The FTC Says It Will Investigate Loot Boxes (kotaku.com)

The Federal Trade Commission this week agreed to investigate video game loot boxes, accepting an official request by Senator Maggie Hassan. In a Congressional oversight committee hearing yesterday, FTC chairman Joe Simons affirmed Sen. Hassan's request that loot boxes be investigated. From a report: During her turn to ask questions at the hearing, Hassan cited a recent report by Great Britain's Gambling Commission that found 31% of children in the country had at one point or another paid money to open a loot box, a well as moves by Belgium (which prompted Square Enix to pull three mobile games from the country), Japan, and other countries to limit how loot boxes can be used in games. "Given the seriousness of this issue, I think it is in fact time for the FTC to investigate these mechanisms to ensure that children are being adequately protected and to educate parents about potential addiction or other negative impacts of these games," Hassan said. "Would you commit to undertaking this project and keeping this committee informed about it?" In response, Simons said "yes," but declined to go into any more detail about the FTC's current position on loot boxes and whether they constitute a form of gambling. Despite vocal criticism from Hassan and a few others on the topic, regulators have not been jumping to get involved in the debate.

Comments

Re:Apologies from NH

[Anonymous Coward]

No, it's gambling which is illegal for minors and possibly w/ interstate issues also. Just because you don't understand the law or why things happen doesn't mean it's without reason.

Re:My nephew spent over $100 on Fortnite

[jellomizer]

In app purchases in general should be well regulated.
1. They are often Pay to Cheat, especially for online games where people who pay more get a leg up on the stuff.
2. Kids are greedy little suckers. I know I use to be one. If my friend was playing a game and had that fancy skin that their parents shelled out $10.00 for and my parents said no. I would still really want it, or something of equal or greater cost. I didn't care about building character, they had it, and I wanted them the feel just as envious of me that I feel towards them.
3. Kids are class oriented. You have X and they have Y one has to be objectively better then the other. if you have the one that isn't better you are often feel like you have been put down. Sometimes they actually are, and other times they just feel that way. Emotionally it is the same.
4. Kids don't understand the value of money. You see Mom buying $250 worth of groceries, surely $10 or even $100 isn't that big of a deal. Not realizing such payments can add up quickly, and the money after bigger expenses is much lower.

Even with Good parenting you kid can fall under pressure to buy this type of stuff. If not to reap the reward of the purchase but avoid the shame of not having it.

There are also a lot of adults too have these problems, but they they legally can take the brunt of their mistakes, vs kids who share the consequences.