Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Zynga's real money casino games double down in UK]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/zyngas-real-money-casino-games-double-down-in-uk/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/zyngas-real-money-casino-games-double-down-in-uk/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/zyngas-real-money-casino-games-double-down-in-uk/#comments Zynga's realmoney casino games hit the UK April 3UK residents over the age of 18 can now gamble at Zynga's real-money destinations ZyngaPlusPoker and ZyngaPlusCasino. The games are powered by bwin.party, which Zynga calls "one of the largest and most reputable real money gaming operators worldwide." The company plans to bring its virtual casino to Facebook and mobile in the UK this year.

"Our long term vision is to offer our players the next generation of real money games on multiple platforms in regulated markets worldwide," wrote Zynga Chief Revenue Officer Barry Cottle on the company's blog. "This is just the beginning for us and we're looking forward to seeing what our UK players think about ZyngaPlusPoker and ZyngaPlusCasino, and creating the most valuable casino games and social experiences for them."

ZyngaPlusPoker is an online poker room with multiple levels of tournament buy-ins. ZyngaPlusCasino features over 160 slots, including the FarmVille slot machine, along with blackjack, roulette, baccarat and video poker. Both versions share a single wallet. And, not as a joke, we're going to slide this Gamblers Anonymous link here just in case.

JoystiqZynga's real money casino games double down in UK originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamblingpczyngazynga-pokerWed, 03 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zynga's online gambling initiative to launch in the UK next year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/27/zyngas-online-gambling-initiative-to-launch-in-the-uk-next-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/27/zyngas-online-gambling-initiative-to-launch-in-the-uk-next-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/27/zyngas-online-gambling-initiative-to-launch-in-the-uk-next-year/#comments Zynga CEO Mark Pincus is making good on his promise to expand the social/mobile developer's grasp into the world of online gambling in the first half of 2013, according to Gamasutra. As expected, the roll-out will take place in Not America -- the United Kingdom, specifically.

Facilitating this expansion is bwin.party Digital Entertainment, an existing online gambling operator that has partnered with Zynga to aid in its transition from fake addictions to the real deal. Zynga's first title in this new space will be a slots simulator based on the Farmville franchise, which may explain why the Zynga Slots team was the only one to survive this week's layoffs at Zynga Austin.

JoystiqZynga's online gambling initiative to launch in the UK next year originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Oct 2012 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013bwin.partybwin.party-digital-entertainmentgamblingmacmobileonline-gamblingpcrelease-windowUKzyngazynga-austinzynga-slotsSat, 27 Oct 2012 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zynga betting on real money-based gambling in games, starting in 2013]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/26/zynga-betting-on-real-money-based-gambling-in-games-starting-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/26/zynga-betting-on-real-money-based-gambling-in-games-starting-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/26/zynga-betting-on-real-money-based-gambling-in-games-starting-in/#comments Zynga's getting into real money gambling in the first half of 2013, says CEO Mark Pincus. The company head announced as much during an investor call yesterday; he wasn't able to nail down where the service will launch first, as it'll need to pass various online gambling reviews before being allowed to go live. One thing's for sure: it's unlikely to launch in the US, as gambling is only allowed in a handful of US States.

It stands to reason that the service will be implemented through games like, say, Zynga Poker, though Pincus wasn't saying anything concrete. Though "the first real-money gambling products are ready," it's unclear what they'll entail. Pincus called mobile games "a big opportunity," so we may see Zynga move on that first.

And no, we refuse to entertain the idea that real money will be used to gamble on things like FarmVille. That is not a reality we are okay with.

JoystiqZynga betting on real money-based gambling in games, starting in 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bettinggamblingiosipadiphonemacmark-pincusmobilepcreal-money-gamblingzyngazynga-pokerThu, 26 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[South Korea rocked by StarCraft gambling scandal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/south-korea-rocked-by-starcraft-gambling-scandal/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/south-korea-rocked-by-starcraft-gambling-scandal/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/south-korea-rocked-by-starcraft-gambling-scandal/#comments An ongoing investigation has made headlines in South Korean media over the past few days, thanks to an alarming scandal involving StarCraft. Overseas, Blizzard's RTS is played professionally and broadcast on national television. And, like most sports leagues, the competitions have drawn a following from the illegal gambling market.

The growing controversy surrounds a number of professional gamers, including some famous and top-ranked players, accused of intentionally throwing matches to exploit the illegal gambling operations. The Korean police are currently investigating the accusations. However, considering the underground nature of the scandal, it's clear that it will take a long time before all potential suspects are apprehended.

