UK rules will hit loot boxes games hard - as they’re turning kids into gamblers.

[imstillthebest]

It's not really the gaming industry's fault if a child will gamble their way up to their special items or skins. Perhaps the parents should reinforce an iron hand when it comes to the child's gaming habits and also prevent them from using their credit cards unsolicited. Most of the cases wherein a child is able to gamble is because their parents' card is just lying around and can be readily used. Anyway, if parents would allow their children to actually play, but limit their hours, perhaps this could work. Or games should be more strict in terms of spending real money for in-game items. They can even go so far as to imposing strict KYC to prevent people from spending money without getting their info verified but maybe that's just me.

i like the idea of implementing a kyc to games that have loot boxes or in app purchase because that can be the only way to prevent kids from using thier parents cc and bank accounts but we still have a problem , what about the adults ? not just kids but adults are also adicted to it . 

this is not the fault of the gaming company because they are only doing it to earn  but this is only a game and they shouldnt make it as simillar to gambling in the form of loot boxes .

[swogerino]

I like this idea from UK government.Many game developers offer free games with optional buy ins during the game and is exactly this element which I think is correct to be stopped up to a certain level.While these loot boxes may not directly turn the kids into future gamblers it is one sure thing that they affect the kids neural system for the bad when they can’t get past a certain level in the game and become frustrated.

[Janation]

Its been in a lot of articles and it is good that some governments are making a move from it.

These players or children that are buying these loot boxes are not unaware that they are already gambling. Most of the games right now have the loot boxes mechanics even popular games like CSGO, Dota2,  and Fortnite which is so popular these days especially Dota2 with the Batlle Pass now in the market. People are buying levels to get free arcanas and other features of the BP and here are also those treasures that they would get which falls under the loot boxes. Will they ban these games? Age limit? I don't think they won't be able to stop these children to play it.

[aioc]

I agree that there should be strict rules and classification on tose loot boxes, my son always money to buy those loot boxes so he can upgrade and play effectively on his games, if they classified it to gambling it will be big revenue losses for the gaming industry because it will be in strict parental guidance or they will not allow kids to play those games.

[peter0425]

I agree that there should be strict rules and classification on tose loot boxes, my son always money to buy those loot boxes so he can upgrade and play effectively on his games, if they classified it to gambling it will be big revenue losses for the gaming industry because it will be in strict parental guidance or they will not allow kids to play those games.

Well lucky that my sons are no longer inlove in loot boxes because they are now playing PUBG games so i am safer with this issue.

But lets face that being parents we must be always looking towards what games our children is playing because it is in our jurisdiction being parents to tell them which is good or not specially if this is involving some kind of gambling activities.

[Ucy]

Gamers should be spending little amount or amount they can afford to lose on games that truely involve chances/probability. Afterall there are "treasures" to be won in such games, that is why I don't recommend banning or even classifying them as gambling... gambling in this case depends on the risk the bettors/gamers are taking. If the risk is too much(very risky), it then becomes gambling. Very risky includes, bad/violent games, spending too much time/money on bets etc

[BIT-BENDER]

I don't know about look box, I haven't not played it ever, but if I can hold to the simple things you just said about loot boxes, should be see CHANCE  now as gambling, -a youth can fill an online form to getting into a big college in UK but no matter how strong their grades are CHANCE expected- chance is part of life and not gambling, the kids can even be exited to find out what they are giving.

[DoublerHunter]

I like this idea from UK government.Many game developers offer free games with optional buy ins during the game and is exactly this element which I think is correct to be stopped up to a certain level.While these loot boxes may not directly turn the kids into future gamblers it is one sure thing that they affect the kids neural system for the bad when they can’t get past a certain level in the game and become frustrated.

^Definitely right, this idea of the country in the UK shows that their young age people must be focus to study and should not be involved in gambling activity. If the government forces to prohibit this kind of business probably will keep those kid not to turn into gamblers while at an early age. Parents should be thankful of this implementation because they know that this is good for their children's future. Because kids nowadays will always find ways just to have what they want and most of them in this generation is hard-headed did not follow what their parents advise that for their own good.

[Latviand]

I think the games were not wrong because their purposes are not trying to turn UK kids to become a gambler in the future. It was the parent's jobs always to watch and take care of their kids, so they don't turn become a gambler.

We cannot blame the similar and the other gambling games because we know that gambling is not for kids and if somehow, the kids become a gambler, that will be a responsibility from people who lived with that kids. Kids need to be controlled and watched, so they don't choose the wrong way in the future, and that will be a job for their parents and the other member of the family.

