Category Archives: Video Game Law

Second Life Bans Gambling…Sort Of

Posted on August 7, 2007 by Mark Methenitis

As I continue to play catch up from my hiatus, I have been hit by a bit of an irony. During my time away, I did submit the finalized version of “A Tale of Two Worlds: New US Gambling Laws … Continue reading →

We are drowning in an ocean of shallow politics and fear mongering.

Posted on July 19, 2007 by Mark Methenitis

I do occasionally step beyond the bounds of the typical Law of the Game topics to editorialize, and politics has long been an interest of mine, as evidenced by my degree in Government (Political Science) from the University of Texas. … Continue reading →

Online Gaming Restrictions Go Into Effect in China

Posted on July 17, 2007 by Mark Methenitis

China Daily is reporting that the official Chinese crackdown on extended gaming sessions by teenage users has begun. The concept is one that many hope never reaches the level of government regulation in the United States. Specifically, users under 18 … Continue reading →

Tournament.com Opens Leaving Many Legal Questions Unanswered

Posted on July 13, 2007 by Mark Methenitis

Tournament.com has opened its doors, allowing players to wager real money on matches of Counter Strike and Half Life 2 Deathmatch, with Day of Defeat to follow soon. The site’s FAQ points to what will be the issue for their … Continue reading →

Xbox 360 Class Action: The Disk Scratching Suit

Posted on July 10, 2007 by Mark Methenitis

Joystiq is reporting that the first class action lawsuit against Microsoft over the Xbox 360 has been filed. The suit, which I have verified was filed, is in Florida and is asking $5 million on a combined warranty and strict … Continue reading →

South Korea to Impose VAT on Real Money Transactions Starting July 1

Posted on June 28, 2007 by Mark Methenitis

While the US report is due in a little over a month, South Korea has decided to impose a Value Added Tax (VAT) on real money trading in virtual worlds starting in less than a week. Specifically, those who earn … Continue reading →

New York Gaming Bill: What Is A Class E Felony?

Posted on June 22, 2007 by Mark Methenitis

Game Politics is reporting that the New York video game regulation bill is on hold, but will still have selling games listed as a class E felony. As I pointed out before, depending on the end result of some active … Continue reading →

Even More Second Life Gambling: Two New Issues to Consider

Posted on June 18, 2007 by Mark Methenitis

In the wake of a bit of a gambling scandal in Second Life, two new points of concern have been once again made very public. 1. Second Life is not an inherently secure gambling platform, and as such, both the … Continue reading →

H.R. 2610 – The Skill Game Protection Act

Posted on June 15, 2007 by Mark Methenitis

Law of the Game noted rumors of a proposal to exempt games of skill from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act last week. That bill has materialized as H.R. 2610 “The Skill Game Protection Act.” As the text is now … Continue reading →

EU to Consider Video Game Regulations

Posted on June 13, 2007 by Mark Methenitis

It is being reported that the EU is considering stricter restrictions on the sale of “killer” video games. The restrictions would create a common set of penalties for retailers, but leave the classification of games up to the member states. … Continue reading →

Video Game and Gambling Legal Discussion