For further coverage, Team Liquid offers a recently updated and extensive overview of the scandal.

[Via BigDownload]

JoystiqSouth Korea rocked by StarCraft gambling scandal originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardgamblingkoreascandalsouth-koreastarcraftWed, 14 Apr 2010 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bookie suspects Uncharted 2 has highest odds of success at BAFTAs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/bookie-suspects-uncharted-2-has-highest-odds-of-success-at-bafta/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/bookie-suspects-uncharted-2-has-highest-odds-of-success-at-bafta/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/bookie-suspects-uncharted-2-has-highest-odds-of-success-at-bafta/#comments British bookmaker Victor Chandler has a strange sense of what things people should be betting on. For instance, we never would have thought that high-stakes wagering would ever find its way into the British Academy of Film and Television Awards. Yet somehow, gambling on the BAFTAs has becoming a thing, leading Chandler to tally up the odds for each of the awards show's categories.

Perhaps a bit unsurprisingly, Chandler's calculations place Uncharted 2: Among Thieves in front of the video game category -- the only award chosen by a public poll -- with odds of 6/4. Modern Warfare 2 falls slightly behind that with 9/4 odds. Check out the full breakdown of nominee's odds to take home the prize after the jump. We went ahead and split our life savings evenly among the ten contenders, guaranteeing us a victory when the BAFTAs are distributed March 19. Man, we're so good at gambling.

Continue reading Bookie suspects Uncharted 2 has highest odds of success at BAFTAs

JoystiqBookie suspects Uncharted 2 has highest odds of success at BAFTAs originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awardsbaftaeuropegamblinginfinity-wardmodern-warfare-2naughty-dogukuncharted-2Uncharted-2-Among-ThievesTue, 02 Mar 2010 00:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubisoft bringing '20 All-Time Favorites' table game compilation to PS3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/22/ubisoft-bringing-20-all-time-favorites-table-game-compilation/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/22/ubisoft-bringing-20-all-time-favorites-table-game-compilation/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/22/ubisoft-bringing-20-all-time-favorites-table-game-compilation/#comments An ESRB rating has enlightened us about the existence of a Ubisoft title called 20 All-Time Favorites; a "collection of 20 card and board games that include Chinese Checkers, Backgammon, Chess, Go, Solitaire, and Mancala." According to the rating, players will also be able to "wager virtual money on their card hands" while playing Blackjack and Poker. Despite the appearance of gambling, the game retained an E rating -- provided that players do not splash ze pot. (Link NSFW, and totally awesome.)

JoystiqUbisoft bringing '20 All-Time Favorites' table game compilation to PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backgammonblackjackchesschinese-checkersesrbgamblinggomancalapokersolitaireubisoftFri, 22 Jan 2010 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega receives poorly timed online gambling license]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/sega-receives-poorly-timed-online-gambling-license/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/sega-receives-poorly-timed-online-gambling-license/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/sega-receives-poorly-timed-online-gambling-license/#comments Here's a fun little slice of coincidence to brighten up your life: A pair of Australian researchers recently published a study that tracks the correlation between heavy video game use in teens and pathological gambling tendencies. Not 24 hours before this study -- which concluded that there was some connection between the two activities -- hit the blogosphere, Sega made an unfortunately-timed announcement: The company had secured an online gambling license from the Alderney Gambling Control Commission, allowing it to run Sega-branded online casino games for real-life money.

While some may weave these two stories into a tapestry of fear for our young, impressionable youths, we're honestly not that worried. After their first roughing up by professional loan shark Big the Cat, they'll likely shy away from games of chance altogether.

[Thanks, Barry.]

JoystiqSega receives poorly timed online gambling license originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casinogamblingonline-gamblingpokerresearchsegastudyThu, 15 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[You bet the 'Madden curse' will strike again]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/19/you-bet-the-madden-curse-will-strike-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/19/you-bet-the-madden-curse-will-strike-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/19/you-bet-the-madden-curse-will-strike-again/#comments No seriously, that's what you do on PlayBlackjack.com. For those not in the know, the Madden "curse" has afflicted every athlete featured on the cover of a Madden game. These pros get injured in some way through the course of the season, forcing them to miss a few games. When one of the two Madden 10 athletes, Troy Polamalu, suffered an injury to his left knee, many wondered if Larry Fitzgerald would follow. Well, at least one site is planning on turning that inquisitiveness into a real gambling operation.

