There is this game website where you can pay so much money to enter these tournaments. Then, if you win, you get some money. So it's basically gambling.
I don't gamble, but I do play their games for free. Well, now they have this thing where you can enter certain tournaments for free. After playing for a long time, you can get enough points to earn these prizes, such as game money to play on (and then you can turn it into real money by winning), or gift certificates to amazon.com or Wal-mart, etc.
Ok, so I've won $18 so far and am about to get enough points to win a $10 gift certificate to amazon.com. And I haven't put any money into it.
Is this wrong? I mean, they are a business trying to make money. And I'm never going to pay them any money. So I'm just using their promos to my benefit, basically.
What do you think?
2006-12-14 07:11:30 · 26 answers · asked by Heron By The Sea 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well, I don't consider this unethical. I don't gamble either. So, I'd have to say ... it's just a game. The only way it would become a probably if "greed" starting being a part of it. You shouldn't just play to win "prizes" and "money". Think of it this way: how can you be a blessing to someone else by using your prizes/money?
2006-12-14 07:17:33 · answer #1 · answered by CuriousGirl 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, you're still supporting the gaming website by getting involved in any way, even if you aren't giving them money. It depends how strongly you feel about gambling. I won't go near any online gaming sites even when they are free and I won't gamble in a casino since my dad is a compulsive gambling loser BUT I always get scratch off tickets every Christmas and I love them!
I don't think it's actually wrong for you to do this but don't spend all your time trying to get points for gift certificates because it can still be an addiction and that's where the problem is. It's not just about spending money.
2006-12-14 15:22:21 · answer #2 · answered by Pico 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there are ads on the site, they're making money just by your veiwing the site.
I don't think it's unethical. You're just entering a contest. Like, a spelling bees. or essay contests. Those usually have prizes, but you normally don't pay to enter.
Of course, this whole asking thing is pointless. You'll go along with whatever advice best suits what you want, even if it's unconsiously. What I'm doing, by answering this, is unethical, really. I'm just re-enforcing your predisposed beliefs by justifying your actions so far and in the future.
Have fun with your games.
2006-12-14 15:19:44 · answer #3 · answered by adrienne06052 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't consider gambling in and of itself to be immoral to begin with. As a Christian I know that the subject is never mentioned in the Bible and so the simple act of placing a wager cannot be called a sin since God hasn't so designated it.
Just like other things that are not mentioned in the Bible however, there is the potential for sin surrounding this activity. If a person wagers because they love money or are greedy or if they wager money that should go to support their family or pay their bills or be devoted to God then that use of their money or that attitude is sinful but gambling by itself is not sinful or immoral.
What you are doing could hardly be called immoral. I would just be careful because it sounds like what the company is doing is trying to lure people into gambling. People can become addicted to gambling and once they get you to play for real money then they hope that you will get hooked on the excitement and be willing to use your own money to keep playing.
2006-12-14 15:22:53 · answer #4 · answered by Martin S 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, it's not unethical. What you are doing is entering a competition and receiving a prize if you should win. How is this different from doing the same thing concerning real life sports?
2006-12-14 15:16:33 · answer #5 · answered by marklemoore 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's perfectly ethical. You are playing their rules, winning their prizes. They' re in all likelihood, receiving generous compensation from the gift providers. It's no more unethical than watching a TV show and not buying the sponsors' products.
2006-12-14 15:18:59 · answer #6 · answered by Dawn G 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If they needed money so badly, they wouldnt offer the program to earn something for free. Your following their rules, and you get a prize at the end. Something for nothing isnt always a bad thing you know.
2006-12-14 15:16:52 · answer #7 · answered by sweetie_baby 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They factor this in when they set up these gimmicks. Don't worry they are still making plenty of money. Otherwise they wouldn't be doing it.
Enjoy the fruits they are offering in exchange for your skill at the game. Amazon & Walmart are part of it anyway they sponsor and they benefit when you use the gift cert.
2006-12-14 17:46:10 · answer #8 · answered by thetaalways 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's what promos are for. It's like free samples. But the fact that you are questioning it should tell you something.
If you're at the mall in the food court and someone hands you a piece of sesame chicken on a toothpick as a sample, What do you do if you don't like it? What do you do if you do like it?
2006-12-14 15:19:19 · answer #9 · answered by curious 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Odds are they are getting money from sponsors just to get you to play. If you win a 10 dollar gift certificat from Amazon, then it actually makes Amazon money. Odds are you will spend well over 10 dollars, and Amazon gets promotion. etc....
2006-12-14 15:15:51 · answer #10 · answered by Chrissy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