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Gaming per se refers to the act of playing for stakes. However, online gaming today covers the entire gamut of video games available on the Internet, even those that do not involve any punting. Internet gaming using free online computer games is very popular especially among young people. What is the lure of the gaming zone?
Internet Gaming for Stakes
Internet gaming presents some unusual legal problems that other forms of gambling do not. This is because the gaming person while physically present in a certain state or country is involved in a game using internet gaming software which is being played in another state with its own laws. The Federal Wire Wager Act makes it illegal for anyone in the United States to bet in Internet gaming sites.
Children find the computer gaming world of casino sites on the web very attractive. Most of these sites use up-to-date sophisticated Internet gaming software to offer free games and contests to attract potential gamblers, and these sites lure minors to play. According to statistical reports, teenage Internet gambling was the fastest-growing addiction of the day. Although online gambling is closed to people in the US, techno-savvy kids manage to bet in casino sites in Antigua, Barbuda, etc.
A casino site licensed in Antigua cautions that if you have a computer that has casino software and if young people below the age of 18 have access to it, you need to install child protection software and password protect your casino application. The site also matter-of-factly tells you to keep your credit cards out of children's reach.
Pluses of PC Gaming
Now, let's move on to the zone of computer gaming world that do not necessarily involve betting. The graphics and sound effects of computer PC games today are cool and getting better with every new game. Some studies have shown that computer gaming improves hand and eye coordination. It is suggested that regular gamers have better reflexes than those who do not play online games. Free online computer games also serve as an effective way of making friends and chatting with people from other parts of the world. Many strong relationships result from time spent at the gaming zone.
Many players find that computer gaming provides great entertainment and relaxes the mind after a difficult day at work. This may well be the case provided you are not among those who become pathologically addicted to PC gaming.
Computer Gaming Addiction
Addiction is a serious problem that affects a small percentage of people. This is the way it is with all addictions. The addictive substance, whether it is alcohol or tobacco does not affect everyone in the same way. Some find themselves wretchedly hooked while others get away with their indulgences more easily. Among gamblers too, not all those who bet at the races make a wreck of their lives. Computer Gaming Addiction works pretty much the same way. Most players pull out of the indulgence and resume a normal life, but some others do not.
Dr. Costas Karageorghis, Brunel University (London) feels that recent research points to the fact that a person involved in PC gaming for long hours could achieve the 'meditative concentration' achieved by people who pursue religious meditation. Dr Karageorghis goes on to describe the experience as a deeply pleasurable one that other people do not often experience.
Curiously, Leonard Holmes, Ph.D. well known clinical psychologist uses the same adjective 'pleasurable' and states, "There are indications that pleasurable games and activities cause the body to produce endogenous opiates such as endorphins. These substances are actually addictive. Some addictive drugs, such as heroin, are chemically similar to these natural substances, while other addictive drugs are thought to stimulate their production." Now this raises serious questions about the safety of the gaming zone. Internet gaming should be treated with the same caution as other addictive substances. Unlike alcohol and tobacco, the addictive nature of online gaming is not understood by the public. This means that the awareness drives will have to go beyond mere statutory warnings.
Addiction to the gaming zone affects family and friends of the victim. A case in point is that of 12-year-old Lim from South Korea. Reuters reported from Seoul on 12 January 2004 that the boy stole $16 000 from his father and ran away to play games in the city of Pusan. Multi-player games like 'Lineage', that little Lim played, allow players to earn real cash by collecting virtual stuff like magic potions and enchanted swords and selling them to other players for real cash.
This is a problem that haunts the United States as much as it does South Korea. In a given week, committed players spend anything between 17 and 26 hours in the gaming zone. Many of these games require players to concentrate and be able to go without a break for long hours. Extreme cases have come to light where addicts have actually collapsed and died without proper food and water intake for days. It is also common for young people who are heavily involved in computer gaming to have problems with school, friends, family, and teachers
Online Gaming and Violence
Does violence in computer PC games lead to violent behavior in players? As with addiction, violent behavior is not seen in the majority of players and yet, it does affect a significant number of people. Recently, there was a case where a gamer killed his sister after becoming so disoriented that he could not differentiate between the real and virtual worlds. An Internet gaming software can lead you that far if you are not careful.
A player had this to say about a game that supposedly had very little by way of blood and gore —"There are some kids tied to a pole and a robot falls on them and kills them, and then blood comes out from under the robot." Isn't this in bad taste, to put it mildly?
Even if the violence in a game does not make a player violent, why should any one have to see blood and gore during a game? This question may never be resolved because there are people who have stakes in the PC gaming business and stand to gain by the violent content in the games.
Internet Casino / Internet Gambling
Internet gambling is fast gaining popularity though it is illegal in most parts of the world. You can play on most of the Internet gambling sites for free. These Internet gambling sites allow you to download their software for free and begin playing instantly. When the Internet gambling site requires a fee, you have to open an account after installing the downloadable software. Most of the Internet gambling sites offer a secure way to make payments online. You can cash your winnings online, usually within 1-5 business days.
An Internet casino allows you to play casino games online. Most games in an Internet casino can be played for free. Some Internet casino sites require you to download software to play the games. Some Internet casino games may be Java-based applets. Most of them have high quality graphics and sound. A new option in Internet casino games is to play as the dealer and win a percentage of other players' losses. Most Internet casino sites accept credit cards, though some offer other options like NETeller, Instacash, etc. Explore the entire website before making a decision about an Internet casino, especially their customer support structure. As with a bricks and mortar casino, play only those games that have a relatively low house advantage. Many websites offer comprehensive information about Internet casino gambling. Check them out before venturing into the tempting world of Internet gambling.
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