Belgium: Lootoboxes are gambling, potential EU wide ban

[ManiaCCC]

https://nieuws.vtm.be/vtm-nieuws/bin...ames-verbieden

I am sorry, I created this thread in off-topic but this is probably better place to discuss it. Hopefully, it is not big issue.

[The One Percent]

Well, it is gambling... so...

[Coolit]

It's about time something was done.

[ManiaCCC]

But its not... I don't agree with loot boxes but this is definately NOT gambling.

Technically, it is not...yet.

However, it exploits same feelings and cause very similar behavior, just in a little bit different color.

[Puzzony]

Inb4 EU game prices increased by 50-100% to counter it.

[Deleted]

But its not... I don't agree with loot boxes but this is definately NOT gambling.

You pay real life money in hopes of a specific outcome from a random pool of outcomes, and you get shit instead. It's the definition of gambling.

[The One Percent]

But its not... I don't agree with loot boxes but this is definately NOT gambling.

Explain to me how random chance isn't gambling to you. I'm genuinely intrigued about your thought process.

[ManiaCCC]

Inb4 EU game prices increased by 50-100% to counter it.

If they want kill their sales in EU, certainly, this is way to go.

However, less predatory type of microtransactions will be used(probably).

[Gaidax]

100 eurobucks base games inc.

[ManiaCCC]

You don't gain anything of monetery value in return, example is Star cards in SWBF2 cannot be sold on to make a profit and you cannot gain more money from purchasing a loot crate with real money that is the definition of gambling at least here in the UK, also it's like saying buying a Kinder Surprise and not getting the toy you want is gambling, People just need to learn self control and be adults. There a simple answer for a simple question.

same could be said about gambling (your last part). Look, people are not arguing if Lootoboxes are gambling technically, but most of us believe, it should be declared as such or at least, be treated in same way.

[The One Percent]

You don't gain anything of monetery value in return, example is Star cards in SWBF2 cannot be sold on to make a profit and you cannot gain more money from purchasing a loot crate with real money that is the definition of gambling at least here in the UK, also it's like saying buying a Kinder Surprise and not getting the toy you want is gambling, People just need to learn self control and be adults. There a simple answer for a simple question.

I see. I disagree because those items that are offered in the boxes do have monetary value, otherwise people would not buy them. Just because you can't resell the items doesn't mean that there isn't value ascribed to them. Come to think of it based upon the good point you brought up about being to make money from gambling, I now feel loot crates and any variation thereof are even worse than gambling.

[Nehezbegar]

You really dont want politicians meddle into it, You will open a Pandora can.

People who buy shit like this are retards, if ppl voted with their wallets and didnt buy games from such developer, there would be no problem like this. If goverment meddle into this aspect, it will try to meddle into everything, mark my words.

[OmniSkribe]

Instead of lootboxes companies will just make unlocks veeeery grindy and simply will sell "Full unlock kits" like EA did with with Battlefield 3 and 4. It won't fall under Gambling laws but will harm players by making unlock almost impossible to achieve.

[Deleted]

Instead of lootboxes companies will just make unlocks veeeery grindy and simply will sell "Full unlock kits" like EA did with with Battlefield 3 and 4. It won't fall under Gambling laws but will harm players by making unlock almost impossible to achieve.

BF3 and BF4 unlocks weren't that difficult to get though, their main income wasn't from the unlock package, it was from that 49.99 season pass sort of thing that gave you all the map packs earlier than their normal release. In Battblefront 2 they supposedly wanted to move away from map packs that separate the community as it harms the longevity of the game, but their new micro-transaction method was far, far worse for the community. Loot boxes probably had higher projected earnings in their testing as well.

[The One Percent]

Instead of lootboxes companies will just make unlocks veeeery grindy and simply will sell "Full unlock kits" like EA did with with Battlefield 3 and 4. It won't fall under Gambling laws but will harm players by making unlock almost impossible to achieve.

Then it will be easier to access that since the numbers can't be hidden like they are able to with loot boxes, and the consumer can choose not to purchase those games until the producers and developers properly tune the numbers.

[zealo]

Gambling itself is not illegal in the EU. Loot boxes won't be banned directly, what's more likely to happen if they consider loot boxes gambling is that games with them will have to be rated for adults, and have more rigorous checks in place to make sure absolutely no minors buys or plays them. There's online casinos and what not in the EU, and they're legal.

Effectively, that'd mean box retail sales would get hurt badly by it or cease all-together, but they could still have the practise in use for the game.

[Deleted]

"Oh no, gamers are having fun. How very dare them! We must wreck that."

[Deleted]

Gambling itself is not illegal in the EU. Loot boxes won't be banned directly, what's more likely to happen if they consider loot boxes gambling is that games with them will have to be rated for adults, and have more rigorous checks in place to make sure absolutely no minors buys or plays them. There's online casinos and what not in the EU, and they're legal.

Effectively, that'd mean box retail sales would get hurt badly by it or cease all-together, but they could still have the practise in use for the game.

Have age ratings actually ever affected game sales drastically? I've been to a midnight release of an 18 game, whilst underrage on my own, and it was basically 80% mums with their 13 year old kid.

[Ascius]

100 eurobucks base games inc.

Ahahahaha, sure, might as well make it 200+ season pass and dlc, I'd like to see how many will buy it.

[ManiaCCC]

Have age ratings actually ever affected game sales drastically? I've been to a midnight release of an 18 game, whilst underrage on my own, and it was basically 80% mums with their 13 year old kid.

Age rating does much more than just asking for ID card, when buying game. For example, tt restricts advertisement in a big way. And this is where it may hurt.