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posted by Fnord666 on Thursday November 23 2017, @04:53PM   Printer-friendly
from the microtransaction-fail dept.

Video game gambling schemes known as "loot boxes" or "loot crates" could be banned or restricted by regulators:

We learned last week that Belgium's gambling authority was investigating loot crates in Star Wars Battlefront II over concerns that they constitute gambling. Now, the decision is in, and the answer is a resounding yes, according to Dutch-language publication VTM Nieuws. The commission claims that purchasable add-on boxes, the contents of which are randomized, mix "money and addiction" and thus are a form of gambling.

Belgian Minister of Justice Koen Geens added: "Mixing gambling and gaming, especially at a young age, is dangerous for the mental health of the child." The commission will now reportedly work through the European Union's process to execute a total ban. We've reached out to Belgium's Gaming Commission for more details on its next steps and the legal implications of the ruling.

The country isn't alone in its stance on loot boxes. Just hours ago, Rep. Chris Lee (D) from Hawaii denounced EA's "predatory behavior" in a speech uploaded to YouTube (first spotted by Kotaku). In the clip, Lee also talks of the detrimental affect micro-transactions have on children, with specific reference to Battlefront II, which he describes as a a "Star Wars-themed online casino, designed to lure kids into spending money".

What Are Loot Boxes? Gaming's Big New Problem, Explained

Press 'F' to pay respects.

Related: Why Call of Duty WW2 Bosses Won't 'Shy Away' from History
Star Wars Game in U-Turn After Player Anger


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  • (Score: 2) by stretch611 on Thursday November 23 2017, @05:26PM (6 children)

    by stretch611 (6199) on Thursday November 23 2017, @05:26PM (#600722)

    I guess that the gaming industry has forgotten to pay off the right congress critters...

    I'm sure that their bribes "campaign contributions" will be increased before the banning begins.

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    Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 23 2017, @07:47PM (5 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 23 2017, @07:47PM (#600785)

    You saying they took a gamble? ;)

    • (Score: 2) by qzm on Friday November 24 2017, @02:23AM (4 children)

      by qzm (3260) on Friday November 24 2017, @02:23AM (#600901)

      You know that Belgium is not a place in the US, right?

      right?...

      [chirp.. chirp.. chirp..]

      • (Score: 2) by stretch611 on Friday November 24 2017, @03:34AM (3 children)

        by stretch611 (6199) on Friday November 24 2017, @03:34AM (#600913)

        Last time I checked, Hawaii was a part of the US

        --
        Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 24 2017, @03:54AM (1 child)

          by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 24 2017, @03:54AM (#600919)
          Yeah but Hawaii isn't actually banning it. In politics talking about something is a huge difference from actually doing stuff about it.

          Politicians talk about doing stuff all the time to get votes. Lots of voters don't even care when presented with evidence that their candidates didn't even do the stuff, those voters continue supporting and voting for the same candidate.
          • (Score: 2) by stretch611 on Friday November 24 2017, @05:11AM

            by stretch611 (6199) on Friday November 24 2017, @05:11AM (#600935)

            Politicians also talk about things to draw attention to them. If an industry starts fearing regulation it starts increasing spending on lobbyists and political contributions.

            --
            Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
        • (Score: 2) by sjames on Friday November 24 2017, @06:13AM

          by sjames (2882) on Friday November 24 2017, @06:13AM (#600958) Journal

          Are you sure it isn't Kenya?