Call for French regulator to probe loot boxes

French Senator Jérôme Durain has asked France’s online gambling regulator ARJEL to follow Belgium and the Netherlands in investigating whether loot boxes in video games constitute gambling, and what consumer protections may be necessary.

Loot boxes are in-game “crates” full of surprise upgrades, prizes and accessories which can be won through accumulating points or bought with points purchased with real money (see previous reports).

Writing to ARJEL, Senator Durain observed:

“While I do not think it is necessary at this stage to put in place specific legislation, I wonder about the desirability of providing consumer protection in this area. The use of loot boxes conferring cosmetic additions to the games seems well-accepted by the public. The development of so-called pay-to-win practices is more contentious, as shown by the recent controversy over the game Star Wars Battlefront 2. Quite aside from the acceptance of the practice, some observers point to a convergence of the video game world and practices specific to gambling.”

Last week games developer EA suspended loot box transactions in its new Star Wars Battlefront II game following complaints by players that they were too hard to earn, and the news that the Belgian Gambling Commission has launched an inquiry into whether these rewards were a disguised form of gambling.

Related and similar