UK issues warning against underage gaming and gambling with computers.
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is raising concerns about the use of virtual items from computer games as currency in illegal gambling. These games are particularly attractive to young people, who may not be aware or checked for age before entering the sites. Parents and guardians are also uninformed about the risks associated with these games.
Virtual items are frequently used in games for aesthetic enhancements and don't provide any tangible advantage. Despite this, the market for virtual items, such as weapon skins in the popular tactical shooter Counter-Strike, is booming, with an estimated annual turnover of up to five billion dollars. These rare and valuable items can sell for significant amounts of money.
Players can increase their chances of winning these items by participating in raffles on certain websites. These websites convert virtual items into virtual currency, enabling players to gamble on traditional casino games. Although they don't win cash, the virtual items can still be sold for real money. The distinction between virtual and real money is increasingly blurry.
eSports betting on professional competitions operates in a similar way, offering users the chance to win virtual items. The UKGC views these unlicensed gambling websites as illegal, as they neither have a license nor are independently audited. Often, they do not perform age verification checks, allowing underage users to play.
According to the UKGC, the popularity of eSports is linked to this issue. Young fans idolize their heroes, who often possess rare items through sponsorships. However, they are not aware of the risks of addiction. This has prompted the UKGC to increase its educational efforts, as parents are unwittingly funding illegal gambling when they provide their children with money, thinking they're just getting innocuous games.
Several incidents involving YouTubers and the advertising of illegal gambling websites have occurred. Two British YouTubers who made videos about FIFA soccer games were fined heavily earlier this year. They presented themselves as winning large sums, but the rounds were manipulated, and their connections to the sites remained hidden.
The gaming industry is complicit in the unauthorized trade of virtual items, as manufacturers provide access to their marketplaces. They profit from transactions via commissions. Some manufacturers, like the makers of Counter-Strike (Valve), sell rare items at predetermined prices. The process of acquiring these items is akin to gambling.
The gaming industry should address the issue of protecting minors more seriously, as the current trend of unregulated gambling platforms is exploiting gamers and putting them at risk. The UKGC believes that the online gaming industry should be more responsible when it comes to the welfare of its young audience.
Reference: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/feb/12/british-youtubers-sentenced-over-esports-betting-adverts-sites-change
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
