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Re:A Dark Consensus About Screens and Kids Begins to Emerge ... by xphilter on Friday October 26, 2018 @01:31PM (#18311284)
Yeah, that's just not right. There are 3 questions to determine gambling: whether you pay something to play, whether there is a game of chance (a random number generator) and whether the game pays out something of value. Considering companies are making billions on virtual goods, I'd argue that a virtual good counts as a thing of value, and when tied to a random number generator (e.g., a loot box or virtual slot machine) then it's gambling (assuming it's pay to play).
Re:A Dark Consensus About Screens and Kids Begins to Emerge ... by jboles on Saturday October 27, 2018 @02:45PM (#18317096)
I think where the connection to gambling falls down is the “pay to play” aspect.

That you are never forced to pay is a defining aspect of “freemium”. You are always given the choice to wait out the timer/watch an ad for your next upgrade/level/continue/bonus/lootbox, rather than pay.