The UK could be about to reclassify loot boxes as gambling products, causing big headaches for game developers. 

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has said it will be looking at loot boxes, which are now a common feature of popular video games like FIFA, and considering whether to reclassify them as a gambling product. 

Many are concerned about the mechanics of loot boxes, which allow players to pay money for random in-game rewards like characters, skins and weapons are encouraging children to develop gambling habits. The fact that loot box winnings can also be exchanged for cash on third-party websites is also worrying some observers. 

According to Labour MP Carolyn Harris, who chairs a cross-party group of MPs investigating gambling-related harm, loot boxes are “a virtually speculative commodity that only help to normalise and encourage young people to take a chance.”

Research published last year, by academics at the University of York, claimed loot boxes are now present in 71% of the most popular titles on the gaming platform Steam – up from just 4% a decade ago. 

If the government does decide to classify loot boxes as gambling, it would force developers to either significantly redesign or completely withdraw many titles from many sales platforms. 

AYO.NEWS says:

The loot box ‘controversy’ is one of the most farcical pantomimes of recent times. While no one would condone marketing pure gambling sites to children, for example, the fact is that life is ALL about gambling, and learning to weigh risks and chances. It is a skill that is required for everything in life, from crossing roads to running a business. 

Unfortunately, the ability of young people to effectively assess risk is rapidly disappearing, precisely because of misguided fools like Carolyn Harris MP, who are on an idiotic crusade to shield children and young people from any exposure to “chance.” 

From games like Monopoly to trading cards, it is critical that young people learn about chance through practice. And, as for the trading of loot box contents on third-party sites – what better way for kids to learn about trading and entrepreneurship! 

There will always be those who develop problems in everything, but attempting to wrap young people up in cotton wool is a massive mistake that will have hugely negative consequences in the long term. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

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