To enter the pool, players will have to successfully guess which week Fitzgerald will get injured, with 9:1 odds offered for each possible game. With quite a number of games still left to play, the odds are definitely not in your favor. However, should Fitzergald manage to dodge a bullet, all bets will be called off. "If Fitzgerald does not get struck by the curse and remains healthy all regular season the bets will be graded as no-action and all money bet will be returned to the bettor."

It's certainly a morbid concept to spend money on. We wonder if Madden curse victim Michael Vick is getting in on the action ...

JoystiqYou bet the 'Madden curse' will strike again originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betgamblinglarry-fitzgeraldmaddenmadden-10madden-curseSat, 19 Sep 2009 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Chun Li hits slots, stars in own pachislot machine]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/28/chun-li-hits-slots-stars-in-own-pachislot-machine/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/28/chun-li-hits-slots-stars-in-own-pachislot-machine/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/28/chun-li-hits-slots-stars-in-own-pachislot-machine/#comments
Whether she's turning aside blows in Street Fighter IV or audiences in her very own motion picture, Chun Li has certainly made multitasking an art. A martial art, if you will. Now Siliconera has caught Capcom's favorite gal gambling as the star of a pachislot machine. Where does she find the time?

Titled Chun-Li Ni Makase China, the machine allows players to see Chun Li pummel cars and other fighters into submission as they empty their pockets of loose change. The skill stop machine is just one of several of slots in Capcom's Pachislo machine business, which include an earlier released Street Fighter II slot as well as machines based on Devil May Cry 3 and Biohazard. However, Capcom noted in a financial briefing that Chun-Li Ni Makase China has "struggled" since its release. Apparently gamblers just aren't captivated by Miss Li's massive coin operated thighs.

Continue reading Chun Li hits slots, stars in own pachislot machine

JoystiqChun Li hits slots, stars in own pachislot machine originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomchun-ligamblingpachislotstreet-fighterstreet-fighter-ivSat, 28 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Law of the Game on Joystiq: Tournamentality]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/12/law-of-the-game-on-joystiq-tournamentality/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/12/law-of-the-game-on-joystiq-tournamentality/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/12/law-of-the-game-on-joystiq-tournamentality/#commentsFiled under:

Each week Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq, a column on legal issues as they relate to video games:


I get a surprising number of questions about video game tournaments and whether those constitute gambling. So today I'm going to discuss the matter specifically. I want to state up front that because this varies from state to state, please consult an attorney before attempting to set up a tournament. If you can't figure out what the laws in your state are, check with the state's Attorney General. Even if you have seen other tournaments in your area, you need to know what rules you have to play by to host your own. It's far better to be cautious than to be in jail. You've been warned. Now, back to our discussion...

Professional sports are legal and gambling (in general) is not in the United States. Video games, however, seem to be consistently stuck between the two. Part of this is due to video games being, in relative terms, the new kid on the block. And part of this comes from the structure of the tournaments themselves. The last bit comes from the skill-chance continuum that games are placed on. But let's take each of these issues one at a time.

Continue reading Law of the Game on Joystiq: Tournamentality

JoystiqLaw of the Game on Joystiq: Tournamentality originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columnsgamblinglawlaw-of-the-gametournamentFri, 12 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Law of the Game on Joystiq: The evolution of Pub Games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/law-of-the-game-on-joystiq-the-evolution-of-pub-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/law-of-the-game-on-joystiq-the-evolution-of-pub-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/law-of-the-game-on-joystiq-the-evolution-of-pub-games/#commentsFiled under:

Each week Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq, a column on legal issues as they relate to video games:

Despite the relatively small amount of time I've had to play them, I've so far enjoyed Fable II's Pub Games, especially Fortune's Tower (pictured above). The idea of minigames has been around for ages, but Pub Games adds deeper elements than the norm, as well as pre-release hype for Fable II. Of course, this begs the question: Is this a sign of things to come?

I could certainly see other RPGs following suit, pre-releasing a related Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, or WiiWare game that interacts with the core game, like a Final Fantasy XIII card game stand-alone. If this becomes a trend, then developers will be looking to the next evolution of this idea. I would imagine the next step would be external games that affect MMO environments; and beyond that, perhaps gambling with real currency. Think of the evolution this way: You start with a game like Texas Hold 'Em, where your play only affects that game, then the next logical step is something like Pub Games, which affects you alone in a virtual environment. From there, the evolution would logically move to impacting a multiplayer virtual environment and, ultimately, to affecting a real world environment, specifically your bank account. It's these last two steps that present some legal issues.

