Hoi4 legal Issue: "hoi4betting"

[Markusmiless]

There seem to exist a site that is simply put a betting site, which has apparently recently been set into motion (its still a work in progress according to the mail I saw).
I'll not post a link to the site, as I believe that is against forum rules, but if you use the thread's name it shouldn't be too difficult to find.

The site is just made for people to bet money on the outcome on ai vs ai or player vs player matches that the site sets up. With this short explanation, it seems...to be a questionable site.
Now the issue itself, in my opinion quite obviously, is that the site in question gets money through betting on a product they do not own. While I do not know the proper legal background behind all of this, nor do I know if this is actually illegal or not it does seem sketchy to me.
It surely can't be legal right? Or is there something I missed?

 

[rttl147]

They do this stuff for MOBA-type games/popular FPS video games all of the time and there's nothing illegal about it there, albeit those are very major sites and may have some sort of concession from developers i suppose.

Probably not worth attention because hoi4 multiplayer is not 1/10 as competitive as games mentioned and the amount of people willing to bet real money on an AI vs AI hearts of iron 4 match is directly proportional to the amount of hearts of iron 4 players which frequently use drugs with wallet in one hand and mouse in the other, so they will maybe steal ten bucks in profit.

It's pretty hilarious though.

EDIT: The results themselves now when you google the phrase are one empty domain (why the heck was it ever reserved?) and one site with an actual design and an option to log in, but all the supposed information about possible "bets" is marked with XXXXX and the log in option is all there is aside from some weird sample text in the left bottom.

If not anything else this is a great creepypasta material.

 

[Markusmiless]

EDIT: The results themselves now when you google the phrase are one empty domain (why the heck was it ever reserved?) and one site with an actual design and an option to log in, but all the supposed information about possible "bets" is marked with XXXXX and the log in option is all there is aside from some weird sample text in the left bottom.

The site is supposedly not set up, but definitely makes this look...less legitimate to put it mildly.
I just thought it'd be good to bring up at the very least, but you do have a point about it happening elsewhere without too much legal trouble.

 

[rttl147]

The site is supposedly not set up, but definitely makes this look...less legitimate to put it mildly.
I just thought it'd be good to bring up at the very least, but you do have a point about it happening elsewhere without too much legal trouble.

Work in progress probably. Your thread is higher in the results when you google it than the actual site.
But it is very interesting - there are 2 actual domains like this, leading to a conclusion that either at least 2 people have come up with this absurd idea, or 1 was so committed to it he created 2 domains in process.

I kinda wish it was possible in a big picture though. Hoi4 MP getting more competitive like other popular games, that is. Tournaments and commentaries, big, famous players, all that stuff the games which created actually profitable betting systems have. Would be pretty neat.

 

[Markusmiless]

Work in progress probably. Your thread is higher in the results when you google it than the actual site.

That admittedly, I find quite hilarious.

But it is very interesting - there are 2 actual domains like this, leading to a conclusion that either at least 2 people have come up with this absurd idea, or 1 was so committed to it he created 2 domains in process.

I'm guessing it's later, having a second domain might be a useful backup.
Though it wouldn't be too unlikely that two people came up with it.

I kinda wish it was possible in a big picture though. Hoi4 MP getting more competitive like other popular games, that is. Tournaments and commentaries, big, famous players, all that stuff the games which created actually profitable betting systems have. Would be pretty neat.

I personally disagree here, but I believe that is primarily because I've never been into tournaments in the first place. So it's just not my preference in this case rather than me actually believing it is a bad idea of sorts.

 

[TinyWiking]

Interesting and probably a bit of a gray area ><! Can you send me the link in a PM? I appreciate you not sharing it here as I don't want them to gain any traction!

 

[frolix42]

As much as I enjoy HoI4, and Paradox games in general, betting on purely AI wars seems boring. Once they observe a few games, any thinking person can predict the end result very early on.

It might be fun to make friendly wagers with friends over Dev Clashes, but anonymous online betting, especially regarding nonprofessional esports, has a terrible reputation which is well earned. In this case, how would one even verify that the games where fair? You couldn't.

In any case, I couldn't find an actual site.

 

[Kazanov]

Imagine this on Ck2, with gavelkind <3

 

[TheMeInTeam]

It would probably be hard to make a legal case on the basis that a game is being used as a vehicle for the bet.

This has one of those "sounds legit" vibes to it though, probably a few extra legality questions beyond just that HOI 4 is being used.

 

[tinculin]

Firstly, anyone gambling should do so responsibly & only use sources / sites that are reputable (I’d certainly be wary of the one you’re referring too).

Secondly, if people want to wager on the outcome of an event, sports / poker or esports etc, gambling operators don’t require explicit permission to do so by the owners of said sport. That said, they maybe breaking individual country laws as some require a license to operate in their territories, usually for tax reasons or ensuring games requiring RNG are legitimate and fair (Spain as an example).

Ie. League of legends doesn’t advertise betting companies during its esports events but riot games can’t stop (not does it have any right to stop), two independent people / companies wagering on the outcome of one of their games anymore than FIFA do when people bet on the World Cup.

However any company offering gambling to a country online or otherwise needs to ensure its licensed in said territory.

 

[Person012345]

It wouldn't be a legal issue for paradox. I'm no lawyer but I strongly doubt you can be held accountable for third parties betting on the random consequences of your software. But if gambling is occurring in a formal context it seems like the site would have to be licensed by their jurisdictions gambling authorities at least.

 

[Bouchart]

This amuses me more than it probably should. Also doesn't HoI4 multiplayer typically involve a lot of house rules?

 

[Keizer Harm]

Once they observe a few games, any thinking person can predict the end result very early on.

Clearly you've never watched Drew Durnil