I'm totally fine with allowing gambling at the condition that it be completely off limits to minors and it be properly labelled and easy to filter out. But now, what we see is games specifically targeting children are rife with gambling type mechanism to get the child to spend money. As for the App Store, sure they display that there might be micro transactions, but the hardly tell you if they are of the gem types or the "10$ to unlock full game" types. I also should be able to have an option in a menu somewhere to completely hide all those gambling type games. Right now, when I go look for games, I specifically filter for only the paid ones, yet those games still want to double dip and get you to pay micro transaction, which just discourages me from spending my money at all.

> when you ban gambling, it doesn’t disappear, it simply goes underground.

I don't care if randos gamble in a back alley, I just don't want my kids to open up Google Play and over 90% of the games are just gambling.

I don't want gambling forced on me as the vast majority of ethical games dry up because they're all going "whale hunting".

> We should not be asking the government to set laws based on morality.

What an odd opinion. What about laws against murder, fraud, or narcotics? Aren't those also based on morality?

It is deemed a qualified use to limit gambling because gambling addiction hurts more than just the addict. Their family suffers, maybe society suffers because of crime. Limiting (not outlawing) allows for outreach, voluntary blacklists, escape for their family should they cross the line and other safety measures.

As for the brightline between economic decisions: yeah, the definition is not perfect. Poker isn't gambling for some definitions because it is 'a game of skill'. While buying a plot of land with oil is certainly a skill AND it is expected to generate profits. But we can't protect as m well against hopeful stupidity.

Buying an insurance policy isn't gambling as it reduces risk. ...selling one is gambling if you didn't do the math though.

I think I agree on your take on gambling and some of its “sinful” corollaries, but aren't this and other dark patterns more about tricking and fooling people into something? At a casino I know it is money in, very likely no money out, maybe big money. Here it is money in, for a chance to play better against.. what even humans, or just more virtualities?

I know i know, where to draw the line will be superhard or impossible, but this has the touch of plain betrayal to me, that classic gambling hasn't (as long as it is fair).

If you think gambling is about morality, you must've been very isolated from it's negative effects.

Gambling is about addiction, and addiction is a disease.

It's not about morality. If enough of the population goes down the tubes drinking alcohol or smoking opium the people will make it illegal.

Government == people, like your mom.

You would be blown away at how many people without money spend $4000 in a short time.

I worked with a guy who spent thousands on World of Tanks when it launched 12years ago (free to play, and they didn't have anything that was pay-to-win or that resembled gambling). His income was about $40k and he had a family to support. I have since run into others who have blown similar amounts or more on mobile gaming. These people are slowly, quietly ruining their lives.