The Spanish gambling regulator has proposed to limit or completely ban loot boxes in video games, as well as equate them with gambling. Other European countries are also planning to ban this type of paid gifts in video games.
Loot boxes are certain prizes in video games that improve the characteristics of a hero/team, etc., and which must be purchased with real money. Loot boxes have become especially popular in video games such as FIFA, Overwatch, League of Legends, Hearthstone, etc.
Due to the fact that loot boxes are often used by underage players, some countries are proposing to ban this type of service in video games. In addition, users do not know what exactly they will get in a loot box, so they also want to equate them with a type of gambling.
Recently, the Spanish gambling regulator Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego called loot boxes a type of gambling and proposed to restrict them, since such paid features are present in about a third of mobile gaming applications.
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If loot boxes are equated to gambling, developers of video games with these types of paid prizes may be required to obtain the appropriate licenses.
Recall that earlier, the British organization Gambling Health Alliance called on parents to boycott loot boxes.
The initiators of the idea said that video games with loot boxes can lead to addiction among young gamers, which forces them to beg, borrow and steal.
The organization found that every sixth gamer (15% of the 611 teenagers aged 11 to 16 years old) took money from their parents without their knowledge. At the same time, every tenth respondent used someone else’s credit card to buy loot boxes without permission.
9% of respondents said they borrowed money to buy prizes in games and were unable to pay it back, and almost a quarter of the study participants confirmed that they spent at least $136 on loot boxes. Did you find the news interesting and informative? Want more of the gambling news online and stay updated on the events? Subscribe to our ‘Gambling News’ section and receive notifications about fresh publications. If you found this publication helpful and interesting, we recommend subscribing to casino news today to receive notifications about the latest updates and stay informed about current events.
