The Dutch May Actually Ban Video Game Loot Boxes

Video game loot boxes may be a thing of the past in the Netherlands soon. According to a report on Games Industry sourcing Leon Y. Xiao, the country is ready to block the use of the monetization method. This isn’t entirely new news, the Dutch government has been tackling this issue for a while. Even a year ago, the Dutch Gambling Authority tried to regulate loot boxes. Unfortunately, it was overturned.

But, that hasn’t stopped further attempts. Not long after that, six political parties put forward a motion to ban them. Unlike the Gambling Authority, whose regulation attempt was shot down due to a decision that they don’t break the country’s gambling laws, the motion focuses on how loot boxes manipulate children into making purchases. This isn’t to say they don’t address them being a “form of gambling” as well, but their solution for that seems to be asking for the law regarding gambling to be changed in order to address that.

At this time, no decision has been made, and of course, video game companies are going to fight back on it, so, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens. That said, a ban in one country means game companies will have to decide between adjusting the game just for that country, no longer distributing the game there, or making the change across the board. A ban in one place also means there’s a pretty good chance they’ll crop up in other places and game companies will have to contend with that.