Gambling A Bad Bet In Second LifeIs this week's ban on gambling in Second Life a harbinger of doom for the virtual world, or a necessary step in it's growth? At InformationWeek, Mitch Wagner puts the move into perspective: "The gambling decision is the latest in a series of steps Linden Lab has taken to crack down on adult entertainment in Second Life, driven, at least in part, by the law in the nations in which it operates." He also talks to a casino owner burned by the decision, who claimed, "This will be the start of the end for Second Life." At the Virtually Blind blog, covering virtual world legal issues, intellectual property attorney Benjamin Duranske says the move was badly needed: "Now the grid is a more certain place. That’s good for business, good for citizens, and overall, good for the future of Second Life." At Forbes.com, David Ewalt sees the move as evidence that there's just not much to really do in Second Life, particularly for the companies that have made big investments there: "Now that all of Second Life's overly credulous, jump-on-the-bandwagon corporate sponsors are finally wising up to the virtual world's uselessness, they're running out of ways to make money." Though most of his commentors seem to disagree... Finally, it's probably just a coincidence, but this week also brings news of another organization planning their move to Second Life. The Jesuits, the Catholic religious order long known for bringing the Word to dangerous places, are on their way. Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:42 AM, July 27, 2007 This is a public forum. United Business Media and its affiliates are not responsible for and do not control what is posted herein. United Business Media makes no warranties or guarantees concerning any advice dispensed by its staff members or readers. Community standards in this comment area do not permit hate language, excessive profanity, or other patently offensive language. Please be aware that all information posted to this comment area becomes the property of United Business Media LLC and may be edited and republished in print or electronic format as outlined in United Business Media's Terms of Service. Important Note: This comment area is NOT intended for commercial messages or solicitations of business. |
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