Advertisement
Following Lower Saxony, Bremen and Schleswig-Holstein, politicians from Bavaria also want to push for the regulation of loot boxes.
“Loot boxes are a form of gambling and must therefore be banned for children and young people.”
This demand is found in a “Position paper on gambling regulation in Germany” of the Bavarian Greens, which federal and state parliamentarians have published in anticipation of the annual conference of the interior ministers (starting on Wednesday in Potsdam) (PDF). To justify this, the politicians refer to “clearly addictive elements”which serve as a possible ramp to problem gambling. The topic can also be found in the Green Party's election manifesto for the 2023 state elections.
The said loot boxes are offered within apps and PC/console games in the form of paid 'packs' and treasure chests. In popular titles such as EA Sports FC, Madden NFL or Counter Strike Additional content of varying value can be unlocked, which is allocated via an algorithm.
Advertisement
Both at the federal and state level, there have recently been increasing calls for effective regulation – including a ban, at least with regard to sales to minors. In recent weeks, corresponding initiatives across party and parliamentary groups have come from Bremen and Lower Saxony; the coalition agreement of the CDU-led state government in Schleswig-Holstein also provides for a “appropriate regulation” The Federal Drug Commissioner Burkhard Blienert (SPD) speaks of “worrying developments”.
The industry association Game argues that the purchase of loot boxes “always voluntary” and is not necessary to achieve the game goal – the offers differ from gambling, among other things, in that the exchange for real money is not provided for. “Additional offers” like loot boxes are also a great opportunity for developers and publishers “important, additional source of revenue”which helps to keep the prices for games constant – “despite sharply increased production costs”.
Based on the evaluation report of the State Treaty on Gambling, which was reformed in 2021, the Greens' position paper contains further demands – such as limiting advertising by sports betting providers on TV, on jerseys and hoardings, a 'blacklist' of illegal providers, a limitation of the stake limit to €1,000 per month and the expansion of the player blocking system.
Tim Pargent, financial policy spokesman for the Greens in the Bavarian State Parliament: “An interlinking of betting and sport is extremely dangerous. The risk of addiction and debt in sports betting is just as high as in gambling. Whether it's the European Championship or the Bundesliga, sponsorship or umbrella brand advertising – we need the same rules for all providers.”