Gaming

Playing Dirty: Research Reveals The Nationalities That Cheat The Most At Video Games

Published

4 years ago

May 14, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

UK gamers ranked 16th – more likely to cheat than their Aussie counterparts, but less likely to do so than players in the US
Russia, Italy and Israel are the top three countries that cheat at gaming the most
The US placed as the 11th worst cheaters, with Texas, California and Nevada residents revealed as the three most likely states to use a cheat code
Gamers in Iceland are the most likely to cheat at the Assassin’s Creed series, Turkey takes the crown for GTA, while UK gamers are the biggest culprits for Animal Crossing cheats

Many people use video game cheat codes to boost their chances of winning, but which nation is home to the world’s biggest cheaters? Uswitch did the research to find out, and it’s revealed Russia, Italy, Israel, Japan and Sweden are the top five countries where gamers cheat the most.

The World’s Biggest Gaming Cheaters

By analysing Google search volume data, Uswitch calculated how many people were actively seeking ‘cheat codes’, ‘cheats’ and cheat codes for specific games, in every country around the world, along with every state in the US.

The search volumes were then adjusted to account for each country’s population to create an index score, to make sure the data compared like for like. The results expose the top 20 countries most likely to cheat while playing video games.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

The top 20 countries that cheat the most at video games (and the cheating index score):

Position	Country	Index ranking score
1	Russia	18.40
2	Italy	16.58
3	Israel	4.87
4	Japan	4.48
5	Sweden	4.03
6	Romania	3.13
7	Portugal	2.36
8	Turkey	2.34
9	Brazil	2.32
10	Denmark	2.28
11	United States	2.10
12	Ireland	2.00
13	Argentina	1.92
14	Poland	1.77
15	Croatia	1.52
16	United Kingdom	1.43
17	New Zealand	1.41
18	Canada	1.35
19	Australia	1.28
20	Bulgaria	1.13

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Half the countries in the top 20 are in Europe – Italy, Sweden, Romania, Portugal and Denmark all make the top 10, and gamers in the United Kingdom ranked as the 16th most notorious cheaters.

The US falls just outside of the top 10, in 11^th position. Close behind in 12^th is Ireland, Canada comes in in 18^th and Bulgaria rounds off the list in 20^th position.

From Minecraft to Mario Kart – Which countries cheat the most at different games?

The study also looked into more than 50 of the world’s most popular video games to discover which country cheated the most at each game. Interestingly, Iceland features a massive 18 times – being found to cheat the most for a wide array of games, from the stealthy Assassin’s Creed series to beloved titles like Super Mario.

Malta clocks up eight appearances for games including the classic Resident Evil and Tomb Raider franchises, along with Borderlands and Crash Bandicoot. Turkey, Germany and Ireland all have three mentions and the UK appears twice, coming in as the biggest cheaters at Animal Crossing and LEGO Marvel Superheroes.

The no.1 country that cheats the most at different video games (and their cheating index score):

Game	Country	Index ranking score
Animal Crossing	United Kingdom	0.35
Ark	Turkey	0.37
Assassin’s Creed	Iceland	0.15
Battlefield	Iceland	0.09
Bioshock	Iceland	0.15
Borderlands	Malta	0.05
Call of Duty	Belize	0.28
Crash Bandicoot	Malta	0.27
Crysis	Iceland	0.21
Death Stranding	Slovenia	0.03
Doom	Iceland	0.50
Fable	New Zealand	0.04
Fallout 4	Germany	0.66
Far Cry	Malta	0.18
Final Fantasy	Indonesia	0.31
Fortnite	Germany	0.46
Forza	New Zealand	0.03
Ghost of Tsushima	Italy	0.03
Gran Turismo	Indonesia	4.77
Grand Theft Auto	Turkey	2.74
LEGO Marvel Superheroes	United Kingdom	0.44
LEGO Star Wars	Iceland	0.26
Little Big Planet	Ireland	0.01
Mafia	Czech Republic (Czechia)	0.29
Mario Kart	Barbados	0.10
Metal Gear Solid	Iceland	0.12
Minecraft	Turkey	5.40
Mortal Kombat	Indonesia	0.28
NBA 2K	Iceland	0.29
Need for Speed	Iceland	0.18
No Man’s Sky	Iceland	0.15
Pokémon	Barbados	0.70
RDR2	Ireland	1.19
Red Dead Redemption	Iceland	0.50
Resident Evil	Malta	0.07
Rocket League	Iceland	0.29
The Sims	Netherlands	2.12
Skate 3	New Zealand	0.43
Skyrim	Germany	1.15
Sonic The Hedgehog	Ireland	0.03
Spider-Man	Iceland	0.12
Spyro	Malta	0.29
Starcraft	Iceland	0.44
Super Mario	Iceland	0.26
Tekken	Malta	0.04
The Last of Us	Iceland	0.18
The Witcher	Malta	0.07
Tomb Raider	Malta	0.09
Tony Hawks	New Zealand	0.02
Uncharted	Iceland	0.12
Warcraft	Iceland	0.26

Which US states cheat the most at video games?

According to the study, gamers in Texas are more likely to cheat than any other US state, and California, Nevada, Georgia and New Mexico make up the rest of the top five.

When looking at the specific index scores of each US state – although none are as high as Russia’s or Italy’s in the worldwide list – Texas’ score of 2.6 is roughly around the same level as Portugal, which made it to 7^th place in the global analysis.

