Are Loot Boxes an Online Gambling Issue?

Many different forms of gaming exist online. From PCs and consoles giving players the chance to play with friends around the world, to MMORPGs that unlock gaming with strangers, and even casino gambling can be considered a form of gaming.

As each of these popular forms of play has evolved and levelled up with time and advancements in technology, new ways to make money have also appeared.

Companies will always attempt to extract extra cash from their players and gaming companies such as EA, Blizzard and Activision are in no way exempt. One of the most recent ways to cash in on what players want the most is by providing loot boxes.

While these boxes cost real money, their rewards are all digital and this could be an issue as many of the customers purchasing these boxes are children...

 What are Loot Boxes?

If you've ever played a game such as FIFA 18 or FIFA 19, you may have spotted loot boxes up close and personal.

At their core, and no matter which game you purchase them from, loot boxes are digital purchases that provide new ways to play and win. These boxes are bought for real cash and contain unknown rewards that can give players an edge over other players in order to be a winner.

Loot boxes often have levels that can be purchased, with the lowest levels or tiers offering small rewards for a small price. However, the highest tiers of these boxes can be very pricey.

Much like online casino games, loot boxes are built on a random number generator system and they randomly pay out their rewards with no regards for the player. Exciting to purchase and unlock, many YouTubers who share their gaming experiences with their viewers, use these random rewards to draw even more viewers. Again, children are often the target for these videos and they inspire kids to want to unlock or unwrap their own loot boxes.

 Are Loot Boxes a Form of Online Gambling?

In recent years, government officials from around the world have questioned whether or not loot boxes are a danger to children online.

While it seems innocent enough, the fact remains that real money must be spent in order to receive potential rewards from loot boxes. And there's no guarantee that the prize the box contains will be worthy of that cost in any way.

In countries such as Belgium and The Netherlands, loot boxes are already outlawed. After conducting surveys and academic research, these countries have determined that loot boxes provide the same thrill as online gambling. Once again, considering the ages of those often purchasing these loot boxes, that thrill is nothing short of dangerous.

Besides the possible funds being spent and the possible loss of taxes for country coffers, loot boxes can be seen as an online gambling issue.

One important factor remains - The onus for how and where children or teenagers are making these purchases must be placed on the parents. If you're unsure what those strange purchases on your credit card may be, insist that your children discuss any and all purchases with you first!

While it's still up for discussion as to how this issue will be handled by game creators, responsible playing habits, whether at an online casino or while enjoying a sports games via your console, must always be practised by all involved.

 Fortnite Plays Responsibly

One of the largest and most popular online games in the world at the moment is Fortnite. A Battle Royale style game that pits players against each other to battle to the death, this game has more than 200 million players.

Created by Epic Games, Fortnite has a 'Save the World' mode which features Loot Llamas that contain prizes and materials needed to play the game more effectively. In order to ensure that they do not form part of the gambling/loot box issue, Epic Games has made sure that all Loot Llamas which can be bought for V-bucks (i.e. real money) in their store will be transparent before purchasing is complete.

Fornite has worked long and hard to make sure that their players, no matter their age, will be protected from any potential underage gambling issues while enjoying their game. Responsible playing for all is an issue that Fortnite takes seriously and will continue to tackle.