Gambling is Back - You Just Don't WIN Anything - HELIOS

Is gambling back? 

Wait a minute!

This is a LINDEN  operating venue -- "purely for entertainment" it says. 

HMM.  

However you can easily drop a ton of linden dollars with no rewards in sight - other than the "thrill" of winning -- and sadly for some folks that's enough. 

This hud automatically attaches at the landing point.  Anyone who actually READS it will see that there is no cashing out or even redeeming for prizes. 

Take a step or two and you are offered a way to buy chips.  

ATMs scattered about also offer ways to buy chips. 

You can of course play only with the free money. That daily allotment doesn't last long however. Much like the casinos of old in the US (I haven't been to Reno or Las Vegas n three decades) the "house" gives you gift  money to play with to entice you to keep playing.  

Me? I always played with their money and then moved on. But that is me. Having known at least one compulsive gambler in my life, the moving on part is not easy for everyone. 

The venue is lovely, well styled, an interesting with a desert mixed with Egyptian vibe; I will give it that. At the same time my head is shaking both virtually and corporeally. 

WHAT WERE THEY THIINKING?

This is a Linden destination and is currently featured as the TOP place to visit in the Destination Guide. Obviously this could be a moneymaker and is most likely meant to be. Many folks -- including one fellow who IMed me asking if I knew where the "cash out" place was -- will not understand until it is too late.  

Is it legal?  I am sure the lawyers did their due diligences. Is it MORAL?  That is a question each of us will have to ask ourselves.  Personally I am very disappointed in this move -- especially after the gacha debacle that stopped some creators from producing new work.  

Here is the Forum thread on the subject. AND a second at the moment   https://community.secondlife.com/forums/topic/499078-so-they-banned-gacha-but/

There are apparently other outcries on social media platforms. 

PS: here are some thoughts I had after this post and based on some comments from others. 

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EDIT: And bit of intel and math from the forums:

Go forth. PLEASE GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY.  You are playing -- if you buy chips -- with REAL MONEY and no way to redeem those lindens even if you win.