Continue reading Law of the Game on Joystiq: The evolution of Pub Games

JoystiqLaw of the Game on Joystiq: The evolution of Pub Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Carbonated-GamesCardcolumnsFable-2-Pub-Gamesgamblinglawlaw-of-the-gameLionheadLionhead-StudiosMicrosoft-Game-StudiosPub-GamesPuzzleXBLAXboxWed, 27 Aug 2008 18:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq E3 impressions: This is Vegas]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/joystiq-e3-impressions-this-is-vegas/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/joystiq-e3-impressions-this-is-vegas/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/joystiq-e3-impressions-this-is-vegas/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


We'll make a promise to you: not once in this preview will we reference the "Things that occur in Vegas" advertising slogan that seems to pop up every time someone mentions the mecca of mischievousness in the middle of Nevada. Except for that one time. No more.

This is Vegas is a game dreamed up by an assistant. Senior Associate Producer Trevor Ellington told us the real story behind the Sin City-based open-world humor game: an executive assistant at Midway came up with the idea of a game that replicated all of the wild fun to be had in Vegas, and thus was born TiV. During the demo we saw here at E3, the game presented four various scenarios: Fight, Party, Game, Drive, but by the time the game is released in 2009, they'll all be melded into what's supposed to be a sandbox of a good time.

Continue reading Joystiq E3 impressions: This is Vegas

JoystiqJoystiq E3 impressions: This is Vegas originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casinosE3e3-2008fightinggamblingImpressionsjoystiqfeaturesmidwaypartyPCPS3surrealthis-is-vegasXbox-360Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo sued over touch-screen technology]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/nintendo-sued-over-touch-screen-technology/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/nintendo-sued-over-touch-screen-technology/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/nintendo-sued-over-touch-screen-technology/#commentsFiled under:

Another day, another lawsuit for Nintendo. Their wacky ideas have probably been done in some form or another over the years, and now everyone wants a profitable piece of the action. The latest candidate for a chunk of Nintendo's payroll is John R. Martin, who claims to have patented touch-screen and pointing gaming technology in 2005. One year after the DS was released. Despite being a bit late, the origins of the patent date back to 1995, so it's fair game for the courts now.

This image was submitted with the patent filing, apparently showing a device "switchable between an amusement mode and a gaming or gambling mode." The whole touching thing can be found under "operating a touch screen on a CRT or ICD." But gambling? Looks like that diagram is for someone who hides stuff under the table to cheat at blackjack or roulette.

Nintendo has denied the infringement, while Martin is pursuing another suit against Apple.

JoystiqNintendo sued over touch-screen technology originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamblinggreedylawsuitpatentsuedtouch-screenTue, 08 Jul 2008 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[There's plenty to do in Dragon Quest V]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/theres-plenty-to-do-in-dragon-quest-v/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/theres-plenty-to-do-in-dragon-quest-v/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/theres-plenty-to-do-in-dragon-quest-v/#commentsFiled under: ,

Dragon Quest V is going to be one of the most feature-packed games on the DS. Don't try and argue with us, for Famitsu's recent look at the title only cemented that fact in our mind. There is a lot going on here.

Famitsu's article highlights not only a DS-exclusive character, Deborah, but also documents some of the other timesinks available in the game, should you wish to take a break from the main story. You can enjoy some Poker or Slots over at the casino, or partake in one of the other many mini-games available. You can even enjoy some combat in the Fight Field.

If you want to check out some new screens, head on over to Famitsu.

JoystiqThere's plenty to do in Dragon Quest V originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArtePiazzacasinoCattle-CallDQ5dqvDragon-QuestDragon-Quest-5Dragon-Quest-5-Hand-of-the-Heavenly-Bridedragon-quest-vgamblingJRPGmini-gamesminigamespokerrpgslotssquare-enixMon, 30 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tomb Raider comes to online video slot machines. Finally!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/13/tomb-raider-comes-to-online-video-slot-machines-finally/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/13/tomb-raider-comes-to-online-video-slot-machines-finally/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/13/tomb-raider-comes-to-online-video-slot-machines-finally/#commentsFiled under: ,

If there's one thing we here at Joystiq constantly find ourselves thinking while playing Tomb Raider games, it's "Man, if only this experience could be translated into an online video slot machine." Well someone at Belle Rock Entertainment must have had a window into our souls, because the group has just unveiled Tomb Raider: The Secret of the Sword, a new video slot for their online casinos.

The machine isn't based directly on the games, unfortunately. Instead, it promises to "faithfully capture the gripping excitement and suspense of the original movie" with "a glossy 5 reel 30 pay-line multi-faceted package." Fans of the movie will be happy to know that the "randomly triggered Super Mode" and "Global Adventure Bonus" have been faithfully captured here. The Secret of the Sword joins a similar Hitman slot machine in the annals of lame cross-marketing ideas for Eidos products impressive and engaging Eidos slot machine ports.

