Gambling Regulators Sharpen Focus on Loot Boxes & Social Gaming

Monday 17th September 2018 saw fifteen European gambling regulators and the Washington State Gambling Commission sign a Declaration stating that they are "increasingly concerned with the risks being posed by the blurring of lines between gambling and other forms of digital entertainment such as video gaming." The Declaration constitutes a commitment to analysing the characteristics of video games and social gaming, with particular concerns being raised relating to skin betting, loot boxes, social casino gaming and the use of gambling themed content within video games which are available to children. Here we consider why these issues are causing increasing concern amongst gambling regulators, and what they might do about it.