Gaming in rural areas: e-sports and online casinos boost recreational opportunities

Young people living in rural areas have always had one problem above all others: a lack of opportunities for leisure activities. Cinemas, shopping malls, arcades and other places of recreation and leisure are conspicuous by their absence. No wonder many young people would like to move to the city.

But the internet has changed all that. You can play a wide range of games online, both alone and in a team. E-sports offer competitive young people something meaningful to do and a chance to show off their skills. The best online casinos are also full of exciting games, where the luckiest ones can win some nice prizes.

In this article, we look at the importance of e-gaming for young people in rural areas. We also take a look at the Pelimiti meetings, which provide a safe and stimulating gaming environment for young people.

Online gambling can be done anywhere

Today, e-sports and online casinos are available everywhere in Finland, thanks to the availability of internet connections in even the most remote areas. Only around the eastern border are there occasional connection problems.

Young people in rural areas therefore have just as good a chance of e-gaming as those living in cities. It is even possible to play e-sport in teams, as the players do not have to be in the same place.

This is certainly a great source of joy for young people in rural areas, who are often faced with a lack of participation in other hobbies.

Many small towns have sports activities for primary school children, but teams for older children often have to be closed down due to lack of interest. This is not the case with eSports, where there are more than enough online players to play with.

E-gaming is a social activity

Online connectivity is also important for young people because much of their social life has moved online. Many young people talk to their friends online more often than face-to-face.

In rural areas, this is understandable given the long distances and lack of public transport.

E-gaming brings a much-needed sense of community to young people's lives. Players talk about what is happening in the game and other things while they are playing. Interaction also takes place in online casinos, where players can chat at live gaming tables in casinos in Malta, for example, and while watching live streaming of slot games.

E-gaming can also be used to make money

Young people living in small towns and cities find it difficult to find summer jobs, let alone regular evening and weekend work. That's why many dream of a career as an e-athlete.

The best e-athletes earn well, with income coming from a variety of sources:

1. Prize money from competitions
2. Salaries paid by the player's organisation
3. Sponsorship income

However, it is difficult for budding e-athletes to find sponsors. It may be easier to learn to be a poker player and earn pocket money from online casinos. Of course, you also need good luck to do that.

Various projects as rural regeneration

Many people are concerned about rural desertification. For example, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the ELY Centre have launched rural development projects to improve employment and living conditions.

The Federation for Rural Civilisation is investing in supporting local culture. Its aim is to increase people's interest in and appreciation of their own region and local culture.

Many national projects focus on the adult population, as the aim is often employment or entrepreneurship. However, the importance of young people for the vitality of rural areas is now also recognised. If we want to keep the whole of Finland inhabited, it is vital to make young people feel at home in their own region.

Game-match meetings bring young players from rural areas together

In 2015-2018, an OSAVA project was organised in North Ostrobothnia to support the inclusion and well-being of young people and prevent social exclusion. The project was funded by the EU and the Centre for Economic Affairs, Transport and the Environment.

As part of this project, the Pelimiitti activity was developed and is now continued by the Ylivieska 4H Association. With almost all projects no longer continuing after the initial funding runs out, Pelimitti has clearly proved to be an exceptionally effective way of reaching young people.

What are Pelimiti?

GameMeetings are distance meetings where young people meet about twice a month. The meetings are held via Discord, so young people have the opportunity to chat and communicate with each other during the games. This is how GamesMeeting works:

1. A GameMeet lasts 2-3 hours
2. The meeting is led by an adult who is also a gamer.
3. Young people can vote in advance on which games they want to play
4. The games are usually free
5. There is also a game stream and side events.

It is essential that young people have a say in the content of the GamesMeetings. Even if the facilitator is an adult volunteer, the GamesMeetings are clearly young people's own events.

What are the benefits of GamesMites?

GamesMeetings are ideal for young people in rural areas because they take place online. Young people don't have to think about how to get to the meetings from long distances. Many people have found new friends through GamesMeetings, and of course the opportunity to discover new games is also of interest to young people.

The Gamesmit has reached out to young people who do not normally take part in any kind of recreational activity. These young people at risk of social exclusion have found a new kind of community to which they can belong, and a sense of inclusion.

Summary

E-gaming is popular in rural areas because it can be practised wherever you are. The importance of e-gaming and online casinos is even more pronounced in small communities where recreational opportunities are scarce. E-gaming and e-sports are also a social activity, as young people get to know each other while playing.

The social nature of gaming has been exploited in activities such as Pelimitti. GameMeetings are guided remote meetings where young people can play games of their choice and chat with each other. GameMITs create a safe environment for young people to play and enable them to support young people at risk of social exclusion.