A skilled contestant always beats a contestant, opting for a random strategy, revealed a report by India Development Foundation. In the latest report titled, Modelling the Role of Skill in Online Games, it is also revealed that contestants have an opportunity to lose a contest deliberately and that higher skill reflects between winning probability in online games.
“Distinction between games of skill and games of chance is critical to safeguarding legal online gaming and mitigating the risks stemming from the proliferation of betting and gambling platforms. Establishing an objective game testing framework to distinguish games of skill and games of chance is critical to protecting Indian gamers and, enabling the growth of an innovative industry. In this context, we have developed a comprehensive objective framework to assist policymakers in distinguishing between these two categories through a statistical methodology,” Professor Shubhashis Gangopadhyay, research director, India Development Foundation, said.
Furthermore, it was revealed that the relative superiority of skill remains consistent across non-overlapping time intervals, according to the report. It revealed that experience helps in attaining skills while similarly skilled players have a similar win percentage. Finally, consistent winning is not an event of chance, the report explained.
The study proposes that any online game satisfying the seven statistical tests outlined should be classified as a game of skill. These tests use a ‘black-box’ approach to create a game-agnostic framework, enabling player scores to be analysed without altering the game’s structure or rules. The report emphasises the need for an evidence-based, data-driven framework to help policymakers differentiate between skill-based and chance-based games. This would facilitate effective governance, enhance consumer protection, and help regulators identify legitimate online gaming while curbing illegal gambling platforms, the foundation added.