JoystiqTomb Raider comes to online video slot machines. Finally! originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casinoeidosgamblinggaminghitmanPCslot-mahcineslotstomb-raiderThu, 13 Mar 2008 22:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Law of the Game on Joystiq: MMORPGambler]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/law-of-the-game-on-joystiq-mmorpgambler/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/law-of-the-game-on-joystiq-mmorpgambler/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/law-of-the-game-on-joystiq-mmorpgambler/#commentsFiled under:

Each week Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq, a column on legal issues as they relate to video games:



Well, it's GDC week, which likely means no one will be reading 'Law of the Game on Joystiq.' I can't say I blame you ... However, I just got back from the Gaming Law Minefield conference, and I feel like writing about MMORPG gambling. So, if you can pry yourself away from the real-time GDC updates for a few minutes, it's time for this week's Law of the Game on Joystiq. But first, a little shameless self promotion in the way of background: I've been writing about the MMORPG gambling idea since December 2005, which, best as I can tell, makes me one of the earliest legal commentators on the matter, and my commentary spans my SSRN account and Law of the Game. If you want a pretty complete background on MMORPG gambling legal issues, feel free to read up. If, on the other hand, you'd rather get a summary and get back to your GDC coverage, read the next couple paragraphs.

MMO gambling, when linked to currency with a real world value, is essentially the same as any other online gambling. The first major issue in the early years of MMO gambling was what constituted a tie to "real world value," as games with eBay economies were a gray area. Games such as SecondLife were much more clearly linked to real currency. Given that MMO games have the freedom to incorporate practically anything imaginable, they can have any of the types of online gambling integrated into the game, or to a lesser extent, acted out by players (i.e., player sponsored tournaments with a gold buy in and prize) without integration. So, like any other online gambling system, there were the perpetual issues of access by minors, taxation, and, of course, the endlessly murky waters of differing gambling regulations worldwide. Things took a rather abrupt turn with the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in the United States at the end of 2006.

Continue reading Law of the Game on Joystiq: MMORPGambler

JoystiqLaw of the Game on Joystiq: MMORPGambler originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamblinglawlaw-of-the-gamelaw-of-the-game-on-joystiqMMORPGThu, 21 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Midway introduces 'This is Vegas' to Xbox 360, PS3, PC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/midway-introduces-new-game-this-is-vegas/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/midway-introduces-new-game-this-is-vegas/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/midway-introduces-new-game-this-is-vegas/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Exacting revenge for all those times we said, "This is mediocre," publisher Midway has announced "This is Vegas," shortly before kicking us into a mysterious pit acting as little more than a receptacle for cynical gamers and woefully outdated movie references. So what, pray tell, is this ... This is Vegas?

According to the press release, it's "an open world, lifestyle action experience, where players will live out their Vegas fantasies by fighting, gambling, driving and partying their way through the most decadent, fast-paced and wildest city in the world." Said gambling, driving and partying will occur in a world devised by Midway's internal studio, Surreal Software. The Suffering and Drakan developer is currently aiming for a Winter 2008 release on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

Studio head Alan Patmore says the team is "thrilled" to indulge our "wildest Vegas fantasies," though fails to specify whether that includes the one where we become an inconsiderate, alcoholic grandmother addicted to shaking hands with the one-armed bandit. There will, however, be "partying in the hottest night clubs, racing in underground circuits," playing at the tables, impromptu barroom brawls and (presumably) other exciting, lifestyle action experiences. This is Vegas, baby.

Gallery: This is Vegas

JoystiqMidway introduces 'This is Vegas' to Xbox 360, PS3, PC originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BreakingNewsgamblinglifestyle-action-experienceMidwayPCPS3racingSurrealThis-is-VegasVegasXbox-360Wed, 06 Feb 2008 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Law of the Game on Joystiq: Gambling Hero]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/law-of-the-game-on-joystiq-gambling-hero/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/law-of-the-game-on-joystiq-gambling-hero/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/law-of-the-game-on-joystiq-gambling-hero/#commentsFiled under:

Each week Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq, a column on legal issues as they relate to video games:

law of the game
It's that time of year again. Yes, it's the Las Vegas convention season, and between CES and D.I.C.E., many of the gaming faithful will have been in casino central before the end of February, including my own trip to the Gaming Law Minefield conference. This means bloggers are more drunk and broke than usual. It also means it's time to talk about gambling and how it may soon have a greater impact on video gaming. In fact, video game gambling has been a hot topic as of late, between MMO gambling and Kwari, among other stories. As an idea, video game gambling is relatively new.

