gaming
VIRTUAL REALITY AND GAMBLING: WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THE FUTURE OF GAMING?
With games such as Destiny and Overwatch, along with sleek new models of consoles being released every other day, it seems as though gaming has finally come into its own. In recent years, the entire gaming culture has prospered, and we seem to be living in the golden age of gaming and possibly gambling.
So many of the pillars that hold up gaming as a phenomenon have grown comfortable over the years. Developers churn out first-person shooters like Battlefield between free roaming RPGs such as Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare as though they’re on a conveyor belt. This has led to gamers bemoaning the “sameness” of this year’s blockbusters, with the likes of For Honor earning mere moments in the spotlight before being quickly cast aside. What gaming needs is the “next big thing” to hit the market and shake up a landscape that’s grown stagnant over the last few months. The question is: what?
“THOSE OF US LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE EXPERIENCED VIRTUAL REALITY AT SOME STAGE IN OUR LIVES WILL RECOGNISE THE “WOW” FACTOR ATTACHED TO HEADGEAR SUCH AS THE OCULUS AND HTC VIVE AND THE AMAZEMENT OF STEPPING INTO AN ALTERNATE REALITY.”
There’s no avoiding the fact that virtual reality (VR) has arrived and it’s here for its fair share of the market. Those of us lucky enough to have experienced VR at some stage in our lives will recognise the “wow” factor attached to headgear such as the Oculus and HTC Vive and the amazement of stepping into an alternate reality. Imagine the thrill of a zombie horror, where you look around to see nothing but faint darkness around you while looking down at your own hands you find yourself carrying a gun and flashlight. This is the level of immersion VR can provide, taking gamers one step closer into the shoes of our on-screen heroes.
Fortunately, the fall in price of these systems, the creation of wearable controllers and the recognition by developers that VR is the future, have allowed games of true substance to emerge. The Lab, for example, started as a Valve Corporation play-pen and grew to become one of Steam’s few games with “overwhelmingly positive” reviews.
Of course, there’s much more to the gaming than just technological advancements. Consider developments within the games themselves: in particular, one of the most disappointing aspects of highly-rated games today, microtransactions. These are low cost add-ons that are optional for a player to purchase. Typically in the range of 50c to 5 euro, they often unlock new levels or features on mobile games, or more cosmetic features such as a new colour of armour in larger games. Candy Crush infamously thrived on these so called “microtransactions” offering defeated players another chance to play after waiting one hour or immediately at the low-low cost of 99c.
Some prefer a one-off payment for your games, while others like how microtransactions offer the opportunity to play a game after multiple smaller payments. What we can all agree is that certainty surrounding exactly what you’re purchasing is vital to the experience. Or at least, it was. Nowadays however, microtransactions serve as an innocent placeholder for one of the most toxic aspects of modern gaming, and one of the greatest challenges facing its future: gambling.
Fifa: Ultimate Team has created its own subculture surrounding gambling in recent years. Players are offered the opportunity to part with their hard-earned cash in exchange for “points,” which can then be used to purchase player packs, akin to the booster-pack style of beloved trading card games. While seeming innocent on the surface, digging deeper reveals many of the problems models such as this instigate.
The random chance aspect of purchasing packs creates a pay-to-win culture, one not usually found in games with a 60+ euro price tag. While a fraction of the player base will pay for packs, an even smaller fraction will try again if they’re disappointed with the outcome. In essence, players with deep pockets are that bit more likely to come across a Ronaldo or Messi just by throwing money at the system. It’s the monumental issue with this ever-growing trend which is really concerning: this is gambling in an environment rated ‘E for Everyone’. Children are playing these games completely unsupervised, with mammy or daddy’s credit card in hand. While that itself is a failure on the part of the parents, any system that thrives from underage gambling will need to change soon.
In the past 20 years, changing technology has completely changed the world around us, including the gaming experience and the next 20 years hold even more possibilities for change. With both exciting tech developments and fresh challenges to overcome, the games industry is certainly set for an interesting future ahead.
The Brazilian gambling market is a dynamic and ever-growing industry that attracts individuals from various socioeconomic backgrounds.
However, a closer analysis of the market by ENV Media reveals significant disparities, highlighting how certain segments of society are overrepresented while others are underrepresented. This article examines the distribution of active real money gamblers across different household brackets in Brazil and sheds light on the underlying socioeconomic inequities that contribute to this phenomenon.
The Overrepresentation of A-Level Households
Comprising only 2.9% of Brazilian households, A-Level households surprisingly make up 12% of the Brazilian gambling market. This overrepresentation raises questions about the factors driving individuals from these households to engage in gambling activities more frequently compared to their counterparts in other socioeconomic groups.
It suggests that A-level households may have a higher disposable income or a greater inclination towards risk-taking behaviour, making them more prone to participating in gambling activities.
