Gambling regulators across Europe plus the Washington State Gambling Commission teamed up and signed an agreement to work together, with an aim of addressing the risks created by blurring the lines between gaming and gambling ...
...These global regulators have voiced many concerns about skins gambling and loot boxes featured in video games, which children (and adults) are playing. Unlicensed third-party websites that offer illegal gambling, linked to popular video games, need tackling. Features within video games, such as loot boxes, do not constitute as gambling under national laws. The gambling regulators are calling on the video games industry and technology platforms to play their part in cracking down on these websites in an effort to work toward an industry where gambling help is readily available.
What the Gambling Commission Has to Say:
Chief Executive and signatory for the Gambling Commission, Neil McArthur said:
'We have joined forces to call on video games companies to address the clear public concern around the risks gambling and some video games can pose to children. We encourage video games companies to work with their gambling regulators and take action now to address those concerns to make sure that consumers, and particularly children, are protected. We want parents to be aware of the risks and to talk to their children about how to stay safe online. For example, unlicensed websites offering skins betting can pop up at any time and children could be gambling with money intended for computer game products'.
Source Hawkes, Damien. 'Cech Republic Team Up With 14 European Countries To Fight Gambling In Video Games' https://www.praguepost.com/technology/czech-team-up-european-countries-fight-gambling-in-video-games Prague Post October 3, 2018.
