To '
whale' in a game or 'whaling' is a term for gamers or gambling addicts who spend a good huge amount of
money on video games or casinos. Since a whale is huge and they pay hugely for gambling or gaming, you can see why this is a thing.
With gamers, microtransactions existed for them within free-to play games (e.g. loot boxes, in-game currency, booster packs, cosmetics, etc.),
gacha-like games, mobile games, battle-royale games or anything along those lines.
Gamblers are
people who whale tons of cash on slot machines, poker and other natures of casino games and gambling.
"Whales" was a phrase first used by video game publishers to describe their main customers who insufferably liked to gamble their
money for in-game items.
Bob: "Hey,
Dylan. Guess what happened: I convinced my mum to buy me V-bucks and I spent a heck load on Fartnite last night. So cool, dude."
Dylan: "That game is for toddlers. I see why you needed her to buy it for you. Because toddlers rely on their mummies, and you like to whale
money within a crappy game, to buy things you don't need.
Player Ultimate Battlegrounds is way better than your game."
Sarah: "Guys, guys, guys... come on. It'
s not that bad. I spend my free time whaling my student funds on Weeb/Grand Order to get the best units with Gacha hatchers and to be a better player, haha... I think I'm the worst than both of you combined."