Is "on the side" betting legal on Neopets?

[Morningstar]

Someone out of the blue just wrote me and asked if I cared to wager 10000 on a game of mootix drop? I told him no and wouldn't even think of reporting him, but it got me to wondering. Is it legal to make bets with other players? And do many people do that?

And, yes, I know I have been a player for a long, long time, but this sort of thing never came up before.

[stampsyne]

Isn't that what game challenges are? Asking first before making a game challenge is quite normal.

Example: Whack a Kass. I wager with friends often here.
http://www.neopets.com/challenges/send_ ... ame_id=381

[Runevalkyrie]

Well I think it's on a "it depends" basis. The way the Challenges (not the world challenges) are setup, you can very well make a bet on a game with a person and it's perfectly legal (since the winner is guaranteed the money if they win because I believe it's escrowed.)

If they to do it on the side not via the Challenges page, I would think it's a shady practice.

[Morningstar]

Well I think it's on a "it depends" basis. The way the Challenges (not the world challenges) are setup, you can very well make a bet on a game with a person and it's perfectly legal (since the winner is guaranteed the money if they win because I believe it's escrowed.)

If they to do it on the side not via the Challenges page, I would think it's a shady practice.

It wasn't via the Challenges page. But, in a neomail. And, I checked. I don't have challenges blocked. So, maybe it was legit. But, maybe not.

Geesh, I didn't even know you could do this sort of thing. Been buying too many plushies to pay attention, I guess.

Thanks for the heads up. I ought to challenge a few of my friends to some word games. The only thing I am halfway decent at.

[Xil]

I'm pretty sure it's against the rules, as it's an easy way to scam someone (especially if they lose and refuse to pay, or if they get a younger player and they lose and do pay).

[Morningstar]

I'm pretty sure it's against the rules, as it's an easy way to scam someone (especially if they lose and refuse to pay, or if they get a younger player and they lose and do pay).

That was my thinking as well, Xil. That someone not as savvy as us long-time players could easily fall for a scam.

I checked all of the rules and found nothing about it. Although they have something that says only use the TP for trades, they don't have anything saying only use the Game Challenge area to wager a bet. I think something like this should be on the wall of shame.

And, the guy who asked had been playing since 2002 and had a big list of how to avoid scammers on his user look up. Maybe he was legit and just likes to neomail first before sending the challenge??? I am trying really hard to give the guy the benefit of the doubt here.

[digitel_anime_fan_20]

Most likely he was just neomailing you first-it is the more polite way of doing it. I hate getting randomly neofriended or challanged, and would much prefer if people asked first.

Like you Morningstar, I'm trying to give this person the benifit of the doubt.

I belive you can check someones challanges-does he have any previouse chllanges with anyone?

[stampsyne]

Also, people usually PM first because the money comes out of your account when the challenge is offered and you don't get it back until it's cancelled

[Morningstar]

Also, people usually PM first because the money comes out of your account when the challenge is offered and you don't get it back until it's cancelled

Really? That's not too cool. What if you only have 100000 out and happen to see a Baby PB in someone's shop for 99999. And at the same instant you are attempting to purchase it, some unknown person sends you a challenge for 10,000. Goodbye, paint brush. I, for one, would be a bit upset.

*runs to block all challenges*

[Jenny]

When you are sent a Game Challenge, your nps are not locked up until you accept. However, the person sending the challenges does have his/her nps locked till you decline or accept/finish the challenge. You have about 24 hours to respond (during which time he can't access the nps), so neomailing you first was probably the polite and smarter thing to do.

[Morningstar]

When you are sent a Game Challenge, your nps are not locked up until you accept. However, the person sending the challenges does have his/her nps locked till you decline or accept/finish the challenge. You have about 24 hours to respond (during which time he can't access the nps), so neomailing you first was probably the polite and smarter thing to do.

Thanks for all of this info. I now feel comfortable unblocking my challenges.