A new study has revealed that almost half of Australian gamers have lost money due to manipulative tactics built into digital games.
The research, titled “Playing the player: Unfair digital gaming practices and their impact on Australians,” was conducted by Monash University and the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC).
It paints a troubling picture of an industry increasingly focused on profit at the expense of players’ well-being.
The study surveyed 800 Australians who play digital games on consoles, computers, or mobile devices at least once a week.
It found that 46% of gamers had experienced financial harm while playing, such as spending more than they intended or making purchases they later regretted.
Almost one-third reported feeling pressured into spending money they hadn’t planned to.
Erin Turner, CEO of the CPRC, said these practices are becoming more common across the industry. “The gaming industry is relying more and more on designs that manipulate users,” she explained.
“These tricks make it hard for players to make informed choices, and many feel powerless when they lose money or share personal information.”
The report highlights several harmful features used in games. These include confusing language, pop-up offers, disguised advertisements, and reward systems that mimic gambling, such as loot boxes or battle passes.
Some games also hide real-world costs behind in-game currencies, making it hard to track spending. Worryingly, children are often targeted through click-to-pay setups or inappropriate ads appearing in games meant for younger audiences.
According to the report, 95% of players encountered these so-called “dark patterns” in the last year. These are design tricks that push users into actions they might not otherwise take.
Over 80% of players said they felt negative effects from encountering such designs, and more than half also experienced privacy issues, like unintentionally sharing personal details or creating unwanted accounts.
Dr. Robbie Fordyce from Monash University, one of the report’s authors, said the findings show just how widespread these problems are. “These monetization strategies are disruptive, unfair, and often harmful. Many players are aware of them but feel stuck,” he said.
With Australia considering new laws to ban unfair business practices, experts hope these findings will push for stronger consumer protections in the gaming world.
If combined with tighter rules on how companies collect and use data, these reforms could help protect players from the worst of these manipulative tactics.
Source: Monash University.
