• Second Life Bans Online Gambling

    Second Life Bans Online Gambling

    Techtree News Staff, Jul 30, 2007 1606 hrs IST

    The virtual world lets players create animated proxies of themselves called 'avatars' who interact among themselves, even trade virtual properties/services.

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According to reports, popular virtual world, Second Life, has banned all forms of online gambling in order to comply with US laws.

The virtual world lets players create animated proxies of themselves called 'avatars' who interact among themselves, participate in various activities, and even trade virtual properties and services.

Founders of Second Life, Linden Lab, have now posted a warning on the company blog that says if gambling activities are discovered, all related objects will be removed from the in-world environment. They might even suspend or terminate residents' accounts without refund, or report user information to authorities/financial institutions.

The ban encompasses all forms of online gambling, including blackjack, Pai Gow, Poker, Roulette, and Slot machines.

Earlier this year, Second Life had invited the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) to scour it's virtual world for discrepancies regarding compliance with US online gambling policy. Apparently, FBI was not too happy with what it found in the virtual world.

Since October last year, US laws decree all forms of online gambling as illegal.

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Discussion Board
(4) Comments
Father Jones
,California, on Sep 10, 2009 03:04 AM
Second Life anno 2009: too many people are still losing too much money on Zyngo. And it is for sure a gambling game first class. Even with the blue and green jokers, it is definitly a game of chance, like bingo is considered one. Talking about too much money, I mean like people playing for 1000 USD in one hour. Did you guys ever searched for high roller places with Zyngo? You can play machines there for 5000 (17 USD)up to 50000 Linden Dollars (175 USD) a game, with pots to win up to 1 million Linden Dollars (3500 USD). And that is what the creator of the game and the owners of those places call an innocent game of skill for fun? I wonder when someone will have the guts to bring this to the right people, the press, the financial company’s Linden Lab is depending on, and also of course the US government,… We are not only talking about Zyngo in this matter. There are lots of ‘zyngo-clones’ produced lately by other programmers that are made for the very same purpose: making huge money, not just the money you need to buy you a pair of shoes, a piece of land and a house to live in your virtual world. Millions of dollars are running around in this gamblingbusiness on Second Life. Anyone doubting my words: just take a look yourself inworld.
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jonh
,thessaloniki, on Aug 14, 2007 12:45 AM
thenks
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SANDY BEACHES
,ANYTOWN, ANWHERE, USA, on Jul 30, 2007 10:12 PM
the second life founders were very naive. anytime you invite a federal agency to "look" at you, they will find something. thats what they do. the question is: can Second Life close the lid on this Pandoras box now that they've opened it. I think Second Life has shot themselves in the foot & their troubles are only beginning.
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Scott
,San Jose, on Jul 30, 2007 08:38 PM
Payment processor EcoCard is getting out of the online gaming industry. I thought congress was going to legalize and tax online gaming?
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