In this critical play, I played a mobile version of digital poker called World Series of Poker on iOS. The game allowed me to enter a virtual casino, sitting around a digital poker table with several other online players, each playing with digital currency that is not tied or exchangeable for any kind of real world currency.
From the moment I joined the table, I noticed the chat box was quite active. People exchanged greetings, celebrated wins, and most notably, expressed their emotions concerning their perceived luck or lack thereof. Quite often, I observed statements such as “Tough luck” or “I’m on a roll!”. What struck me most about these exclamations was how players associated luck with their identity. This may have been an intentional choice of the game designer, allowing players to tap into the more emotional parts of the game of poker. this is possible because the players are not playing for real currency. When there are real stakes, the game of poker is a much more skill and social deception/intuition based game.
However, this did not stop many players attributing their successes to their level of skill, somewhat discrediting the role of luck in their triumphs. It is especially interesting to see players touting their skill when they were unable to read any of the social cues that come with in-person poker games. The only player cues that can be read are the size and timing of bets. However, as previously discussed, the lack of any real world currency incentives allows players to make aggressive bets much more frequently than in typical games of poker. This deepens the reliance on luck for players across the table, as it is almost impossible to get any reliable information about the other players on any given hand.
In addition to maximizing the fun of the player, the structure of this game also necessitates a discussion of the risk of addiction. As I played, I noticed the game’s push notifications and rewards seemed designed to keep me hooked, nudging me back to join a table even when I was not at one. This is, of course, a common feature in many online games, but in games of chance, it is particularly potent due to the psychological phenomenon known as the gambler’s fallacy. The belief that a winning streak is around the corner can lure players into a vicious cycle of perpetual play, escalating the risk of addiction. In designing games that utilize chance or the deception of chance must be mindful of these factors, acknowledging both the enjoyment and the potential risks these games pose.
