Belgium rules against loot boxes

The gaming commission ruled against a number of video games and threatened millionaire fines if they’re not adjusted.

Belgium.- The Belgian Gaming Commission (Kansspelcommissie) has threatened operators with fines up to US$2 million if a number of popular video games are not adjusted. The commission came to the conclusion that loot boxes are games of chance, and if these are further exploited, they will insist on tough legal actions.

The Commission said that it started the analysis of various video games in November 2017 to determine whether the loot boxes or other “in game elements” meet the definition of a game of chance. Overwatch, FIFA 18, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Star Wars Battlefront II were specifically analysed.

“Because the phenomenon is broader than the 4 games examined, the Gaming Commission makes a number of recommendations to both the policy makers, the game manufacturers, the game platforms and the license providers such as FIFA,” said the commission, which assured that protecting players and vulnerable groups such as minors is the most important mission.

Peter Naessens, Director at the Gaming Commission, said: “Paying loot boxes are not an innocent part of video games that present themselves as games of skill. Players are seduced and deceived by it and none of the protective measures for gambling are applied. Now that it is clear that children and vulnerable people in particular are exposed to them unprotected, the game manufacturers but also the parties involved are called upon to stop this practice.”