> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.opendemocracy.net/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Virtual sweatshops
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/19307/
- Published: 2005-04-01T13:04:32.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:33:05.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:15

Gamersloot.com [employs](http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1436411,00.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) a room full of young Romanian men £70 a month to play games 10 hours a day. Video games like [Everquest](http://eqlive.station.sony.com/?ref=opendemocracy.net) or [World of Warcraft](http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/?ref=opendemocracy.net) are virtual worlds with multi-faceted characters and their own currency. Making it big requires many hours of intensive play and repetitive tasks. In the weirdest form of outsourcing ever, people can now pay companies like [Gamersloot.com](http://www.gamersloot.com/?ref=opendemocracy.net) to improve their character's standing through intensive play while they themselves go to sleep. Even [eBay](http://www.ebay.com/?ref=opendemocracy.net) has become a real life trademarket for virtual currency and gold, and items such as magical flasks and Jedi Knights.

[The Guardian](http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1436411,00.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) has a great article about it.