The South Australian government has recently launched a campaign highlighting the possibility that mobile gaming can lead to gambling addiction. While the campaign is meant to target gambling simulation titles, video game developers feel as though their reputations are being dragged through the mud.
Titled ‘Gambling is No Game’, the campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers involved in playing games that simulate gambling. There are plenty of mobile games and social games that are based on poker and slots which can be accessed by children. Even though players are not required to spend real money, responsible gambling advocates are concerned that these titles could encourage young people to gamble.
According to Ron Curry of the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association, the advertisements express a sweeping statement that all gaming can lead to gambling. He states that this is an unfair association to make, as the campaign is only meant to be geared towards games that simulate gambling but referring to the term ‘gaming’ implicates all forms of social games and video games.
“Just to make a blatant statement that games leads to gambling, as an unqualified statement, we think is a bit over the top,” says Mr Curry. “We’re asking the Government to ensure, if they are going to advertise, that the advertisement is fair, it’s accurate and it’s tempered – that it doesn’t tar all games with the same brush”.
Interactive Games and Entertainment Association has written to Premier Jay Weatherill to offer criticism of the campaign. Members of the association have voiced their opinions, but there is no word yet on whether or not the Gambling is No Game campaign will be amended to address these concerns.
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