After much deliberation, lootboxes are considered in Spain as games of chance. They will have the same regulation as the casinos as in Belgium.
For the past few years, lootboxes have been in the eye of the media hurricane. Various studies and associations claim that loot boxes from games like Overwatch use the same factors and strategies as slot machines or online casinos, but hidden in video games to bypass regulations. Belgium It has already banned them and now Spain follows.
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Lootboxes are casinos, says Spain
According to the EFE agency, the general director of Gambling Regulation, Mikel Arana, has announced that the Government of Spain will amend the Gambling Law. They will include video game lootboxes as a game of chance and will be equated to online casinos. With this, they will have to comply with regulations such as not being able to advertise in certain advertising spaces, or requesting proof of age so that minors cannot access.
This has been communicated by Arana in the Mixed Commission for the Study of the Problems of Addictions of the Spanish Congress of Deputies. this is expected to prevent certain behaviors and possible addictions derived from gambling. There are many stories of addiction to games of chance that began with the purchase of FIFA Points for the Ultimate Team mode.
How will this affect various games like Overwatch or Counter Strike: Global Offensive? Well, many games will have to change the way they operate by putting cosmetic stores or playable items always knowing what is going to happen to us beforehand and already deciding whether to buy or not. If instead some games decide not to change it, they could be withdrawn or face fines. With this, it is hoped to prevent video game companies from profiting by imitating bookmakers and gaming houses disguising them as normal video games, and taking advantage of people with pathologies that make them predisposed to be victims of games of chance and lootboxes.
[irp]Source: EFE
