Second life bans gambling and gets religion

The creators of the online world Second Life, Linden Lab, has said it has banned all forms of gambling in the game.

Writing in the Linden Lab blog under the username Robin Linden, Robin Harper, senior vice president of marketing and business development for Second Life, wrote: "We have chosen to restrict gambling in Second Life as described in a revised policy which is posted in the Knowledge Base under Policy Regarding Wagering in Second Life."

After the US ban on online gambling several months ago, Linden Lab invited authorities to come and investigate the online casinos in Second Life and advise them if any laws were being broken.

While Linden Lab itself does not offer any gambling facilities in Second Life, the ability for people in the game to create just about any type of object means that virtual casinos have sprung up all over the world.

Following research into the current online gambling laws, Second Life's new policy states:

It is a violation of this policy to wager in games in the Second Life environment operated on Linden Lab servers if such games:

(1) (a) rely on chance or random number generation to determine a winner, OR (b) rely on the outcome of real-life organized sporting events,

AND

(2) provide a payout in
(a) Linden Dollars, OR
(b) any real-world currency or thing of value.

This new policy will effect all users of the game, regardless of where they live in real life.

Linden Lab's staff will review and investigate appropriate notices of avatars breaking these new rules and will remove any objects or games that meet the policy’s definition, and anyone who consistently violates the policy will be suspended and may have their account permanently deleted.

The company has said that it will be closely monitoring this evolving area of law and will continue to adjust and clarify this policy as it receives feedback from the community and from legal authorities, or as new regulations, industry practices and technology solutions come into effect.

The news should come as welcome relief to Father Antonio Spadaro, who recently called for Catholics to bring the word of God to the cyber-souls who inhabit virtual worlds like Second Life.

His instruction came in an article he wrote for the Vatican-approved Italian journal La Civiltà Cattolica.

Spadaro is concerned that the freedom from the constraints of normal society, which can be very liberating, has made Second Life a haven for sin with avatars take part in gambling, prostitution and adultery.

"It is not possible to turn a blind eye to this phenomenon, or offhandedly pass judgement glorifying or condemning it," said Spadaro.

"Instead it must be understood ... the best way to understand it is to enter it and live inside it to recognise its potential and dangers."

Spadaro sees these virtual worlds as a perfect place to preach the word, as he believes many people come to these places seeking refuge and fulfilment they can't attain in the real world.

"Deep down, the digital world can be considered, in its way, mission territory. Second Life is somewhere where the opportunity to meet people and to grow should not be missed. Therefore, any initiative that can inspire the residents in a positive way should be considered opportune," he said.

Linden Lab has welcomed the religious interest in its virtual world. John Lester, a producer of Second Life said: "I think it's a cool idea for folks to want to make sure that their side of spirituality is being represented."

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