15 European Countries Band Together to Investigate Loot Boxes

Last we heard from the Loot Box drama, EA had decided to do the EA thing and refuse to drop the loot boxes from their FIFA games, on the grounds that they like money and screw the law. While we have yet to see the consequences of their bold defiance of the law, it has led some to question if maybe other game developers will be emboldened by their “courage”: which would be all the truer if the courts ruled in their favor or the punishment they face is inconsequential. But while it’s impossible to tell what the future holds, the present has shown that so far, governments have been less-than-sympathetic to the loot box cause, as 15 gambling regulators across Europe (and one from the US) have entered an agreement to closely examine loot boxes and unlicensed third-party websites, following the 2018 Gambling Regulators European Forum.

"Unlicensed websites offering skins betting can pop up at any time and children could be gambling with money intended for computer game products. We encourage video games companies to work with their gambling regulators and take action now to address those concerns to make sure that consumers, and particularly children, are protected."

Here’s the full list of signatures:

Austria: Alfred Hacker, Director, Federal Ministry of Finance
Czech Republic: Karel Blaha, Director of the State Oversight Over Gambling Department
France: Charles Coppolani, Chair of the French Online Gaming Regulatory Authority
Gibraltar: Andrew Lyman, Executive Director, Gambling Division, HM Government of Gibraltar
Ireland: Brendan Mac Namara, Principal Officer, Gambling Policy Division, Department of Justice and Equality of Ireland
Isle of Man: Steve Brennan, Chief Executive, Gambling Supervision Commission
Jersey: Jason Lane, Chief Executive, Jersey Gambling Commission
Latvia: Signe Birne, Director of Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection of Latvia
Malta: Heathcliff Farrugia, Chief Executive Officer, Malta Gaming Authority
The Netherlands: Jan Suyver, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Netherlands Gambling Authority
Norway: Henrik Nordal, Director Deputy General, Norwegian Gaming Authority
Poland: Paweł Gruza, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Finance
Portugal: Teresa Monteiro, Vice-President of Turismo de Portugal, I.P
Spain: Juan Espinosa García, CEO, Directorate General for Gambling Regulation
Washington State: David Trujillo, Director, Washington State Gambling Commission
UK: Neil McArthur, Chief Executive Officer, UK Gambling Commission

That’s probably bad news for EA and the like, but who knows: maybe 2k’s fans are so passionate about loot boxes they’ll write so many letters they'll change their minds.

Cross those fingers, guys.