B1-B2 Households are Overrepresented yet Underrepresented
While B1-B2 households constitute 21.8% of the Brazilian population, they make up a striking 40% of active real money gamblers in the country. This disparity indicates that individuals from B1-B2 households are significantly overrepresented in the gambling market compared to their representation in the general population. It implies that this particular socioeconomic group might have easier access to gambling opportunities or possess higher discretionary income, allowing them to participate more actively in the industry.
C1-C2 Households Have Near Representation
In contrast to the overrepresentation of A-level and B1-B2 households, C1-C2 households demonstrate a nearly proportionate presence in the Brazilian gambling market. Comprising 47.4% of the Brazilian population, they account for 48% of active real money gamblers. This alignment between the population distribution and the gambling market participation suggests that individuals from C1-C2 households are engaging in gambling activities in line with their demographic representation.
Socioeconomic Factors at Play
The observed disparities in the Brazilian gambling market can be attributed to several underlying socioeconomic factors. A-level households, characterized by their higher income and potentially greater disposable wealth, may find gambling more accessible due to their financial resources. B1-B2 households, although overrepresented, may face financial constraints that prevent them from participating more actively. However, their higher representation could indicate the allure of gambling as a potential means to improve their economic situation.
The overrepresentation of certain socioeconomic groups in the Brazilian gambling market underscores existing inequalities within the country. It highlights disparities in income distribution, access to disposable income, and opportunities for upward mobility. Such imbalances can perpetuate a cycle of socioeconomic disadvantage, as individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may be lured into gambling as a means to attain financial stability or escape their circumstances, further exacerbating their vulnerability.7JP
Addressing Socioeconomic Inequities
To address the disparities in the Brazilian gambling market and reduce socioeconomic inequities, a multifaceted approach is needed. Firstly, initiatives should focus on enhancing financial literacy and providing support to individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about gambling.
One aspect that ENV Media has been working hard on pushing through its new casino brand, 7JP.com, is to focus heavily on responsible gambling practices. According to ENV Media’s COO, Shane Hand, it’s of vital importance that any and all brands that enter the Brazilian market have this front of mind.
“Previously, we have worked extensively in the Indian gambling market and one thing that become very clear is that it is of utmost importance to safeguard players, especially those who fall into the lower wage earning brackets. These individuals are the most vulnerable to developing unsustainable gambling habits. It’s extremely important that brands considering entering the Brazilain market focus on promoting awareness campaigns and implementing stringent regulations to protect such people”
Conclusion
The overrepresentation of A-level and B1-B2 households in the Brazilian gambling market, coupled with the near-representation of C1-C2 households, sheds light on the socioeconomic inequities that persist within the country.
While A-level households and B1-B2 households are overrepresented, this indicates that certain socioeconomic factors, such as income and accessibility, play a role in shaping gambling behaviours.
Recognizing and addressing these disparities is crucial to fostering a more equitable society and ensuring that gambling remains a form of entertainment rather than a path to socioeconomic distress for vulnerable individuals.
Login Casino is the media-gambling sponsor of the most anticipated event for all the stakeholders of gaming industry in Russia in 2018 – XII International gambling-entertaining exhibition forum Russian Gaming Week. The event will be held on 7-8 June in Moscow.
Russian Gaming Week is a global platform where the gaming industry “heavyweights” will gather in order to discuss the most important aspects of the sector: betting influence on eSport promotion, gaming zones development in Russian Federation, experience of Russian and foreign casinos, bitcoin and its benefits for gambling, usage of chat-bots in gambling and many other topics.
On this occasion, Login Casino has prepared presents for its readership. The online magazine is drawing two tickets for Russian Gaming Week 2018. Anyone can take part in the draw! In order to do this, one has to register on the landing-page of the magazine. The winner will be determined on June 1. Good luck!
Yggdrasil Gaming has further extended its reach in Italy with a deal to provide content to leading Italian gaming operator Snaitech.
The agreement will give Snaitech, leader in betting retail, access to award-winning Yggdrasil titles certified under Italian regulations. Snaitech will receive Yggdrasil’s collection of in-game promotional tools, BOOST™ and social sharing tool BRAG™, enabling the operator to increase and complete its online casino offer.
Yggdrasil CEO Fredrik Elmqvist, said: “To agree a deal with Snaitech, one of the most respected names in European gaming, shows that our approach is being welcomed by both operators and players in Italy.
This partnership with Snaitech is the latest step in Yggdrasil’s ambitious plans for the Italian market.”
Snaitech CEO Fabio Schiavolin said: “We always work to offer our customers the best selection of content available. So it is with great pleasure that we are able to add Yggdrasil games to our offering. The new titles, the promotional infrastructure and above all the smart approach of Yggdrasil team, will add a further innovative boost to provide a complete, safe, engaging and entertaining gaming experience to our customers.”
Yggdrasil plans to have more than 30 games certified for the Italian market during 2018.
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