The U.K. Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) is seeking evidence on loot boxes, to establish if the video game reward features contribute to problem gambling.
The DCMS is asking players, their parents or guardians, as well as video games developers, academia, civil society and other organizations to weigh in on the controversy.
The popular in-game mechanic asks players to purchase blind-boxed items for either virtual or real-world currency. The players are then randomly awarded a virtual item that can be used in console games.
Because players must pay without knowing the item or prize to be awarded, the DCMS said the products could be considered a form of gambling, meant to acquaint young players with gambling mechanics and groom them to partake in gambling.
The DCMS announced the call for evidence after a select committee report into immersive and addictive technologies concluded that loot boxes should be classed as games of chance and regulated under the 2005 Gambling Act.
“Our valued video game industry is making good progress developing safer environments for our children to play in, such as parental controls that can be set to schedule and limit playtime,” Minister for Digital and Culture Caroline Dinenage said.
“But we’ve listened to parents’ concerns about loot boxes and it’s right that we fully examine and understand any evidence of the harm or links to problem gambling they can cause, so we can decide if action is needed.”
The call for evidence will remain open until November 22.
