Belgium wants loot boxes banned, rules it gambling

CT Phipps

CT Phipps

Carbon Dated and Proud
http://www.pcgamer.com/belgium-says-loot-boxes-are-gambling-wants-them-banned-in-europe/

Last week, Belgium's Gaming Commission announced that it had launched an investigation into whether the loot boxes available for purchase in games like Overwatch and Star Wars Battlefront 2 constitute a form of gambling. Today, VTM News reported that the ruling is in, and the answer is yes.

The Google translation is a little sloppy, as usual, but the message is clear enough. "The mixing of money and addiction is gambling," the Gaming Commission declared. Belgium's Minister of Justice Koen Geens also weighed in, saying, "Mixing gambling and gaming, especially at a young age, is dangerous for the mental health of the child."

Geens, according to the report, wants to ban in-game purchases outright (correction: if you don't know exactly what you're purchasing), and not just in Belgium: He said the process will take time, "because we have to go to Europe. We will certainly try to ban it."

And now, things will start to get interesting. I've reached out to the Gaming Commission for more information, and will update if I receive a reply.
 
I am not fond of government interfering most of the time, but in this case it is necessary. The gaming has been going to shit for a few years now, so hopefully it will help with all disgusting predatory practices.
 
Belgium is very protective of children when it comes to gambling.
Rightly so, in this case, I guess.
 
I'm still pretty baffled that the catalyst, of all things, had to be Star Wars. Kind of ironic on its own way, but hey, fine by me if it accomplishes something.
 
Arnust said:
I'm still pretty baffled that the catalyst, of all things, had to be Star Wars. Kind of ironic on its own way, but hey, fine by me if it accomplishes something.
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I think this has been building for a long time and EA has been doing it for every single one of their games.
 
CT Phipps said:
I think this has been building for a long time and EA has been doing it for every single one of their games.
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And Blizzard, and the mobile game industry, and Valve (kinda), and many MMOs you might not even have heard about... Also, what? "Their", like anything under their seal? because that's simply not true.
 
Arnust said:
And Blizzard, and the mobile game industry, and Valve (kinda), and many MMOs you might not even have heard about... Also, what? "Their", like anything under their seal? because that's simply not true.
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It disappoints me it's true with Star Trek Online.

It took me a while to realize they were scamming me.
 
Arnust said:
And Blizzard, and the mobile game industry, and Valve (kinda), and many MMOs you might not even have heard about... Also, what? "Their", like anything under their seal? because that's simply not true.
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As far as I know, Valve & Blizzard have only sold cosmetic things, that don't really affect the outcome of the games. Yes, you can buy different weapons in Hat Fortress, euhm, Team Fortress, but those always have disadvantages to them as well. It's certainly not pay to win.
 
SuAside said:
As far as I know, Valve & Blizzard have only sold cosmetic things, that don't really affect the outcome of the games. Yes, you can buy different weapons in Hat Fortress, euhm, Team Fortress, but those always have disadvantages to them as well. It's certainly not pay to win.
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Hearthstone. Blizzard to me also means Activision, because in practice they're one now. Then I include Destiny 2's even somehow more overpriced and even more poorly implemented cosmetics.
And yeah, Valve not really. Albeit they did let most of this headstart and gambling per se was full-on.
 
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Far as I am concerned loot boxes, and the mechanics involved in dolling them out to users is most indeed gambling, because normally a player will then attempt to sell that virtual item for real currency. Therefore it impacts the real world and must submit to standard regulations involved with currency transfers.

The mechanic also rewards players similar in fashion to the way a slot machine does, it is like this on purpose to keep players coming back.

The only reason casinos get away with nefarious tricks like loud joyous noises, scented air pouring from vents, bright lights, free drinks, and the obvious attempt to keep their patrons inside with elaborate floor layouts is because they are private property.
 
SuAside said:
I am not familiar with how loot boxes work in that game, so I cannot comment.
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Random card results from "packages", IRL Trading Card style. Except the only way to acquire them reliably for the cards you NEED if you play even somewhat seriously, is "Gold", which is either acquired from doing "Quests", AKA banalshitboring matches with bots that sometimes have some side objectives, and then doing them almost daily and not missing any to make the best time/results ratio. You can also "sell" cards but the tradeoff is minimal. You can't trade with players, buy the exact cards you want that can make single handedly make a deck work... There are also fully priced expansions with their own dish of AI fights and a set of cards that completely fucking ruins the balance until the next one does so harder. Skill? Learning? Nah yo, I have mom's credit card credentials, get rekt. Sure, great players still have a chance, like the chance you do have when fighting a sherman tank with a decently shaped rock.
 
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