What Country Banned Loot Boxes?

The countries that have banned loot boxes include Belgium, which declared them to be “in violation of gambling legislation” in 2018, and other countries such as China, which has strict and detailed laws regarding loot boxes, considering them a form of gambling. Japan has also imposed a ban on a certain type of loot box known as “kompu gacha“, which required players to win several specific prizes to combine them into or exchange them for a more valuable or rarer prize.

Introduction to Loot Box Regulation

History of Loot Boxes

Loot boxes have been a part of the gaming industry for many years, with the first known instance of a loot-box system believed to be an item called “Gachapon ticket” introduced in the Japanese version of MapleStory in 2004. Since then, loot boxes have become a common feature in many games, but their use of random chance to gain items after committing real-world funds has raised concerns that they may be considered a form of gambling.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why did Belgium ban loot boxes? Belgium banned loot boxes because research indicates that loot box spending is related to problem gambling severity, and the Belgian Gaming Commission declared them to be “in violation of gambling legislation” in 2018.
2. Are loot boxes illegal in the Netherlands? Although loot boxes have been technically legal in the Netherlands, there are risks that they will be banned again as a motion for regulating and possibly banning loot boxes in games has already been filed by six political parties.
3. Did the Netherlands ban loot boxes? The Netherlands decided to block loot boxes after six political parties submitted a motion to the House of Representatives to ban the feature, citing concerns that loot boxes manipulate children into purchasing microtransactions.
4. Is the UK banning loot boxes? The UK Government has decided not to ban loot boxes in video games and has asked stakeholders in the gaming industry to self-regulate loot box purchases.
5. Why are loot boxes illegal? Loot boxes are considered illegal in some countries because their use of random chance to gain items after committing real-world funds makes them akin to gambling and constitutes predatory practices toward minors.
6. Why do countries ban loot boxes? Countries ban loot boxes because they use random chance to gain items after committing real-world funds, which may be considered a form of gambling.
7. Is Germany banning loot boxes? Germany’s age rating board, USK, has expanded its test criteria to include loot boxes and other in-game transactions within the “possible online risks” category when classifying a game.
8. What country has the most banned video games? Mainland China has a large number of banned video games, including those that depict drugs, sexuality, blood, organized crime, or defamation of the Chinese government.
9. Which country banned microtransactions? The Netherlands and Belgium banned the sale of microtransactions in games sold in their countries in 2018.
10. Are FIFA loot boxes illegal? A district court in Hermagor classified FIFA loot boxes as “illegal gambling” and ordered Sony to refund payments because Sony did not have a gambling license.
11. Are Overwatch loot boxes illegal? Overwatch removed paid loot boxes from the game in reaction to the Belgian Gaming Commission’s report, which classed Overwatch’s loot boxes as gambling and therefore illegal.
12. Is cigarette banned in the Netherlands? The Netherlands is the first country to ban the sale of tobacco in supermarkets, and sales of tobacco will be banned at petrol stations and convenience stores in the future.
13. Are loot boxes illegal in the USA? Loot boxes remain largely legal and unregulated in the USA, although proponents of loot box regulation argue that they constitute predatory practices toward minors.
14. What game popularized loot boxes? Overwatch is often credited with popularizing loot boxes, although the first known instance of a loot-box system was in the Japanese version of MapleStory in 2004.
15. Do loot boxes lead to gambling? Emerging research suggests that loot box purchases and similar gambling behavior among children or teens can lead to problem gambling later in life, as these activities seem fun and harmless but may normalize risky behavior.