The Telegraph: Video game 'loot boxes' as bad as roulette wheels, MPs warn

Video game 'loot boxes' are as bad as roulette wheels and are encouraging children to gamble, MPs have said.

Members of the Culture Select Committee accused the Government of being “complacent” over the features, which they said were exposing children "to all the emotions of gambling".

In an at times tense hearing, digital minister Margot James told the committee she did not believe there was enough evidence to class loot boxes, which appear in games certified suitable for children as young as three, as gambling.

However, she said the Government would act if a link emerged between children buying loot boxes and later becoming problem gamblers.

“I would contest the assumption that loot boxes are gambling," added Ms James. “ I don’t think that all the evidence that I have read would support that assumption either.

“Loot boxes are a means of people purchasing items, skins, to enhance they gaming experience, not through an expectation of an additional financial reward. Also, importantly they cannot be traded offline for money.

“So I think there are big differences and I don’t think it is true to say that loot boxes are gambling.”

Loot boxes are features in video games that dispense random items such as weapons, characters for costumes.

These can often be paid-for and the Telegraph has previously revealed that the company EA made over £500 million in 2017 from loot boxes in its online sports video games such as FIFA Ultimate team.

In the hearing on Tuesday, committee chair Damian Collins compared FIFA’s loot box system to a “roulette wheel”, as it sees gamers buying randomised packs of football players in the hope of getting stars such as Ronaldo and Messi for their team.

He said: “Someone is making a purchase, which is effectively like someone is spinning a roulette wheel.

“You don’t know what you are going to get, or how good it is going to be, but you are spending money and speculating to get better players for your team.”

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