Epic pushes ban on “Harmful” loot boxes

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hudsonreporter.com

The Finals: Is the Game Promoting Gambling to 13-Year-Olds?

Though it's only been out for a few weeks, the fast-paced competitive video game, The Finals, is already raising the eyebrows of concerned parents thanks to a controversial cosmetic that can be earned in-game. This cosmetic - a skin that converts the drum magazine of a specific gun into a spinning roulette wheel - is not the video game industry's…

Games ・ 07 February 2024

NZ Herald

Online gambling by students at New Zealand secondary schools ‘concerning’

Online gambling by students at secondary schools across New Zealand is of high concern, support services say, leading to fears of said students developing gambling addictions later in life. School pupils are accessing offshore online gambling sites through their phones during school hours, a Herald investigation has found. Online casino games and…

Gambling Addiction ・ 20 November 2023

dailytrojan.com

The kids have gambling addictions, Mr. President!

Vegas, baby! There's no better place to blow your life savings while trying to swing a quick buck. Nothing beats the rush of theatrically shoving all your chips into the pot, saying "I'm all in" in a tone dripping with melodrama. What could be better than putting your money on the line for more money? Putting your money on the line for pixels! In…

Gambling Addiction ・ 25 October 2023

gameshub.com

Australia sets new classification standards for video games with gambling and loot boxes

The Australian Government is set to introduce new, mandatory minimums for classification of video games featuring loot boxes and gambling elements, in an effort to protect children from developing harmful habits. As spotted by IGN, the changes mean that any video game feature in-game purchases linked to chance - like loot boxes - will receive an…

Games ・ 26 September 2023

Gambling News

Australia Calls to Restrict Kids' Access to Games Simulating Gambling

Australia is infamous for its losses to gambling. Every month, gamblers lose hundreds of millions of dollars to the activity, while the losses annually are at a billion-dollar scale. Many changes were discussed in different Australian states recently, yet a nationwide overhaul of the gambling sector also represents a possible option for the country…

Industry ・ 29 March 2023

Boston 25 News

Mass. officials offer tips to parents on what to know about youth gambling problem

BOSTON - Massachusetts officials say to think twice before gifting a lottery ticket to a child or teen this year because like alcohol and substances, gambling can impact brain development. "When young teens experiment with alcohol, substances and vaping, they put themselves at a higher risk for addiction later in life," according to the Mass.…

Gambling Addiction ・ 13 December 2022

Medical Xpress

Purchasing loot boxes in video games associated with problem gambling risk, says study

Gamers who buy "loot boxes" are up to two times more likely to gamble, shows new research published today in the journal Addiction Research & Theory. They are also more likely to have a gambling problem compared with the gamers who don't purchase these virtual treasure chests, according to the findings based on more than 1600 adults in Canada. The…

Gambling Addiction ・ 02 December 2022

ia.acs.org.au

Calls for games with loot boxes to be R18+

Any video game with randomised purchasable content, commonly known as loot boxes, should be slapped with an R18+ rating in order to protect young people from becoming gambling addicts, according to independent MP Andrew Wilkie. The Tasmanian MP introduced a private members' bill on Monday morning, seeking to treat loot boxes as gambling products…

Games ・ 28 November 2022

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COGconnected

Are video games loot boxes similar to slot machines?

The trend of big companies offering away top-notch games that could have previously sold for $60 and then persuading players to spend substantial money on upgrades to increase their enjoyment or provide a competitive edge is probably the greatest development in recent years. In-game "loot boxes" are one of the most popular strategies. The term…

Games ・ 24 November 2022

Big Rapids News

Indiana Gaming Commission considers legalizing internet casino gaming, some fear a rise in youth gambling addictions

This past week, the Indiana Gaming Commission released a 103-page study analyzing internet casino gaming, or iGaming, and considering its legalization within the state. IGaming includes the operation of digital versions of slot machines, table games and other typical casino games through internet channels and apps on mobile devices and personal…

Gaming Authorities ・ 10 October 2022

Community Scoop

Study Shows Asian Online Gamers Keen On Buying Loot Boxes

A recent study shows over 70 percent of Asians living in New Zealand who have played online video games in the last 12 months have purchased loot boxes at least once, or a similar reward mechanism to increase the chance of winning. The study, conducted … A recent study shows over 70 percent of Asians living in New Zealand who have played online…

Lottery ・ 31 August 2022

Irish Examiner

Colman Noctor: Children exposed to gambling through video game loot boxes

Video game loot boxes are a growing cause of concern among parents and legislators. Efforts to curtail or manage the issue of online gambling in children and teenagers have been outlined in an Oireachtas committee report this month. The report discusses how the advertising and strategies employed by gambling companies contribute to the development…

