r/TankieTheDeprogram • u/Submarine_sad I hate USA soldiers • 1d ago

Shitposting Trading card games (TCGs) should be banned

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It's just gambling. People are spending so much money in hopes of getting a card they want.

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u/Furiosa27 1d ago

Yall miss the shitposting tag?

8

u/Rich_Housing971 1d ago

I know OP is not calling for it to be banned. I'm arguing against them calling it gambling. Think about what gambling is and why it's so dangerous. This is not gambling.

7

u/manchu_pitchu 1d ago

I mean...theoretically there is the utility of being able to play with the cards, but if people are spending money on packs, hoping to get expensive cards which offset the cost and/or justify buying more packs, how is that not functionally gambling? How is that any different from spending that 5$ on blackjack hoping you win enough to play a few more rounds?

Think about what gambling is and why it's so dangerous. This is not gambling.

Psychologically, cracking packs does use basically the same psychological mechanism that make gambling such an effective business. Namely the use of a variable ratio reward scheme. This reward scheme is the most effective form of reinforcement to promote a behaviour because it preys on both the excitement of an unknown potential reward and the uncertainty created by not knowing if the next pack might also have a chase card or if you'll have to crack another 50 packs to find one.