Disclaimer - I wrote this post a while ago but never published it however with the recently announcement that Zynga is entering the real-world-gambling, I thought it was fitting.
Why is Online Poker effectively outlawed in the USA?
Poker is an addictive (and fun!) game where a player is able to loose a lot of money very quickly. Online Casinos have caps on the amount of credits you can buy daily but that does not work. First of all, a $750 daily limit (typical amount in my experience) is a no limit at all - it might as well be a billion dollars - for the vast majority of people, its not reachable. Secondly, one may play on many websites cranking that limit to $7,500/day or more.
So, (1) you can loose a lot of money in poker, (2) and its addictive, (3) and we need to protect people from themselves, (for their good, or common good) therefore (=>) no online-poker. That's the reasoning regardless if you agree with it or not. This extends to all kinds of gambling, addictive substances etc.
So what does this have to do with the future of online gaming Greg?!?
Well I am glad you asked! Video gaming is a huge industry. Do-it-quick Video Game collage programs are pooping up everywhere, Triple-A title sales are beating Hollywood records.
But Facebook, MobWars and recently Zynga proved that online gaming is the way to go. MobWars proved that people will spend millions of dollars JUST to have a higher score than their friends. Everyone wants to be on the bandwagon.
Online-games are not games, they are virtual slot machines. Parents beware!Online-games, at least the vast majority of the recent titles, especially on facebook, are not "video games made available online". They are online slot machines that addict players, then allow them to spend lots of money to continue getting their fix.
Employing slot machine-like sounds, silly rewards like score or levels (compared to your friends), they entice players to spend more money to allow them to perform more, usually totally mindless clicks that offer more silly rewards.
Don't believe me? Look at many of the Zynga games, turn on the sounds, perhaps close your eyes for a moment and ask yourself where you are? Las Vegas perhaps?
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