UK gov wants loot box protection for children, considers legislation
A press release from the UK government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) calls for videogame companies to increase protections to stop children being able to buy loot boxes in their games. The statement also says that the government “will not hesitate to consider legislation if companies do not bring in sufficient measures to keep players safe.”
In July 2020, the UK’s House of Lords said that loot boxes should be classified as gambling, and a report from the universities of Plymouth and Wolverhampton in April 2021 called loot boxes “structurally and psychologically akin to gambling.” A call for evidence launched by the DCMS in 2020 found that “players who have purchased loot boxes may be more likely to experience gambling, mental health, financial, and problem gaming-related harms.”
In addition, the report stated that these risks may be greater for children and young people, leading to the UK government’s latest call to make the purchase of loot boxes “unavailable to children and young people unless they are approved by a parent or guardian.” Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries says that the government wants to “stop children going on spending sprees online without parental consent.”
Dorries continues, saying that “Games companies and platforms need to do more to ensure that controls and age-restrictions are applied” to protect younger players from being enticed by loot boxes and other in-game purchases. “Children should be free to enjoy gaming safely, whilst giving parents and guardians the peace of mind they need.”
The DCMS notes steps already taken by platforms including Xbox to include options that require parental permission for players under the age of 18 to spend money on in-game items. The
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