Chance-Based Gaming Monetization and Online Gambling

The monetization of the gaming industry has included mechanisms that allow monetary transactions for virtual items or gaming progression. This pilot research aims to collect public perception of the similarities between gambling and various commonly seen gaming monetization mechanisms through online surveys. Across the examined traditional gambling definitional elements, findings show that having the means to convert in-game items into real money relates to participants considering the game to be gambling, yet not the other two elements of needing money to play or chance. The findings also show great variability across the mechanisms examined. These results show the potential limitations of applying traditional legal definitions to newly emerged activities.