![]() In an attempt to further deter the UK Government from classifying loot boxes as gambling, Hopkins went on to assure the Committee that they were “quite ethical”, a statement that’s been fiercely debated since. Hopkins insisted that these mechanics were a joy for gamers who enjoy the element of surprise. In the same UK Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Committee meeting, Hopkins instead referred to loot boxes as “surprise mechanics”, much to the amusement of the gaming industry as a whole. Kerry Hopkins, Vice President of EA, compared loot boxes to Kinder Eggs in front of UK MPs this June. The UK Gambling Commission has also previously raised concerns around the increasingly blurred lines between gaming and gambling in this area and many within the UK Government are still making a case that these mechanics encourage a gambling mentality. Belgium was also one of the first countries to investigate the gaming mechanic and in 2018, the Belgian Gaming Commission ruled that loot boxes in several games were considered games of chance and therefore constituted gambling. ![]() How many of us collected football cards or Pokemon cards as children?Īs a result of the ruling, in June 2018, the region enforced a ban on loot boxes. ![]() The Netherlands made headlines in 2018 when the Dutch Gaming Authority ruled that some loot boxes could be classified as gambling. Several Initial incidents including the well known controversy over the Star Wars: Battlefront II game from EA, raised concerns around how loot boxes may encourage a gambling mentality among impressionable gamers and has since held the attention of a global audience. No matter the price, the number of purchases made or how much money players spend on boxes, there is no absolute assurance that players will receive the high quality or a rare item they actually wanted or that the content will even be equal to or worth more than the value of the money they’ve spent.Įssentially - it’s just a good old fashioned gamble! Let's take a look at loot boxes for instance that have been used in recent years by players who want to progress through specific games more quickly yet, there is no guarantee as to what a player is buying when they purchase a loot box. Yet, despite the obvious real-money spend and the risk involved, many have not associate these activities with “gambling” in the past. However, it needs to be remembered that there are also several areas outside of traditional bricks-and-mortar casinos, online gambling or sports betting, where players can experience the rush of a gamble. With this in mind, can we really associate these games with gambling?Ĭoncern has grown recently that social casino-style games could potentially introduce gambling techniques to impressionable players. No risk of loss or potential to win occurs throughout the gaming experience. Those who participate in social casino games know the money they invest will not be returned.
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