Loot Boxes Are Not Gambling, Says The Entertainment Software Association

Because they are voluntary, apparently.

Posted By | On 23rd, Nov. 2017

wwe 2k18 lootbox

The Entertainment Software Association is a body constituted of all the big publishers in the American gaming industry- basically, EA, Activision, Ubisoft, Take 2, and so on. It is supposed to be the industry’s attempt at self regulation, but more than that, it is also the industry’s lobbying group that exists to represents the interests of the publishers to the US government.

So it should come as no surprise to you, then, that the ESA, speaking on the controversy surrounding loot boxes, that has made various governments around the world, including the American government, openly declare that they will be looking into the situation, stated that loot boxes are not gambling, and that they are voluntary, so it’s all okay.

“Loot boxes are a voluntary feature in certain video games that provide players with another way to obtain virtual items that can be used to enhance their in-game experiences. They are not gambling. Depending on the game design, some loot boxes are earned and others can be purchased. In some games, they have elements that help a player progress through the video game. In others, they are optional features and are not required to progress or succeed in the game. In both cases, the gamer makes the decision,” they said in a statement reported by The Rolling Stone.

Yeah, no, they can piss off with that- the fact that the gamer makes the decision is in and of itself the big problem- they are deliberately designed to be predatory and exploit addiction tendencies, similar to gambling, in vulnerable people. This is exactly why gambling is regulated- and this is why loot boxes need to be regulated, too. And they will be, eventually- no matter how much the big publishers try to oppose it, it will be.


Tagged With: ,

Amazing Articles You Might Want To Check Out!

Keep On Reading!

Halo Studios is Playtesting New Games – Rumour

Halo Studios is Playtesting New Games – Rumour

While Halo Studios hasn't made an announcement of its next game in the franchise, it has reportedly made enoug...

Nintendo Switch 2 GPU to Run at 1.71 TFLOPS in Handheld, 3.1 TFLOPS When Docked – Rumour

Nintendo Switch 2 GPU to Run at 1.71 TFLOPS in Handheld, 3.1 TFLOPS When Docked – Rumour

The Nintendo Switch 2's rumoured horsepower looks like it will need to make heavy use of its AI-based image up...

Bloodborne Might Not Get a New Game Because the Director is Too Busy – Former PlayStation Boss

Bloodborne Might Not Get a New Game Because the Director is Too Busy – Former PlayStation Boss

Shuhei Yoshida revealed that Miyazaki might just be too busy to work on Bloodborne, with PlayStation wanting t...

30 New Games of 2025 with Amazing Graphics

30 New Games of 2025 with Amazing Graphics

If we remember 2025 for anything, it's offering some of the most stunning visuals in video games. Check out 30...

Marvel Rivals Will Add Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s Advanced Suit 2.0 on January 30

Marvel Rivals Will Add Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s Advanced Suit 2.0 on January 30

NetEase's hero shooter will add the suit to commemorate the PC release of Insomniac and Sony's open-world supe...

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Trailer Hypes up Imminent Launch

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Trailer Hypes up Imminent Launch

Retro Studios' classic platformer comes to the Nintendo Switch in remastered form on January 16, courtesy of F...