Gambling, and gambling laws, on the other hand, have been around for quite some time. Games themselves fall into a range between two extremes: Games of Pure Chance and Games of Pure Skill. Chance games are ones where the player has literally no impact on the outcome of the game. The classic example is a lottery, where no matter what you do, you can't change the odds of your numbers being drawn on any given entry. Skill games, on the other hand, have no elements of chance whatsoever. The classic example of a pure skill game is chess, given that there are no random elements in the game; the outcome is determined solely by the skill of the two players. Most games, from blackjack to backgammon to baccarat to Bubble Bobble, falls somewhere between chance and skill.

Continue reading Law of the Game on Joystiq: Gambling Hero

JoystiqLaw of the Game on Joystiq: Gambling Hero originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columnsgamblingguitar-herolawlaw-of-the-gamelaw-of-the-game-on-joystiqWed, 23 Jan 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Play dress-up in Japan's first casino game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/28/play-dress-up-in-japans-first-casino-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/28/play-dress-up-in-japans-first-casino-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/28/play-dress-up-in-japans-first-casino-game/#commentsFiled under: ,

With Japan yet to be treated to its first compilation of casino games on the DS, Success Corp is planning to bring SuperLite 2500 Tokyo Odaiba Casino to the region next February. At first glance, there's nothing particularly notable about the title, with the usual casino suspects all present: poker, slots, bunny girls, blackjack, and roule -- wait, bunny girls?

Yep, it turns out that Odaiba comes with a rather unusual hook: the ability to dress up the game's casino hostess in a range of costumes that can be purchased once you've won enough virtual medals in the game. Indeed, further research indicates that said outfits are the only reward for playing through the game. Is this the vital ingredient that would have brought success with the lonely male demographic to western casino titles? Dear reader, we shall never know.

Take a gamble and make the jump for shots of a further five outfits.

Continue reading Play dress-up in Japan's first casino game

JoystiqPlay dress-up in Japan's first casino game originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Dec 2007 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casinocostumecustomizationgamblingJapanSuperLite-2500-Tokyo-Odaiba-CasinoFri, 28 Dec 2007 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Slot machines to become more like video games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/slot-machines-to-become-more-like-video-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/slot-machines-to-become-more-like-video-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/slot-machines-to-become-more-like-video-games/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There's usually not that much overlap between the gaming industry (the gambling one) and the gaming industry (the one you actually are about). That seems poised to change, though, as the New York Times reports slot machine manufacturers are adding skill-based gaming elements to the one-armed bandits in an effort to attract new players. "We can't just make a slot thinking about the 55-year-old lady who comes to the casino a few times a month," said Rob Bone, marketing director for WMS Gaming. "We need to appeal to new buckets of players, or we'll die."

To that end, Bally Technologies has signed a deal with Atari to make machines based on Pong and Breakout, which let you play simplified versions of the games during a bonus round. Don't get too excited, though -- your gaming skills won't let you break the bank at Vegas. As the Times points out, "skill will take a player only so far as these machines are still calibrated to pay out less money than they take in." That's OK though ... back in the '80s we put money into these games without expecting to get any money back.

[Thanks Vlad]

JoystiqSlot machines to become more like video games originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atariBallybreakoutcasinoclassicgamblinggamingpongretroslot machinesSlotMachinesvegasTue, 11 Dec 2007 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill seeks to legalize video game betting]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/08/bill-seeks-to-legalize-video-game-betting/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/08/bill-seeks-to-legalize-video-game-betting/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/08/bill-seeks-to-legalize-video-game-betting/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

ma$ter chief
A new bill to be proposed by Florida Rep. Robert Wexler (D) would seek to exempt "games of skill" from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). While the obvious goal is to protect poker from the UIGEA, the bill would presumably allow for the establishment of online betting networks for most video games. While casinos in Second Life (featuring games of chance, like slots, roulette, etc.) would remain illegal, theoretically, a company could establish a site that took round by round bets on Halo 3 matches, inviting leet slayers to put they monies where they mouths at.

Of course, the UIGEA was established in part to quell the enormous debt that online poker players have amassed, so don't expect this bill to float on by Congress. Still, just imagine the hustler-like subculture that would grow from out of the basements of red-eyed gaming junkies if the bill did pass. Sorta terrifying. Sorta tempting.