The discipline should start at home, the parents should guide their kids to much more important things like studies and how to become a wise person. It is not bad to teach their kids how to gamble as long as they will inform them what are the advantages and disadvantages of it in human lives. People are forgetting the essence of gambling that's why there are people who are getting addicted to it. I know that a kid's future depends on his surroundings but they have their own choice and free will.

If he want to spend his money or allowance in to a game where he can enjoy it for the rest of his life, that's a memory for him. We should always guide them on the things that they should learn and let them become well-informed about the good and bad things in the world.

[ralle14]

I agree that there should be strict rules and classification on tose loot boxes, my son always money to buy those loot boxes so he can upgrade and play effectively on his games, if they classified it to gambling it will be big revenue losses for the gaming industry because it will be in strict parental guidance or they will not allow kids to play those games.

They'll lose some revenue but I don't think it's going to be a lot since it's just one country. Anyway the rules aren't official yet and if it's approved in the future they could always make some changes on how they distribute their cosmetics.

These players or children that are buying these loot boxes are not unaware that they are already gambling. Most of the games right now have the loot boxes mechanics even popular games like CSGO, Dota2,  and Fortnite which is so popular these days especially Dota2 with the Batlle Pass now in the market. People are buying levels to get free arcanas and other features of the BP and here are also those treasures that they would get which falls under the loot boxes. Will they ban these games? Age limit? I don't think they won't be able to stop these children to play it.

I agree it won't be stopped since it's so easy to create multiple accounts or use a different country of origin to bypass the restrictions. On the other hand steam allows players to buy the best items from their market or trade so they don't have to waste more time with loot boxes unlike the other platforms where you have to spend more and just get tons of duplicate items.

[Janation]

These players or children that are buying these loot boxes are not unaware that they are already gambling. Most of the games right now have the loot boxes mechanics even popular games like CSGO, Dota2,  and Fortnite which is so popular these days especially Dota2 with the Batlle Pass now in the market. People are buying levels to get free arcanas and other features of the BP and here are also those treasures that they would get which falls under the loot boxes. Will they ban these games? Age limit? I don't think they won't be able to stop these children to play it.

I agree it won't be stopped since it's so easy to create multiple accounts or use a different country of origin to bypass the restrictions. On the other hand steam allows players to buy the best items from their market or trade so they don't have to waste more time with loot boxes unlike the other platforms where you have to spend more and just get tons of duplicate items.

VPN is a thing and I think they don't know that.

Steam can get out of there but there are a lot of other platforms that still stick with loot boxes so they could make more money from their players of their users. I remembered a YouTube video where they are exploiting how expensive in-game items are in this game which is so popular with kids. Most of those games though are from Gacha games.

[Maus0728]

You spend cash to get fake currencies to receive in-game weapon skins or decals through a mechanism similar to gambling.. and can't even cash out.

Business is business I think! These are the strategies of the company to increase their sales. It is more likely a psychological play wherein buying those upgrades or loot-boxes make kids feel a lot cooler and stronger.
It would be better to install apk modded application with lots of money in an old device to decrease chances of getting malwares. This is only applicable for kids who are into gaming. International strategy based games such as DOTA, LOL, MMORPG that is usually played by adults are impossible to control.

[FlightyPouch]

What can they do about it? Ban the game? Limit the game to players or gamers to ages that are legal for them to gamble? IF they will be banning the game, these children will still find a way to access it may be using a VPN or proxies. They can't just limit the ages of these players since these children can just lie so that they could still play the game.

[carlfebz2]

It's not really the gaming industry's fault if a child will gamble their way up to their special items or skins. Perhaps the parents should reinforce an iron hand when it comes to the child's gaming habits and also prevent them from using their credit cards unsolicited. Most of the cases wherein a child is able to gamble is because their parents' card is just lying around and can be readily used. Anyway, if parents would allow their children to actually play, but limit their hours, perhaps this could work. Or games should be more strict in terms of spending real money for in-game items. They can even go so far as to imposing strict KYC to prevent people from spending money without getting their info verified but maybe that's just me.

This would particularly target out in parenting concerns and as said this would really be needed some sort of strict discipline kind of way on handling out your kids and shouldnt really tolerate
on spending into things which arent really that worth to put on.

Ive been into the experience on playing a game and purchasing tons when it comes to in-game items etc. but it didnt really come to a point that i do become a gambler or some sort.I do still have that
kind of habit but i do know on how to handle it out.

