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Forums > Home› Star Trek Online General Discussion

Singapore's remote gambling law and Lockboxes

starsword1989starsword1989 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
edited October 2014 in Star Trek Online General Discussion
So with regards to this article, which creates a misconception about STO possibly being banned in Singapore (or the region).

After a day of debate in the parliament, I'll clarify the situation

STO's lockbox will never be regarded as a means for remote gambling because our minister stated that as long as players cannot convert in-game credits or tokens for money or real merchandise outside the game", the law would not apply. It mainly targets games where ""virtual currencies or in-game credits which can be monetised or exchanged for goods with real value".

Hence, STO's strict policy against gold sellers or currency conversion to real world currency pays off.

So for players from Singapore or the region, at least we can take a breather for now:)
Post edited by starsword1989 on

Comments

  • stf65stf65 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    when you buy and use a key you are specifically buying 4 lobi. anything else that comes from the lockbox is extra and above what you're intentionally buying that's how they get around the gambling laws.
  • captainleavittcaptainleavitt Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    roflmfao. sto's strict policy on gold farmers is we don't care. have u seen how many gold farmers spam zone chat on Qo'noS or esd each and every minute?
  • starsword1989starsword1989 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    At least we do not have a channel for them to legally convert in game currencies into real world cash. Under the tos, legally binding sto is safe.
  • stf65stf65 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    captainleavitt wrote: »
    roflmfao. sto's strict policy on gold farmers is we don't care. have u seen how many gold farmers spam zone chat on Qo'noS or esd each and every minute?
    they don't have to actively police the system to have a policy against it in place. your city can have a no jaywalking law in place. that doesn't mean every person who jaywalks must get a ticket.

    and we don't really know what happens to the various gold sellers. since it's a ftp game and anyone can make an account a gold seller can have 1000 accounts. cryptic could close down 10 a day and teh seller would still have plenty more; and when he starts to run low he simply makes more.
  • lordmalak1lordmalak1 Member Posts: 4,681 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    Ya mean I can't pay someone thru paypal for the ship they got out of a lockbox and will be 'gifting' it to me thru the in-game mail system ?

    ;)
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  • desade1desade1 Member Posts: 97 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    F2P is a double edged sword. It is a profitable model because there are addicts. These addicts allow the rest of us to play for free, or nearly free compared to the cost of production.

    Asians are especially susceptible to gambling addiction. Islam hates gambling just as much as Fiat Currency Ponzi Schemes like the US Dollar (Jesus is now best friends with bankers after a slight altercation at the money changers back in 0 AD).

    Singapore is the most extreme Islamic Nanny State on the planet, so makes sense they would make gambling illegal. I was in Pakistan a few years ago, only foreigners are allowed to buy alcohol. I was very popular at parties because of my US passport enabling drinking, but may have been risking beheading if caught liquoring up the Bhurka clad groupies.
  • starsword1989starsword1989 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    desade1 wrote: »
    F2P is a double edged sword. It is a profitable model because there are addicts. These addicts allow the rest of us to play for free, or nearly free compared to the cost of production.

    Asians are especially susceptible to gambling addiction. Islam hates gambling just as much as Fiat Currency Ponzi Schemes like the US Dollar (Jesus is now best friends with bankers after a slight altercation at the money changers back in 0 AD).

    Singapore is the most extreme Islamic Nanny State on the planet, so makes sense they would make gambling illegal. I was in Pakistan a few years ago, only foreigners are allowed to buy alcohol. I was very popular at parties because of my US passport enabling drinking, but may have been risking beheading if caught liquoring up the Bhurka clad groupies.