The top 10 US states that cheat the most at video games (and the cheating index score):

Position	US State	Index ranking score
1	Texas	2.60
2	California	2.25
3	Nevada	2.19
4	Georgia	2.12
5	New Mexico	2.06
6	Hawaii	2.03
7	North Carolina	2.02
8	New York	1.90
9	Maryland	1.88
10	Tennessee	1.81

To see the full research, including the top 50 countries that cheat at video games the most, visit: https://www.uswitch.com/broadband/worlds-biggest-gaming-cheaters/

FreezeNova

10-15% Of Gamers In Florida Show Signs Of Gaming Addiction: Here Are 10 Signs Your Kid Is Suffering From It (And How You Can Help)

Published

6 days ago

December 20, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

10-15%-of-gamers-in-florida-show-signs-of-gaming-addiction:-here-are-10-signs-your-kid-is-suffering-from-it-(and-how-you-can-help)

Recent studies indicate that 10-15% of young gamers in Florida exhibit signs of gaming addiction. These findings underscore the need for early identification of symptoms to prevent negative impacts on children’s mental and physical health. Gaming addiction, if not dealt with, can lead to poor academic performance, social withdrawal, and even health problems.

Marin Cristian-Ovidiu, CEO of FreezeNova, discusses key indicators of gaming addiction and offers practical advice for parents.

Recognizing Early Signs

“Early recognition of gaming addiction is crucial in preventing long-term negative outcomes,” Marin explains. The following signs can help parents identify if their child might be developing an addiction:

Exhaustion and Irritability

Constant tiredness and grumpiness during the day could indicate late-night gaming sessions interfering with sleep.

Gaming Obsession

If gaming dominates your child’s thoughts and conversations, and they plan their day around it while neglecting other responsibilities, it could be a sign of addiction.

Decline in Academic Performance and Lost Interests

A noticeable decline in academic performance or loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities may suggest your child is prioritizing gaming over more important tasks.

Emotional Volatility

Extreme emotional reactions to in-game outcomes, such as uncontrolled anger, known as ‘Gamer Rage’, or intense celebrations, could indicate an unhealthy attachment to gaming.

Physical Strain

Signs of repetitive strain injuries like ‘Gamer’s Thumb’ or ‘Nintendo Neck’ from prolonged screen time are warning signals.

Neglecting Basic Needs

If your child is neglecting basic needs like eating, sleeping, or hygiene to keep playing, gaming has likely taken an unhealthy control over their life.

Creating a Supportive Environment

While video games can be a great source of entertainment and connection, around 70% of people with signs of gaming addiction also experience social disorders. Marin recommends a few tips for building a supportive and open environment for your child.

Teamwork and Setting Boundaries

“Parents and children should work together to create a healthy gaming environment. Gaming addiction requires a holistic approach,” Marin advises. Start by setting clear boundaries on gaming time to ensure there’s room for schoolwork, chores, and quality family time.

Revisit activities your child once loved, like football practice or exploring new hobbies together. It’s vital for your child to take breaks from screens, so create a balanced daily routine that includes homework, chores, exercise and just some gaming time. This allows your child to enjoy their games without neglecting other aspects of their life.

Open Communication

Maintain open communication. Discuss the games your child enjoys and any concerns you might have. By understanding their world, you can work together to find solutions.

Remember, you’re not alone. If you feel overwhelmed, seek professional help from specialists in gaming addiction. Marin concludes, “By working as a team, setting clear boundaries, and fostering open communication, we can help your child develop a healthy relationship with gaming and thrive in all areas of life.”

Compliance Updates

SYNOT Games Officially Certifies Over 140 Games in Brazil

Published

1 week ago

December 17, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

synot-games-officially-certifies-over-140-games-in-brazil

SYNOT Games has announced that more than 140 of its games have now been officially certified in Brazil.

“We are delighted to announce that more than 140 of our games have now been officially certified in Brazil. This significant achievement allows us to expand our reach and introduce a diverse selection of games to this dynamic market. Brazil represents a key opportunity for growth, and we are committed to delivering exceptional gaming experiences to the Brazilian audience,” the Company said.

“We are thrilled to introduce our portfolio in Brazil, offering innovative and engaging gameplay that promises to captivate and entertain players,” Martina Krajci, CCO at SYNOT Games, said.

Gaming

SPGA Introduces Code of Conduct to Highlight Member Commitment to Compliance and Safety in Social and Promotional Gaming

Published

1 week ago

December 16, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

spga-introduces-code-of-conduct-to-highlight-member-commitment-to-compliance-and-safety-in-social-and-promotional-gaming

The Social and Promotional Gaming Association (SPGA), an organization dedicated to providing stakeholder education and advocating for the responsible operation of social games offering promotional sweepstakes prizes, today announced the implementation of a Code of Conduct for its operator members.

The Code of Conduct is designed to spotlight the processes and technologies already in place at both SPGA member sites and the majority of social casinos offering promotional sweepstakes, also referred to as social sweeps games.

Social sweeps games combine the established social casino model, on which Americans have spent over $40 billion in the last decade, and add promotional prizes. No purchase is necessary to win prizes, and the vast majority of users play for free.

The foundational pillars of the Code of Conduct include the application of regulation-grade suppliers, technology, or policies to ensure:

Age verification to limit real money play to users 18 and older
Proper identity verification (Know Your Customer or KYC)
Location verification of customers
AML policies to ensure proper transaction monitoring

“The pillars of the SPGA Code of Conduct highlight the technology and processes already in place at most social sweeps operators to ensure that the millions of adults who enjoy these games do so in a safe and reliable environment,” said Camilla Wright of Red Knot Communications, a spokesperson for the SPGA.

“The standards of the Code of Conduct go above and beyond the accepted best practices for traditional social casinos.”

In the months ahead, the SPGA will release more details on the Code of Conduct, introduce additional pillars, and engage an external firm to certify member compliance with the Code.

“We look forward to continuing to develop the Code of Conduct to further strengthen the commitment of SPGA members to compliance and player protection while providing consumers with a highly social and engaging experience that is always free to play,” said Wright.