UK government won't ban loot boxes but says companies "must do more" to protect players

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The UK government isn't implementing any new legislation regarding lootboxꦆꦐes but says games companies "must do more" to protect players.

The Government of the United Kingdom has said it won't impose a ban on loot boxes despite evidence suggesting that🎃 those who have purchased them may be "more likely to experience gambling, mental health, financial, and problem gaming-related harms". Instead, it's demanding that g꧂ames companies tackle the issue by imposing tougher measures to ensure children and those who are at risk are better protected. 

, the government is calling for companies to make lootboxes unavailable to young people unless they have the approval of a parent or guardian. "Video games companies and platforms must do more to make sure children can not make in-game purchases - known as 'loot boxes' - without their parents' consent," Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said in a .

Additionally, it recommends that all players should have access to spending controls to limit the number of lootboxes that can be purch💝ased in a specific time frame. It's also announced that it will launch the Video Games Research Framework to better access the positive and negative impacts of games.

While the UK government won't be imposing any legislation rega🐻rding lootboxes, for the time being, it says that it "will not hesitate to consider legislative options" if better protections aren't introduced. 

This comes as both Spain and the Netherlands༺ seek to tighte🌜n restrictions on lootboxes. A new bill ꦗcould see proof of age, mandatory spending limits, and percentage chances introduced in Spain. While in the Netherlands the governmen🙈t is proposing a rule that would see the in-game mechanic banned entirely.

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Anne-Marie Ostler
Freelance Writer

Originally from Ireland, I moved to the UK in 2014 to pursue a Games Journalism and PR degree at Staffordshire University. Following that, I've freelanced for GamesMaster, Games TM, Official PlayStation Magazine and, more recently, Play and GamesRadar+. My love of gaming sprang from successfully defeatin🐬g that first Goomba in Super Mario Bros on the NES. These days, PlayStation is my jam. When not gaming or writing, I can usually be found scouring the internet for anythꦉing Tomb Raider related to add to my out of control memorabilia collection.