[Thanks, dark54555]

JoystiqBill seeks to legalize video game betting originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betbettingbillgamblegamblingUIGEAFri, 08 Jun 2007 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Gambling on games bill passes Illinois legislature]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/18/gambling-on-games-bill-passes-illinois-legislature/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/18/gambling-on-games-bill-passes-illinois-legislature/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/18/gambling-on-games-bill-passes-illinois-legislature/#commentsFiled under: ,

Tired of playing games for near-meaningless Gamerscore points or leaderboard rankings? If you live in Illinois, you may soon be able to play games for cold hard cash instead.

The Illinois legislature recently passed HB1124, which would allow residents to place bets on "a contest of 2 or more individuals" in "an electronic video game simulating a contest requiring skill, experience, dexterity, and precision." The key clause here is "requiring skill," so traditional luck-based gambling games like blackjack or video poker are out while games "requiring speed and accuracy of response to factual questions," for instance, are in.

While the law is likely intended to allow gambling on the touchscreen games often seen in bars, we can't see why it wouldn't also allow Illinoisans to legally place bets on Halo 2 matches, for instance. The bill still has to be signed into law by Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, though, so don't go placing money on your skill with headshots just yet.

[Update: Law of the Game has further analysis of what is and isn't allowed under the bill. We'll take his word over ours since he actually seems to have some legal experience.]

[Via Gaming Today]

JoystiqGambling on games bill passes Illinois legislature originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 May 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betgamblingillinoislawlegaltouchscreenFri, 18 May 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Beta test Tournament.com, gain the need for gaming greed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/beta-test-tournament-com-gain-the-need-for-gaming-greed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/beta-test-tournament-com-gain-the-need-for-gaming-greed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/beta-test-tournament-com-gain-the-need-for-gaming-greed/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Tournament.com is looking for a few good beta testers and giving the participants $1 credit for every match they complete before the official launch later this spring. Tournament.com is looking to become a skill-based tournament environment where players compete for real money. Co-founder Marcus Pearcey says, "Much like golfers or chess players can compete against each other in tournaments, Tournament.com users can prove their skills and make some cash in secure, fair, competitive matches that reward winners with more than just bragging rights." Tournament.com has received the rights to use Valve games Counter Strike and Half-Life 2 for the beta, they plan to announce more titles after the beta.

Of course, this sounds just a tad bit like gambling, but Tournament.com insists this is skill-based competition. There is a list of locations that believe this is gambling and won't allow you to play. Competitors are only allowed to place $150 USD into their account every month to wager $1 to $10 on their competitions -- you must also be 18 or older to participate. The beta testers who receive the $1 credit per round need to use up their credit value before they can cash out. For gamers into competition, the stakes just got real. The $150 cap prevents us from saying that this is just begging for intervention. Tournament.com doesn't sound any different than bars that hold gaming competitions with buy-ins. Just make sure to check that the software is legal to download in your location before you go trying to pwn n00bs for cash.

JoystiqBeta test Tournament.com, gain the need for gaming greed originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Apr 2007 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitioncontestFPSgamblinggamingPCskill-basedtournamentFri, 06 Apr 2007 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Virtual Feds scope out 'Second Life' casinos]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/virtual-feds-scope-out-second-life-casinos/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/virtual-feds-scope-out-second-life-casinos/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/virtual-feds-scope-out-second-life-casinos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"Adam Reuters," the adorable virtual persona of real-life reporter Adam Pasick, breaks a story on FBI agents checking up on the virtual gambling in nerd hangout Second Life. Since gambling isn't legal in most of the US, it presumably isn't legal on the internet either, even when it's using "Cuddle Bucks" or whatever the pretend currency in Second Life is. So far, the Feds haven't shut anything down, but stay tuned ... any time now, a whole lot of furries may have to find another place to play the slots.

[Via Second Life Insider]

JoystiqVirtual Feds scope out 'Second Life' casinos originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fbifurriesgamblingsecond lifeSecondLifeWed, 04 Apr 2007 13:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Game champion commits suicide over gambling debts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/08/game-champion-commits-suicide-over-gambling-debts/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/08/game-champion-commits-suicide-over-gambling-debts/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/08/game-champion-commits-suicide-over-gambling-debts/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Christian Sellergren, a professional gamer who led Team Eyeballers to the 2004 CPL Counter-Strike championship, apparently took his own life last November over massive debts accrued from online gambling. The news trickled down to us through a rough translation of a recent story about the death in Swedish paper Aftonbladet.

