The Blur Between Online Games and Online Gambling

To us gamers, whenever we mention the word “Online games” we would always assume that the term refers to browser-based Simulation, MMOGs, MMORPGs, MMOFPS, MOBAs, Action RPGs or what have you. But up until recently, I have come across people who use the term online games as an alternative to the term “Online Gambling”.

Sites, like Playbingo.com have marketed itself to not just people who are into playing bingo online, but also to sites that have in it’s own way and form related to online games. In fact, I have two instances where I thought that online gaming was taken in face value, but in fact refers to gambling online.

The first example was when I was having dinner with a new set of friends and we talked about our professions. This person mentioned that she works within the scope of “Online Gaming”. I jumped at the idea that possibly this person was part of any local distributor or even a game dev, but instead I got was that she was working for a site that handles a gambling site that’s just based here in the country.

Yeah, I was pretty naive up to that moment so that pretty much cleared things out quickly for me.

The other situation was when it was mentioned during one of our sunday messages that one of the biggest contribution to the country’s GDP was in fact gaming. I was in fact swelling with pride that at least gaming was making big strides locally. But it was again dashed when I was informed that “gaming” meant “gambling”.

And yes, dear friends I am once again schooled at being a naive little boy.

E-gaming here at least is not just limited to MMOs anymore. Look for the term “Egames” you’ll notice that among the search term results is a company that’s more famous on other “gaming” related things.

So the moral of the story? Don’t talk to people- or you get your little world ravished by the realities of life. 😀