FTC promises to investigate loot boxes

guest · Jun 30, 2020

You can now sign a petition asking the UK government to include loot boxes in the Gambling Act
June 30, 2020
https://mspoweruser.com/loot-boxes-gambling-act-uk-letition/

Loot boxes are in-game items, usually purchasable with real world money, that players can purchase and redeem in order to receive a randomised reward.
Given that players are usually not told what exactly is inside the loot box prior to opening and may receive items that they consider not to be equal to the amount they paid, many people see it as a form of gambling.

This new petition, created by Daniel Taylor and hosted on the official UK Government and Parliament website for petitions, calls for the Gambling Act to change its rules and cover loot boxes.

“Video game companies avoid predatory Loot Boxes being defined as gambling on the technicality items received can’t be redeemed for money despite clearly being gambling otherwise,” the petition’s description reads. “Update the Gambling Act to include purchases providing randomized digital items even if they do not have monetary value.”
At the time of publishing, the petition has 40,049 signatures.
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guest · Jul 2, 2020

UK House of Lords calls for loot boxes to be considered gambling
July 2, 2020
https://www.neowin.net/news/uk-house-of-lords-calls-for-loot-boxes-to-be-considered-gambling

Loot boxes are one of the most controversial aspects of modern videogames. Brought to the spotlight after their implementation in Electronic Arts' Star Wars: Battlefront II, loot boxes quickly become the target of criticism, with Belgium uling them to be a form of gambling back in 2017.

In a report published today, the UK House of Lords Select Committee on the Social and Economic Impact of the Gambling Industry recommends that the UK government begin considering loot boxes a game of chance as part of the Gambling Act 2005 (via BBC).
The report includes comments from researcher Dr. David Zendle, who makes the point that there's a clear link between loot box spending and problem gambling in adults and teenagers.
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guest · Aug 14, 2020

FTC Staff Issue Perspective Paper on Video Game Loot Boxes Workshop
August 14, 2020
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/pre...spective-paper-video-game-loot-boxes-workshop

Staff of the Federal Trade Commission issued a paper detailing key takeaways from the agency’s August 2019 “Inside the Game” workshop, which examined consumer protection issues related to video game “loot boxes.”

The staff perspective paper describes the workshop discussion of loot boxes, which are random rewards that players may buy within a video game for a small fee or earn through game play. It summarizes discussions of loot boxes, including that players may use them, for example, to change a character’s appearance or to “pay-to-progress” in the game.
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The paper highlights public concerns raised about loot boxes, emerging academic research, and industry self-regulatory initiatives discussed at the workshop and in comments submitted to the public docket.
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ronjor · Apr 4, 2021

Loot boxes too similar to “problem gambling” to avoid regulation, report says

Sam Machkovech - 4/2/2021
Determinations: Loot box "value" matters; wealth doesn't drive who becomes a "whale."
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