For hit loot boxes games in UK then it would really be just a similar scenario.If government do allow it then the only solution can really be only found on their parents hands.

[rhomelmabini]

I think lots of people would be interested in the news concerning gambling in these parts.  And the gambling section is already very cluttered with gambling news threads.

Hence this is why this section exist

If you don't want to start it, can I?  

Would be such a messy thread if in one thread people throw in 10 random gambling news then everyone just state their opinion without actually addressing to which topic they are actually commenting

News or not I think it deserved to be discussed here on the gambling discussion board unless we see a gambling news board where we can see these kind of posts. It's isn't prohibited to make a thread like that and I think that's a good suggestion. If there's no bump for over a day then you can decide to bump it on a new and fresh news about gambling especially when it concern to crypto but I guess any different kind of gambling news will do.

[avikz]

Lol! That's what I call failed Beaurocratic structure where the right hand doesn't know what left hand is doing. If I have to go by their example, then investing in stocks should be banned because there is a chance element present. Investing in cryptocurrency should be banned as well because the price is so volatile and there are chances to loose money!

They should also ban Avengers films because there is a chance that kids will try such tricks at home. Lol!

If the upbringing of a child is taken care nicely, the chances of them becoming problem gambler is very less. Banning certain things wouldn't help at all!

[maydna]

~snip~

The discipline should start at home, the parents should guide their kids to much more important things like studies and how to become a wise person. It is not bad to teach their kids how to gamble as long as they will inform them what are the advantages and disadvantages of it in human lives. People are forgetting the essence of gambling that's why there are people who are getting addicted to it. I know that a kid's future depends on his surroundings but they have their own choice and free will.

If he want to spend his money or allowance in to a game where he can enjoy it for the rest of his life, that's a memory for him. We should always guide them on the things that they should learn and let them become well-informed about the good and bad things in the world.

When it comes to discipline, that will be the hard things that people can do. Not all people will have the discipline that they will do for a long time because discipline needs that person to do the same thing every day. But if the discipline is for the kids, I am sure that the kids will have a chance to do that, and they can do that thing until they become mature. It is easier to teach kids about discipline than to teach discipline to adult people.

But I don't think that it is not bad to teach kids about gambling because I believe they are not ready to see the loss. We know that in gambling, the chance to get lost will be bigger than the win so that can affect the kid's mentality until they grow up. We need to guide them, take care of them, and always watch their growth so they will know about gambling at the right time.

[Janation]

When it comes to discipline, that will be the hard things that people can do. Not all people will have the discipline that they will do for a long time because discipline needs that person to do the same thing every day. But if the discipline is for the kids, I am sure that the kids will have a chance to do that, and they can do that thing until they become mature. It is easier to teach kids about discipline than to teach discipline to adult people.

But I don't think that it is not bad to teach kids about gambling because I believe they are not ready to see the loss. We know that in gambling, the chance to get lost will be bigger than the win so that can affect the kid's mentality until they grow up. We need to guide them, take care of them, and always watch their growth so they will know about gambling at the right time.

The guidance of the parents is the secret here.

The discipline of the children is impossible without the guidance of their parents, that is why it is really important. When it comes to gambling, I don't think we should even talk about it to kids since they are more focussed on playing rather than knowing what's wrong or right. They will know what is wrong and right as they grow older with the parent's guidance. We should not just focus our worries on gambling since there are a lot of other factors that could mainly affect our kids and other children.

[crwth]

I have never looked at loot boxes, like the ones in PUBG, as gambling, but it's definitely a risk. I just realized that I was gambling with those as well and in exchange for real money. I always looked at it as a privilege because I can afford it, but now I started to think it is definitely gambling. It blew my mind when I read this. Maybe I need to rethink my gaming purchases, LOL.

[shoreno]

I have never looked at loot boxes, like the ones in PUBG, as gambling, but it's definitely a risk. I just realized that I was gambling with those as well and in exchange for real money. I always looked at it as a privilege because I can afford it, but now I started to think it is definitely gambling. It blew my mind when I read this. Maybe I need to rethink my gaming purchases, LOL.

depends on what we think  . some think it as a gambling because they spend money to get random stuff while some didnt but they only  see it as a game  .  for me its not a kind of gambling because when you spend  , you can guarantee to get anything if you didnt get your desired item on the loot box but on gambling you often cant get your desired payout  .  i play on higher payouts in gambling , thats why i say that its hard for me to hit them but idk to some that plays on lower payouts   .