GambleAware wants to lower the use of loot boxes

Added: July 26, 2022

GambleAware is urging the new government of the United Kingdom to undertake serious activities over loot boxes in video games for the purpose of protecting youngsters.

Loot box is a special feature in video games which can be bought with money, and it gives players a different advantage in their game.

After GambleAware’s announcement, the DCMS did not act to ban the usage of loot boxes, but addressed the game developers to adopt new measures for safeguarding the players.

However, GambleAware stated that it is praiseworthy to know that the government releases the risks of loot boxes. It was stated that almost forty percent of youngsters who play video games have purchased the loot box, meaning that activities like this are considered normal. So the new government needs to take serious measures to prevent youngsters from engaging in gambling-like activities.

“Loot boxes are considered gambling and that is why more serious actions need to be taken against it. In the United Kingdom 55 thousand children from the age of 11 to 16 experience gambling harm, and another 85 thousand children are at risk as well, so serious steps need to be taken to safeguard young people and stop the gambling harm.”

explained GambleAware.

The charity also talked about their Video Games Research Framework, saying that it is going to be published by the end of 2022.

This response is followed by the UK Children’s Commissioner’s announcement about loot boxes being harmful. Rachel de Souza stated that they need to be included in the UK Gambling Act.

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