in game items in exchange for real cash.