Why aren t loot boxes illegal?

Are Loot Boxes Legal? Today, with a few exceptions, most forms of loot boxes remain legal and unregulated worldwide. However, proponents of loot box regulation argue that the chance and rarity mechanics make loot boxes akin to gambling and constitute predatory practices toward minors.

Why aren t loot boxes considered gambling?

The government believed that, although loot boxes had some similarities with gambling, an important distinction was the ability to “cash out rewards”. The government said that a loot box prize “does not normally have real world monetary value outside of the game”.

Why loot boxes are bad?

Games use gambling techniques to make players game for longer and spend more money. Gaming can be manipulated in ways the player is unaware of to encourage them to spend money. This leads to poor purchasing decisions, especially for children and young people.

In what countries are loot boxes illegal?

As of today, the only European jurisdiction where loot boxes are explicitly banned is Belgium, where the Gambling Commission declared loot boxes to be "in violation of gambling legislation" back in 2018, although a recent study showed that the Belgian regulator is struggling with enforcing the ban.

Why did they take away loot boxes?

Loot Boxes were removed voluntarily because Blizzard would have eventually been forced to remove them. It already happened in Belgium, it's inevitable that they're outlawed in other countries too. Best to make it look like it was their idea.

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What happens to my unopened loot boxes?

Loot Boxes will all be automatically opened with the launch of Overwatch 2 at which point all remaining unopened Loot Boxes will be automatically opened upon entering the Hero Gallery. After Overwatch 2 has launched, any unclaimed loot box codes from any source will grant 100 Credits.

What replaced loot boxes?

Blizzard formally announced that loot boxes were going away in June, replacing them with a battle pass and in-game store.

Are loot boxes pay to win?

Spending money in order to obtain an advantage over other players is often referred to as the pay-to-win mechanic [25]. However, loot boxes can also be acquired through effort, rather than microtransactions alone [10].

How addictive are loot boxes?

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners Joint Addictions and Substance Misuse Lead said that certain in app gaming features known as 'loot boxes' could instill unhealthy behaviours and pre-expose children and young people to developing addictive gambling-like tendencies later in life.

What are the pros of loot boxes?

They Enhance Gameplay

A common argument in favor of loot boxes is that they help to improve the general gameplay experience. EA uses them in a variety of their titles, such as in FIFA's Ultimate Team, to offer players extra options as they advance.

Do loot boxes lead to gambling?

Despite Electronic Arts' (EA) insistence that loot boxes are not gambling, and are, in fact, “surprise mechanics,” several studies have shown there is a link between loot boxes and gambling addiction.

What age group buys loot boxes?

Among gamers, 78% of adults have purchased at least one loot box [11], and 40.5% of adolescents between the ages of 16 and 18 have purchased one within the past month [12].

How do you stop loot boxes?

Is the US banning loot boxes?

Although there have been efforts in the United States to regulate loot boxes through legislation —and a Federal Trade Commission workshop raised the issue of loot box regulation—currently no legal consensus exists in the United States around the illegality of loot boxes.

What are the cons of loot boxes?

Mounting research, such as that done by the universities of Plymouth and Wolverhampton, indicates that loot boxes are linked to problem gambling, and are “structurally and psychologically akin to gambling.” Of 13 studies into the behavior of gamers who spend on loot boxes, 12 showed a clear correlation between the use ...

Which game had lootboxes first?

The Chinese free-to-play game ZT Online (or simply Zhengtu) which was released in 2007 by the Zhengtu Network is also considered to be one of the early examples of video games that contained loot boxes as a part of its game system.

What percentage of gamers buy loot boxes?

Buy loot boxes: 44.2% of gamers (66.54% bought daily, 26.84% once a week).

Who invented loot boxes in games?

Researchers trace the first loot boxes back to the Chinese free-to-play MMO ZT Online, released in 2006, where players opened virtual treasure chests. This formula mutated through various mobile games until it reached core franchises: in 2010, Valve incorporated them in Team Fortress 2.

Are loot boxes banned in China?

Loot Box Restrictions

Chinese law is particularly strict and detailed on loot boxes, as they are seen as a form of gambling: Loot boxes cannot be purchased using either real or virtual currency. Loot box contents must also be acquirable through other means. Compulsion loops are not allowed.

Are loot boxes illegal in Europe?

Regulation of Loot Boxes in the EU

As mentioned above, aside from EU consumer protection laws, loot boxes are not subject to any specific EU harmonized legislation (as is the case for gambling activities).

Is Germany banning loot boxes?

Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, new rules will apply to entertainment software for new video games that arrive on the market. In the future, in addition to content relevant to the protection of minors, the presence of loot boxes will result in the game receiving a stricter rating to indicate it's not suitable for children.

What happens to Overwatch 1 currency when 2 comes out?

When Overwatch 2 is released on October 4, 2022, as a free-to-play game, it will ditch the first game's loot boxes in favor of a battle pass system. The battle pass will let players unlock cosmetics, which can also be purchased through the in-game store.

Can you return a loot crate?

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REVOKE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AT ANY TIME. RETURNS WITH THE REQUEST OF A REFUND WILL BE REFUNDED THE PAID FOR SUBSCRIPTION COST MINUS THE SHIPPING AND IS AT THE DISCRETION OF CUSTOMER SUPPORT. MEMBERSHIP IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.