Loot Boxes - Gambling?

Artist: Coder Writer: Sydney Editor: Artimus


Loot boxes are an essential part of the games we love. We buy them in hopes for a snazzy new skin for our character and weapons, for in game currency, or for extra add-ons such as sprays and voicelines. It seems as though every time we open up one of these bad boys, we feel like we got played. Spending money to just receive all non-rare items or duplicate of items we already have--but when you do get that item you want, it makes your spending seem all worth it.

Recently, the Minister of Justice of Belgium had an investigation done on how exactly close purchasing and in-game loot box is to gambling. They had come to the conclusion that games such as Overwatch, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, and FIFA 18, all of which have loot boxes available for purchase, are allowing minors the ability to gamble. How exactly does one come to the conclusion that loot boxes are equivalent to gambling? The Belgium government’s reasoning behind it is because players are purchasing them without prior knowledge of the content they are holding.

The Minister of Justice stated that the publishers must get rid of loot boxes and if they do not comply, they could face up to five years in prison or fines up to 800,000 euros. Keep in mind, when minors are involved, the punishments may be doubled. Whether this means that the games will have heavy revision on their loot box system, have a verification system to make sure all buyers of loot boxes are of age, or getting rid of loot boxes altogether is still a mystery.

As of now, it seems as though only Belgium and Holland have taken a stance against the loot box industries in their own ways. The United Kingdom and the United States of America allow the companies to continue their loot boxes as the usually would.

If you are interested in actually gambling (not in terms of loot boxes!) you can visit sites such as Betting Top 10 to help you find the perfect website to gamble on. They provide information about each booking site, give you the hottest coupon the site offers, and have detailed reviews for each of their top ten betting sites. This site is the go-to place for all of your betting questions to be answered--they do the research, so you don’t have to!

 

[jake]

Ut oh I dont like this...

 

[Mcg]

Are they including tf2?

 

[Sydney]

Are they including tf2?

Not sure! Hasn't been mentioned in any article that I've read up on...

 

[Mcg]

Not sure! Hasn't been mentioned in any article that I've read up on...

I hope they don’t.

 

[DanJK]

I just put a few bucks into Pokerstars whenever I feel the need to gamble. I go up and down for a bit then end up at 0 and its done til like 6 months down the line where I do it again.

It's not underage gambling though which I guess is the topic here.

 

[Epic]

Proud to be belgian

To speak of a game of chance, the Gaming Commission used four parameters. If there is a game element, can a bet can lead to profit or loss? and if chance has a role in the game.
Because of all of these parameters, they determined the 3 games stated above fall under our gambling laws.

Our minister also stated that games actively try to get a easy money by:
-A player may think that the purchase of a loot box has an advantage, which is not always the case;
-Confusion of fiction and reality: well-known real people promote the most expensive loot boxes;
-Emotional profit forecast: uncertainty loot box is linked to profit forecast;
-Use their own coin system: for a real amount, players can buy in-game coins; (Which btw, does not create a loophole in belgian gambling law)
-Apparently infinite methods to deposit money on player accounts;
-They hide the random generator or at least its opacity.

One of the biggest problems for me is that there is no protection for the players. The fact that a lot of kids are involved is really disturbing. It is also the reason our minister looked in to it.
If a kid sees a casino, they can understand its gambling. But a kid does not instantly see the danger of lootboxes.

 

[Epic]

I hope they don’t.

The commision looked in to the 4 games stated in the post. But they are talking with the developers before they start handing out fines/jailtime.
Since CS:GO is one of the 4. They will be talking to valve, who will probably need to change all of their games.

 

[Ark]

In b4 the companies don't allow the games in Belgium so they can keep lootboxes

 

[Ark]

The commision looked in to the 4 games stated in the post. But they are talking with the developers before they start handing out fines/jailtime.
Since CS:GO is one of the 4. They will be talking to valve, who will probably need to change all of their games.

They are not going to change their games for 1 small country if you think they are you are dreaming

 

[Simon]

I can happily say I have never once purchased a single loot box in any game in my entire life and have never felt the need to.

Also, aren't there bigger problems to tackle in the world than this? Really?

 

[Epic]

They are not going to change their games for 1 small country if you think they are you are dreaming

You don't know the power of the EU then Our minister has said before that he wants to move it up to the EU.

+ VPN's are a thing, if they block us out ?\_(ツ)_/?

 

[The Wall]

You don't know the power of the EU then Our minister has said before that he wants to move it up to the EU.

+ VPN's are a thing, if they block us out ?\_(ツ)_/?

I knew the Waffle man was behind this

 

[Sammie]

As a Dutch person, I am really happy that they are doing something about these loot boxes. I have never bought them, but they are in pretty much any so called triple A game. More countries will follow, and this will change the way the gaming corporations are gonna make their games

 

[purducken]

Is this a necropost? WutFace

 

[3dsam1]

Isn't games like CS:GO M rated? meaning you are supposed to be 18 or older to play the game? Could CS:GO not just say this and not get legal action taken against them? or am I missing something

 

[JustJad3n]

Valve has been sued many times, I doubt anything will happen... Watch hey zues's video on it, he points out many flaws in the other gambling places law suit.
heres the video if you want to watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u26uGzvms5U

 

[dys]

nice necro 4Head

 

[Twisty]

I don't think lootboxes are gambling if people know the percent chance of each item