Ireland to regulate video games over fears of juvenile gambling

The Irish Government has signed an international declaration that proclaims worries about juvenile gambling in video games. A number of experts consider these video games as the gateway through which children enter the world of problem gambling.

Ireland could soon enforce a law that will put the video games in the same gambling regulation bracket as bookmakers and online poker.

Many modern video games, such as Fifa and Star Wars Battlefront, feature betting systems based around “loot boxes.” Players can pay real money for a chance to win new items or abilities for their in-game characters from these boxes.

The practice has already attracted scrutiny from gambling authorities in the US and Europe. This year Belgian authorities declared some loot box systems to be illegal gambling and compelled major game developers to remove such features in games sold in the country. It recently threatened Electronic Arts, one of the world’s biggest game developers, with criminal prosecution for failing to remove loot boxes from Fifa 19.

This week the Gambling Policy Division of the Irish Department of Justice, along with authorities from 14 other countries, signed a declaration voicing concern about video game gambling and comparing it to other forms of online gambling such as online poker.

“Our authorities are committed to the objectives of their public policies with regard to consumer protection, prevention of problem gambling and ensuring the safety of underage persons,” stated the declaration, which was signed at a meeting of the Gaming Regulators European Forum.

Source: Irish Times