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posted by
cmn32480
on Monday January 08 2018, @03:34PM
from the 1-in-365,214,231-chance-of-getting-the-good-stuff dept.
from the 1-in-365,214,231-chance-of-getting-the-good-stuff dept.
Loot boxes in video games give the player a random item, perhaps a weapon or a skin, typically in exchange for payment. Should they be viewed as a legal sweepstakes or as an illegal lottery? This video examines the legal issues and explains how loot boxes could be structured to avoid running afoul of gambling laws (which vary by state) in the U.S.. The video concludes that many current implementations of loot boxes are really illegal lotteries, and conjectures that major game companies use them anyway because the risk of being prosecuted isn't enough to dissuade them.
Previously: Belgium Moving to Ban "Loot Boxes" Throughout Europe, Hawaii Could Restrict Sale to Minors
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Are Loot Boxes in Games a Violation of Gambling Laws?
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You know, the difference between this company and the Titanic is that the
Titanic had paying customers.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by nitehawk214 on Monday January 08 2018, @08:54PM (2 children)
Here is a game I like to play at the casino: Walk around the slots and try to find a person smiling.
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 09 2018, @12:44AM (1 child)
That sounds clever... until you think about it.
As an example, I find playing board games fun. However, I frequently don't smile when doing it. Likewise if you looked at the audience in a (non-laugh-out-loud-comedy) movie, how many would you find smiling? How about most of the audience of a sports arena for most of the game? How about the players of a video game?
I guess 90% of them could be bored and there for other reasons. I suspect it is more likely that your metric is flawed.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Tuesday January 09 2018, @07:17AM