Lootboxes as a form of gambling
The draft amendment to the Gambling Act introduces a new category of games of chance – “games for virtual goods” – covering, among others, loot boxes purchased for real money in online games, where the outcome depends on chance. Such games would be brought within the gambling regulatory framework, requiring a licence, the application of responsible-gaming rules, and limiting participation exclusively to adults. The primary aim of the regulation is to strengthen the protection of minors and to counteract mechanisms that may foster gambling-like behaviours. At the same time, the proposal raises significant interpretative concerns, in particular with regard to the concept of virtual goods, the notion of a “win”, and the practical enforcement of the rules against foreign operators.