According to the report, the 21-year-old Sellergren, who went by "divino" online, turned his competitive instincts to online gambling after retiring from the eSports scene. Sellergren lost his job and accrued over $13,000 in debt to fuel his addiction, which he kept from parents and friends.

While stories about pro gamers with six figure salaries and major sponsorship deals may make you think the scene is all about glitz and glamor, this story shows that is not always the case. Our sympathies go out to all of Sellergren's friends and family. If you think someone you know may have a gambling problem, please don't wait until it's too late. Get help.

[Thanks Will]

JoystiqGame champion commits suicide over gambling debts originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Jan 2007 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CounterstrikeCPLdivinoesportsgamblingPCpro gamerprofessional gamingProfessionalGamingProGamersellergrenMon, 08 Jan 2007 15:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Off the Grid: Hacking LCR]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/07/off-the-grid-hacking-lcr/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/07/off-the-grid-hacking-lcr/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/07/off-the-grid-hacking-lcr/#commentsFiled under: ,

Every other week Scott Jon Siegel contributes Off the Grid, a column on gaming away from the television screen or monitor.

Don't be surprised if you haven't heard of LCR. My exposure to the game came from my brother, who was presented with a copy -- along with everyone else in the studio audience -- as part of Rachel Ray's Thanksgiving special a few weeks back. It was one of four token gifts handed out to audience members before the über-surprise -- brand new cellphones for everyone! -- was announced. Having no need for what he quickly dismissed as "Dreidel with dice," my brother passed the game along to me.

LCR comes packaged in a clear plastic tube, containing two-dozen red plastic chips, three special LCR dice, and a small one-sided sheet of paper with the rules. The packaging describes it as "the new game that everyone's getting hooked on." It looked modest enough, but its purported popularity certainly piqued my interest.

Am I endorsing LCR? It's certainly not on par with classics like Settlers of Catan, or even cultural mainstays like Life or Monopoly. But no game is without potential. By itself, LCR may be dull, but the smallest twist, tweak, or hack can breathe life into even the stalest gameplay experience.

The rules for LCR are basic enough, calling for a minimum of three players to be seated in a circle. Each player is given three chips to start. During his/her turn, a player rolls all three LCR dice. For every 'L' rolled, the player passes a chip to the left. For every 'R,' a chip to the right. For each 'C,' a player adds a chip to the center pot. The three sides of the dice with dots on them do nothing. Play continues in one direction until only one player has any chips left. If a player has no chips left, that player is still in the game, but does not roll dice during his/her turn. A player with two chips rolls only two dice, and a player with only one chip rolls one die. The last player with chips remaining wins the game.

The notable upside to these rules is that nobody in the game gets eliminated. Even if you're out of chips, you could be back in the game easily if the adjacent players roll an 'L' or 'R' in your favor. The downside, however, is that gameplay is completely based on chance, and skill has no part in it whatsoever. The unpredictability might make LCR fun for the first few rounds, but where do you go from there?

Well, for starters, you turn to gambling and booze.

Continue reading Off the Grid: Hacking LCR

JoystiqOff the Grid: Hacking LCR originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Dec 2006 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dicegamblingLCRoffthegridThu, 07 Dec 2006 13:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Ohio bar game caught in legal battle]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/06/ohio-bar-game-caught-in-legal-battle/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/06/ohio-bar-game-caught-in-legal-battle/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/06/ohio-bar-game-caught-in-legal-battle/#commentsFiled under: ,


Is it luck or is it skill? That's the question at the center of the debate over Tic Tac Fruit, a video game popular in many Ohio bars. Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro argues that the machine is an illegal, luck-based gambling device and has given Ohio bars until Nov. 11 to remove it from the premise or face sanctions. The game's maker, Ohio Skill Games, sees it differently, arguing on their web site that "Tic Tac Fruit and all of its variations are games of skill. Meaning that the outcome of each game is dependent on the players [sic] skill."

It's hard to say which side is in the right. At first glance, the game resembles a video slot machine, with three columns of three symbols each rolling to a stop with each play. The skill part, the manufacturer argues, comes when players places a wild square to maximize the payout, although the ability to do this correctly seems pretty elementary.

Ohio Skill Games backs up its argument with what it calls "the best legal team in the state of Ohio," ensuring that the attorney general's decision won't go unchallenged. In June, the manufacturer agreed to update the game's software in a settlement with the City of Columbus.

Watch - February news story on gambling games in Ohio
Read - AP story on recent attorney general order

JoystiqOhio bar game caught in legal battle originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Nov 2006 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fruitgamblinggamingOhioslotslot machineSlotMachineMon, 06 Nov 2006 12:25:00 EST