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Are loot boxes illegal?

Are Loot Boxes Legal? Today, with a few exceptions, most forms of loot boxes remain legal and unregulated worldwide. However, proponents of loot box regulation argue that the chance and rarity mechanics make loot boxes akin to gambling and constitute predatory practices toward minors.

Why are loot boxes not illegal?

But generally, loot boxes do not fall into most legal definitions of gambling, because the “prize” – the virtual items within — cannot be said to be “something of value.”

What is the problem with loot boxes?

Gambling experts state that a link between loot boxes and gambling can be seen by their similar features they offer such as some games only allow the player to buy the in-game currency in the game in order to open loot boxes. This is similar to how casino chips are used to play their games.

Is the EU banning loot boxes?

MADRID, June 1 (Reuters) – Spain is set to become the first European country to have a law regulating the use of so-called loot boxes in videogames, aiming to avoid “thoughtless, compulsive or even pathological” consumer behaviour, the government said on Wednesday.

What is the loot box controversy?

Loot boxes have been controversial in the gaming industry in recent years, with critics charging that the in-game purchases can amount to gambling and tempt kids into overspending. They’ve also been a huge source of revenue for the companies involved.

Is the UK banning loot boxes?

Loot boxes in video games will not be banned in the UK, despite a government consultation finding evidence of a “consistent” association between the features and problem gambling.

Is modding games illegal in UK?

Modding’s legality varies from country to country. In the UK and US it isn’t strictly illegal, as long as it doesn’t infringe on a game’s copyright – but to platforms and developers there can be a fine line between modding and hacking. In Japan, however, modding could lead to a fine or even a prison sentence.

Do loot boxes count as gambling?

Despite Electronic Arts’ (EA) insistence that loot boxes are not gambling, and are, in fact, “surprise mechanics,” several studies have shown there is a link between loot boxes and gambling addiction.

Are loot boxes addictive?

Microtransaction and loot box addiction is very real, and also deeply misunderstood.

What percentage of gamers buy loot boxes?

A recent study found that 78% of Internet gamers worldwide had conducted microtransactions to open loot boxes [11].

What age group buys loot boxes?

The annual prevalence rate of loot box purchases was higher for adult gamers than for adolescents (22.7%–44.2% and 20%–33.9%, respectively), but in studies with general population samples, the opposite was true (24.9% for players aged 13–14 versus 7.8% for adults).

Are loot boxes pay to win?

By contrast, in many games, loot box contents are purely cosmetic and give no competitive advantage at all. No matter how much money players of these games pay, they cannot pay to increase their likelihood of winning.

Is gaming a disorder?

Gaming disorder is defined in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as a pattern of gaming behavior (“digital-gaming” or “video-gaming”) characterized by impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes

Are loot boxes ethical?

Random rewards (both cosmetic and functional) such as loot boxes are ethically problematic, particularly if the player does not know how likely the possible rewards are. In this case, it is essentially impossible for the player to evaluate whether the purchase is worth it.

Is gambling illegal in video games?

Gambling by Computer

In most states, engaging in gambling activities online is illegal. Most states will prohibit computer gambling no matter what game the person plays.

What countries is gaming illegal?