• ilmagico@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    36
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    So, gambling is addictive, makes you spend more and more money, occasionally when you’re lucky you get a big payout, though on average you lose. It is heavily regulated worldwide.

    Gaming is also addictive, makes you spend more and more money, but there’s no chance of a payout, ever. Completely unregulated.

    Time to rethink out regulations?

    • iByteABit@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      19
      ·
      1 year ago

      I think some years back the EU passed a law that forbade paid lootbox type rewards, we need to see more of these measures in gaming of all kinds.

      • Pea666@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        15
        ·
        edit-2
        1 year ago

        Depends on the country and the type of lootboxes. In the Netherlands for example lootboxes with items that cannot be purchased or traded otherwise are legal. Lootboxes with items that may have monetary value are considered a form of slot machine gambling.

        From Screenrant.com:

        *Netherlands’ Laws About Loot Boxes

        Overwatch Loot Box In April of 2018, the Netherlands Gaming Authority conducted a study of 10 unnamed games, and concluded that four of the games were in violation of Netherlands laws concerning gambling. To be exact, the study said (via PC Gamer), “that the content of these loot boxes is determined by chance and that the prizes to be won can be traded outside of the game: the prizes have a market value.” In order to sell such items in the Netherlands a license is required but given the current laws, no license can be given to game companies, so “these loot boxes (were) prohibited.” The loot boxes used in the other games were deemed legal because they lack “market value.” According to the study, those loot boxes whose prizes wouldn’t be traded constituted a low risk for gambling addiction, being akin to “small-scale bingo.” The marketable loot boxes though, those which are banned in the country, “have integral elements that are similar to slot machines.”*

    • Version@feddit.de
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      1 year ago

      Some games even have payouts, like Counter Strike. I don‘t understand why it isn’t officially gambling too.