New Report Reveals Decline in In-Game Spending Among Minors to €31

A recent study indicates that the average monthly expenditure by children on in-game extras has dropped to €31, down from €39. This finding is based on a survey conducted by Ipsos for Video Games Europe, which polled 2,772 adults aged 18 and above who are parents or guardians of child gamers. The survey discovered that only a minority of parents, 18%, permit their children to spend money on in-game content. Among these, 73% reported that their children's monthly spending on in-game extras falls within the €1 to €20 range, with the majority of these purchases being items that affect gameplay. Furthermore, over 90% of parents who allow such spending also monitor their children's in-game expenditures. The data shows that 30% of minors buy cosmetic items, while loot boxes are the least popular, with only 21% of minors making such purchases. In contrast, 76% of surveyed parents stated that their children do not engage in in-game buying, a statistic that has remained relatively constant since 2020. Additionally, more than 60% of parents of children who spend money on in-game extras have established agreements with their children regarding spending management, with 49% requiring permission for each purchase and 27% setting specific spending limits. Overall, the survey found that 11% of gamers between the ages of 11 and 64 have used real money to buy in-game currency, with a smaller 4% having purchased loot boxes.