Andrew Wilkie, an independent Member of Parliament, has introduced a new private member’s piece of legislation to the Parliament. The bill seeks to bring some restrictions to video games featuring loot boxes and make them accessible only to players who are over 18 years old.
According to an explanatory memorandum circulated by the MP himself, the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Loot Boxes) Bill 2022 seeks to bring regulation to the way video, computer and online games containing so-called in-game items, including loot boxes, are classified. Mr Wilkie, who is a long-time anti-gambling campaigner, claims that people have the same emotional response to loot boxes as they have to other gambling activities, including poker machines that have been known for causing serious addictions.
If passed, the newly proposed piece of legislation would see games containing loot boxes of any kind restricted to players over the age of 18. The text of Mr Wilkie’s bill would require a minimum classification for all games containing the loot boxes feature to be set on R18+ or RC (refused classification) by the Classification Board. Such a move would also require digital distributors and retailers to verify the age of all individuals who purchase their games.
The independent MP’s bill also aims at requiring a special warning to parents, guardians and all potential buyers to be displayed on video game boxes, saying that a game contains loot boxes or similar gambling tools.
Loot Boxes Face Criticism for Being Highly-Addictive Gambling-Like Features
The last few years have seen loot boxes face fierce criticism from various lawmakers and anti-gambling campaigners because of the potential harm inflicted on users, especially underage individuals and more vulnerable people. Some campaigners, such as Mr Wilkie himself, have claimed that such in-game items have been normalising gambling due to their common presence in various computer and video games.
So-called “loot boxes” are purchasable items available in video games. They can be acquired in return for some real money but the buyer does not actually know what the box’s content is, because it is selected at random. Loot boxes usually contain some special items that can help players develop their character more easily in the game.
Normally, they contain player items or “skins” that can often be purchased for real money or can sometimes be earned. Also, many items available in loot boxes are only available for a limited time of play, which makes them even more desired by players, causing them to spend more than they would usually do in order not to miss out on the special offer.
While loot boxes seem to become more and more common in mobile games, computer and console games have seen the use of in-game items, and in particular, loot boxes, rise significantly over the last decade.
Recently, some players have alleged that the discounts of Overwatch 2 in Australia were illegal, pointing to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) guidelines regarding false or misleading claims about sales and discount offers. Reportedly, the game, which features loot boxes, was selling a skin for its newest hero – Kiriko – at a lower price, which may be a violation of the aforementioned ACCC rules because the skin had never been offered at the regular listed price.
Unfortunately, neither shady discounts nor the potentially harmful nature of in-game items has stopped players from accessing loot boxes through video and computer games.
- Author
Olivia Cole
