This update comes after Great Britain’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced that it will not take legislative action on loot boxes, despite a two-year call for evidence. The department is instead requesting video game developers to address the presence of loot boxes to protect young people from developing gambling habits. To achieve this, the DCMS plans to establish a new group comprising developers and regulatory bodies to safeguard players.
In order to subject loot boxes to regulation, de Souza suggests expanding clause six of the Gambling Act to include them. Currently, the existing legal definition of gambling falls short of encompassing loot boxes as their prizes cannot be converted into real-world currency. De Souza advocates for expanding clause six to bring loot boxes within the purview of regulation. Furthermore, she emphasizes that the responsibility of addressing loot boxes should not solely lie with parents or the industry, and the government must take definitive action.
The Children’s Commissioner asserts that the government should heed the voices of children and parents and take decisive measures to prevent under-18s from purchasing loot boxes. Relying on voluntary industry efforts and parental controls leaves many children vulnerable to the financial and psychological risks associated with loot boxes. Additionally, the Commissioner points out that loot boxes promote harmful behaviors among young people, a majority of whom engage in video gaming. Given that online games constitute a significant part of children’s daily lives, with an estimated 93% of children in the UK playing video games, it is concerning that certain games feature inappropriate elements like loot boxes.
