PARANOIA and the changes in gambling

Just read the official thread and seen the bunch of people saying "Oh eroding our freedom".

Well - I personally welcome these changes, I have always said that gambling in SL was unregulated and therefore dangerous. I actually find the wording of the statement made reassuring in that it tells me that they have PROPERLY looked into the regulations regarding online gaming - especially when they state that the area where YOU live might well be legal but they can't legally condone taking wagers from there.

This is the way the real world really is folks. I work in online gaming, these are the rules I have to work with every day.

Sorry but I don't think it's cause to complain about the erosion of personal freedom in SL (which I am all for - within the limits of actual legality so when will it be a criminal matter when people steal your land/rip you off).

I have mixed feelings about the new ban myself. For a long time I've been a bit boggled at how a world of near endless possibilities is reduced to countless casinos, sex related material, and other non-creative/innovative things. It sorta amazes me how people claim that they didn't see this day coming when the writing was on the wall a while ago. Perhaps now that the ban is in effect, it will get people to use their heads and create something that will replace casinos, something that will be profitable, yet untouchable by any law. (As if anything is truely untouchable by any government.) Then again, I don't put much faith in the general mindset of people. I am disappointed to the extent that now some of my favorite camping spots are going to be gone. Not that camping is exactly a creative thing, but it does help in making a few L$'s when the money gets tight from time to time. Oh well, I can find a new way/place to make a quick L$.

The thing that I do get a chuckle out of is how everyone cries and moans about how this will end SL, that the sky is falling, and that SL will become some gulag no one will want to visit. I think the same thing is going on about real issues, like global warming, the war in Iraq, and etc too, but I just don't buy it. People like to panic at seemingly severe things when it might not be warranted, but this is a whole other issue. The way I look at it, the ban is going to be a catalyst for those who can adapt and overcome, and the death knell for those who can't think outside the box. Sure, this event just might strike a bit of a blow to the overall economy, land prices, and the like, but eventually it'll level out and someone will figure out something new and everyone else will copy the hell out of it.

In my many years of experience with the online world, (since 1988 to be exact) things like this happen, and will happen again and again, and the only options are to adapt and move on, or not. My predominate complaint right now is that I haven't seen any clarification by anyone from LL about specific issues people have brought up in regards to certain games, and other issues relating to this. We need someone from LL to step up and go through a list of questionable games and clarify things, instead of having everyone else make stabs, guesses, and assumptions on it. What popular games in SL are still legal? What popular games would have to be slightly changed in order to stay? I know other users will answer these questions, but I want to hear the official word on this based off the legalese of the TOS but translated into English.

In the meantime, people ought to stop whining about the laws, stop passing it off as American puritanical/conservative views, and just move on. It's not like this law came out of nowhere, and if people don't like it, they should contact the proper representatives about changing it. All the people who claim they don't vote, don't hold an interest in politics, and don't like the ban/law, they only have themselves to blame. For those who do follow politics, why didn't you do anything to get others active about it? I know there was people trying to fight for internet radio, but not a thing about online gambling. As for the rest of the world, this is one of the ups and downs of a democratic society, and the people who live in it, apathetic to the process or not. Let's just move on, and find the next best and legal thing to make a profit!

Honoris Causa...
Silverblade Dagger

I've never gambled in Sl or been in a casino or lived near a casino or had any negative or positive experiences with casino's therefore not im qualified to comment on how it will affect the world overall. However, I have always thought that the entire concept of gambling in SL is crazy. In RL casino's, online gambling sights, even the providers of slot machines/fruit machines in pubs are all regulated under law ( in those civilised countries where gambling is legal) to ensure that the consumer does not get ripped off. Therefore it has allways been my opinion that LL should never have allowed any form of gambling to develop in SL without regulating it. They will allways defend their actions by saying that the L$ is not a real form of currency and thus the gambling industry in SL did not require regulation. Whatever the reason LL is now using to justify the elimination of gambling establishments I am glad they are going, because without an official body regulating the industry it was a joke to begin with and an ideal front for scammers.

I often wonder if there are people with genuine gambling addictions in here - there must be ...

Quite a lot, I'd bet.

Broccoli

I'll take that bet.

