We are all familiar with the practice of celebrities donating money to charities or helping to raise money by lending out their personal brands. However, it could be that the Internet is ushering in an era when any average person potentially may have the power to generate sizable amounts for good causes. For example, there are cases of types of entertainment that involve contestants playing for cash prizes from organizers and sponsors — a game show, for example, is something we all know. Often the design of a game show has included charitable giving that matches the winnings of contestants.
Online, new forms of entertainment such as safe gambling open new ways for average people to send support to charitable ends.
New Sources of Support
First of all it is sensible to observe and point out that the culture of the Internet basically enables new ways of redirecting monetary resources in general. Web based flea markets like Ebay and online financial tools like PayPal have put much more commercial power into normal people’s hands. Online retailers like Amazon have introduced robust ways for small organizations to derive funding from affiliate arrangements, and for people to make their purchasing a charitable act. There are also innovative new services that facilitate raising money, like Kickstarter, or receiving patronage as micro-donations, like Patreon. On the other hand, service providers such as online media outlets and gaming communities also are keen to integrate charitable schemes.
This idea that larger numbers of people who participate in small ways and together generate significant sources of support for humanitarian projects is powerful. But there is another charitable model that might be on the rise also. In cases where a form of entertainment involves money such as a poker tournament (with notable sponsors involved in promotion and supplying prizes) then there are new pathways for competitors as well as sponsors to pledge funds for charities. When anybody who wins a competition or a lottery receives a large amount of money that is a moment when making donations is more likely, obviously.
Some casino websites themselves — which are extremely profitable worldwide — are also in a prime position to direct portions to charities. Even small percentages set aside from the millions of transactions at a Web-powered casino can add up to meaningful sums, which can go on to support excellent non-profit organizations and good causes. Some gaming sites for players of poker or new blackjack online games could have policies of ongoing charitable action on behalf of their communities of players. With the explosion of online gaming overall, this kind of fundraising has a great future — best of all, it makes it possible for normal folks to do good work like their favorite stars!
