UK Authorities Call On Video Game Companies To Add Parental Controls For Lootbox Purchases

Lootboxes in video games have come under intense government scrutiny by various countries over the past few years due to their randomized nature. Some of these countries have deemed them as a form of gambling and have implemented stricter measures to control their sales and purchase, with a few countries banning them altogether.

In a recent statement, the United Kingdom’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) is calling on the whole gaming industry to implement parental controls on the purchase of the said items. This is after its found sufficient evidence of the harm they caused, particularly on children and young adults.

According to the DCMS, those who purchased the game items were more likely to participate in gambling-related activities and were more susceptible to mental health issues, not to mention the financial harm that it can cause, especially in younger people.

The government body is asking video game development companies to voluntarily impose restrictions to prevent minors from purchasing lootboxes unless approved by a parent or guardian, along with other measures similar to those implemented by Xbox. The DCMS is also looking to develop other protection measures in cooperation with other regulatory bodies, video game companies, and game platforms.

“Games companies and platforms need to do more to ensure that controls and age-restrictions are applied so that players are protected from the risk of gambling harms,” said Nadine Dorries, Secretary of State for the DCMS. “Children should be free to enjoy gaming safely, whilst giving parents and guardians the peace of mind they need.”

Should the added measures prove to be insufficient or if concerned bodies refuse to act, the DCMS says that it will not hesitate to consider creating new legislation to curb the controversial monetization practice.