    Well, your first 2 paragraphs are somewhat correct. But you are terribly ill-informed on your last. First, Singapore is an extremely secular state (so extreme you'll be jailed for bad mouthing other races or religion), and gambling isn't illegal here. We do regulate gambling and make sure that it does not result in that much of a social problem because, as you've said it, Asians are susceptible to gambling addiction. Do visit us and have an eye opener, as well as our casinos in our Marina Bay Sands, its quite a wonderful place here.

    on a side note, we are pretty far away from Pakistan, and we have 4 major races here (similar to the Xindis).
  • walshicuswalshicus Member Posts: 1,314 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    desade1 wrote: »
    Singapore is the most extreme Islamic Nanny State on the planet,

    Singapore's largest religion is Buddhism. It's second largest religion is Christianity.
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  • ddesjardinsddesjardins Member Posts: 3,056 Media Corps
    edited October 2014
    desade1 wrote: »

    Singapore is the most extreme Islamic Nanny State on the planet, so makes sense they would make gambling illegal. I was in Pakistan a few years ago, only foreigners are allowed to

    Guess you work for FOX NEWS. You're not only wrong, you're perpetuating misinformation.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Singapore
  • bluegeekbluegeek Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    My knowledge of Singapore is sadly limited, but I actually had a short visit there many years ago.

    The society is serious about keeping law and order. Aside from that, I would hesitate to try to stereotype the people. They are not backward, nor are they "Westernized" in the sense that some people mean it. The people I encountered were very modern and polite.

    It does not surprise me that they would regulate online gambling.
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  • imruinedimruined Member Posts: 1,457 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    desade1 wrote: »
    F2P is a double edged sword. It is a profitable model because there are addicts. These addicts allow the rest of us to play for free, or nearly free compared to the cost of production.

    Asians are especially susceptible to gambling addiction. Islam hates gambling just as much as Fiat Currency Ponzi Schemes like the US Dollar (Jesus is now best friends with bankers after a slight altercation at the money changers back in 0 AD).

    Singapore is the most extreme Islamic Nanny State on the planet, so makes sense they would make gambling illegal. I was in Pakistan a few years ago, only foreigners are allowed to buy alcohol. I was very popular at parties because of my US passport enabling drinking, but may have been risking beheading if caught liquoring up the Bhurka clad groupies.

    Please tell me you're trolling... I thought it improbable that anyone interested in Star Trek could be this bigoted and knuckle-dragging...
    The entitlement is strong in these forums...

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  • daveynydaveyny Member Posts: 8,227 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    imruined wrote: »
    Please tell me you're trolling... I thought it improbable that anyone interested in Star Trek could be this bigoted and knuckle-dragging...

    Blunt.., but to the point.

    My guess would be more of a misinformation mentality, leading to an appearance of ignorant bliss.

    Of course I could be waaay off the mark and his knuckles could actually touch the ground.

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  • imruinedimruined Member Posts: 1,457 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    daveyny wrote: »
    Blunt.., but to the point.

    My guess would be more of a misinformation mentality, leading to an appearance of ignorant bliss.

    Of course I could be waaay off the mark and his knuckles could actually touch the ground.

    :cool:

    I find little use in mincing words, so yeah, being blunt just kinda comes with the territory...

    Though misinformation is indeed feasible, to come out and say something like that without even the slightest consideration to factuality, or the likely responses it would garner, is indeed simple bigotry as I see it, else it was a blatant attempt at trolling...
    The entitlement is strong in these forums...

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  • meimeitoomeimeitoo Member Posts: 12,594 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    desade1 wrote: »
    Singapore is the most extreme Islamic Nanny State on the planet, so makes sense they would make gambling illegal. I was in Pakistan a few years ago, only foreigners are allowed to buy alcohol. I was very popular at parties because of my US passport enabling drinking, but may have been risking beheading if caught liquoring up the Bhurka clad groupies.

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  • lystentlystent Member Posts: 1,019
    edited October 2014
    captainleavitt wrote: »
    roflmfao. sto's strict policy on gold farmers is we don't care. have u seen how many gold farmers spam zone chat on Qo'noS or esd each and every minute?

    I reported the same dude mailing me as spam three or four times.
  • scurry5scurry5 Member Posts: 1,554 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    Well, good, since I'm living in Singapore at the moment. Hadn't heard about the new law, but it's good to know.

    Edit: And Singapore? Islamic? Dude.......The main tourist attraction is a big fat casino.......
  • stf65stf65 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    lystent wrote: »
    I reported the same dude mailing me as spam three or four times.
    if only you'd taken the extra 3 seconds to put him on your ignore list too. then you'd never have had to worry about it again.
  • artan42artan42 Member Posts: 10,450 Bug Hunter
    edited October 2014
    desade1 wrote: »
    Asians are especially susceptible to gambling addiction.

