As I read this, it occurred to me that perhaps the underlying addiction here is the overall "gamification" of social media, which has been around for quite a while... going back to "E-props" on early 00's blogging sites. In this case, the addiction (including Splinterlands) is perhaps to feeding our competitive natures... in similar ways to how runners can become "addicted" to shaving one more second off their time, or adding one more mile to their endurance.
Here the game is still a form of "gambling" (technically speaking)* except the addiction is further fueled by the recognition that the "house" is stacked in the player's favor, rather than the house's.
Play on, says I, but let's not forget we have a life, as well...
=^..^=
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It is definitely a gamble and this is "gamification" at its essence. I think this is less dangerous in some respects as it is expected, whereas on social media, people assume they have control of it - but as you know, that is anything but the truth.