We are still waiting for the definition and clear statements about a few things from the past too. I wouldn't hold my breath until LL has made a clear statement about every thinkable game


As a Dutch citizen I don't have a representative in the State of Caligornia...

Hehehe, I didn't even do it on purpose

Indeed and sex addictions, drug addictions, alcohol addictions, yadda yadda yadda.

/me doesn't do drugs, or windows ...

That's not why I said that tho Ciaran, tbh. I just end up talking to a lot of people who've managed to get themselves into serious debt rl. Wondered how much that scales in SL ... I can't see it being the same but you never know without evidence and I can't see anyone being willing to undertake THAT little survey.

I concur with Porky's assessment entirely. Given the improbability that Linden would -ever- be able to justify putting sufficient -paid- resources in place to regulate gambling in Second Life, and the tone from the blog suggesting that the feds might be getting a little too close for comfort, I think this is the only logical choice, and after the dust settles, I expect it to be a net positive for the community. The dent it will make in Land and Economy will mend, Second Life will go on.

Maybe folks will put a little more thought into something before dumping substantial amounts of real money into a "business" that has been teetering on the edge of controversy for some time now.

Not just that tho. Getting licenced doesn't happen overnight and regulation is audited to the nth degree. Imagine trying to turn in an orderly audit of SL activities? Doesn't bear thinking about.

Well I like to gamble myself Cherry, I regularly do a Saturday twenty pence Lucky fifteen or if I'm a bit flush it might be 50p to give me a whopping £7.50 stake but I've avoided most forms of online gambling as I might get a bit excited after a few beers.

I have never spent more than a few Lindens inworld as big gambling here seems too big a risk to me, but I do think people should have the choice.

If it was fair ... and I mean sure to be fair with regulated odds and the like ... I'd agree.

BUT at the end of the day, that argument (whilst valid on the moral front) will not get you too far with the people who would sue the living daylights out of Linden/prosecute etc etc.

I like to gamble. It's just never for money!

If you work in the online gaming industry, I imagine you wouldn't want the competition which might be motivating your statement. Since you couldn't possibly operate in the U.S. that means your business at least operates in another country. What rules do you have to follow exactly? Perhaps your company chooses not to cheat people, I don't know--but I'm questioning who your "regulator" is. From what I've read, web-based gambling is every bit of a scam as SL gambling used to be.

It certainly wouldn't surprise me if some of the web based gambling organizations are behind SL gambling to begin with--or dabbled in it at some point.

I gamble occasionally in a RL casino and as long as you don't bet more than you can afford to lose it can be fun. Overall, I think bans on online and SL gaming are another example of government hand holding (though I DONT blame LL--they have absolutely no choice but to do this). It's not my fault that an adult makes a decision to overspend in a casino. However, my problem with SL gambling AND online gambling is that they are unregulated as many have said. One place the government should be is to regulate the greedy people who operate gambling online or offline.

Oh, and I have never owned a SL casino or any other gambling enterprise.

Well they need to tell us if the Linden has real world value or not, because there are a hell of a lot of implications if it does, not least tax laws. Can I claim business tax allowances? Do I owe income tax if the money stays in game? This is all a bit messy.

Ive just been phoned by my RL misses to tell me that nearly EVERY parcel around her store and my store has suddenly become empty and gone up for sale.

Of course there is going to be backlashes..... one of the MOST popular camping places in SL has suddenly disapeared out of its sky boxes .... its casino underneath has gone, with no casino revinew money is going to be tight for most.

Where do these folks go now....

Well i for one will be uneffected for the minute at the casinos loss.... but I am sure longer term the reduction of funds is going to effect my business too. I would like to hope that the ways for new people to make money will still be there, Bots seem to take all the places that were available for campers.

I will be watching with interest.

Well, that's a separate issue tbh Ciaran but absolutely ... and that's another one which will run and run!

BTW anyone else on the verge of being flooded yet again? I am seeing a torrent cascading down the road here and being VERY thankful that I live on the top of a small hill ...

Ditto. And still charging my credit card no doubt.

You can take a look at all the loophole-seeking posts on here to know that's not going to be the case .

The lure of the "quick and easy L$" is just too great.

It's been lashing down all day, the steps outside my house are buidling nice pools of water but the river over the road isn't bursting its banks so I think I'm safe!

Picked a fine time to have some time off work.