Response to Kaylee - Thanks for your comments but Neopets need to fix this

Hi Kaylee,

First I want to thank you for your comments on the Neopets site. You are passionate about Neopets and you make a lot of good points.

However I'll clarify why gambling games the way they are presented for kids on Neopets isn't valuable in teaching them about the potential dangers of gambling.

Whilst some children will realise that gambling on these games can cost them points, others don't and simply chase their losses. Nothing actually tells them that there is a risk or what the potential consequences are, and unfortunately some to begin gambling as part of their regular neopet routine, chasing potential winnings or trying to regain losses. The problem is that children in this way learn the behaviour, and this learned behaviour can be played out in the real world causing other problems. This is more true when you have games which are identical to casino games. Kids can actually learn to play black jack and other casino games which then make it easier to play in the real world i.e. if I win in neopets why won't I win at the real game.

Also the fact that the gambling on neopets can be manipulated through cheats by players or by Neopets themselves can contribute to the development of false beliefs about gambling such as about chances of winning, that gambling at a certain time or certain way can increase my odds etc. These false beliefs are a major contributor to problem gambling behaviour.

Kids can be taught by their parents (and schools) about gambling in a way that is much more helpful and informative without the risks. This may involve simulated gambling but for some children the only message they will learn from the way neopets presents it is that I won or I lost or that I can win what I want so I should keep playing. Try to teach a 7 or 8 year old about odds, chances of winning, consequences of gambling - its pretty difficult unless it is really, really simplified. Try to teach them about black jack and it would be impossible. For a child of that age Black Jack can only do harm not good.

I accept what you say about Kayceecat_5's post. I couldn't see any webcam link either. I only assume someone had told her child to go to one of the neopets boards outside the neopets site or that someone posted a link (with spaces in it) and asked users to go there or that someone used one of the messenger programs after being invited whilst in one of the neoboards. However I made it clear it was from the review site and was an opinion and if it did happen to her child it is a potential issue.

Gambling is not legal in Victoria for anyone under 18. The same is true for most states in Australia except for some lottery products which are 16. I believe Neopets should make the gambling games inaccessible for children under a certain age say 13 or 15. If they did this children above this age may be able to learn something but even then there should be more information about the gambling games available to users. At a minimum, parental consent should be clearly given for access to these gambling games which is currently not needed for this but only other types of content such as 'neomail'. This is a point made by many users in the neoboards, and on some of the other neopets discussion boards on the net.

Neopia is like the real world where gambling is an option, but in the real world people experience problems and addictions to gambling. It is possible for the same addictions and problems to occur in the Neopian world but there is no information, warnings or help available. Players can get so engrossed in the game that apart from the normalising behaviour this can effect them emotionally as well and can become habit-forming.

Regarding the petition, on some of the Neoboards on thursday and friday, users said that they were using fake names and email addresses to add to the petition. If you look for yourself on the petition you will see that some users are on multiple times.

I don't want to ban gambling. However I do want controls on gambling and information made available to people so that if they choose to gamble, they do so responsibly and don't get into problems. If the gambling games aren't such a big part of Neopets then why is there such an uproar?

Today Tonight did present incorrect facts (not uncommon) - but the core of the story and the comments made by Nick Xenophon, Michael Carr-Greg and others are correct.

My position has not changed, but like I said in a previous post I believe that Neopets can be really fun and educational but gambling is not required for this to be true.

GG