Over the course of the past few years, the social gaming market has really taken off. There are thousands of social games available on Facebook and in mobile gaming marketplaces, providing internet users with endless opportunities. Social gaming is an innovative and exciting activity for all ages, but some concerns have been raised about the potential of these apps to foster the growth of a new generation of gamblers.
Digital Currency
One of the major concerns about social gaming is that players use digital currency in order to carry out tasks and earn achievements. In Farmville, for example, players use coins to purchase animals, crops and other items for their property. The digital currency has no cash value, but some parents are concerned that it normalizes the action of spending money on online games.
From this perspective, it is quite a stretch to say that games social games like Farmville encourage young people to gamble. However, there are some games that could be considered harmful.
Play-Money Casino Games
Zynga Poker and Double Down Casino are just two of dozens of play-money casino games available on Facebook and in the iTunes marketplace. They offer players the chance to play online poker and other online casino games without spending any of their own money.
Although players are not required to wager real cash on these games, they do expose players to the world of gambling. In the case of underage players, this can be detrimental.
Exposure to gambling at a young age can lead to the development of unhealthy gambling habits later on in life.
Even if players are not making real wagers, research has shown that young people develop a skewed perspective of money, which can negatively influence their gambling behaviour later on in life.
In-Game Purchases
These games are not regulated like real-money casino games, because players do not spend actual money. However, players can purchase in-game items and credits. Although credit cards were originally the only way to purchase these items, players can now buy credit-loaded cards in cash at various retail outlets.
So, there is the potential for children to spend exorbitant amounts of money on social game purchases – but there are no documented cases yet.
The Solution?
At this point in time, it does not seem like Facebook is going to impose age restrictions on play-money casino games. So, it is up to parents to exercise caution.
If your children are under the legal gambling age but old enough to have their own phone or computer, be sure to talk to them about the realities of gambling. If they are particularly young, keep free-play casino games off limits until they are old enough to understand actual consequences and benefits of gambling online.
