Everybody is aware of the investigation that is into video game loot boxes which were agreed to begin by The United States Federal Trade Commission. So, what is this investigation all about? To understand video game loot boxes are nothing but the highly controversial packages which players can buy. This box used to come with some or other mystery and that are related to game items. That’s not it, these game items were linked to gambling in one or other way.
Complete Report Requested
Joseph Simon the FTC chairman has already informed the United States Congressional Oversight Committee that his agency has taken the responsibility of working on this and gets a report. They will look into this matter in detail and provide findings through the report.
Actually, this pledge came out in response to Maggie Hassan’s official request. He is a very popular Democratic Senator. He has the opinion that loot boxes are nothing but endemic in this gaming industry. He says they started presenting everything from the casual phone games to high budget, new releases.
Later he warned that these loot boxes have a very close link to gambling and this is the reason children are highly susceptible to all these in-game purchases. He also refers Gambling report that is by the UK Gambling Commission and Young People and says that there were actually 31pc of the children who caught opening the loot box in this video game.
In app purchases and loot boxes are not limited to games. Actually it is a common model executed in adult dating apps and adult meet n fuck games as well. The difference and therefore decreased controversy here is that these products and services are designed for adults. Although some adult game apps that are sexually explicit have drawn their own share of controversy.
The Commission
So, what the commission says? It has the idea that the total number of problem gamblers is of age between, 11-16 and has already reached 55000 and there are 70000 at risk. Surprisingly there were over 450000 who said they are betting on a regular basis. But the game refuses this claim that it had linked loot boxes and gambling directly as the report says.
But even the spokeswoman says, we have never referred this as exposure to gambling. She also adds that they are looking for complete information regarding this and since the game is too popular.
The UK Gambling Commission
Commission has already stated that there is a blurred line between video games and this gambling. They also have support from the Washington State Gambling Commission and 13 other European commissions. This group is making a thorough analysis of how these loot boxes are actually designed and they comply when it comes to gambling laws.
Along with these, even the Church of England as accused gambling firms. They are completely against the introduction of gambling to the children through these loot boxes.
Alun Smith, the Bishop of St Albans, the church’s spokesman on gambling has stood up against this gambling growth. He says, all these gaming companies are consciously developing video games with high buzz through offering money prizes. He also adds that “I really don’t understand how these companies can justify this. Is this something we aimed to experiment with our new generation?”
Final Thoughts
Even though the UK commission has taken a strong stance that there is no way to constitute gambling in the children’s games under the current laws, there are some commissions that have taken a different stance.
