Recently, online games have been getting a bad rap, as concerns arise about their potential to become addictive. Previously, these concerns were limited to parents and responsible gambling advocates, but now politicians in Asia are weighing in on the issue. Online gaming is a major pastime in South Korea, with millions of residents engaging in games like Starcraft.

Players can become professionals and earn a celebrity status that is similar to sports stars in Australia and the rest of the world. The interest in online gaming has boosted the popularity of cybercafés, which can be found on just about every city block. Gaming seems relatively harmless, but politicians are concerned that the activity could be just as addictive as gambling or substance abuse.

In 2011, a local woman allowed her child to starve while she played games online. Since there, there has been an uproar over the potential of online games becoming addictive. A recent study has found that 125 000 residents aged 10 to 19 are either in need of gaming addiction treatment or are at risk of developing an addiction.

"We need to create a clean Korea free from the four addictions," says politician Hwang Woo-yea, referring to gaming, gambling, drugs and alcohol. According to local news outlets, the South Korean government is currently considering passing a legislation that would classify online games with other anti-social addictions like alcohol and drug abuse. The law is quite controversial, and it has sparked a fierce debate.

While parents and health professionals support the bill, gamers and game developers are appalled. The law would also ensure that gaming profits contribute to the funding of addiction program. The legislation would allocate 1% of all industry revenue to a fund aimed at curbing gaming addiction rates. While the law aims to protect individuals, gaming developers feel as though they are unnecessarily being thrown under the bus.

"The 100,000 people employed in the game industry are not drug makers," reads a statement from the Korea Internet and Digital Entertainment Association. This is a very heated debate, and it will likely carry on for months to come. If passed, the bill will likely set a worldwide precedent. So, we will keep you updated as the story develops.

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George Anderson
Author George, has over 25+ years’ experience in the Pokies and Casinos industry throughout Australia and New Zealand. Loves to research new Pokies games on the block and follows announcements from top industry providers about their upcoming releases. As soon as a new interesting pokie game appears on his radar, George is there to check it out and give you the scoop before anyone else and tell you about all casino sites where can play the latest game. Before this gig, George worked as Pokie game tester, making him an ideal candidate for this genre of work. He is also an animal lover and a proud owner of three dogs.