Australian regulator gives opinion on loot boxes

Confused by conflicting Australian provincial opinions on whether loot boxes in video games constitute gambling (Queensland says not, Victoria says it is) the media approached the federal regulator Australian Communications Media Authority this week for an opinion.

The ACMA not only regulates and oversees advertising on the internet, radio, and broadcast TV in Australia, it is also responsible for enforcing the Interactive Gambling Act, perhaps making it the best arbiter of legality or otherwise on an issue that has been making international waves for the past two weeks.

The ACMA media team responded to the enquiry by advising:

“In general, online video games, including games that involve ‘loot box’ features, have not been regarded as ‘gambling services’ under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, because they are not ‘played for money or anything else of value’. That is, the game is not played with the object of winning money or other valuable items.

“However, the ACMA is monitoring the use of loot boxes and the use of other similar in-game mechanics that have gambling-like characteristics.”

https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/11/australias-telco-regulator-is-keeping-an-eye-on-loot-boxes-too/