    No more than anyone else with the means to support it.

    desade1 wrote: »
    Islam hates gambling just as much as Fiat Currency Ponzi Schemes like the US Dollar (Jesus is now best friends with bankers after a slight altercation at the money changers back in 0 AD).

    What does this even mean?
    desade1 wrote: »
    Singapore is the most extreme Islamic Nanny State on the planet, so makes sense they would make gambling illegal.

    Yeah, you spelt Saudi Arabia wrong :rolleyes:.
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  • anazondaanazonda Member Posts: 8,399 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    captainleavitt wrote: »
    roflmfao. sto's strict policy on gold farmers is we don't care. have u seen how many gold farmers spam zone chat on Qo'noS or esd each and every minute?

    Zero since Febuary 2010
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  • staq16staq16 Member Posts: 1,181 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    Shame about the troll, but interesting to hear that Singapore's legislators have taken such a pragmatic view.

    Unfortunately I can't see this affecting the view of the forum trolls who continue to rage against lockboxes as illegal gambling.
  • anazondaanazonda Member Posts: 8,399 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    staq16 wrote: »
    Shame about the troll, but interesting to hear that Singapore's legislators have taken such a pragmatic view.

    Unfortunately I can't see this affecting the view of the forum trolls who continue to rage against lockboxes as illegal gambling.

    So everyone who has a different view on things than you is a troll...

    I really wish the Ignore function still existed on the forums... Cause you qualify.
    Don't look silly... Don't call it the "Z-Store/Zen Store"...
    pwebranflakes wrote: »
    Let me put the rumors to rest: it's definitely still the C-Store (Cryptic Store) It just takes ZEN.
    Like Duty Officers? Support effords to gather ideas
  • hevachhevach Member Posts: 2,777 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    That's not what he said, but people who make absurd claims for the sake of their chosen narrative certainly don't deserve benefit of the doubt. The link that was being posted for this story answered the Cryptic question itself, just like the Compu-Gacha law had no application and the European law about unconfirmed charges on phone bills clearly couldn't (and even if it were extended to cover different types of billing, its only requirement was a line stating the game has in-game microtransactions), and how the change in Europe where games with microtransactions can only be called free if the description mentions a cash store...

    Thread after thread of people who are either trolling or have the critical thinking skills of a ripe avacado.

    The same people posting this one were by and large the same ones posting a poorly translated article about Japan changing the rules for how pachinko parlors that serve liquor have to check ID at the door instead of when taking orders, asking, "How does this affect Cryptic? STO will have to be blocked in Japan!"
  • lmaoboatslmaoboats Member Posts: 20 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    desade1 wrote: »
    F2P is a double edged sword. It is a profitable model because there are addicts. These addicts allow the rest of us to play for free, or nearly free compared to the cost of production.

    Asians are especially susceptible to gambling addiction. Islam hates gambling just as much as Fiat Currency Ponzi Schemes like the US Dollar (Jesus is now best friends with bankers after a slight altercation at the money changers back in 0 AD).

    Singapore is the most extreme Islamic Nanny State on the planet, so makes sense they would make gambling illegal. I was in Pakistan a few years ago, only foreigners are allowed to buy alcohol. I was very popular at parties because of my US passport enabling drinking, but may have been risking beheading if caught liquoring up the Bhurka clad groupies.
    Sure got ESD on here pretty fast.
  • khan5000khan5000 Member Posts: 3,008 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    anazonda wrote: »
    So everyone who has a different view on things than you is a troll...

    I really wish the Ignore function still existed on the forums... Cause you qualify.

    It's not that he had a different view... He had a wrong view...as several people have pointed out. I've been to Singapore several times in my travels in the US Navy and I can tell you it's not an extreme Islamic state.
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  • royalsovereignroyalsovereign Member Posts: 1,344 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    hevach wrote: »
    Thread after thread of people who are either trolling or have the critical thinking skills of a ripe avacado.
    How *dare* you insult avocados in such a fashion! :D
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  • bluegeekbluegeek Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    Okay, I think this has gone far enough.

    Some of you probably deserve warnings, but I'm tired so I'm just going to shut this thread down now. There's no excuse for hate speech and that's how I'm inclined to view some of these posts.

    Closed.
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This discussion has been closed.