EPIC Risk Management has welcomed new player protection guidelines regarding loot boxes recently released by UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie), the trade body for the UK games and interactive entertainment sector.
A Step in the Right Direction
EPIC has described the latest move by the video games industry as a huge step in the right direction, but the consultancy firm, focusing on gambling harm minimization, has reiterated its call to regulate loot boxes in the same manner as gambling. EPIC’s Head of Safer Gambling David Sproson said the gaming feature could cause harm to players, especially children and minors.
EPIC has been vocal about its stance on loot boxes, calling for them to be banned from being accessed by under-18s in the UK. Other jurisdictions have already taken steps to address the problems caused by loot boxes due to their gambling-like characteristics, with some countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands implementing an outright ban on the feature.
While the UK government opted not to introduce a similar measure, it called for improved protections for players, including preventing under-18s from making loot box purchases without the knowledge and consent of their parents or guardians. The new guidance from the Technical Working Group (TWG), a body formed by the Department for Culture, Media & Sports (DCMS), was designed to meet this objective.
More Awareness Needed
Sproson said the loot box segment of video games has grown rapidly, and is estimated to generate sales of approximately US20.2 billion by 2025. Sproson has called for more education and awareness about the potential harms caused by this popular gaming feature.
