Loot Boxes = Gambling Without License?

Hlaalu Agent

Nerevar going to let you down
Founder
Finally starting to see some serious pushback to the exploitative nature of the loot boxes business model; I can't wait to see how the EA fanboys and the anarcho-capitalists justify condemning this move.

Screech about the Dutch breaching the NAP and that these are completely voluntary transactions? Though honestly, I'd argue back that they are trying to make people pay more than once for the same thing which goes against the principle of voluntary transactions. And before anyone brings up MMOs, that is a subscription service.
 

Husky_Khan

The Dog Whistler... I mean Whisperer.
Founder
Sotnik
Brazilian authorities have opened an inquiry into whether to ban loot boxes since its randomized monetization mechanics can be argued to be a form of gambling which is illegal.


Activision, EA, Konami, Nintendo, Riot Games, Ubisoft, Tencent, and Valve are among the many companies that could be affected and subject to fines worth upwards of $700,000 daily as long as the practice of selling loot boxes continues if a possible ban does come forth.
 

Val the Moofia Boss

Well-known member
Brazilian authorities have opened an inquiry into whether to ban loot boxes since its randomized monetization mechanics can be argued to be a form of gambling which is illegal.


Activision, EA, Konami, Nintendo, Riot Games, Ubisoft, Tencent, and Valve are among the many companies that could be affected and subject to fines worth upwards of $700,000 daily as long as the practice of selling loot boxes continues if a possible ban does come forth.

Whatever happened to EA or Activision saying to Germany or the EU "we dispute your interpretation of your own laws that say we are running gambling businesses"?
 

Typhonis

Well-known member
Could be Worse.

"Loot Boxes are gambling. We tax gambling. EA you owe us This much money in back taxes and we need to do a full audit of your books to see if you have short-changed us in other areas."
 

ParadiseLost

Well-known member
Could be Worse.

"Loot Boxes are gambling. We tax gambling. EA you owe us This much money in back taxes and we need to do a full audit of your books to see if you have short-changed us in other areas."

All income is taxed, so they'd have already paid it anyway.
 

Vargas Fan

Head over heels in love :)
I wonder how this would affect Armoured Warfare as there are vehicle and camo loot crates. However you open them, see what you are getting, THEN decide if you wish to buy or not. A different model.
 

Aaron Fox

Well-known member
I wonder how this would affect Armoured Warfare as there are vehicle and camo loot crates. However you open them, see what you are getting, THEN decide if you wish to buy or not. A different model.
That would be an interesting case study if it goes to court. Although, to be honest, most of the lootboxes are for things like in-game currency, what amounts to lions, and things like premium time (I got a whole shitload of premium time due to some gold/platinum chests giving me premium time).

Still won't surpass Blacklight: Retribution's purchase system though... now that was how you make an in-game purchase system work (even after the consolidation update the system was mostly still in place) without catering to the Whales...
 

Vargas Fan

Head over heels in love :)
That would be an interesting case study if it goes to court. Although, to be honest, most of the lootboxes are for things like in-game currency, what amounts to lions, and things like premium time (I got a whole shitload of premium time due to some gold/platinum chests giving me premium time).

Still won't surpass Blacklight: Retribution's purchase system though... now that was how you make an in-game purchase system work (even after the consolidation update the system was mostly still in place) without catering to the Whales...

The thing with AW is that you can end up with something near worthless or something really good. Once I got a vehicle for a couple of quid that sometimes sells in the in-game shop at near £100. At least you know what you're getting beforehand.
 

Aaron Fox

Well-known member
Can you give us details on that system?
Basically, the vast majority of the stuff you can only get via premium money was cosmetics, the rest you can get with in-game currency. With two or three games, you can get enough in-game currency to rent various weapon/armor components for three days, seven or eight games you can rent the game for a week, and with ten or more games you can buy it permanently. Magazines, barrels, muzzles, every component of a weapon or armor can be purchased for in-game silver equivalent, although the more blingy/exotic camo schemes are gold-only.

The only real problem was that, for quite a while, you could only buy a month's worth of toxic/incendiary/explosive ammo for gold, but even then it doesn't completely dominate the battle scene.
The thing with AW is that you can end up with something near worthless or something really good. Once I got a vehicle for a couple of quid that sometimes sells in the in-game shop at near £100. At least you know what you're getting beforehand.
Yeah, this is probably the best you can get with the loot-box system. Even then, most of the 'duds' stuff that these loot boxes give out is just stupid amounts of gold/premium time/credits. Even the in-game loot boxes (i.e. the crates) tend to give out useful things like currency, emblems, premium time, and occasionally gold and global experience.
 

Husky_Khan

The Dog Whistler... I mean Whisperer.
Founder
Sotnik
United Kingdom Government Warning the Games Industry Over Loot Boxes for the Alleged Damage its Doing Which Resembles that of Gambling.

Dark Horizons said:
In a press release, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has found links between loot boxes and “gambling, mental health, financial and problem gaming-related” harms.

The study found the risk may also be higher for children and young people. As a result, the government has called for the purchase of loot boxes to be made unavailable to children and young people unless approved by a parent or guardian.

They also say they will not hesitate to consider legislation if companies do not bring in sufficient measures to keep players safe.

 

Agent23

Ни шагу назад!
Finally starting to see some serious pushback to the exploitative nature of the loot boxes business model; I can't wait to see how the EA fanboys and the anarcho-capitalists justify condemning this move.
Personally I don't care.
I play some gacha and some MMOs, if they have loot boxes I don't throw real money at the stuff.
If it is free then you are the product, or there is some extra charge tacked on.
TNSTAAFL.
 

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