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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
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(Score: 5, Informative) by Ingar on Thursday November 23 2017, @06:04PM (6 children)
Disclaimer: I live in Belgium
This has been in the local news for the past few days. It began with an investigation of the national gambling commision
and the case now went up to the DOJ.
Gambling is effectively illegal here. Some forms are allowed, but they are heavily regulated.
So we do have a national lottery and even a few casino's. Anything else is basicly a no-no.
It's important to note that both offering and participating in gambling is unlawful, and the fines are
quite hefty. Loot Box buyers might suddenly find themselves on the wrong end of The Law.
From with I heard, the Netherlands are looking into the issue as well.
(Score: 4, Informative) by TheRaven on Thursday November 23 2017, @06:19PM (1 child)
sudo mod me up
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 24 2017, @11:44AM
wait isn't the gambling the source of the amusement? the regulations follow, like a whiny, nagging significant other wanting you to leave before you're done.
(and i read about that, the MIT guys made big bucks with their analysis and techniques to win. i envy smart people with time on their hands to spend trying to defeat a system--be it hackers or gamblers, since the goal is often the same... sometimes the journey is what is important with the payoff just being a benefit)
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 23 2017, @06:54PM (2 children)
Err Belgium had betting shops like tipco and ladbrokes last time I checked. Have they been shut down?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 24 2017, @01:27AM
Signs point to "no." http://sports.ladbrokes.be/en [ladbrokes.be] https://twitter.com/LadbrokesBE [twitter.com]
(Score: 3, Interesting) by qzm on Friday November 24 2017, @02:27AM
You do know that betting and gambling are two quite different things right?
One is selection of a winner based on [whatever factors you consider important], however it is most certainly not a random outcome.
The other is placing money down on an essentially random outcome, with a much higher possible return.
Of course there is plenty of gray in between, and both tend to be regulated, however they are most certainly different things.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by realDonaldTrump on Thursday November 23 2017, @07:22PM
We have a national lottery too, a Chuck Schumer beauty, it's called the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program." Sounds nice, it is not nice, it is not good. It hasn't been good and we have been against it. It's a big gamble, a gamble with our safety. The terrorist who did that horrible attack on New York came into our country through it. I want merit based. We're going to quickly as possible get rid of chain migration and move to a merit-based system. Keep the gambling in the casinos! #MAGA 🇺🇸