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  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 12.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Tame gaming site has a few gambling options.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 12–14

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not much. Some games (Sudoku) require kids to use some brain cells.
 

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Online games in nature do suck kids in so parents might want to set time limits. Games are pretty simple, but their settings can sometimes be adult in nature, like the "Bar Bowling" and card games. Card games encourage betting.

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.

  • Sex:

    Even the tackle sports games don't have any violence.

  • Language:

    Language can be mildly abrasive in some games.

  • Consumerism:

    There is little commercialism in the games except for the promotion of the ESPN network. In addition to the virtual betting games, banner ads for casinos and online gaming sites appear on almost every page.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Several traditional bar games, such as darts and bar bowling are available, and most have a bar setting, complete with full mugs of beer.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About ESPN Arcade

Parents need to know that among the fun, free, and innocuous sports and puzzle games on this site there are also a few adult-themed games that have bar settings and gambling scenarios. Banner ads are almost exclusively dedicated to the promotion of casinos and gambling sites. By registering, members can safely chat and use the message boards on ESPN.com's main site, which is linked to from ESPN Arcade.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about gambling and online gaming issues. Why do people risk their money to play at casinos and online? How does this type of entertainment affect people? Sportsmanship can also be discussed. What is the difference between friendly competition and aggressive behavior? What are the qualities of a good sport? Finally, physical fitness can be explored. Is there a sport you would like to try in real life?
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