Table 3 Summarizing key differences and similarities between gambling and gaming communities in relation to gambling and monetary gaming
From: The Role of Virtual Communities in Gambling and Gaming Behaviors: A Systematic Review
Gambling | Gaming | |
---|---|---|
External communities | Gambling-related discussion forums (e.g., for discussions on gambling in general, gambling tips and problem gambling) | Game-specific discussion forums, game review forums |
In-game communities | In-game interaction tools in online poker and social casino games |
Community aspect inherently embedded (e.g., in MMORPGs) |
In-game community aspect not central | ||
Community role in gambling/monetary gaming | Normalize gambling and involve risks for excessive gambling | In-game interaction is an essential part of gaming experience |
Feedback from the community helps to develop poker skills | Identifying with a gaming community drives game-related purchase intentions | |
Reinforce gambler identities | Gamers help each other to better game performance and provide information of virtual items | |
Utilizing in-game interaction is associated with non-problematic forms of gambling | Reinforce gamer identities | |
Community role in problematic gambling/monetary gaming | Critical feedback from the community may protect from maladaptive gambling habits | Not examined in the included studies |
Peer-support in gambling problem forums helps to cope with one’s gambling problem and aiming for recovery | ||
Important in (re)constructing problem gambler identities |