Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of PhilSTAR Tech.
The recent Philippine Game Show caused a stir in the gaming community. Fellow gaming/tech media colleague Chad Ting Ramos of Reimaru Files posted a photo on Facebook of Playtime app’s presence in the gaming convention that supposedly caters to the gaming community composed of PC, console or mobile gamers. Playtime app is an online gambling platform that offers slot machines, card games, poker using real money. My, and everyone else’s question: Why is Playtime app in the Philippine Game Show?
The Philippine Game Show is a new event organized by CBZN Perspective. CBZN is well known in the gaming community for organizing PGDX (Philippine GameDev Expo) and other related events. According to my sources, Playtime app was brought in as an exhibitor of the PGS. CBZN discussed that this may cause an issue with the gaming community attending the event, but the participation of Playtime app still pushed through.
True enough, it caused a backlash with members of the gaming community and social media influencers like Carlo Ople criticizing the event.
My second question is why did CBZN didn’t do anything about it? Yes, they may have discussed it internally, but why did they let this happen? I’m pretty sure their well-regarded standing in the community will be greatly affected. It sure did to a few of us. Or did CBZN Perspective’s perspective change by prioritizing revenue over their true community which consists of gamers, streamers and cosplayers?
This incident will lead to a bad precedent for future gaming shows. Online gambling sites will exploit these events—from large gaming conventions to the small gaming gatherings. Imagine them inviting young gamers who are still studying in school to play their gambling apps. They will find ways to gain more customers to be involved in online gambling.
Reimaru Files reported in their Facebook Reels that Playtime App’s marketing people were collecting contact information from attendees during a concert in PGS. They’re also giving away their marketing freebies with no strings attached. Come on! This event also has attendees with their families! Imagine giving these freebies to a family and their youngest kid is holding that merch. Have these Playtime App marketers ever thought if another online gambling app or site does the same thing to their kids? Where’s their conscience???
Sure, there’s an age limit for users of gaming sites which is 21 years-old and above, but there is a thing called Indirect Marketing. I remember Carlo Ople’s Facebook post where he mentioned another online gambling app. They do not have any endorsers, but they use animals as mascots for their app. It may not appeal to adults, but with the cartoonized animals, it would certainly appeal to kids.
These kids will request their parents to download the app. What if the kids cry or worse, throw tantrums and their parents couldn’t control them? The parents might end up downloading the app so their kids can see the animals. The parents may say that they will not use the app, but downloading is already one step away from gambling addiction. If the app stays on their phone, there is the temptation for them to use it. I don’t have to explain what could probably happen next.
How do we solve this issue? Don’t get me started at responsible gaming! Regulation may be one of the answers, but how?
One suggestion is to reach out to Senator Bam Aquino, known for his love for gaming. Maybe the good Senator, with his influence, can do something about this. File a bill perhaps or partner with a fellow Senator whose committee handles gambling. Sit down with online gambling companies to discuss prevention and bar them from entering and marketing their gambling apps in gaming events. We are hoping he could come up with something and stop this evil from infiltrating the gaming community.
Gamers play games to relax and escape from reality, and not to play to become gamblers. Our appeal to these online gambling companies is to leave the gaming community alone and not influence them to gamble with their own money. We do not want to see their lives be ruined by their so-called “online gaming apps.”
By the way, Responsible Gaming my butt!
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