Lootboxes now considered gambling in the Netherlands, four games must make changes

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The worldwide lootboxes controversy continues, and this time, the claim is coming from the Netherlands. Four games were found to be breaking the country's "Betting and Gaming Act", meaning there's an addictive gambling element, and due to the ability for players to create a market based upon selling lootbox content, it's considered a "game of chance", and therefore requires a license. The four games weren't specified, however a Dutch news channel called out games like PUBG, Rocket League, Dota 2, and FIFA 18. All of which do have a large trading economies that base themselves on lootboxes.

The Dutch gaming authority has decided that lootboxes are similar to casino games, meaning they either need to acquire a gambling license in the country, or the developers need to change how lootboxes work. Such changes would involve disabling any visual effects while opening a lootbox, so that players do not have a rush of excitement from potentially being psyched into winning big, and there needs to be a cooldown on opening lootboxes, so players don't open mass amounts of them in one go. The four games must make here changes before June 20, or else the Dutch gaming authority will be forced to take legal action.

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DeoNaught

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What!?!? how else are they going to make money?

Damn Netherlands trying to make everyone go bankrupt.


In all serious ness though, I like that they are atleast considering it gambling, and hope they eventually ban it(everywhere).
 

migles

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however a Dutch news channel called out games like PUBG, Rocket League, Dota 2, and FIFA 18. All of which do have a large trading economies that base themselves on lootboxes.
funny the picture shows overwatch lootboxes which is the best system of all lootboxes
you get 3 everyweek for winning games in arcade mode, you get 1 for level up
its only cosmetic shit which doesn't affect anything, non transferable\tradeable
you can buy them with money but heh who does it... just play and you swim in them

i hope nothing has to change in overwatch, especially the animations.. they are cool and i don't see how it is gambling...

but other games with lootboxes can go to hell, i mean, overwatch does the lootboxes thing fine and good.. there is no market or shit like that
 

Chary

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funny the picture shows overwatch lootboxes which is the best system of all lootboxes
you get 3 everyweek for winning games in arcade mode, you get 1 for level up
its only cosmetic shit which doesn't affect anything, non transferable\tradeable
you can buy them with money but heh who does it... just play and you swim in them

i hope nothing has to change in overwatch, especially the animations.. they are cool and i don't see how it is gambling...

but other games with lootboxes can go to hell, i mean, overwatch does the lootboxes thing fine and good.. there is no market or shit like that
Doesn't appear like Overwatch is involved, but they have the best layout FOR lootboxes, which makes it easy to see what it is in the front page image box. This just doesn't have the same effect.
 
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souler92

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lol

if i go to a casino and i push my money within seconds into the slot machine there aint nobody saying "you have to wait 5 minutes until you are allowed to spend more money"

that rule is just bullshit
 

FAST6191

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if i go to a casino and i push my money within seconds into the slot machine there aint nobody saying "you have to wait 5 minutes until you are allowed to spend more money
Depends where you are in the world, not to mention casinos can fall under different rules
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...ts-on-machines-to-curb-addiction-9160839.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43455480
http://www.onlinepokies.com/state-regulations.htm

A study
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14459795.2014.910244

Granted this being the Netherlands and you apparently also being from there could be cause to raise an eyebrow but it is not coming completely out of left field.
 

Xzi

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lol

if i go to a casino and i push my money within seconds into the slot machine there aint nobody saying "you have to wait 5 minutes until you are allowed to spend more money"

that rule is just bullshit
Step one is the difference. "Go to a casino." Gambling outside of that is supposed to be illegal in many states. I don't see how simply acquiring a gambling license fixes this for publishers, either, since gambling websites can't be based in the US.
 
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souler92

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Step one is the difference. "Go to a casino." Gambling outside of that is supposed to be illegal in many states.

illegal without license yes ofcourse.

anyway, its still the responsibility of the user itself. handle urself or go broke, easy as that
 

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A cool down timer for paying for lootboxes makes sense. Restricting effects are a bit much.

Also, yeah. A lot of people use Overwatch Lootboxes layout even though they are probably going to be the least effected by this whole thing.
More like Lootboxes are gambing, if you do specific things with them base on their guidelines.

I heard China banned Overwatch and Co.'s loot boxes 1 years ago, you guys a bit late LUL
I'm pretty sure they got around that.
 
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jefffisher

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can't the game just have a warning on the box that says not for use in the netherlands and stop distributing in the netherlands
 

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