Parents outraged about McDonalds gambling Neopets 13 October 2004
A McDonalds toy giveaway linked to a website that shows kids how to gamble has outraged parents, seven.com.au reported.
After decades of selling soft drinks, burgers and fries, McDonalds is now accused of adding gambling to its menu.
McDonalds is running a cross-promotion with the makers of Neopets, the latest American soft-toy craze. A free Neopet is offered with every Happy Meal.
Neopets already has over 20 million users, and is one of the first examples of online originated content. With licensed toys, games and McDonalds Happy Meals, Neopets has the potential to be the next Pokemon, businesswire.com.
But the Neopets website advertised on McDonald's packaging and website has left parents far from happy, since among the activities the site offers are virtual pokies, roulette games, and card games where one of the cute characters teaches children the rules of poker and blackjack.
The children need to gamble online to raise points to feed their virtual Neopets. If kids don't gamble up enough points to feed their favorite pet, it goes to the "orphanage". Players who don't win enough points gambling to buy food actually have to send their Neopets to a "virtual soup kitchen."
"A nine-year old boy doesn't have the ability to question," said Michelle Stiebel, a psychologist. "He doesn't even know what a virtual soup kitchen is."
Child psychologist Michael Carr-Greg said this is a sure-fire way to turn our kids into gambling addicts.