New research finds video games use gambling-like tactics to target kids

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Kids playing popular video games are being targeted by gambling like content which can fleece them of cash. Researchers are calling for substantial change after analysing design features which they say purposefully manipulate gamers.

Transcript

00:00Merrick Walski escapes into sensory overload using the gaming platform Roblox.

00:09But the 17-year-old is worried gameplay feels increasingly like gambling.

00:15Rolling dice and dependent on your luck you get different pets.

00:19To me blatantly feels like the whole point of the game is gambling.

00:23He buys Roblox's virtual currency for a chance to win valuable items.

00:28But the odds of success can be low.

00:31I'm giving away $5 here and in return I get a 0.01% chance to get a good drop.

00:38This is gambling without limits and real manipulation.

00:43A new report examined design features which manipulate gamers known as dark patterns.

00:49Almost all of the players surveyed had encountered them.

00:52And the most common were free games with ads or paid features known as freemiums, hidden costs and redirections or pop-up ads.

01:02Manipulative practices that cost people money, time, their wellbeing.

01:07More than half of players had their privacy compromised and left games feeling annoyed.

01:12Almost 50% suffered financial loss.

01:15We've heard from people who've spent hundreds of dollars or thousands of dollars more than they've intended to.

01:22Eleven-year-old Yo-Yo is also an avid Roblox user but gets frustrated with pop-up ads.

01:29I can't zoom out and click the X button to ignore it.

01:33And I have to leave the game.

01:35Oh, did it just go?

01:37Researchers found Australia's classification system has serious limitations.

01:43Recent changes mean new games are rated M, not for kids under 15, or R18+, restricted to adults, depending on the gambling content.

01:54The gambling-like features captured are also really limited.

01:58It has to physically look like blackjack or poker.

02:01It has to look like a casino.

02:03Whereas a lot of these games, they might have different cute animated features.

02:08But they work exactly like gambling.

02:10The one I purchased with my money, I got this skin.

02:15Communications Minister Michelle Rowland acknowledged some games with in-game purchases continue to target young children.

02:22But under the new system, if they added purchases linked to chance, those games would need to be reclassified.

02:30Roblox said it takes action on content that doesn't meet requirements.

02:35And games must disclose the numerical odds of winning or losing.

02:39They are also looking for lost-to-win.

02:40They may be trading.

02:41In the meantime, if games must…

02:42And not people may be trading.

02:43If games must have cost-win.

02:44The game has the same ability.

02:45In the meantime, there is a good thing.

02:46So, be sure to let them go.

02:47We love to dig out you guys.

02:48If games must have a new game orray, I wish to win.

02:49Definitely can give a few games, including my game or video.

02:50I wish to play games, everybody because I don't know.

02:51Let's play games and play games and play games.

02:52And play games.

02:53So, be a good game.

02:54I like gaming.

02:55I like playing games.

02:56Let's play games.

02:57Gabriel A game.

02:58And play games.

02:59And play games.

03:00It's like a game.

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