Representatives of two of the country’s largest casino companies on Thursday are scheduled to appear at the state Gaming Commission to respond to questions raised about whether online games that mimic casinos are deceptive.

Players of online casino games do not bet money but can win credits that allow them to compete against other players. The games are concerning to critics of problem gambling because their large payoffs may condition players to expect similar wins at casinos.

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“It’s pretty clear there are some risks,” Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling, told the gambling commission at a hearing last month.“When you simulate gambling online, whether for money or not, you can develop a gambling problem or exacerbate a problem,” Whyte said.Whyte said the casino industry and its regulators should discuss voluntary guidelines to protect players. While it’s not clear whether online games help casinos recruit new players, gamblers who play online seem to wager more at brick-and-mortar casinos, he said. Representatives of the online gaming industry told the state gambling commission during the hearing that millions of people are spending a lot of time — and sometimes money for time on the games — on social games like “Candy Crush” and “Angry Birds” that are widely accepted as harmless pastimes. They said social casino games are no different.Luc Delany, chief executive officer of International Social Games Association, a social gaming trade group, said he does not consider social casino games “to be gambling at all.” Advertisement People who play slots and other games online clearly understand the difference between online social gaming, a growing trend in the casino industry, and actual casino gambling, he said.“The online casino games take their inspiration from real money games,” he said. “But we think people enjoy them because they don’t take any actual risk of losing money when they play online.” Plainridge Park Casino, a slot parlor and the state’s first casino, offers an online slot machine that lets players win credits to open up new levels of play.Representatives of Penn National, which owns Plainridge Park Casino, are scheduled to appear at the hearing, along with representatives of MGM Resorts, which is licensed to operate a casino in Springfield.Sean P. Murphy can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Follow him on Twitter @spmurphyboston.