Australian Senate to Investigate Loot Boxes

We’ve seen in the past that more than a few government bodies around the world have looked, or are looking, into loot boxes in gaming and the effect that they have. The latest to signal their intent in investigating loot boxes will be the Australian Senate, as they launch an enquiry into micro-transaction loot boxes, the possible negative effects they carry, and whether they constitute gambling.

The Australian Greens party submitted a motion to have the Environment and Communications References Committee conduct the investigation, which included two particular points of concern: “The extent to which gaming micro-transactions for chance-based items, sometimes referred to as 'loot boxes', may be harmful, with particular reference to:

(a) Whether the purchase of chance-based items, combined with the ability to monetize these items on third-party platforms, constitutes a form of gambling, and;

(b) The adequacy of the current consumer protection and regulatory framework for in-game micro transactions for chance-based items, including international comparisons, age requirements and disclosure of odds.”

The situation in Australia regarding game companies and their supposed “shady practices” has already established a desire to punch straight to the heart of an issue and resolve it in a way that satisfies the law, rather than the companies, so it will be interesting to see what the outcome of this investigation produces. We’ll continue to update this story as it progresses.