What is gaming?
"Gaming" in this context is a container term for 'the act of playing electronic games'. It is mostly used to designate an above average interest.

What is gambling?
Gambling is an activity that is several thousand years old. One bets money or other valuables on the outcome of some event, either an external one or one within the gambler's control. One can, for example, bet on who wins a football match, a horse race, or on whether you win or lose a game of backgammon. If the financial factor is removed, the activity is transformed into games playing.

What is online gaming?
Some electronic games can be played by more than one player, sharing the same play area. The players then either create teams that play against each other, or simply see which single player is the best. Multiplayer games can be played through computers linked locally, or over the Internet. Popular online genres are Action (Counter-Strike), Role-Playing (World of Warcraft) and strategy (Civilization). Some interactive online games have huge followings the world over. World of Warcraft, for example, is available in seven languages and has more than 8 million subscribers worldwide.

What is online gambling?
Regular gambling involves gathering two or more persons for the exchange of bets and, if applicable, for the bet-able activity itself, either physically or through a proxy like a traditional bookmaker. The Internet has made this meeting of gamblers a lot easier, whether it is for regular betting, or poker, backgammon or chess games – one doesn't have to meet, for example, the poker game can be played through a shared electronic interface, displayed on every player's computer screen in real-time.

What is the difference between gaming and gambling?
Gaming and gambling are two fundamentally different activities. While gaming has a non-real approach, with only fictional ties to the physical world, gambling involves the risk of real financial loss or gain. Psychologically, this results in two very different modes of play: If one loses a round of Counter-Strike, one can always chalk it up as 'just a bad day' and return tomorrow for a rematch, while the fear of losing your very real life savings on a bad judgment in a round of poker triggers another set of emotions.

What are the problems with online gaming?
A lot of research has gone into finding links between playing games and violent behaviour. Despite some reports to the contrary, a scientifically valid causal link has not yet been established, nor is it expected that it ever will be. Other social factors have much more influence on an individual's actions. Gaming triggers the physiological release of adrenaline, and this increased level of hormones might cause a small short term behavioural change, estimated at approximately one hour. It is therefore important that a gamer gives his- or herself some time to wind down before going to sleep, otherwise sleep patterns might be disturbed, resulting in general physical problems.

Physically, standard gaming is a somewhat static activity. Gamers should therefore take regular breaks, move around, get enough nutrients and fluids, etc.

There are indications that the addiction to online games might be a problem for some gamers. Research shows that this seldom applies to the game itself, but rather the online social network that exists within the game world. For those that are unable to establish regular social ties in their own community, these online networks might actually help boost their self esteem, thus enabling them to form relationships with the persons around them. On the other hand, there is a real risk of players spending so much time on the game that it severely affects the rest of their life. As always, too much is too much!

As with all types of media content, certain people might find some of the games' topics, descriptions and depictions problematic or even offensive. To aid parents in making purchase decisions for their children, the PEGI rating and labelling system has been established. For more information on this, see other related topics, or visit www.pegi.info .

Lastly, it should be noted that since all online games feature some form of inter-player communication, some, if not all, of the risks associated with regular chat rooms may apply to games as well. Of special importance are the issues concerning verbal abuse and privacy.

What are the problems with gambling?
The core problematic issue with online gambling is the risk of financial loss. It is perfectly possible to gamble away one's savings, house, inheritance, spouse and dog... This is to some degree connected to the issue of gambling addiction, a situation where one simply cannot stop betting more money, in the hope that just one more round will win it all back. Unlike gaming, where the fun of the experience is the main draw, with gambling it is always about the money. Addiction to gambling is a known psychological phenomenon, with treatment programmes available in many countries.

Additionally, there are the risks connected with giving out credit details online, as well as the health and time issues mentioned above, connected to sitting still in front of a computer screen for long periods of time.

What are my consumer rights?
Because the Internet can be used anonymously, there is a real danger that underage gamblers will abuse online gambling sites. Pathological gamblers may become easily addicted to online gambling because of the Internet's easy access, privacy and instant results. With anonymity associated with the Internet, online gambling is more susceptible to crime.

In the US, there is a federal law prohibiting gambling using wire communication, but there has been much debate on whether the internet is included in the statute. A recent report commissioned by the US senate suggests that all legal gambling be restricted to those over 21 years of age and that each gambling operation, from state lotteries to gambling organisations, adopt advertising guidelines that avoid appeals to people vulnerable to gambling such as youths and residents of low-income neighborhoods.

In the EU there are a range of approaches, some of which are explained in the Gaming Law Review

Information about the PEGI rating system can be found on www.pegi.info.

Is there a way to know if I am buying the appropriate online game for my children?
Most games nowadays have pictograms on their box, which rate the game according to age or content. A widely used rating system is the Pan-European Game Information (PEGI). Designed to ensure that minors are not exposed to games that are unsuitable for their particular age group, the system is supported by the major console manufacturers including PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo, as well as by publishers and developers of interactive games throughout Europe. PEGI applies to products distributed in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK.

What kinds of rating descriptors can be found on a game cover?
Within the scope of PEGI there are 2 types of pictograms that are relevant: Age categories and content descriptors.

a) Age categories: The PEGI age ratings are 3+, 7+, 12+, 16+, 18+. They indicate whether the games contain elements that are considered harmful to children and minors. The PEGI rating does not focus on the level of difficulty of a game. A game rated 3+ is considered harmless but may be too complex for a 3-year old to play.

It is important to note that the PEGI ratings are not designed as traditional “age limits”, but purely as parental guidance. The final responsibility still lies in the hands of the parents.

b) Content descriptors:These are icons, displayed on the back of the game box, that describe the type of content to be found in the game. Depending on the type of game, there may be up to six such descriptors for violence, bad language, fear, sex, drugs, and discrimination. The intensity of the content is appropriate to the age rating of the game.

The combination of age rating and game descriptors allows parents and those purchasing games for children to ensure that the game they purchase is appropriate to the age of the intended player. For more information please consult the FAQ of the PEGI rating system.

Now go to your national node’s website to find useful links and further information.