Loot boxes that are advertised and sold in video games will not be banned in the UK, despite findings from a government consultation that the in-game features are associated with problem gambling.
The in-game purchases have been likened to gambling as they enable players to spend real money to gain digital rewards without knowing what they will actually get. The loot boxes are said to function on a lottery-based method.
According to The Guardian, the prospect of gaining exclusive characters, outfits and weapons is popular in games like FIFA, Call of Duty and Fortnite.
While loot boxes have been banned in Belgium since 2018, the culture minister Nadine Dorries stated that the UK would not implement the same ban. Instead, after a two year consultation, she said that the government would consider “tougher industry-led” protections with the nation’s gambling sector, worth around £7 billion.
The news comes days after ex-football star Paul Merson strongly criticised the state of football shirt sponsorship across the Premier League, citing serious concerns over the sway that gambling companies currently hold over the professional game.
READ MORE: The Premier League pauses vote to ban gambling sponsorship amid Westminster situation
Nadine Dorries stated that imposing a ban on loot boxes could have “unintended consequences”.
“For example, legislation to introduce an outright ban on children purchasing loot boxes could have the unintended effect of more children using adult accounts, and thus having more limited parental oversight of their play and spending,” the government said in response to the loot box consultation.
The government also came to the conclusion that there was not a “causative link” between the in-game feature and problem gambling.
In spite of this, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) added: “We expect games companies and platforms to improve protections for children, young people and adults, and for tangible results to begin to be seen in the near future. If that does not happen, we will not hesitate to consider legislative options, if we deem it necessary to protect children, young people and adults.”
University of York video games expert, Dr David Zendle, also told The Guardian: “Prior select committee inquiries have unambiguously shown that certain bad actors within the video game industry cannot be trusted to self-regulate when it comes to player protection.
“By making those same industry bodies the ones that are responsible for regulating loot boxes, DCMS is essentially guaranteeing that foxes are the ones guarding the hen house.”
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