Belgium has declared lootboxes gambling officially.

[kumikochan]

In Belgium there was an ongoing investigation towards lootboxes in games. That investigation has now declared that lootboxes are gambling and are looking to fine games such as Counterstrike, FIFA, Overwatch etc. If they don't take out lootboxes Belgium can fine them up to 1.6 million euro fines and a prison sentence of 10 years. Koen Geens minister of justice is now in talks with the Belgian gambling commission and are asking gaming companies to do something about lootboxes.
He says players are getting deceived and there is zero regulation and protection in place for people who get addicted or get in to money problems because of this.

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/...res-loot-boxes-gambling-and-therefore-illegal

 

[Taleweaver]

Ah...thanks for finding that link. My own standard news paper (de standaard) had this article on the whole front cover. It's in Dutch, but comes down to roughly the same thing.

Take note, though: "lootboxes" are only gambling (and thus illegal) if four criteria are met:
-it should be a game
-with a certain stake
-leading up to winning or losing for the player
-and in which coincidence is at play

As such, the current version of battlefront 2 isn't seen as illegal, as needing to buy the lootboxes is taken out. FIFA 18, counter strike global offensive and overwatch, though, fit these criteria. Geens wants these games fixed, or there's a thread of 800'000 euro's in fin and five years of prison.



Also worth reading (also Dutch): this. Basically: Europe is divided on the matter. The concern is worldwide concern in this, but every country (in the EU) goes at it their own way. Meanwhile, the industry doesn't respond (yet) when asked for information.