[coldpie]

I never thought about it that way. Interesting insight. One aspect is that users don't receive a cash payout. They pay money in, but never receive money in return, like you would expect from true gambling. This falls apart when you allow trading within a game though, as you can exchange real money for a virtual trade. Then it does involve a payout.

[spathi_fwiffo]

Interesting point - I would originally agree with the other posters that said Gaming is different because there is no chance of making back your money, but you are correct, in a lot of games with markets and currencies, there is a way to make money from your time spent gaming.

I guess this would only be an issue if the purchase-element manifested directly in a way to make money? For example with Team Fortress 2; you can buy keys to unlock the item crates (which deliver a player a single new random item) - but you can't buy the item crates themselves - and you can't buy an item to make the crate's randomness any more favorable.

[Retra]

An unregulated casino would never give payouts either. (But they would generate as much false hope as they can afford.)

It's a promise of happiness in exchange for addictive behavior.

[jsprogrammer]

>An unregulated casino would never give payouts either.

An unregulated casino would not see many patrons then.

[Retra]

Why is that? You don't think an unregulated casino could stage wins to make it look like it was giving payouts? Or just make up stories?

[jsprogrammer]

Do you have an unlimited number of stooges? Such a facade can only be kept up for so long.

[spathi_fwiffo]

casinos didn't birth into existence fully regulated. their illegality and regulation came about because they were fleecing their many patrons.

[jsprogrammer]

And not all casinos never paid out.