Spain To Impose Controls On Loot Boxes With Total Ban Considered

Summary

• Spain is looking to impose new measures on loot boxes
• These measures come after a 12 month investigation into loot boxes and gambling
• If the measures don’t work, Spain will look to ban loot boxes completely

Multiple countries including Japan and Belgium have banned games that use loot boxes as gambling regulators found that loot box style games are very similar to traditional gambling.

Spain decided to look into loot boxes in 2022 and decided to launch a detailed investigation to see if loot boxes were similar to traditional gambling.

Spain Will Impose New Regulations Based On Report

After a 12 month investigative period carried out by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Spain’s Minister of Consumer Affairs, Alberto Garzón appears to be convinced that loot boxes have a lot in common with gambling. Garzón has asked his department to put together an initial draft of regulations that will govern loot box style gambling.

The Ministry of Health and Responsible Gaming Council stated that while loot boxes did have random qualities to them, there was cause for concern that loot box interactions could foster gambling habits in the younger generation and develop gambling traits within individuals who relied on loot box style gaming.

In 2022, Garzón decided against including loot boxes in Spain’s review of federal gambling laws. However, he has changed his stance in 2023 and will now look to put together draft measures that will provide Spaniards better protection against loot box style gaming.

Dr Leon Y Xiao from the University of Copenhagen was cited in the research done by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs where Xiao encourages EU governments to do more in terms of gambling regulation concerning loot boxes in order to protect players from the harmful effects that loot boxes pose as they have similar traits as traditional gambling.

Garzon Will Use Stringent Measures Against Loot Boxes

The on loot boxes will include stringent technological measures that will look to brand Spain as the pioneer in protecting Europe’s gaming sector. Some of the measures will include banning children from accessing loot box stores, putting together an age verification system that will prevent minors from accessing loot box stores and stringent advertising protocols to prevent minors from being targeted with loot box ads.