Games ・ 24 May 2022

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SBS

'Normalising gambling': Calls for action over gambling themes in online games for kids

Davide Gaido, Head Of Technology at Good On You, is a video game developer. He doesn't allow his five-year-old son to play video games on his mobile phone. "I let him play'real' video games, on the Nintendo, on the Playstation or on the PC, for example - but not on the phone," said Mr Gaido in an interview with SBS Italian, adding that he carefully…

Innovation ・ 19 May 2022

Irish Examiner

Richard Hogan: Is your child gambling online?

It is estimated that two thirds of Irish people over the age of 18 will take part in some form of gambling. We are a nation that likes to have an aul punt. Sure what's wrong with the odd bet? Of course, the answer is nothing. But it's believed we have 55000 people living with a serious gambling disorder in this country. The odd bet, in my…

Mobile ・ 12 May 2022

The Sunday Post

'I lost £25,000': Problem gambling soars in lockdown as fears mount for young Scots and children at risk

The number of Scots seeking help with problem gambling after lockdown has soared as experts voice deepening concerns. Calls to Gamstop, a free service helping people restrict their online gambling, has climbed by 23% on pre-lockdown figures. An estimated 207000 Scots are addicted to gambling or at risk of developing an addiction, with specialists…

Covid ・ 08 May 2022

Irish Examiner

Growing concern over link between video game loot boxes and problem gambling

Children buying loot boxes in video games "is setting up a relationship with gambling their brain isn't ready for", after a new study found a link between the purchasing of such loot boxes with gambling problems in adolescents. Introduced in video games in the last decade, a loot box is where a player can purchase an item in the game for real money…

Games ・ 15 April 2022

iGaming Business

Danish report demands more scrutiny of gambling elements in video games

The report, published in conjunction with the Danish Center for Social Science Research (VIVE), forms part of the government-mandated initiatives against gambling addiction which were proposed back in 2018. While stopping short of concrete policy recommendations, the report suggested that further investigation of gambling-like mechanics is needed,…

Games ・ 12 November 2021

Pirates Breakdown

Mobile Gacha Games: In-App Purchases or Gambling?

Gacha games are very much a household name for players who have tried plenty of mobile games. Mobile games that are specifically free to download are the most common types of games that fall under this category of games. That's because gacha is a Japanese term that is commonly associated with addictive gaming experiences. Most casino games that…

Mobile ・ 12 October 2021

The Mercury

Loot boxes should be regulated

Law ・ 23 September 2021

Gadget Bridge

How Gambling is Making Its Way Into Your Favorite Video Games

Gambling is a thriving industry and it's getting bigger each year to the point that any related activities can be easily accessed by people all over the world. It's also making its way into the regular video games that we play and some probably aren't even aware of this. However, there are already video games that do not low-key include gambling…

Games ・ 12 August 2021

SBS

'Like mini-casinos': Australia urged to act on video games compared to gambling

A growing number of countries are cracking down on video games that researchers fear allow children to gamble. Australia isn't one of them. Japan, China, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium have all taken some form of action against so-called video game "loot boxes", while Brazil recently launched an inquiry that proposes completely banning…

Games ・ 09 August 2021

CNA

‘I spent $20,000 of my parents’ money on mystery boxes’: When lines between gaming and gambling are blurred

SINGAPORE: You're a teenager with S$50 to spare, and rather than clothes or gadgets for yourself, you decide to spend on your favourite online game - specifically, your character or avatar. You could buy a fancy costume or sword. But you choose loot boxes instead, which contain random items of varying rarity depending on your luck. You might get…

Industry ・ 19 June 2021

Stuff

Time to clamp down on video game ‘gambling’

But increasingly, young gamers today find themselves addicted to risky games of chance, throwing away money on virtual in-game items to feed a gambling-like habit. In bedrooms and living rooms up and down the country, young people are being lured into casino-like features on video games. On mobile phones, computers and consoles, gamers are enticed…

Games ・ 03 February 2021

Forbes

GTA Online's New Casino Lets Players Spend Real Money On Virtual Gambling [Updated]

Update: It turns out that earlier reports that you could use in-game currency "shark cards" to purchase chips is not actually the case. You can only use cash earned via gameplay. That's definitely better. There's been an ongoing debate about gambling in video games for the past few years, ever since loot boxes became widespread not just in mobile…

Blackjack ・ 19 January 2021