Gambling Returns to Second Life?

Casino gaming is returning to SL using a 'loophole' according to this article. Supposedly, Lindens have been following or playing the games and haven't shut them down so far. Thoughts?

http://slnn.com/article/gambling-returns-to-sl/

I think they're violating a copyright of Activision/Infocom by calling them "Zorkmids" to start with.

Other than that.. it's the same loophole used by RL Pachinko houses.. and it has my usual grumble about how people are being rewarded for not respecting rules.

My guess is that slnn got it all mixed up as usual, but on the off-chance that there's anything more than the developers' wishful thinking behind this, it will probably spell the end of *all* "skill-based" wagering games in-world.

It really makes no difference what "loophole" exists in Linden policy. All that matters is what the credit card companies can legally allow. They're pretty unlikely to get away with this, once challenged on UIGEA grounds.

Once AMEX and WaMu and PayPal and etc line up outside Linden counsel's door, there'll be a swift and silent change in G-Team's marching orders, and say goodbye to the "skill-based" loophole.

I've seen them in the G-Team office hours many times and they're doing everything they can to offer gaming services while still operating within the boundaries of the TOS. (^_^)

I personally refuse to play any form of gaming system in exchange for monies even to the point of not even participating in my state's lottery. (=_=)

But, there are other people who like gaming. So... Product, meet demand. Demand, meet product. As long as they are operating within the TOS, it's fine by me. (^_^)y

Yep, it goes back to what I have said in the other gambling threads; while it is up to LL to determine what "is" and "is not" "gambling" under their own rules, the fact of the matter is that all of this crap IS gambling, by definition, loophole or not.

In fact, in the case of this group, I think it is about as defiant and "in your face" as it can get, and I would expect that, if the Lindens have any backbone at all, it will be squished with extreme prejudice.

I hope they can get their day jobs back.....

I would just have to wonder how much skill is involved in winning the "skill" games.

The ability to right click and select pay from a pie chart?

Buy other currency.
Do gambling within that currency that would be ILLEGAL within the original currency.
Play "skill games" to change back currency.

SQUIRM.

If a real world currency collapses, cigarettes become a currency for black marked goods.
This is a quite simmilar system.

Question Xe,
Are you here to promote SLNN or Zymurgy and Proctor?

If not for federal laws on gambling, Linden Lab doesn't care to disallow gambling at all. (In fact, I think Linden Lab documented itself the loss income it suffered after the gambling ban.)

The real issue, then, is not whether the new form of game described in the article would run afoul of the federal laws on interstate gambling. I personally am not familiar enough with those laws to easily decide for myself whether the new games described in the article would be legal under the federal laws.

If these new games are indeed legal under the federal laws, then Linden Lab will allow them to operate, granting them an exemption or approval as skill-based. And why shouldn't they?

If these new games are illegal under the federal gambling laws, but do not technically violate Second Life rules, then Linden Lab will swiftly close the loophole in its own rules, and ban the new games.

SO they invented a fake currency, to differentiate it from Linden Lab's fake currency, which was created to differentiate it from Real World Currency....


I don't know whether to laugh or cry. O.O

It's a match game with 9 cards flipped over and you have something like 5 minutes to match them all. Theres no penalty for unsuccessful matches or anything, overall it takes about 30 seconds to complete and is slightly easier than a match game made for toddlers.

Well, if it helps some your post has me laughing so hard I am crying!

*shrugs* It was bound to happen, honestly. Come to think of it, a lot of forum users predicted this outcome when they announced the ban. *rolls eyes* All this ban is doing is making them get more creative in getting around it.

LL will allow it or disallow it based upon how it will be affect their dealings with the credit card companies - they will do whatever they need to do to keep those relationships going.

As for the rest of us, who the hell cares what other people are doing with their lindens if LL is allowing it?

Bingo.

I have always HATED rules lol
Rules are always setup so one group loses and one group gains but thats how I see it atleast

In this case, the rules are there to prevent one group from profiting off the back of another. I think rules are pretty damned fair in that respect.

i haven't had a chance to read all that article but as soon as i sore the names Aargle Zymurgy and Lamorna Proctor my eye's nearly popped out of my head, these are in my opinion the two best games creators in second life Aargle made Slingo, the most popular game in second life along with many other games and Lamorna is someone i really look up to not only is she dissabled in Real life she has created the best chess, checkers and backgammon games i'v ever seen.

To me gambling is Meh i'm not a big gambler and i have it all around me in real life (pokies/one armed bandits are out of control in some parts of australia), it's just a part of life, fools are easily seperated from there money. i'd personally rather spend it on another beer .

If anything we are going to see some stunning games come from these two. i look forward to building casino's for people

-Crunch

Well...... my understanding is that the SL rules about gambling are actually there simply so that LL can continue their relationship with the credit card company, thereby allowing us to continue paying them money -- I don't personally think that LL cares if one group profits off the back of another.

Because it isn't in the interest of honest people for a society to exist where people are rewarded for thinking of creative ways around the law.

The move is also essentially a power grab, because Zorkmids will be trackable only on the servers operated by these users. If they're easily converted to L$ - and it seems that they are - this could become another A$.

(And, they mention in the article that the "roulette wheel will only operate if the owner has enough Z$ to cover the prize" - so how does the owner get Z$? It wouldn't be, perchase, by buying them?)

LL does not put out laws for the SL society beyond the TOS and whatever they are forced to by FL agencies.

Now, having said that if someone is able to find a way to offer something that is in demand and does not conflict with the letter of the law.. so be it. They are not being rewarded, they have found a way to supply and comply. Anything else is a morality assumption.

When LL says that gambling is banned, they mean that gambling is banned, not that gambling is OK as long as you find a loophole.



They are being rewarded, as essentially they've used this loophole to develop their games "undercover" and can then burst onto the scene and claim a monopoly. And, what's wrong with morality?

1. LL is full aware of this process. Therefore your "If LL says.." part is out of gas. If they cared they would have sealed up the loophole when the creators were going to the office hours and all the other ways they worked WITH LL to make them. next..

2.They did not work "undercover" as even in this thread it has been mentioned they were seen at Office Hours talking to Lindens. next..

3.Nothing is wrong with morality. But what YOU define as moral and what I define as moral may not mesh.. as it is in SL grid wide. So, don't assume your morals mean shit to anyone else.

Um, so it's OK as long as LL shared a particularly obscure interpretation of their own rules with a private group of residents to give them a monopoly on what was previously a large industry?

I mean, most real civilised countries have a system where you can't just ask for an official judgment to be made about the law unless you're actually on trial, and when the judgment is made, it's public.

And my morality? I'd be more worried about that for the people who had to shut down casino archipelagos of 5-6 islands because they weren't told about this.