Arcades are supposed to be play areas where children can engage in fun activities – but some experts believe that some of the games in these venues can be harmful. A new investigation by the Department of International Affairs will examine whether or not certain children’s amusement machines are grooming youths to gamble.
Many of the games at these arcades are based on popular television game shows, such as Wheel of Fortune and Deal or No Deal. Players are given the chance to win tickets, which can be cashed in for various prizes. As games of luck, responsible gambling advocates are concerned that these titles are teaching young people about gambling.
They tend to mimic the operation of poker machines, in which players rely on luck to win prizes. As such, there are concerns that these amusements games normalise gambling for young people, making it easier for them to transition into playing real-money pokies when they turn 18. However, Coin Cascade – the company that operators the games – states that they are not at all like poker machines.
They defend this stance by arguing that users play the games with electronic cards and win tickets rather than cash. The ultimate prizes are mainly lollies and soft toys. This particular argument continues to leave a grey area. The Department of Internal Affairs states that the legality of the games is not ‘clear cut’.
"The Gambling Act certainly says gambling means winning 'money' but it also says money includes 'money's worth'," says a spokesperson for the DIA. "The department is concerned about the harm that gambling can have on people, their families and their communities, and we are investigating the games complained of to determine whether they involve gambling and are gaming machines in terms of the Gambling Act 2003."
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