Northern Ireland Urges Drastic Reduction in In-Game Gambling, Including Loot Boxes

The Northern Ireland Assembly's cross-party group focused on minimizing harm from gambling has advocated for stricter regulations on loot boxes and other in-game gambling mechanisms. Although the group stopped short of calling for an outright ban, it proposed that 'gambling within video games should be limited as much as possible' in the upcoming phase of gambling legislation. This recommendation is part of a report compiled after an inquiry that took place from December 2022 to January 2024, which gathered evidence on the impact of gambling on public health. The group believes Northern Ireland is well-positioned to 'lead the way' in regulating loot boxes. The proposed legislation aims to regulate the design, availability, and accessibility of in-game gambling features, including loot boxes. Additionally, the group suggested that game companies should offer more transparent and consumer-friendly approaches to loot boxes, such as direct purchasing options or guarantees of obtaining specific content after a certain amount has been spent. However, the group emphasized that relying solely on voluntary changes from game companies is insufficient and that stringent, legally mandated regulations are necessary. The report also highlighted concerns about free-to-play social casino games, recommending that access to these games should be restricted to prevent minors from easily playing them. Researcher Leon Y. Xiao, who contributed to the inquiry, noted that players in Northern Ireland would benefit from industry self-regulation in the UK, but the Northern Ireland Assembly could provide additional consumer protection if deemed necessary. Earlier this year, the UK's Advertising Standards Authority issued warnings to game companies, including EA, Miniclip, and Jagex, for failing to disclose the presence of loot boxes in some of their games, violating the country's advertising rules.