A boy in Cork spends hundreds of euros in computer games

A young boy in Cork has reportedly spent hundreds of euros for in-game purchases in FIFA 2018. In an incident that should serve as a warning to all parents whose kids are into virtual gaming, the boy used his mother’s credit card for effecting the purchases.

Fine Gael senator, Jerry Buttimer, narrated the incident while urging the government to take quick action for a new legislation around gambling and gaming:

“In Cork, a young boy spent a month of his mother’s wages on ‘FIFA 18’. The parent helped the child sign up to the game, using their credit card details.

When he was playing it, a box kept coming up, asking if he wanted to buy things and he kept hitting the button and ran up a bill of hundreds of euro in no time.

He was unaware that it was happening. It has the potential to be catastrophic in terms of running up bills and in gambling addiction.”

Mr Buttimer said: “Cork has become pronounced as a city associated with gaming. Unfortunately, there are concerns regarding the potential exposure to addictive behaviour such as gambling. This is where loot boxes have crept into the gaming scene and have become a topical issue not only for gamers but for parents and governments around the world.”

In May this year, the Belgian Gaming Commission deemed the games a form of gambling. The incident in Cork will surely act as a catalyst for many such regulations in several regions. These so-called “loot boxes” encourage players to use real money, in exchange for virtual items in games.

Cork East TD David Stanton said a bill will be published shortly in this regard and will include rules on gaming. He said Ireland has signed up to a declaration in support of clamping down on in-game gambling.

“While the declaration does not have legal effect, it reflects concern among national authorities that online gaming products should be appropriately licensed if they offer gambling possibilities. A key purpose of it is to alert parents to potential issues arising from in-game purchases. Parents have primary responsibility to protect their children in this regard. Where a game offers the possibility of placing a bet or taking risk for financial reward within the game, it must, in my view, be licensed as a gambling product.”

Source: Evening Echo