Gaming vs gambling

There is a blurred line between gaming and online gambling. A lot of free online games, apps and websites are versions of gambling. Be aware, especially when these games cost more time and money than expected.

Gaming and gambling

Games do not always look like gambling, but some of them follow the same design and psychology principles to encourage you to spend more time and money than expected.

Look out for in-game currency and “in-app purchases”. These are items in a game that you can spend real money on, such as jewels, jellies, gems or credits. This feels like you’re buying something tangible. Many games also provide discounts when you buy them in larger volumes. These discounts are often misleading because the items have no material value.

Another example is a video game that features loot boxes, where players can spend money to win in-game items or gain access to unknown game features. It can be easy to lose track of money spent on loot boxes, and research has shown the characteristics of loot boxes are similar to gambling, linking them to gambling harm.

Remember, even simulated gambling has risks. You may not be playing for money, but you can still lose time. These games are built for people to keep playing. Game developers use psychology principles to ensure the product is as addictive as possible.

Once the reward centre of your brain is activated, many "free" games will then ask you to buy virtual credits to continue playing to unlock new features. These "micro-transactions" may seem small but can quickly add up.

Tips for parents, caregivers and teachers

Young people who play games online or on apps can be exposed to gambling harm.

• Pay attention to advertisements that appear in the apps or websites that children are using. The ads may click through to gambling apps.
• Be aware if of the signs of gambling harm.
• Speak to your young person about the risks of gambling
• Limit apps that are accessed by choice or accident on the computer, phone or tablet. Log out of the device’s store account and keep your login information away from children so they can’t download anything new without permission.
• Turn off the in-app purchase option to prevent access and accidentally spending money.
• Playing online apps and games with your young person is a good way to check they are not exposed to harm.