Gambling policy - Pay for access?

[Traslogan]

I understand we can not charge for a game that relies on chance or random-numbers, such as slots or real-events, but if a casino had a points system (e.g. each avatar has points associated with that casino and uses that to pay the machines, and can win points respectively) then would it be violating the wagering policy to charge to buy additional points? (e.g. each player gets 100 points free a day, but if they want more they can go up to a counter and interact with a scripted object to pay L$ for more points that they can use on those machines)

[Monti Messmer]

Of course only LL can answer this.

But if the players can swap points into money (L$ or US$) then it´s no difference to all other skilled games direct using money.

Monti

[Madelaine McMasters]

Hi Traslogan,

If there's an answer to your question, it's either known only to LL (or maybe not even them) or is revealed in this thread...

http://community.secondlife.com/t5/General-Discussion-Forum/Skill-Gaming-Policy-Thread/m-p/2771090

The OP lists three documents you should read.

I barely gleaned that thread, but got the impression that any game that distributes money by chance is outlawed (as was the case previously) and that games requiring skill must operated only on "Skill Gaming Regions" which must be registered as such with LL (meaning you must obtain a license and submit the game for approval). There appears to be a surcharge for any region on which Skill Games are registered and operated.

Anyone playing a skill game must have registered payment information on file, which will exclude a great many residents, including me (though my sugar mommy alt could play ;-).

I may be over reaching, but the quick impression I draw from what I've seen is that it's nearly game over for gaming.

ETA: Note that if players do not have to pay anything into the system, the system will not be classified as a "Skill Game". But the system you described does take payment from residents and would require the licensing and region fees I described. Of course that's only my understanding from doing almost no homework.

;-).

[Rolig Loon]

You have a sugar mommy alt? Does Snugs know about this?

[Lindal Kidd]

A number of people have tried to circumvent the wagering (and now, the Skill Games) policies by introducing a system of "points" or "credits" or "chips."

All of them have been disallowed.  It's still gambling, and you can't do it.

[Madelaine McMasters]

Yep. Snugs often threatens to rat me out, cutting me off from my money fix. Call me overcautious, but it seemed a good idea six years ago to create an account that's never used in-world to hold my CC information. Every time I go begging for money, she makes me review my spending and my motivations. She's worse than Snugs!