Pay-to-Win gaming describes a common type of video game design in which players can pay to advance in the game. The frequency and value of payments is unlimited, and payments are linked to players’ competitiveness or progress in the game, which can potentially facilitate problematic behavioral patterns, similar to those known from gambling. Our analyses focus on assessing similarities and differences between Pay-to-Win and different forms of gambling. Based on a survey among 46,136 German adult internet users, this study presents the demographic and socio-economic profile of (1) Pay-to-Win gamers who make purchases in such games, (2) heavy users who conduct daily payments, and (3) gamers who are also gamblers. Motives for making payments were assessed and participation, frequency and spending in gambling by Pay-to-Win gamers are presented. To assess the similarity of Pay-to-Win gaming and gambling, we tested whether Pay-to-Win participation, frequency of payments and problematic gaming behavior are predictors for gambling and cross-tested the opposite effects of gambling on Pay-to-Win. We find that Pay-to-Win gamers are a distinct consumer group with considerable attraction to gambling. High engagement and problematic behavior in one game form affects (over)involvement in the other. Common ground for Pay-to-Win gaming and gambling is the facilitation of recurring payments.

Pay-to-Win 游戏描述了一种常见的视频游戏设计类型，玩家可以付费以在游戏中前进。支付的频率和价值是无限的，支付与玩家的竞争力或游戏进度相关联，这可能会促进有问题的行为模式，类似于赌博中已知的行为模式。我们的分析侧重于评估付费获胜和不同形式的赌博之间的异同。基于对 46,136 名德国成人互联网用户的调查，本研究展示了以下人群的人口统计和社会经济概况：(1) 在此类游戏中进行购买的付费赢游戏玩家，(2) 进行日常支付的重度用户，以及 ( 3）同时也是赌徒的游戏玩家。评估了付款动机，并介绍了 Pay-to-Win 游戏玩家在赌博中的参与、频率和支出。为了评估 Pay-to-Win 游戏和赌博的相似性，我们测试了 Pay-to-Win 参与、支付频率和有问题的游戏行为是否是赌博的预测因素，并交叉测试了赌博对 Pay-to-Win 的相反影响. 我们发现 Pay-to-Win 游戏玩家是一个独特的消费群体，对赌博具有相当大的吸引力。一种游戏形式的高参与度和有问题的行为会影响（过度）参与另一种游戏。Pay-to-Win 游戏和赌博的共同点是促进经常性支付。我们发现 Pay-to-Win 游戏玩家是一个独特的消费群体，对赌博具有相当大的吸引力。一种游戏形式的高参与度和有问题的行为会影响（过度）参与另一种游戏。Pay-to-Win 游戏和赌博的共同点是促进经常性支付。我们发现 Pay-to-Win 游戏玩家是一个独特的消费群体，对赌博具有相当大的吸引力。一种游戏形式的高参与度和有问题的行为会影响（过度）参与另一种游戏。Pay-to-Win 游戏和赌博的共同点是促进经常性支付。