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Gaming for cash comes to consoles

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August 3, 2009, 6:16 PM EST

In a world where competitive gaming is still in its infancy and is generally only available to a lucky or select few, there's certainly someone out there looking for a way to make money playing video games. One entrepreneur agrees, and has designed a website designed exclusively to bring online video game wagers into the hands of anyone willing to put their skills to the test.

BringIt.com will let people bet actual money on a number of games, coordinating matches through their website and supporting four big consoles: PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii. Each bet results in a fee as well as a cut of the winnings for BringIt. Still, it's a unique service that has been largely nonexistent for gamers until now. Unsurprisingly, legal issues abound with the service, which is illegal in 11 states around the U.S.

If such services are going to make it, now would be the time for them to emerge – current-gen consoles have utterly massive user bases, along with the online support to make this sort of service feasible. Will people open up to it? Time will tell – the service is currently in a beta stage but already offers matchmaking for many games.

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User Comments (4)

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hellokitty[hk]
on August 3, 2009
11:07 PM
"generally only available to a lucky or select few"
Actually I think its the more skilled people.

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Justin
on August 4, 2009
1:40 PM
I'd disagree with that. Skill plays a part, but being in the right place at the right time plays a bigger part.

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Wendig0
on August 4, 2009
2:18 PM
As far as this being illegal in 11 states goes, I believe that will be short lived. With the current decline in the economy, states are sure to be looking for more ways to generate revenue. Legalizing gambling, casinos and online gaming services, and then taxing them, will surely be in their crosshairs.

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Guest
on August 4, 2009
3:32 PM
I agree with that completely. These days the government is taxing just about everything they can, and soon will be adding more tax. I'm sure, as you said, this will quickly become a target of the government and possibly a good way for them to capitalize on recruitment for gamers with the America's Army series.

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